You might know the Ford Pinto as a mediocre '70s car with the tendency to combust when tapped in the rear end... but what you're about to see is no ordinary Pinto.
The car in question was created by Randy Irwin, a Pinto and drag racing enthusiast, who took it upon himself to create the most painstakingly accurate motoring replica of all time.
For context, the mid '70s NHRA was dominated by Bob Gliddenone, one of the winningest racers of all time, driving a stars and stripes themed Ford Pinto. Using vintage parts, and an insane eye for detail, Irwin has all but recreated the iconic machine.
Glidden passed away in 2017, but his legacy lives on in the sport of drag racing, and in this replica Pinto, thanks to Irwin.
Here are 21 photos of the two iconic Pintos, side by side.
1
Randy Irwin and His Pinto
Prized possession.
2
Ready to Race
Irwin's Pinto sports a 500 horsepower 351 Cleveland V8.
3
Bob Glidden
On the drag strip.
4
Gorgeous
Has a Pinto ever looked so good?
5
Drag Racing
Glidden's Pinto once ran a quarter mile time of 8.83 seconds at 154.9 miles per hour.
6
Almost
Irwin's replica is slightly underpowered, but has still managed an 11-second quarter mile.
7
Frame
Irwin began his project with nothing more than a Pinto frame, and pieced together everything else.
8
Gears
With a better gear ratio, Irwin reckons his could go even faster.
9
Interior
The racing interior is as close to exact as you can get.
10
Active
Irwin's Pinto does NOT just sit in a garage.
11
Decals
Irwin used a ruler to measure decal placement on the original, and replicas custom made by a graphic designer.
12
Burning Rubber
Gidden preps for a rae.
13
Waiting for the Lights
Gidden's Pinto made 650 horsepower.
14
Burning Rubber
Drag racers often burn their tires before races, to heat them up and freshen the rubber.
15
Wheely
Drag racers accelerate so quickly, they need stoppers to keep them from tipping over.
16
Stars and Stripes
Irwin made sure to copy the iconic livery.
17
Thick
Look at that rear end.
18
Rev Counter
A 12,000 rpm Moroso mechanical tach, same as the original.
19
Off the Line
Dragsters are some of the fastest accelerating machines in the world.
20
Bare Bones
It might not be comfortable, but it's fast.
21
The End
The coolest Pinto ever made.
