Author Topic: Friday Fun: Icons of the 1970s (Read 12692 times)

Autos_Editor · « **on:** August 03, 2012, 04:10:22 am »

Mike takes a nostalgic trip to a time before he was born'the 1970s.

Read More...

Ex-airbalancer · « **Reply #1 on:** August 03, 2012, 06:36:46 am »

We know you where not around in the 70's, golf was know as a Rabbit in NA

You probably saw more 340 Duster than anything else back then

Snowman · « **Reply #2 on:** August 03, 2012, 07:12:14 am »

The lost decade.

paul246 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 03, 2012, 07:53:46 am »

My fave of those mentioned is the Datsun 240Z. What a blast to drive and quite affordable in the early 70's.

I also owned the Z's predecessor, a '69 Datsun SPL411 Roadster. Fun stuff!

Mike · « **Reply #4 on:** August 03, 2012, 08:11:40 am »

Quote from: airbalancer on August 03, 2012, 06:36:46 am

We know you where not around in the 70's, golf was know as a Rabbit in NA

You probably saw more 340 Duster than anything else back then

I was a kid of the 1980's so I remember some lumbering V8 mid-size sedans, but I wonder if kids boring in the 1990's can fathom compact cars had V6 engines back in the day, let alone 340 V8's

D70 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 03, 2012, 08:58:51 am »

Quote from: paul246 on August 03, 2012, 07:53:46 am

My fave of those mentioned is the Datsun 240Z. What a blast to drive and quite affordable in the early 70's.

I also owned the Z's predecessor, a '69 Datsun SPL411 Roadster. Fun stuff!

Excellent taste, well chosen

Threader · « **Reply #6 on:** August 03, 2012, 09:44:17 am »

Author should of mentioned that the Mustang II and the Pinto shared a platform and many parts.

Mike · « **Reply #7 on:** August 03, 2012, 09:44:55 am »

Quote from: Threader on August 03, 2012, 09:44:17 am

Author should of mentioned that the Mustang II and the Pinto shared a platform and many parts.

Shhhh, Mustang fans don't want that known

Fobroader · « **Reply #8 on:** August 03, 2012, 11:11:06 am »

Quote from: Mike on August 03, 2012, 09:44:55 am

Quote from: Threader on August 03, 2012, 09:44:17 am
Author should of mentioned that the Mustang II and the Pinto shared a platform and many parts.

Shhhh, Mustang fans don't want that known

Mustang fans sweep the Mustang II under the rug like it never happened.....think the Vatican on a few subjects!

Fobroader · « **Reply #9 on:** August 03, 2012, 11:12:19 am »

The BMW 2002 and the Z cars were my favorite cars of that decade.

blur911 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 03, 2012, 11:31:06 am »

Quote from: Threader on August 03, 2012, 09:44:17 am

Author should of mentioned that the Mustang II and the Pinto shared a platform and many parts.

I had a Mustang II Cobra when I was a kid, the fact that it was totally gutless is probably why I'm still alive today.
Aside from that fact I still like the styling compared to the generation immediately before and after it. The '73 had gotten huge and gutless, the Fox body just never did much for me. I wouldn't mind having one today just for kicks with a more healthy V8 and sub 3000lb weight.
BTW, The front suspension from scrapped Mustang II's have found their way into many a hot-rod, very popular swap.

Soram6275 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 03, 2012, 12:19:37 pm »

Love the chicken hawk, GTI, and Challenger.

tooscoops · « **Reply #12 on:** August 03, 2012, 12:39:44 pm »

nice when i'm seeing my pacer on lists other than "worst cars" lists...

If only "cult icon" resulted in "valuable collector"

soj · « **Reply #13 on:** August 03, 2012, 01:05:07 pm »

If I'm not mistaken, a real 70's GTIs was never available in North America. As I recollect the first real GTI available on this side of pond was the 1983 "Rabbit" GTI, superseded by the type 2 Golf GTI in 1985. There was a 79 GTI in Canada but it was cosmetic only, i.e.: running gear was identical to the regular NA Rabbit. I remember because of how disappointed I was given the giant killer rep the European car had.

tpl · « **Reply #14 on:** August 03, 2012, 01:49:56 pm »

I think you are correct. The first injected rabbit was also the first GTI. the original rabbits were carburetted and then they went to K-Jetronic. My first one was a 1987 twincam GTI and even that was 12 bhp down on the Euro version.

Spec5 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 03, 2012, 02:07:32 pm »

My neighbour had a 78-80 Turbo Trans Am (guess that would make it an '80?) and I remember he was trying to decide whether or not to repaint it or not. It looked fantastic at about 6 feet but you could tell it was going to need some work soon to keep it pristine so he looked into painting it. Anyway I remember back then (probably late 80s) that it was going to cost him something like $2k JUST for the Fire Chicken decal on the hood! Something about because the hood buldge on the turbo cars was different than the big blocks the wings were closer together than they were for a non-turbo model. Anyway in the end he left it all original. As I recall he got a decent penny for it too when they did finally sell it. I also recall him not letting my buddy drive it because he figured he'd crash it - but he'd let his eldest daughter drive it (who was 4 years older)! I'd be some pissed if that were my dad!

Anyway good memories - some nice cars in there for sure but ya 70s really sucked with the whole fuel crisis thing.

I think if I could buy a nice project car right now it would be the last year production of the Trans Am - always loved the look of the T/As.

dragonfly · « **Reply #16 on:** August 03, 2012, 04:49:22 pm »

For some reason the trailer parks of Northern America are strewn with old Trans Ams and Camaros up on blocks or lying rusting in the weeds..There must be something that attracts the less unfortunate in society to these vehicles... And the ugliest car ever made was that Plymouth with the three foot snout and ridiculous wing out back...Egad, what possessed them to make that thing?(I know..aerodynamics)
Loved those Dodges, including the Chargers....and the regular versions of the Roadrunners were really beautiful...and fast..
I bought a '72 Plymouth Satellite coupe new...Lovely little car....complete with 3 speed torque- flite indestructible transmission and tank engine slant six...I beat the crap outa that car for thirteen years..Sold it for 25 bucks to a guy who drove it for another 50 thousand miles before the tranny quit at 175,000 miles...What a car...I was drinking pretty heavy back then, and it is kind of a blur...hehe Thanks for some nice nostalgia Jack

Ex-airbalancer · « **Reply #17 on:** August 03, 2012, 05:00:10 pm »

Quote from: tooscoops on August 03, 2012, 12:39:44 pm

nice when i'm seeing my pacer on lists other than "worst cars" lists...

If only "cult icon" resulted in "valuable collector"

My mother in law had a pacer in the late 70"s

tooscoops · « **Reply #18 on:** August 03, 2012, 05:56:20 pm »

i say my pacer still gets more looks than any other on the list... even non-car people still look twice...

then they laugh, but they looked first.

ArticSteve · « **Reply #19 on:** August 03, 2012, 07:42:03 pm »

Quote from: airbalancer on August 03, 2012, 06:36:46 am

We know you where not around in the 70's, golf was know as a Rabbit in NA

You probably saw more 340 Duster than anything else back then

Ya, the Duster and the Demon were all over. Bench seats and 3 speed Hursts.

My ex brother-in-law bought a 69 240Z new for about $4200. Unfortunately, it had really thin tires so it kinda sucked. My buddy's dad sold him what I think was either a 71 or a 72 with the new 70 series wheel option and that really made a huge difference. They'd overheat easily if you beat them and fortunately since the hood opened up from the back you could pop it and keep going. The 70's were freezing. That unit would never last in this heat. IMO, it might have been the best affordable sports car ever.