"bad"'70s cars that...

[cfz2882]

...actually were nice rides:Ford Granada,Chrysler Cordoba,Cadillac Seville,AMC Pacer and others that top the poo-poo lists GM colonnaide cars (73-77 midsize) used to make the list as well,but those are starting to get some appreciation lately.Granada is one of the more commonly derided of these "malaise era"cars,but I thought they were pretty decent-at least as experienced in the mid-80s as a car often handed over to teenagers in the '80s

 

[rp2813]

At least here in California, any U.S. made car from '71 - '74 suffered from poor performance due to their suffocating anti-smog systems.  That's on top of  lousy fit and finish and manufacturer arrogance even though Hondas, Toyotas and Datsuns were stealing market share at a steadily increasing rate.

 

[goatfarmer]

Granada's were OK. Fairmonts, not so much.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

I liked the Dodge Diplomat/Chrysler LeBaron cars...

 

 

 

-- Dave

 

[petek]

Full size car lover here.

I never liked the collonade styling when they came out and still don't. Just something about it, hard to explain. But then too I didn't like much of anything after the 77 GM downsizing followed by Ford. Give me them big old boats any day.

 

[ea56]

I owned a ‘71 Ford Maverick that was a great little car. I bought it used in Nov’81 for $1295 and drove it for 5 years. The only problem I had with it was that the linkage to the clutch broke once when I was stopped at a red light.

But I drove it 15 miles home in rush hour traffic with no clutch. I just shifted it like I always would have by the sound of the engine and speed I was traveling at and didn’t grind the gears once. But it sure felt strange to be shifting it without using the clutch. The pedal was laying on the floor board. It was a very nimble little car and really easy to drive for a stick and I really only needed to shift between 2nd and 3rd once I was under way. Much easier to drive than a Volkswagon and better HP too. I got an average 25 mpg all the time.

Eddie

 

[robbinsandmyers]

Anything from England, France, and Italy was 100% shite and to avoid. German cars esp Mercedes diesels were tanks, Japanese cars were just coming into their own with decent styling and a reputation for reliability and quality but still considered tin cans, and anything was better than the smogged out trash Detroit was pushing.

 

[maytag85]

The 1970’s wasn’t the finest hour for American made vehicles but as robbinsandmyers mentioned, the majority of cars from Europe with the exception of a few were even worse around that time and the British car industry was no more by the time the 80’s came around.

This isn’t from the malaise era, but I’d gladly would take a ‘66 Ford LTD 4 door hardtop over anything made today. Sure, it doesn’t have airbags, ABS, traction control, but more than makes up for it in terms of outward visibility. It’s all relative to the era it was made in.

Btw, I suggest you guys check out the channel on YouTube called Rare Classic Cars & Automotive History.

 

[qsd-dan]

My grandparents had a 1978 Ford Granada with a 302 V8, C6 trans, and limited slip 9" rear end through 1992 which was replaced with a Lincoln Towncar. It was pretty decent vehicle for being smack dab in the malaise era and was comfortable for what it was. I can still hear that loud buzzer 3 decades later, lol. Also, the killer door locks were interesting. Pull the door handle up and the door lock automatically disengaged and opened the door. Convenient for an adult but a late term external abortion option for children.

 

[warmsecondrinse]

In the mid 80's I needed a new car. I test drove a '77 Ford Granada w/302 V8. A little soft for my taste but rock solid and was rather pleasant on the highway, which was most of my driving at the time. I thought about it for a couple hours then called the seller to tell him I'd take it. It was gone :-(

A friend's parents had a late 70's Cordoba. smooth, quiet. The only downside was the distinct lack of legroom in the back

A friend had a '76 Pacer. Guzzled gas but roomy and gave a good ride.

IMO, it was the downsized GM cars that were the disasters: Full sized starting in '77, mid-sized starting in '78........ Just awful in every aspect. I remember many people saying never again about GM.

 

[circlew]

Neighbors across the street got a new Ford Granada around 1977. After having it a few days, they noticed the trim on the one side didn't match the other, and one front fender said Granada, and the other said Monarch. They took it back to the dealer, and they put the correct parts on.

 

[petek]

Amazing that the car could get all the way to the customers house and no one noticed. Now if all the panels used were somehow coded and proved to that particular car it could be worth a fortune as a "one off", like a mis struck coin LOL.

 

[wayupnorth]

My cousin was gifted a Mercury Monarch from her grandparents, loaded, V8, low miles but chewed gas bad. She traded for a Subaru.

 

[sudsmaster]

I still have my 1964 Plymouth Valiant with the legendary Slant Six motor, and the Torqueflite automatic transmission. I bought it from the original owner around 1976. Made a lot of trips in that Plymouth - down to LA, up to the ski country, even to Portland, Oregon and back. And of course to commute to work and back for about 20 years. I learned how to work on cars with that Valiant.

 

[robbinsandmyers]

With all the talk about Granadas and Monarchs it reminded me of the robins egg blue 1976 Monarch an uncle bought new. He was a die hard Merc guy and still is. When the paint wasnt blowing off it in sheets it was popping in reverse from park, or it had some electrical issue. The 66 Ford reminds of the black 66 Custom 4dr a neighbor had in the earky 70's. My dad drove his 66 Caprice wagon he bought new until 1979 when he figured he dodged a bullet by then and bought a 79 Estate wagon.

 

[appnut]

My first car was a 1977 Forest Green Pacer.

 

[askolover]

Daddy had a 1978 Ford Fairmont. He drove that car to death, then had the engine rebuilt and kept driving it. Eventually he sold it to buy a 1987 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Brougham with leather seats. He loved that Olds...it got much better gas mileage and would go in the snow without chains. He commuted 33 miles each way from TN to AL for work at Reynolds Aluminum.

 

[justjunque]

That's the type of cars that were everywhere when I started driving. I didn't know we were in the "malaise" era. I just thought of them as what cars are.
In my early days of driving, I was only interested in owning big cars. A Cadillac was always a dream, but I've never owned one to this day.
I can remember lusting for a 1969 Chrysler Newport. Never owned one of those either, but I did briefly own a 1969 Dodge Monaco. That car seemed so cavernous inside. It felt like you needed an intercom to communicate with someone in the back seat.
Today, I have the strongest desire to have a car from that era again. Except now, I want the ones that I missed out on when they were plentiful.
I would love a Granada/Monarch. I would love a 1975-1979 Chevy Nova. I'm partial to the four-door, and to the '75 and '76, because of their dashboard design. My favorite uncle had a '75 that we went on so many fun family outings in.
Unfortunately, now all of those cars are gone. At least, in this part of the country. New England winters are not kind to bodies and undercarriages.
I remember an aunt having an early Dodge Aspen or Plymouth Volare. The tops of the front fenders started rotting away when the car was only a few years old or so. If I'm not mistaken, that was such an issue with those cars that Chrysler had to do a recall or something and replace the front fenders.
Man. I could go on for hours on this topic.
I won't, but I could!

Barry

 

[philcobendixduo]

1977 Granada Ghia

In 1977, my dad leased a 1977 Granada Ghia. Dark Jade Green Metallic with two-tone leather interior.
It had every option except moonroof, four wheel disc brakes and, oddly, remote trunk release.
It had numerous assembly issues when delivered. Broken visor mount, side marker light bulb hanging by wires in the wheel well, and a few others.
After the lease was up, dad bought the car and gave it to my mom to drive.
It suffered from many issues over the years - transmission rebuild, leaking fuel lines, air conditioner compressor, and more. And it had low miles - not driven hard and well maintained.
A great looking car but very trouble prone - at least in this case.
It had the 302 V8 with the California only "variable venturi carburetor". Also a trouble area.
It got a repaint after about 6 years due to the original paint not holding up well over the years (outside most of the time...)
When mom got her new 1987 Mercury Topaz LS, my younger brother got the Granada.
He didn't have it long before selling it off for something more reliable.