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I think yer trying to read too much into CRs "research". I can only compare the numbers you have for the 6 banger versus my in-laws 73 LTD with a 390 2 barrel. They got a constant 18 mpgs hiway with it and that was at speeds well above 70. Maybe that's why they got such good gas mileage I don't really know. But my FIL would drive everything he owned on the floor. He owned 2 houses at the coast and he went every weekend. He traded cars often as the 175 mile one way trip added up pretty quick. His cars over the years were a 63 Impala 327 Power Pack, a 65 Galaxie with a 302, a 67 LTD with a 390, a 71 LTD w/390, a 73 LTD w/390, and the real road hog, a Gremlin. The Gremlin actually was a better car than I ever thought an AMC ever could be. Even pulled his 18' boat with it. His 67 looked a lot like this car. Same color blue with a white vinyl top. He put mag wheels on it and the then new technology radial tires on it. I thought it was the best looking full size Ford car ever- still do.
A 74 Maverick with 200 and automatic got 21 on the 300 mile test trip. A 76 Maverick with 200/3-speed got 26.5 MPG at 55 mph. On the other side of the coin, a 75 Mav with 250/Auto got 15. And those tests were on bias ply tires. Radials would have gotten more.
My dad bought a 1976 Honda Civic CVCC. When I started driving in 1986, I got that car as a hand me down. It was awesome, because unlike every other car made since 1974 it still took regular (leaded) gas and it got something like 30 MPG IIRC. So, as a high school kid I could hit the leaded gas pump in 1986-87 and buy gas with essentially pocket change and drive what seemed like forever. The lowest I remember was $0.639 a gallon.
1973 was not a vintage year for Detroit, and '74 was worse. The crude emissions controls of the day frequently included retarding the spark when not in high gear, way low compression with a cam with little lift but lot's of overlap to make a crude EGR system, and don't forget the heavy ugly 5-mph bumpers. A '72 or earlier car is a way better car in terms of power and MPG compared to the bad old days of 73-74. The first cars to *require* unleaded gas are 1975 MY. These were the first cars with cats, and the beginning of the performance renaissance that continues to the present day.
100% correct! Don't forget the smog pump on some models......
the 73 LTD had a 390? I thought it was either the 351, 400 or 460.
For a 1973 1/2 you'd be right. So many folks forget that Ford was crazy back in the 70's with their half year introductions all across the model line up. The body style remained the same but engines changed, transmissions changed, colors changed, options changed like wheels and tires, axle ratios, performance packages, etc. Some items were not even available from September to January 1. It was available as the half year offering. Supposedly it kept the new car introduction lasting longer and generated sales. Ford still does it somewhat but now they call it Job 1 or Job 2. Job 1 is the introduction at the September offering and Job 2 comes in the first to the middle of January. I don't remember any other car maker that did it as a daily business plan but I think all makers had a few half year introductions back then.
yes i remember the Fury for 73 had a mid year special in April which included special upholstery, purple paint, it was like a more gaudy, flashy version of a Fury III
remember that in the early 70s, emission controls were add ons, not engineered into the system like they were later on. as for the lack of fuel efficiency, again remember there were changes for the 73 model year, things like cam timing was retarded to improve emissions, but it had the opposite effect on fuel economy. and then there was the weight gain due to the new add on safety systems, not just the 150lbs for the 5mph bumpers, but there were also door guard beams added the increased weight by as much as 70lbs. and also dont forget that the automakers were adding comfort and convenience items like sound deadening material, and plusher seats, etc, that also added weight. at the time radial tires were still an option on most cars, and lets face it, consumer reports was not the best source for automotive testing, but that isnt to say that car and driver, road and track, and motor trend did much better fuel economy wise.
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