Actually, the Pinto station wagon (with the fake wood-grain look decals) was a pretty good-looking vehicle, and it did NOT have the potential for fire after a rear-end collision.
I once wanted to get hold of one of these models and convert it into a small pickup truck - cut off the back part of the roof and side glass of the back portion, and re-install the tailgate as the back side of the cab, lining the interior of the box with marine-grade plywood and finishing it in a high-quality varnish, and use it as a parade car.
Had a change of dreams along the way....
I've seen a Pinto-Ranchero conversion before. It used the original tailgate window as the rear cab window, a custom fiberglass molded rear cab wall and bed assembly, and a formed metal piece to cover the top of the original tailgate which remained in its original location. Pretty slick, right down to the faux wood applique on the sides.
The fiberglass parts kits used be advertised in some automotive publication - possibly Hemmings.
My dad took us camping all over the Western US in a Pinto Wagon, with the wood stickers that you describe.
It got vapor lock in hot weather. Remember vapor lock?
On one trip the vapor lock got so bad he had to replace the fuel pump with tools on hand in the parking lot of the rail yard in Ely, NV.
Oh and on those trips he drank beer the entire time behind the wheel. He averaged 3 or 4 beers a day!