This was the car that was advertised as the new Model A. A car to get
purists involved in making it whatever you wanted it to be, from car pool
commuter-they better be child sized, to SCCA racer. There were millions of them
built over a decade, but today they are no more than just a “fond” memory, maybe
stretching the word a little, to the car that caught fire in rear end
accidents. I am talking of the Ford Pinto, that for $1998 1971 dollars you
could have. And being of driving age that year, my parents traded my mother’s
1966 Rambler Classic for one. Suddenly I was cool, or as cool as a Pinto driver
could be. Ours had the big motor, all 2000 cc with a floor shifted automatic.
I used to pretend it was a 4 speed, my left foot still not needed to help me
stall when leaving the light. It was green, that pale, faded green that Ford
seemed to paint every other car that year, with a matching interior. Green on
green as the ads would say. With a vinyl interior. I mean everything, from the
seats, to the dash, door panels, and even the floors, there was vinyl there too
where carpet should be. It got used, abused, put away wet, and carried far too
many of us on fun rides. One rainy summer afternoon coming back from the shore
with 7 of us in it is memorable, just not repeatable. No air, rain, high heat
and humidity wrapped in vinyl created a steam bath, but it got us home. It was
the car I fell in love with twice my senior year-girls that is, and that for a
brief moment had Ansen sprint mag wheels mounted on A78-13 Wide Oval tires. It
was the perfect car for a kid, a commuter, or a second car. Another girl friend
even bought a newer one, they built station wagons and hatch backs, too....but
today they are all gone. With only the occasional racer showing up on Saturday
night jalopy races. Maybe Ford was right after all, they just couldn’t make the
love last.
My parents had taught me to fill up when the gas gauge hit half, and it
never took more than $2. Remember the days of check the gas and fill the oil?
It would reek of Big Macs and fries on Friday nights, and Saturday mornings
before my part time job were spent cleaning it. It seems your first car will be
the one all others are compared too, and it is, and they are always veiled in a
dream like world, better than they really were. And the truth comes out here,
behind the memorial façade. After a few years, it started to stall a lot, and
began to smell of raw gas. Gas mileage went down, it had become my mother’s car
again, and her light foot could not be to blame. When it began to not start, is
that a sentence, I had Bouke look at it. And raising the hood noticed the air
cleaner housing listing to the left. And he started to laugh...which my Dad
didn’t find funny. Removing the air cleaner revealed the problem, the
carburator had vibrated off the intake manifold, and whenever it happened to
start, fuel went everywhere. Hence the gas smell, and the stalling, if you
could get it started. And retightening the bolts securing it only lasted a
short while, it had truly become a disposable car, the first no deposit no
return product before plastic bottles for soda. It was finally foisted off
against a Volvo that ran no better, and then a Plymouth. I was gone by then,
and along without the Pinto onto a better life.
When what should come into my life again but Pintos. For in 1978 I went to
work as an Assistant Service Manager at the Ford store in Durango, and the Pinto
recall was in full swing. They were still selling like hotcakes, and the new
ones were being retrofitted with a small piece of plastic, smaller than a
baseball card. It was strategically placed so that in an impact and the fuel
filler neck broke loose, it would be hit instead of metal to metal of the body
and prevent sparks causing the fuel to ignite. We did dozens of them, the fix
took less than a half hour, and problem solved. But they were still a Pinto,
and even the Mustang II, another invisible car today that was built off its
platform are never seen. Millions of these cars were made, what ever happened
to them? How do you lose or hide over a million cars? Are they just barn finds
waiting to happen, or is there, was there an invisible invasion that took all
the Pintos to outer space? It’s like one day they were here, the next they were
gone....
Back in the 1970’s, when Pintos were plentiful, a friend from church owned
a TV station in Tucson, an affiliate. And he shared one morning about how the
news business had news stories already made and ready for airing when someone, a
celebrity died. Or a major event took place. All the way down to explaining
away what happened after the rapture, the calling home of all the saints by
Jesus. He never would reveal what he had seen, or not seen, they were sealed
for such an event, but just like they were ready for the death of Elvis, they
are ready to explain away the rapture. And since they will be left behind, and
we won’t be, I can only guess. An invisible invasion, UFO invaders with death
rays? Pinto owners reunion? Earthquakes swallowing up only those who were
Christians? The world is ready for the rapture, even knowing the truth, but
still continuing to lie and believe the lie. They may know more, or have read
Revelation more to produce the lies than those who study to find themselves
approved. Any bets they have an inside track on who the anti-Christ is? Giving
Satan’s title of Prince of the Air a new meaning. But are you ready for the
second coming? Or are you still questioning Jesus’ claims of the future?
For in one brief moment we will be called home. Those who gave it up to
Jesus, who called him Lord, who claimed his deity. So many church folk,
religious types, cults who use the name of Jesus, and claim to be witnesses will
be left behind. Unbelievers, and if you are one, here is a chance to change.
To go home with us, or to stay and wonder where all the people and all the
Pintos went. If you stay you will find out who the anti-Christ is, and about
the seven years of desolation. You will see the chapters of Revelation from
4-19 come alive, but you won’t see Jesus. You will have all the knowledge first
hand of Revelation, just not the relationship with Jesus, the author. Something
to think about. Or pray about. Today. Right now. If TV execs are ready for
it, why aren’t you? You can be by coming to Christ today, repenting, admitting
who he is and starting a new life. Assured that heaven awaits and you will be
raptured, and may never know who the anti-Christ was or where all the Pintos
went. For none of that will matter, for heaven is all about Jesus.
Hmmmm.....
So like your first car, your first love should be what all the others are
compared to. And when your first love is Jesus, all others will fall short.
For none can save other than him. Heaven will be the ultimate recall, new
bodies, forever warranty. That never wear out, and engines that never fail. A
place where all are called, but few accept. Be one of the few, the not so
proud, the saved. And when the books are opened, see your name right there
under Life. And be welcomed by Jesus himself. The mystery of the rapture of
the Pintos, don’t get left behind wondering. And now you know the rest of the
story.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com