Story by David S. Wallens and Tim Suddard
Catalytic converters.
Questionable fit and finish.
Landau tops paired with velour interiors and massive bumpers meandering down the highway at 55 mph to the disco beat.
Looking back, the ’70s get a bad rap. Okay, true, the decade produced some stinkers, but was it really all that bad?
What about one of …
There's something about those R107-chassis cars that makes them look so timeless and classy.
A couple of comments:
The 240Z was a 60s not 70s car - it came out in 1969 and the specification deteriorated as time passed and government restrictions piled up. Great cars though.
The TR6 was a gutted ghost with 104 bhp vs. the home market injected version which had 150 bhp - a travesty! They also botched the rear spring rates - if you nailed the accelerator it squatted and looked like a female dog having a pee.
The BMW 2002 section brought back bad memories. I almost bought a rare 2002 turbo for $10K back in the day and have regretted not doing it ever since. They were a bit of a bear to drive fast though - a friend had one he raced and he said that the turbo lag was so bad that he had to finish braking at the end of the straights using his left foot while he used his right to hit the accelerator so that the boost built in time for the next straight.
Nice selection of cars, but as someone who survived the Malaise Era, they are exceptions rather than a norm. The 1970’s may have been the first era where the cars were demonstrably worse than the era that preceded it.
Heres a glimpse of how bad it was overall, courtesy of Road and Track.
1974 Pontiac Trans Am SD 455
A rare moment of glory
Noddaz said:1974 Pontiac Trans Am SD 455
A rare moment of glory
I had a 1972 Pontiac - they didn't call the convertibles a GTO, but it had the 455 HO engine and the underpinnings were GTO spec - one of only 33 made. Took it around my local race track out of interest. Poor brakes, worse handling and OK power. Cruising car, NOT a serious performance machine.
In reply to Noddaz :
One of my favorite uses of "Super Duty" in a vehicle name. 
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