For those that want to know why, IIRC the bolts on the differential were too long and the gas tank was directly behind it. If the car was rear ended the bolts could pierce the tank. To make matters worse, during a rear end collision the tail light assembly could short and spark, thus igniting the leaking fuel. Ford added a rubber bladder to the tank and shortened the bolts, but the PR damage was done.
PS: I think there was a possibility of the doors not opening after a rear end collision, trapping people inside the burning car, but I am not sure.
SOURCE: We had to study that case in college back in the 90’s.
Ah, yes, the Ford Pinto, the car that made entire generations believe cars explode in every accident.
There was an 80s arcade game called Spy Hunter that was also for the Apple IIe. When you rear ended a motorcycle they’d swerve off and explode.
Much to my parents amusement I called them Pintos.
I was about to comment “Ah yes, the explodey car”. How did you read my mind? 🙃
For those that do not know what we’re on about
For those that want to know why, IIRC the bolts on the differential were too long and the gas tank was directly behind it. If the car was rear ended the bolts could pierce the tank. To make matters worse, during a rear end collision the tail light assembly could short and spark, thus igniting the leaking fuel. Ford added a rubber bladder to the tank and shortened the bolts, but the PR damage was done.
PS: I think there was a possibility of the doors not opening after a rear end collision, trapping people inside the burning car, but I am not sure.
SOURCE: We had to study that case in college back in the 90’s.
nowadays, your autopilot just drives you into a lake
Efficient.
Or you just listen to your GPS and ignore what is in front of you
And the official service fix for this was … drumroll please …
Taking two sheets of thick plastic and zip tying them to the back side of the differential.
Source: I saw one in my dad’s shop in the late 1980s.