Terrible Cars from the 1970s: Do They Have a Use?

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I admit. Ever since I made this topic 3 years ago, the idea has been sitting in the back of my head (partially because I wasn't able to seal the deal with the guy who was selling it).



Let me explain: 1970s compact domestic automobiles are slow, poorly made and underpowered even for their time. However, they are light, they are very cheap, and they are almost all RWD. And I presume they are fairly reliable, Vega excepting. And while my intent wouldn't be the same as it would have been when I wanted that Mustang (where I wanted to buy it just to make fun of how bad it was), I have to imagine there is some legitimate fun to be had with them. Is that an incorrect assumption to make?
 
I love cars from the 70's.


Well, I love this kind of car from the 70's.

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I've always thought that a Gremlin would make a neat drifter. 4.0 H.O. Jeep engine with turbos, anyone?
 
Can you imagine, you know, a car, but like, it's got a frame?
Those were the good ol' days. You'd never know it twisted like a rubber band though because the suspenders were full of finely churned butter. Looks like one helluva cruiser to me.
 
A guy around the corner from us had a Gremlin with a 318. One of the fastest things I've seen off track.
 
personally, i'll take a mark 1 caprice. you think America has Land Yachts NOW, those big old full sizers take the cake! if you can manuver that monster and park it, you can park anywhere.
 
Those were the good ol' days. You'd never know it twisted like a rubber band though because the suspenders were full of finely churned butter. Looks like one helluva cruiser to me.

Doesn't hurt that the bit doing the twisting was connected to the body via rubber mounts. Perfect cruiser, then.
 
I don't think the OP is interested in those barges up there. He seems likes he's looking for a small car like the Mustang II.

The emission regulations are a big part of what made those cars so terrible. If you replace those old parts with modern components, then you can expect a good increase in performance.

Personally, I think it'd be fun to own something that associated with that level of terribleness and then try to make it work. Surely it won't cost too much...
 
I admit. Ever since I made this topic 3 years ago, the idea has been sitting in the back of my head (partially because I wasn't able to seal the deal with the guy who was selling it).



Let me explain: 1970s compact domestic automobiles are slow, poorly made and underpowered even for their time. However, they are light, they are very cheap, and they are almost all RWD. And I presume they are fairly reliable, Vega excepting. And while my intent wouldn't be the same as it would have been when I wanted that Mustang (where I wanted to buy it just to make fun of how bad it was), I have to imagine there is some legitimate fun to be had with them. Is that an incorrect assumption to make?

I've seen Pintos, Gremlins, Pacers, and Vegas turned into big block-powered drag strip monsters, so yeah, there's a little fun to be had with them :D
 
Well, it'd be fun for the type of man who drives a monster truck...

Good set of wheelie bars would also help 👍

And, given that they're somewhat light, some work to the suspension would make them good candidates for the road course.
 
I would like a Pinto with a Mustang GT drivetrain myself...

Absolutely bonkers yes. :D
 
-Grab 1974 Dodge Monaco wagon, the one with flip-up headlamps.
-Freshen the big block or drop one in if absent. Nothing radical, we just need the torque.
-Coat it in very dark green metallic, add 18-inch Hallibrands, Torq-Thrusts or Magnums,
-Add air suspension for max drop and comfort. Add good brakes.
-Retrim in caramel leather everywhere and add infotainment stuff.
-Cruise the entire country in a several-week trip, stopping in little towns and cities alike, with car-freak destinations along the way.
 
-Grab 1974 Dodge Monaco wagon, the one with flip-up headlamps.
-Freshen the big block or drop one in if absent. Nothing radical, we just need the torque.
-Coat it in very dark green metallic, add 18-inch Hallibrands, Torq-Thrusts or Magnums,
-Add air suspension for max drop and comfort. Add good brakes.
-Retrim in caramel leather everywhere and add infotainment stuff.
-Cruise the entire country in a several-week trip, stopping in little towns and cities alike, with car-freak destinations along the way.

This I like. :dopey: Oh and camp out in it. :sly:
 
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I'd have a V8-transplanted Vega. Nice looking cars saddled with awful engines. An LS would make them quite a weapon.
 
I'd have a V8-transplanted Vega. Nice looking cars saddled with awful engines. An LS would make them quite a weapon.

Be ready for rust up the wazoo until you find plastic replacement parts.

Speaking of plastic, the interior and suspension are infamous for just falling apart and rusting solid, respectively.

These are all fixable problems, however. I'm sure there's enough aftermarket support to turn it into a great little sub-compact.
 
-Grab 1974 Dodge Monaco wagon, the one with flip-up headlamps.
-Freshen the big block or drop one in if absent. Nothing radical, we just need the torque.
-Coat it in very dark green metallic, add 18-inch Hallibrands, Torq-Thrusts or Magnums,
-Add air suspension for max drop and comfort. Add good brakes.
-Retrim in caramel leather everywhere and add infotainment stuff.
-Cruise the entire country in a several-week trip, stopping in little towns and cities alike, with car-freak destinations along the way.

Speaking of Mopar, you could do the same big-block treatment to a '74 Dodge Dart. Equip it with a set of exhaust cutouts and make sure the mufflers do a good job of quieting down the engine. Then, when you want to mess around, pop open the cutouts and have fun!
 

Nice 👍 Funny how similar the Vega looks to some of the GM products over in Europe in the 70s even though they're virtually completely unrelated, GM ownership aside. Bit of Opel Chevette and Ascona in there.

I suppose the other funny thing is how in-demand 70s classics are over here, when the 70s cars out there are the ones everybody doesn't want. Part of it is pre-1972 road tax exemption, but we got some absolutely cracking cars in the 1970s too.
 
we got Chevette directly with a badge transplant. the last actual Opel we had was in 75. after 76, they were rebadged Isuzus :P
 
Not to go too far off topic but Chevettes were pretty good cars. Well, the wide-arched HSR Chevettes were, the rest were just average by the standards of the day. Looked more fondly upon now than they were back then by virtue of being RWD, which means everybody wants one to relieve themselves from the tedium of the average family wagon today.
 
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