Quote:
Originally Posted by Cinisajoy
Oh yes, mom freaked when dad said he was getting me a pinto. She also knew someone that had been rear ended and killed. She was ok when she found out it was a station wagon.
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Can't blame your mom. Giving your kid a Ford Kaboom? Having the fuel tank burst into flames after a rear end collision was bad enough. Finding out that Ford knew about the issue but didn't fix it because fixing the issue would cost more than $137 million while the 180 deaths and 180 burn injuries would only cost society $49 million? This from Ford's own cost-benefit analysis.
Yes, the issues with the Ford Pinto were exaggerated and it was pretty much as (un)safe as any other North American made compact vehicle of it's era. The perception though was driving a Pinto qualified as a death defying act.