The Ford Pinto (Car) vs Capri's Petrol Tank

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CapriFreak
Posts: 131
Joined: Thu May 09, 2019 5:07 pm
Car(s): Capri 2.0 (Project) Escort mk3 (Daily Driver)

The Ford Pinto (Car) vs Capri's Petrol Tank

Post by CapriFreak »

I was listening to a Podcast the other day about the Ford Pinto (Car not engine) and how the rear end crashes resulted it bursting into flames. I forgot that it was the petrol tank hitting the rear axle that ruptured it and caused the explosion. It got me thinking how this was different than my Capri? I googled it and didnt find anyone saying their Capri had exploded :xd:
Not writing this as i'm worried just thought its interesting and if anyone would know, it would be here. Is it that most Capri's crashed into something rather than being crashed into :xd:

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Major_Tom
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Re: The Ford Pinto (Car) vs Capri's Petrol Tank

Post by Major_Tom »

Interesting article! I've wondered about Capris too in this respect.. they don't exactly have much strength in the rear do they 🤔
I'm the one who leaves all those shoes in the carriageway.
Mc Tool
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Re: The Ford Pinto (Car) vs Capri's Petrol Tank

Post by Mc Tool »

Huh , 🙂 like my mk1&2 escorts.
I dunno that the pinto petrol tank issue was any worse than a lot of other cars on us roads back then.(Robinson helicopters spring to mind ) I think there was a fair bit of bullshit pushing that along.
Raises a point tho that at what stage do you decide that there is just to much risk driving your Capri compared to your average ( crumple zoned ,airbagged,seatbelt pre-tensioned ) reasonably modern car.
I had a frontal impact that wrote off my 09 toyota .......I think it has 11 airbags ....I know where 6 of them were.
The point is that me and Di spent the next month or so thankin our lucky stars we weren't driving Crapi .......even our "shitter"car has airbags.
I have ridden motorcycles for 50 years and while they are a lot of fun your definitely on your own when it turns to shit. I did feel safer in my car .
Now Im feeling the same way about the Capri when comparing relative safety with a modern car.
Never thought about getting my petrol tank ruptured from behind ........I figured it would be a "Vanishing point" thing😆
Sometimes I talk to myself ... and we both have a good laugh
CapriFreak
Posts: 131
Joined: Thu May 09, 2019 5:07 pm
Car(s): Capri 2.0 (Project) Escort mk3 (Daily Driver)

Re: The Ford Pinto (Car) vs Capri's Petrol Tank

Post by CapriFreak »

I can understand you thanking your lucky stars after that. I've got a Escort mk3 as well as a Capri and used to use the Escort to drive from Manchester to London a lot before the pandemic. since everyones back out and about I do think about the possibility of getting into an accident a lot more. I think the standard of driving going down hill/modern cars and people not understanding what its like to drive an old classic... Its probably going to get worse trying to enjoy old cars but im sure we'll make it work. I try use them locally these days and avoid the M6 where theres no hard shoulder anymore :xd:
Not to worried about the getting rear ended in the Capri too much but just thought it was interesting how the Pinto got slated/exploded in comparison. Someone on retro rides forum said its probably down to the size of the other cars crashing into them out there.
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