Picture: Norm Bagi

In the early 1970s, American automakers were caught flat-footed by an Arabian oil crisis that sent gas prices soaring. This effectively killed the muscle car era, and heralded in the age of a new car; the compact car. Ford’s offering was the infamous Pinto, which became the center of a national scandal involving cost-cutting and exploding gas tanks.

But despite the controversy surrounding the plucky Pinto, and even though Ford stopped making the car in 1980, the Pinto still enjoys a devout fanbase with the Pinto Car Club of America claiming over 6,500 members and up to 10,000 Pintos still on America’s roads today.

To celebrate the Pinto, Hemmings Auto Blog reports that the annual Pinto Stampede is getting ready to make its run from northern Illinois down the banks of the Mississippi River before concluding with a lap around the Memphis International Raceway. There will be driving and racing events along the way, and we expect more than a few modified Pintos to make the trip. With a 302 V8 or a 2.3 liter turbo from the Mustang SVO, the lightweight Pinto can be pretty damn quick.

Best of all, the Stampede raises money for the Wounded Warrior Project, with the last two road trips bringing in a combined $30,000. The Pinto Car Club of America is doing its best to clear the name of Ford’s compact econo-cruiser, and a little charity can go a long way to changing the reputation of a ride like the Pinto.