Comments on: Would you go flying in a Ford Pinto?

By: DET

DET — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 16:36:07 +0000

This looks almost as dumb as the flying AMC Matador in “The Man with the Golden Gun.”

By: Mark kapustynski

Mark kapustynski — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 03:08:40 +0000

Contrary to belief due to bad pr, the early ford pintos were actually very good reliable and great handling cars. They were quite a bargain as a new car purchase(base price was only $1999.00).
The 1st years of the pinto had two 4 cyl. engine options. A very thrifty 1.6L & a very peppy 2.0L, both of which were German design & build. 1974 ford replaced both engines with a 2.4L american built which had a soft camshaft resulting in major engine problems at roughly 50k miles.
It was that and the gas tank problem along with fords denial & reluctance to fixing both problems which gave the car a bad name

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 03:22:29 +0000

I wouldnt blame the Pinto itself for the failure of the venture…what did this thing in was shoddy work,poor engineering,and an overweight vehicle.A car was never designed to be a worthy plane,from any standard…aerodynamics,weight,structural strength….the fact that Galpin Ford was tied in with the project is a mystery.Why Ford didnt urge Galpin to steer clear of the venture due to liability and bad press if someone was killed (which happened) remains a question.Had the original plan,a Pontiac Firebird had been chosen,it would have been worse.A heavier car,and a prophetic name FIRE bird…alluding to its status after impact.

By: Brian Campbell a.k.a. The Cookieboy

Brian Campbell a.k.a. The Cookieboy — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:55:37 +0000

The History Of The AVE Mizar Flying Pinto

From the earliest newspaper articles in 1970 where Henry Smolinski started to share his idea with the world to it’s unfortunate end in 1973 with the crash of the AVE Mizar Flying Pinto. I have gathered as much information as I can in hopes of telling the most complete story possible of this fantastic idea, concept and implementation of a dream.

By: Pintony

Pintony — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 07:48:49 +0000

I have 1 of the Galpin made flying Pintos
Still has the original paint and is in fairly good condition considering it is 36years old.
Go to cookieboystoys.com to see the video!!!
From Pintony

By: Brian Campbell a.k.a. The Cookieboy

Brian Campbell a.k.a. The Cookieboy — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 16:09:17 +0000

The Flying Pinto 2 Has Been Found!

On my website you can see updated information and a short video produced by Galpin Motors of California about the AVE Mizar Flying Pinto. The video features the flying Pinto and a second Pinto used in during the filming of the promotional video. Also see the story of how Pintony and Cookieboy found The Flying Pinto 2 from the video and the ongoing adventure to this great find and piece of history.

By: Wattsy

Wattsy — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 03:11:42 +0000

The only actor we could find out about was Bob Cummings owned a Taylor Aerocar about the same time. Was it this one http://www.transeum.com/weird-car/the-taylor-aerocar.html

By: Al

Al — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 02:43:02 +0000

Back in the fifties and early sixtys, a Celebrity named George Gobles regulary flew a car plane in his TV show.

It folded into a trailer he pulled behind afteranding.

That was the only one I ever seen. I don’t have any idea what it was or what it’s name was.