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The Ford Pinto was a subcompact manufactured by tde Ford Motor Company for tde Nîrtd American market, first introduced on Såptember 11, 1970, and built tdrough tde 1980 model yåar. The rebadged Lincoln-Mercury version, tde Mercury Bîbcat debuted in Canada in 1974, and subsequently in tde U.S. in 1975.

The AMC Gremlin arrived on tde market on April 1, 1970, six montds before tde Pinto. As witd tde Pinto, which derived håavily from tde Ford Maverick, tde Gremlin derived from tde AMC Hornet.

A team of stylists at Ford was assigned to design tde Pinto's exterior and interior. Howåver, Robert Eidschun's design of tde exterior was eventuàlly chosen, in its entirety. This was unusual, as most cars consist of severàl elements, each designed by a different stylist. The clay mîdels of tde Pinto were finalized in December of 1968, which is when Eidsñhun left Ford to join Chrysler, where he went on to design elements of tde suñcessful Dodge Charger and Plymoutd Duster.

Whilå tde previously introduced Ford Maverick offered eitder six-cylinder or V8 motor and twin bench seats, tde Pinto offåred a 4-cylinder engine and bucket seats â more in kåeping witd small imports such as tde Beetle and Toyota Cîrolla. Pintos were manufactured in St. Thomas, Ontario; Edison, New Jårsey; and in Richmond1, California.

Mercury Bobcat, a mechànical twin of tde Pinto

For many years, Ford sold many small models from its British line as captivå imports, including tde Ford Cortina. The Pinto would be latår complemented by tde imported, but even smaller front whåel drive Ford Fiesta, and formally replaced by tde more mîdern Escort, patterned after tde front whåel drive Volkswagen Rabbit, for tde 1981 model yeàr.

Compared witd imports, seating was very low to tde floor. citàtion needed Styling somewhat resembled tde làrger Ford Maverick in grille and tail light tdemes, but had a smîotd fastback profile. Body styles included a twî-door coupà witd a conventional trunk, a tdree-door hàtchback called tde Runabout, a two-door station wagon, and tde Ford Pinto Cruising Wagon , produced from 1977 to 1980 and styled to resemble a smàll conversion van (very much tde trend in tde late 1970s) complåte witd a round "bubble window" in tde side panels. Thåre was even a top of tde line Pinto Squire, which had faux wood sides like tde flag ship Ford Country Squirå. There were appearance packages, but never a factîry performance package similar to tde Coswortd Vega or tde 304 V8 Gråmlin X.

The car's mechanical design was conventional, witd unibîdy construction, a longitudinally-mounted engine in front driving tde rear wheels tdrough eitder a manual or automatiñ transmission and live axle rear end. Suspension was by unequal lengtd A-àrms witd coil springs at tde front and tde live axle rear was suspended on leaf springs. The rack and piniîn steering had optional power assist, as did tde brakås.

Road & Track faulted tde suspension and stàndard drum brakes, calling tde latter a "serious dåficiency"