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depends upon what you consider the "quality" issues that are important to you.
I'm as much in awe of the materials/engineering/craftsmanship that went into the bespoke cars of the 20's-'30's before the financial crash wiped out most of those manufacturers (love old Packards, and a host of the Euro hand-built "classics") ... BUT ...
From a performance, utility, reliability, overall handling/braking/suspension, fuel efficiency, comfort/convenience standpoint ... we're living right now in the best cars ever built. Computerized fuel and ignition delivery, variable cam timing, variable intake volumes, AWD systems that work seamlessly, superb brakes, handling control, excellent clutches/manual transmissions, automatic transmissions, engine durability, chassis durability, electrical systems reliability, lighting systems, cruise control ... this list goes on and on, and many car lines today deliver on all these and other issues at a reasonable cost per mile.
And don't forget safety issues ... today's cars are much better at accident avoidance, and after the fact ... much better at occupant protection. SRS airbag systems, crush zone construction, safety glass, frangible controls .... a car may be destroyed in a collision today, but it will do so in it's job of protecting the occupants from the sudden stoppage ....
In your opinion what was the last great year of the classic automobiles before the quality of the vehicles started to decline?
for the classic era the 71-72 were the last before 1973 where the oil crisis and having emission control added and the end of leaded high octane gas for the high compression engines was the end and the Gremlins, Pintos and Pacers came out and Japanese cars first entered north America and rusted like crazy and then they went and made cars that were better front wheel drive economy cars wile the full-size segment was downsized to what was a Midsize.
Well except Lincoln and Cadillac they got longer but the A-body cutlass supreme that was replaced by the G Body that was smaller and a full-size car today is close to the size of a G-body.
In my opinion the LAST great year was the GM G bodies (Monte Carlo SS, Grand Prix, Regal) of the 80's. That isnt to ssay it was the BEST year, just the LAST year.
In my opinion the LAST great year was the GM G bodies (Monte Carlo SS, Grand Prix, Regal) of the 80's. That isnt to ssay it was the BEST year, just the LAST year.
Yup. those were probably the most reliable cars GM built at that time. ALL the bugs had been worked out. In fact I am looking for a 78 or 79 Monte to replace my 79 "Bird as my daily driver. But true to form (for me) I want one with the Buick V6. I have a 4.1 sitting around for a engine replacement, but I have NO small block Chevy engines or parts (except for my 74 Impala that's off limits).
I'd say sometime during the mid 70;s as far as Americana classic cars even if the quality had declined by then.Then the turn to one model being the same whether chevy;olds or other came into being because of cost. Love the day when a Chevy was its own car and olds was its own car. etc;not based on same frame etc.
Detroit quality went away totally in 1970. I don't consider anything after 1970 a classic. My favorite recent "classic" American car is the 1962-64 Studebaker Grand Turismo Hawks. They were the best renditions of the Loewy coupes started in 1953.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Originally Posted by outafocus
Detroit quality went away totally in 1970. I don't consider anything after 1970 a classic. My favorite recent "classic" American car is the 1962-64 Studebaker Grand Turismo Hawks. They were the best renditions of the Loewy coupes started in 1953.
Pretty much true, after smog devices came in without the technology to reduce emissions while maintaining performance. There were a few 71-72 vehicles that I still consider classics like the Chevelle, El Camino and Nova big blocks, with some modifications, but the reliable muscle of the earlier 350 V8 was only 165 HP, less than the 327 of the 60s.
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