SAAC Presents:
"A Yard Full of Horses," AutoRestorer Magazine Feature on Cromwell, CT-based Pinto Collectors Paul & Judi Messier, from the January 2007 issue  (This page creation underway as of 12/31/2006; updated with the transcribed article text as of 1/1/2007; updated with some great new pictures & desciptions from Paul Messier as of 1/15/2007)

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What a wonderful surprise to find the article about Paul & Judi Messier of Cromwell, CT, in the "Readers Cars & Trucks" section of AutoRestorer magazine, page 30, of the January 2007 edition!

We've been subscribing to AutoRestorer magazine for the past couple of years now, and before that, off and on for many years earlier--it's been an always-interesting publication, focusing a lot on useful, "nitty-gritty"-type restoration techniques for the most part. It's been a good time to be an A/R subscriber and a Pinto enthusiast lately, as there has been a series of interesting articles about restoring a racing Pinto (a former Car & Driver staffers' race vehicle from the '70s, I think?). The most recent issue, however, that arrived almost on the last day of December, 2006--the January 2007 edition--has a really interesting article about a Pinto (& Mustang) collecting couple from Cromwell, CT--Paul & Judi Messier.

Aside from the understandable excitement about even more Pinto-related material in the magazine, it was most interesting to read about what other Connecticut-based Pinto enthusiasts have to say about the hobby. While it would be easy to simply scan the entire one-page article and leave it at that, my plan is to eventually trascribe the article and present the transcription here--along with a scan of how the article appeared on the AutoRetorer page (page 30 of the Jan. '07 issue, "Readers Cars & Trucks" section feature--hopefully the image at the UPPER RIGHT gives a reasonable idea of how the published A/R page looked--at the bottom of the page was included this message: "WE WANT YOUR PHOTOS! Share your pride and joy with Auto Restorer readers by submitting a black & white or color print, slide or digital image (digital resolution must be at least 240 dpi at five inches wide). Send to: Readers' Cars & Trucks, P.O. Box 6050, Mission Viejo, CA 92690, or submit digital images to tkade@fancypubs.com. Please provide information abou;your vehicle, including your restoration problems and solutions."), and perhaps a close-up scan of a picture or two from the article.

*1/1/2007 Update - Let's Get Going On Transcribing The Article!

I found I had some time to sit at the computer on New Year's Day, and after double-checking once more to see if I could find the article text published online anywhere, I decided to sit and slog through re-typing it. I broke up the session into a few blocks, so it didn't seem too overwhelming. Eventually I got through it...

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"A Yard full of Horses
Paul & Judi Messier--Cromwell, Connecticut

First I want to pass on that I really enjoy Auto Restorer magazine and read it cover to cover every month. I have wanted to send in pictures of my cars for a long while, but never could seem to find the time.

However, reading your recent articles on restoring a Pinto racer (September-November) prompted me to take the time. As you can see, I have a yard full of horses (Pintos and Mustangs). My brown Pinto, called Penny Pinto due to its penny-like color, is a 1978 Pinto Runabout with 2.8-liter V-6, C4 automatic and 8-inch differential. The car is completely stock except for new paint, carpet, and carburetor. My white Pinto is a typical 4-cylinder 1980 Pinto, however I purchased this car from the original owner and it has only traveled 26,000 miles. The Pinto in the paint booth is my current project. This is a 1980 with 75,000 miles that I saved from the crusher. The owner was told the car had a blown head gasket. He parked it for five years, until the neighbors complained. The town gave him 48 hours to remove it. I towed the car home and got it running. It turned out the head gasket is fine; the problem turned out to be a bad ignition switch. The car runs great and was in too good of condition (no rust) to cut up for parts so I decided to bring it back to life. I can't junk a good car--even one with the reputation of the Pinto.

From my experience working on Pintos and Mustangs I can honestly say that Mustangs are much easier to restore. Good quality Mustang parts are plentiful and easily obtained if you can afford them. Pinto parts are a lot tougher to find; very few aftermarket parts are manufactured, and a lot of Pintos have been cut up for parts to build street rods and dirt track racers.

Yes, the cars are driven regularly during the warm weather months, typically mid-March through October.

The Pintos are great fun cars and I typically do not have to worry abou;where I park them like the Mustangs. My Pinto wagon makes a great Home Depot errand runner. I can fit more stuff in this little wagon than in my Jeep Grand Cherokee. I also get a lot of attention from people who have never seen a wagon like this.

The Pinto collection started with my wife telling me that she had a Pinto back in 1980 and loved that little car. She expressed interest in buying one and restoring it just for the fun memories.

This started a tough search. Being in Connecticut, most Pintos in this area have either rusted out, been cut up for hot rods, or scrapped.

After a few months of looking, I found one with very little rust but everything else was shot. I bought the car for $25 and started the dismantling while I searched for parts to restore it. That is when I discovered how hard it is to find Pinto parts. As I searched I found more Pintos, some easily restorable (for example, the '78 V-6 runabout) and other cars for parts. The 1980 with 26,000 miles came from an estate sale at a price I could not refuse. I actually found a guy with a barn full of Pinto parts including a set of NOS runabout quarter panels (still with a readable dealer stamp) and an NOS 1971 Pinto grille. He was moving and wanted the barn emptied. I bought the entire lot and spent two solid days moving the parts and two weeks taking inventory. I recovered my original investment in one month selling parts on-line. Just look at www.fordpinto.com and you will see this little car is once again picking up in popularity.

I am very fortunate that my wife loves cars as much as I do. I have a nice heated garage with two lifts which keeps me and the cars warm in the winter. The lifts make most any job 100% easier. This summer my wife talked me into buying a cross-flow paint booth so I don't have to buff out so much dust from my new paint jobs.

Not pictured is a future restoration project. I have a 1979 Pinto Cruising Wagon (porthole sides) and I want to put a Mustang II 302 drive train into it. I have the Mustang II donor car, so it's just a matter of time.

The cars in the yard photo from front to back are: 1966 Mustang coupe, original 289; 1967 Mustang Fastback GTA S Code 390; 1980 Pinto, all original, only 26,000 miles; 1966 Mustang Convertible, original 289; 1978 Pinto (Penny Pinto); 1970 Mustang Fastback, new 302 crate motor produding 320 hp; 1979 Pinto Wagon (woody) 2.8-liter V-6, with all Pinto Options."

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Eventually I am also going to see if I can figure out how to get in touch with the people, and, if & when I am able to receive any feedback directly from them, well, perhaps we'll be able to add more material to this page. For now, I didn't want to miss out on a tip of the hat to AutoRestorer for finding the inspiration to include some great Pinto material in this and several other recent issues. Stay tuned for any other possible interesting future developments!

BELOW: This is a detail scan of the "group picture" that was included in the AutoRestorer article.

*1/15/2007 Update - A Nice Check-in from Paul Messier, and some Great Pinto Pictures!

As noted in the earlier installments on this page, I had been planning to get in touch directly with the Messiers, to see if they might be interested in perhaps sharing a few more pictures of their wonderful Pinto (& Mustang) collection, perhaps with some descriptive words to go along with them. Following are some excerpts from an e-mail note that Paul sent, with several electronic pictures attached (one of which is shown at the right, others will be inserted at the bottom of this section), dated 1/9/2007:

"...Steve, Thanks for taking the time place the Auto restorer article on your web site. I was very surprised they printed my submission. Also thanks for taking the time to look me up and get in touch with me. I apologize for taking so long getting back to you. Work and kids keep me very busy, plus I am trying to finish up the 1980 Pinto I started last spring.

Here are some pics my Pinto's...

Pictured are:
1978 Brown HB, V6, C4, 8" diff, Sport dash
1980 White HB, All orignal 26K miles, 2.3L, C4, 8" diff
1979 Blue wagon, V6, C4, A/C, 46K miles, all original
1980 Cruzin wagon, 2.3L, 4speed,
1980 HB, (in paint booth) 2.3L , C4

Not Pictured are:
1978 wagon -- no drive train had V6 & C4
1980 wagon -- Rough body - no rust lots of dings & dents, very good 2.3L with C4 and A/C

I also have 6 Mustangs:
1965 Coupe 289, C4
1966 Coupe 289, C4
1966 Conv. 289, C4
1967 Fastback, 390, C6, 9" 3.00 diff
1970 Fastback, New Crate 302 making 320HP, built C4, 8" 3.00 diff
1978 Ghia 302, C4 (donor car for Pinto 302 Project)

I'm interested in more but I have run out of space. I want to finish my current project and then restore the Cruzin wagon using the 1978 Mustang II Ghia drive train. I am also think about selling the 1978 Brown V6 Pinto to make room for other projects. I also have lots of parts, let me know what you looking for.

I need:
1979/1980 Pinto rear bumper with the end caps
1979/1980 Pinto windshield & hatchback glass.

Nice meeting you...Paul, Cromwell CT..."

As I'm assuming Paul wishes to receive e-mail in response to his above-listed parts needs, I'll list his e-mail here (but Paul please let me know if you'd rather your e-mail not be included): pmessier1@comcast.net

Thanks again Paul! Let's get to those pictures...

BELOW: We're assuming this is the 1978 Brown Hatchback, with V6 engine, C4 transmission, 8" differential, and sport dash--very slick!

BELOW: This looks like the white 1980 Hatchback, "...all orignal 26K miles, 2.3L, C4, 8" diff..."--what a showpiece!

BELOW: And here's that drop-dead gorgeous Squire--"...1979 Blue wagon, V6, C4, A/C, 46K miles, all original..."--awesome!

BELOW: Here is the the basis for a future Paul project--"...1980 Cruzin wagon, 2.3L, 4-speed..." which Paul reports is eventually to be fitted with his donor 1978 Mustang II Ghia's drive train, including 302 engine and C4--very cool.

BELOW: Finally, here is the 1980 Hatchback that's in the paint booth, "...2.3L , C4..."--looks like a similar shot to one of the ones published in the Auto Restorer article. Some serious 'Pinto-Resto' going on here!

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