Comments on: 1970s Cars: History, Pictures & Facts

By: fixitmanarizona

fixitmanarizona — Fri, 28 May 2021 19:31:05 +0000

Oh and if you DID buy one of the gashog but emissions restricted American cars or trucks, the first thing you did was take the catalytic off, along with the air pump and any associated junk, take out the PCV valve etc. and get better mileage and performance out of it. I mean you did if you lived anywhere there wasn’t emissions tests required. No one ever actually checked to make sure that junk stayed on them.

By: fixitmanarizona

fixitmanarizona — Fri, 28 May 2021 19:19:25 +0000

If you HAD to buy a new car in the 70’s it was most likely going to be an import, as the “muscle cars” were gone due to regulations, and American cars had not yet built a reliable compact car, which is what everyone needed then with the fuel crisis. Toyota and Honda built solid, reliable cars that got good mileage, and Toyota built trucks that would pretty much last forever and got 20 mpg, or you could buy a Mitsubishi that was dang near indestructible and also got good mileage (but was sold with Chrysler or Plymouth nameplates.) I mean if you HAD to have a full sized truck, Dodge was indestructible but only typically got 6 mpg, so Fix or Repair Daily’s or Chevy’s that got 10 to 12 mpg and didn’t have to meet the emissions standards for the first few years were your other bet.
We had VW bugs, the original Honda Civic, a Toyota Corolla, a Plymouth (Mitsubishi) Arrow pickup, and a Toyota pickup in that era. Also had an old stovebolt Chevy truck (not a “modern” 70s truck) that had an engine rebuilt about 3 times, because it was so cheap, and you could basically fix anything on it with duct tape.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 07:14:40 +0000

Dennis from Sydney Australia, !983 Camaro in red. I bought it in 1994, still own it today, has the 305 V8 with T 700 four speed overdrive It runs great and looks new.. It is right hand drive.. The transmission was rebiult in 2001 I have a 2016 Mustang 5 litre GT . The Camaro gets all the looks. I was even filmed whilst driving the Camaro by strangers beside me .Using their I Phone.

By: Andrew Conley

Andrew Conley — Fri, 01 May 2020 20:22:01 +0000

I can remember the 1971-1975 Chrysler line up.I also remember the 1977-1979 Pontiac line up.Not only these but the Cadillacs of 1979.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 17:06:55 +0000

My first love was a 73 El Camino with a 350. Ran it for about a year and never a problem. Next a 76 Grand Prix with a 400, always carb problems that went away on their own also driven about a year. My next car was another 76 Grand Prix with the 455, loved her! Never a problem and I beat her, even took it off road a few times. After 8 years I finally had to let her go. All the floors from pedals to tail lights were rotted out. I replaced them twice throughout the eighties. I refused to buy an 80s car and got myself a 76 K5 Blazer with a 350. After 2 years I blew a head. Rebuilt the engine and drove her a few more years. She was a tank. Pulling out of snow buried up to her door handles was a breeze. Saved my life once in a snow storm when some jackass pulled out in front of me. No time to stop I steered her into the ditch and motored about a mile in two feet of snow before I was able to get back out onto the highway. After the blazer I hit hard times and sold the K5 and picked up a 84 Chrysler Aries Station wagon “K car”, rebuilt the carb and drove her 2 years trouble free until a head gasket started to leak oil and the 4 banger would catch fire from time to time on hot summer days. I bought a 2 door ’80 Parisienne with the 305. Loved it, it rode like a Cadillac. Not the fastest car I ever drove but it was comfortable.

By: Robin Call

Robin Call — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 03:47:16 +0000

I love learning about the car industry of the 60’s,70’s and 80’s. I drove mostly pickup trucks growing up but I also worked as a tow truck driver for 3-4 yrs when I was fresh outta highschool. I towed so many Chrysler’s with the famous ballast resistor problems(a real easy fix) and there starters or solenoids going out.
I can’t say enough good things about my first two vehicles as a teen. A 72 Ford f250 with a 360 motor and auto trans. Then a 72 Chevy k5 blazer 350 motor &turbo 350 trans. Beautiful orange/red color. I beat the hell outta those trucks and they took it for the most part. Good times… Sorry to ramble

By: centotrentuno

centotrentuno — Mon, 28 May 2018 08:32:02 +0000

You forgot Fiat 131 Mirafiori. İt was a good car.

By: brian s jones

brian s jones — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 02:03:23 +0000

I had many American Car in my time. Starting with 1967 Chevrolet Impala SS 327. Always had something wrong with it. 1970 Ford Torino Not a good Idea. 1969 Pontiac Bonneville, Drank gas like water. 1973 Impala was the same. 1974 Chevrolet Caprice Classic was a nice looking car and had no problems. 1977 Ford Thunderbird which should of never purchased one. Nothing but problems. 1977 Chevrolet Malibu 305 under powered but no major problems just brake problems in some ways that is a very big problem. 1977 Buick Regal V6 nice car if the transmission would work. Most of the time just parked. 2005 Chevrolet Malibu banging noise in the front end drove me craze but a reliable car. 2006 Pontiac grand Prix GT nice car i just drove it to much . I finally broke down and purchased a brand new car. 2014 Volkswagen Jetta. Currently have 55,000 miles and not one problem very satisfied with the car, ride is fairly good. My Wife wanted a new 2016 Chevrolet Cruse and now has 24000 miles and not one problem. Driving the Cruse is like driving a luxury car just feels so nice to ride in and to drive. If i get around to Purchasing another new car I want the new Chevrolet Impala. will see. I love the looks of the American car of the 60’s, 70’s styling was so creative and a lot of new technology that was new at the time now just old fashioned.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 15:01:29 +0000

The 1979 Plymouth TrailDuster image is in fact a Jeep Nukizer 715.

By: Anthony Phipps

Anthony Phipps — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 13:47:32 +0000

I must say that my most beloved car of the 70’s was a 1974 Ford pinto. You could fix anything on this vehicle as long as you had a hammer and Phillips’ head screwdriver. Slight exaggeration.
Its gas mileage wasn’t even close to what you might expect out of a car that size with a “four banger” (4 cylinders). I must say though that it got me anywhere I needed to go and isn’t that what you want in a car? My worst was a 77 Dodge Magnum. It was barely 6 months old when a transmission leak sprang from a line that was rubbing against the transmission itself. I wondered what that noise was.

There were various other problems and I ended up trading it in for a 80 Plymouth TC3. Goodbye 70’s. Drive a ’76 roadrunner and a ’69 roadrunner and my previous statements will be a thundering “Nuff SAID!” Anyway, there were some good cars in this decade. Unfortunately, most of them were foreign. All in all, I’d put my Pinto against any Gosh Darn Toyota!