“Except there was no beef to a Pinto, so a rear end strike would breach the neck and generate sparks. The Vega and Gremlin had side filler necks I believe (I know the Vega did).”
Pinto had best safety record in class unless you are a follower of ralph.
Well, Ralph did have a way of highlighting the spectacular. But getting rear ended is hardly the only hazard a Pinto, or any car, had to deal with.