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Today's subcompact could drag with factory stock V8 cars of the mid to late 70s. Not saying today's subcompact could beat them, but there wouldn't be much time difference depending on the model. Many of today's compacts could give the factory stock muscle cars of the mid to late 70s a run for the money in straight line and cornering. Today's optional engine family sedans could beat those stock muscle cars in a drag race. Many of the cars of that period rust easily, bad plastics that quickly discolored and crack in the sun, low horsepower, low fuel economy, and in some cases styled by narcotics (think screaming chicken or pin stripe cobra). Performance began returning in the mid80s, but build quality on American cars was still stuck in the 70s.
The smog pump generally only used up about 5 HP. The low HP was due to the carb jetting being way lean, spark retarded, low compression, and funky cam timing. If you took the belt off the smog pump with no other changes, you would have had about 150 HP.
Actually the better spec engines from this vintage had the smog pump, they were jetted a *bit* richer, for a bit better power and drive-ability, the smog pump added some oxygen to the exhaust stream to get it closer to stoichemetric for the benefit of the catalytic converter.
Never knew that. I do recall though that the 76model was a bit more peppy. If I recall, they made the car smaller in 78. Had a V6 or that 305?
Forgot, the challeng and chargers were neat and cheap.....the 72 mustang had a long nose and long slant on the rear windshield.....67-68 firebirds and camaros were nice....and common....we also had the vw "thing".....so.....there's......that....
Had a 73 Luxury LeMans with the fender skirts. Had the 400 V8. Went around everything except the gas station. Not the best build quality but it was dependable. Better than the 75 Volvo 242 with fuel injection. The injection system would plug up and left us stranded several times. What an expensive POS. Never buy another Volvo again!
Forgot, the challeng and chargers were neat and cheap.....the 72 mustang had a long nose and long slant on the rear windshield.....67-68 firebirds and camaros were nice....and common....we also had the vw "thing".....so.....there's......that....
I like pretty much everything made during that time. The 1975-80 Chevy Monza and its badge engineered sisters are some of my favorite cars of all time.
Aluminum block engine blocks that warped at the first sign of over-heating and bodies that rusted out in about a year. Monzas were pieces of crap...
Thinking back during the 10 years 1975-1985 seems every car made was awful. Were there any cars from that time period that weren't?
I was in High school from the 1979 - 1980 school year till the 1982 - 1983 school year.
Cars that my friends and myself liked back then were the BMW 320I, Porsche 924, Ford Mustang. Some neighbors had the Lincoln Mark VI 2 door coupe with its long hood. I still love the look of that car. My dad had a 64 Coupe De Ville and a 1977 Ford Thunderbird. Olds cutlass was still selling well back then. I had a 71 olds cutlass.
What I miss from back then is all the British sports cars. MG's MGB and the Midget. Loved the Triumph Spitfire. That was probably my all time favorite British Sports car. Back then they seemed to be secondary cars, weekend cars. Probably due to Government regulations British Leyland stopped selling the MG's and Triumphs here in the States in 1980 I think.
Aluminum block engine blocks that warped at the first sign of over-heating and bodies that rusted out in about a year. Monzas were pieces of crap...
Very, very few had the problematic 2.3L 4 cylinder. Most had the reliable Iron Duke, Buick V6, or a V8. With a V8 and a few other small modifcations, you could have a fun and fast car. I have a 383 stroker for when I finally buy one. Yes, the build quality suffered, but every car back then did. There are still plenty of these 70s and 80s cars around.
The hatchback's shape is simply a thing of beauty:
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