5 Ugly But Fun 1970s Cars

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OldCarMemories.com

OldCarMemories.com

Күн бұрын

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@davidbaker4546
@davidbaker4546 Жыл бұрын
Loved my gremlin. Wish I still had it. I abused it for years doing everything from taking it off road to jumping a hill dukes of hazard style (with 5 ppl in it which broke my transmission in 2) but not still ran. It was unstoppable.
@herschelpowers5086
@herschelpowers5086 Жыл бұрын
The gremlin was one of the best cars ever made my aunt had one it was a tough little sucker
@Romiman1
@Romiman1 Жыл бұрын
The Gremlin doesn't look ugly. It looks FANTASTIC! (eccept frontend and interior...) The long hood (with factory V8...) makes it cool. And the shape of the rear side windows is copyied by many makes for decades later on...
@qwincyq6412
@qwincyq6412 Жыл бұрын
Had one on rental for my honeymoon. That car would swap ends as fast as you could look at it! Was worse than the mustang.
@1977_Buick_Regal
@1977_Buick_Regal Жыл бұрын
@@Romiman1 Hey, you are so right. AMC Gremlins were _NEVER_ ugly cars. They actually had a little cute style of their own... Can't say the same for some other cars featured in the video.
@lancerevell5979
@lancerevell5979 Жыл бұрын
AMC never got the respect it deserved. Being Number Four, they had to ride the bleeding edge of styling to get noticed. Gremilns lasted on the roads a lot longer than the competition from Ford and Chevy. Gremlins were cute too, very good personal cars.
@michiganmotorsports
@michiganmotorsports Жыл бұрын
It was a good time to be into cars for me. I was born in '64 and was a car encyclopedia by age 12. Could tell the make of the car by the exhaust sound driving by my house. My parents had me check out all their new cars in the '70s and '80s before they bought them.
@Funsho97
@Funsho97 Жыл бұрын
My friends and I used to do that also, we could tell you what car was coming down the street just by the sound of the engine and at night we would identify cars by the headlights!!!
@mudman6156
@mudman6156 Жыл бұрын
I could identify any car by it’s headlight configuration. Cadillac was the first company to introduce the square headlights on their 1975 model year. And Lincoln first introduced the European headlights on their new Lincoln MkVII coupe. One of my all time favorite cars is the big Lincoln MK V.
@nonelost1
@nonelost1 Жыл бұрын
@@Funsho97 One especially had to be familiar with the "headlight signature" of police cars, such as Dodge Polaras.
@Louis-kk3to
@Louis-kk3to 10 ай бұрын
64 me too,,,can you believe you're going on 60 ? I've been rebuilding automatic transmissions since I was 14 years old
@michiganmotorsports
@michiganmotorsports 10 ай бұрын
@@Louis-kk3to Next week the odometer rolls over to 60.😆
@pjcornell9691
@pjcornell9691 Жыл бұрын
My Father order and purchased a 1973 4 door white Grand Am with the 455ci engine. He had Von Dutch put a custom paint job on it in 1974... What a Hot car in Scottsdale Arizona back then. And ironically the Bricklin was used as our Scottsdale Police cars in the mid 1970's...
@Jjrmtv
@Jjrmtv Жыл бұрын
good memory!
@dannyg6592
@dannyg6592 Жыл бұрын
The Grand Am was attractive in two or four door. I liked the looks of the Bricklin. Its bumpers were way too large, but I forgive them as they were a tiny manufacturer with very limited resources, trying to meet the new 5 mph bumper laws. The Espada was odd looking, exotic and fast. The Gremlin and Thing were both so homely, they were also sort of cute.
@smgdfcmfah
@smgdfcmfah Жыл бұрын
I hate all four doors of that era - coupe or nothing! However, I knew someone with a Bricklin and I loved that car. I used to car pool with his daughter through my young teens and he would occasionally pick me up in it (usually it was parked in the garage). Not only did I get a ride in a cool sports car, but his smokin' blonde teenage daughter would be forced to sit on my lap for the ride - win, win for me young me! I still think the Bircklin is a good looking car and has aged fairly well. The bumpers just make it unique.
@kingrex1931
@kingrex1931 Жыл бұрын
I think that the Bricklin had 10 mph bumpers.
@5150puddin
@5150puddin 4 ай бұрын
Buddy of mine had a 4 door 230hp Grand Am and it was a joy to ride. Good torque and get off. It hit 132mph on the highway.
@chrisclermont456
@chrisclermont456 Жыл бұрын
The AMC Gremlin was an incredibly fun car to drive. It would smoke many other cars in its class with it's torquey inline 6. The V8 version was insane!!!
@kenjackson8078
@kenjackson8078 Жыл бұрын
I swapped out the automatic for a B/W T-10-S 4 speed out of a Rebel. Powered by the completely stock 258 I6, I was still able to pull wheelies in 1st and second. Most reliable vehicle I've ever owned In spite of me treating it like it was a Jeep.
@randolfo1265
@randolfo1265 Жыл бұрын
I had a 1974 Gremlin with the inline 6 and 3 on the floor, I can confirm, smoke the tires anytime you like!
@CDBC
@CDBC Жыл бұрын
My girlfriend had the Levi edition one, 3 on the floor, it was a blast!
@mikeweizer3149
@mikeweizer3149 Жыл бұрын
@@CDBC Seems as though everyone who grew up in the era of bell bottoms and Zeppelin owned either a Gremlin or a Valiant, Duster, Dart or Nova back in the day!.( quite a few Pintos as well). Of all those sub compacts in the 70s the Gremlin was about the best!!!!.
@spankynater4242
@spankynater4242 Жыл бұрын
I had a feeling this car would be on the list, but I actually thought it looked cool.
@richarda996
@richarda996 Жыл бұрын
1972 Gremlin with the 258 straight six and automatic cost $2600 out the door. It had towed a 1000# camper 75 mph down intrastate 10 getting 26 mpg. It was a great all around vehicle.
@johnmaki3046
@johnmaki3046 Жыл бұрын
AMC "6"s were GREAT motors!
@vintageflatulence150
@vintageflatulence150 Жыл бұрын
Great video. I never owned any of these cars, but I really liked seeing the Grand Ams, Gremlins, and Things. I had a VW Beatle convertible that was great fun, and I have wished many times that I still had that car.
@patrickmcgoldrick8234
@patrickmcgoldrick8234 Жыл бұрын
I disagree, I think the 4 door Gran Am was a good looking car whose style is still contemporary today. Great engines,good transmission options.,and great handling.A very underated car at the time.
@pauldolan4368
@pauldolan4368 Жыл бұрын
I learned to drive in a 1973 4 door Garnd Am 400 small block. Corduroy inserts on the front buckets, console shifter , what a sweet ride she was !
@dryan8377
@dryan8377 Жыл бұрын
Here here... my parents bought one that was a demo on the show room floor with 6k miles. 4 door, star mag wheels. 400 2bbl, beautiful car. Drove that thing coast to coast a few years later. Funny thing, you had to go thru the right wheel well to change the aft spark plugs on that side. I miss it. To me it was one of the most beautiful cars ever created. The sticker price in 73/74 was around 6500 bucks.
@anotherdamn6c
@anotherdamn6c Жыл бұрын
We got the 2-door in '75 drivers ed. Beautiful car. Awful color--kitchen counter green.
@charlesprice7608
@charlesprice7608 Жыл бұрын
The Pontiac 400 wasn’t considered a small block. It was a different engine than the Chevy 400. The Pontiac 400 was the same size as the 350 and the 455.
@akickboxralph1
@akickboxralph1 Жыл бұрын
@@dryan8377 I would have LOVED your parents Pontiac! I settled for a '73 Luxury LeMans 4dr in a beautiful metallic red called Buccaneer Red with a white interior. It had the handling package (front and rear stabilizer bars). As a mechanic, I drove many cars and in the day it was the best-handling car I could find. Also, many GM intermediates by '73 (and on) had a crowded engine compartment because most were equipped with air conditioning. making antics like you described necessary to change spark plugs. My '62 Pontiac Grand Prix needed the AC compressor removed to change the left front spark plug buried under it!
@camilo1455
@camilo1455 Жыл бұрын
@@dryan8377 hear, hear 👂
@MrJayrock620
@MrJayrock620 Жыл бұрын
I’m pretty sure the VW Thing was based of the Kubelwagen from WW2, or at very least it’s successor.
@thomasholland7981
@thomasholland7981 Жыл бұрын
Yeah, I saw a ton of them on Combat! and The Rat Patrol.
@kevinhughes9200
@kevinhughes9200 Жыл бұрын
I've always thought they were as well. All that's missing is flat grey paint and some iron crosses.
@hankkingsley9300
@hankkingsley9300 Жыл бұрын
I can tell you're not trained for narration. Jesus Christ liven up. Talk about amateur hour. You morons think anybody can do it. BZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTT! The. 19.73. Buick. Was. Thebestcarevermade. But. Some. Would. Disagreewiththis ASsEment?
@joseluisherrera4669
@joseluisherrera4669 Жыл бұрын
i think the VW 181 (Thing ) was always eclipsed by the smart design of Citroen Mehari
@sergioleone3583
@sergioleone3583 Жыл бұрын
You are 100% correct. I had a friend that had an actual Kubelwagen, and the engine casing had some "interesting" logos on it.
@mudman6156
@mudman6156 Жыл бұрын
The big Lincoln’s were some of the most beautiful cars ever made. They were certainly the most comfortable as well. Rolls Royce luxury took a distant backseat to both Cadillac and Lincoln. The 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible was gorgeous as well. As was the new Seville.
@marko7843
@marko7843 Жыл бұрын
AND Imperial....
@johnmaki3046
@johnmaki3046 Жыл бұрын
"Eye of the Beholder", buddy!
@kmyre
@kmyre Жыл бұрын
Except they weren't
@grand73am
@grand73am Жыл бұрын
They didn't call it a Gremlin for nothing :-) . But at least it wasn't bland, and if looking for cheap and practical, it was pretty good.
@draggonsgate
@draggonsgate Жыл бұрын
My Mom had a '74 Gremlin, in this funky blue color that looked lavender/orchid-ish in the shade, with denim interior. It had the 304 with an auto tranny, manual steering and brakes. Oh, and an AM radio. That thing was a beast! My Mom loved that car! It was totaled in '82 when she got hit head on by a Buick Electra and walked away. She bought a loaded '83 Spirit, which she absolutely hated. She traded it the next year for a Daytona Turbo.
@charlesprice7608
@charlesprice7608 Жыл бұрын
She had a Levi edition Gremlin. If there ever was a collectible Gremlin your mother had it! 😎👍
@richardkaltenbach3961
@richardkaltenbach3961 Жыл бұрын
Imagine A Gremlin With A 401!
@draggonsgate
@draggonsgate Жыл бұрын
My Mom always liked fast cars. The first car I remember was a '61 Fury, and then she got a '67 Dart with a 318 which she traded on the Gremlin. In 1990, I showed up to show off my new car, and unbeknownst to me, she has bought a new car the day before... I was so proud of my Mercury Colony Park with the wood sides and roof rack... parked next to her new Z-28 with the t-tops... my dad just shook his head... lol
@charlesprice7608
@charlesprice7608 Жыл бұрын
@@draggonsgate was the Mercury a wagon with a rear facing back seat? My uncle had the Country Squire which was Fords Station wagon. Station Wagons where popular in the 70’s
@draggonsgate
@draggonsgate Жыл бұрын
@@charlesprice7608 nope... side to side
@kznte
@kznte Жыл бұрын
I used to have a 1975 AMC Gremlin X :) I loved driving that little car because of all the funny looks I got with it, especially on the interstates :) Can you imagine a car like that keeping up with the new modern cars of the time doing 65 mph on the interstates? I loved that car and miss it to this day :)
@audreyjohnson4599
@audreyjohnson4599 Жыл бұрын
Me too. My '75 Gremlin was an ugly lime green, but she was one of the best handling cars I've ever driven. She could turn and stop on a dime. One of my favorite memories was right after I bought her. I pulled into a full-service gas station to fill up, seeing as the gauge was showing below the quarter mark. When the pump showed 16 gallons and kept climbing, the person pumping the gas looked at the car kinda funny, so I explained that Gremlins had a 21 gallon gas tank. I called her Greta the Green Gremlin. She always started, even in the winter, and could go almost anywhere a 4 wheel drive could. One spring I plowed mud so deep it knocked the body plugs out of the floor between the front and back seats. I still miss her and her quirks to this day.
@terry94131
@terry94131 Жыл бұрын
Say what you will, but my '77 Buick Century got me through grad school with nothing more than a minor coolant leak. And so comfortable!
@geraldboykin6159
@geraldboykin6159 Жыл бұрын
Sweet 70's - I heard no one complain and all have live through the era!
@johnmaki3046
@johnmaki3046 Жыл бұрын
Not much to look at, but these ALWAYS ran!
@dihydrotestosterone
@dihydrotestosterone Жыл бұрын
The grand am doesn't belong on the list.. 🎉
@kmyre
@kmyre Жыл бұрын
Was it not fun? It check the ugly box for sure
@common12
@common12 11 ай бұрын
Totally agree- looked great in the era!
@johnmcmullen456
@johnmcmullen456 7 ай бұрын
Like the 2 door Grand Am, but 4 door model is ugly.
@markkunkel7401
@markkunkel7401 6 ай бұрын
Agreed. Beautiful lines and front end
@buglover-qb1dq
@buglover-qb1dq 5 ай бұрын
It had great lines.... But not everyone liked those distinctions
@lancerevell5979
@lancerevell5979 Жыл бұрын
VW Thing was the civilian version of a West German Army vehicle, basically their equivalent to our Jeep. Essentially a modernized Kubelwagen from WWII.
@jameslester3861
@jameslester3861 Жыл бұрын
If I could have bought a VW THING, I would have had it painted and trimmed as the German WWII vehicle, complete with the spare tire mounted on the hood.
@markallen2984
@markallen2984 Жыл бұрын
For years before I could actually drive, I really wanted a VW Thing painted with zebra stripes 🦓
@stacygrenier7932
@stacygrenier7932 Жыл бұрын
1st. I like these cars there not ugly their just different
@gobbletegook
@gobbletegook Жыл бұрын
A friend of mine in high school (1973) got a brand new GREMLIN with the LEVI option trim package. It had denim seats, which included copper buttons and the LEVI tags sewn into the seat stitching. Not a great car (it kind of fell apart within 5 years) but it served a purpose back then. It was made here in WISCONSIN, when AMC was a big thing in Milwaukee and Kenosha.
@me8042
@me8042 Жыл бұрын
I kind of wonder if it would have lasted longer if it wasn’t owned by a high school student. I remember how high schoolers drove.
@bjones8470
@bjones8470 Жыл бұрын
I would have loved the Levi interior when I was a teenager!!!
@leonwaltemate6152
@leonwaltemate6152 Жыл бұрын
I lived in Kenosha when AMC was still in business and it was a civic duty to drive one of their cars.
@johnmaki3046
@johnmaki3046 Жыл бұрын
The Gremlins were okay!
@stanleysteemr1316
@stanleysteemr1316 Жыл бұрын
The cars I thought were ugly back in the day seem much more attractive now. My attitude and vision has changed 64 years later. How did that happen.? lol
@TimothyMichaels
@TimothyMichaels Жыл бұрын
It sneaks up on you, then one day POOF 💨 changed 😐
@nate678
@nate678 Жыл бұрын
It doesn't help that the newer cars are getting uglier every year. Or maybe it does 😂
@stanleysteemr1316
@stanleysteemr1316 Жыл бұрын
@@nate678 you made me laugh. lol
@WinterInTheForest
@WinterInTheForest Жыл бұрын
@@nate678 This. Even the ugliest cars of yesteryear had unique styling whereas every make and model today has the same appalling features.
@BobGeogeo
@BobGeogeo Жыл бұрын
Thanks for this. Most people class the Espada as a 4 seater instead of a 2+2. That's one reason for the front overhang - to push the V-12 away from the passenger compartment.
@johnchurch4705
@johnchurch4705 Жыл бұрын
Harry Metcalf & Jay Leno love their Espada’s.
@christiansanden8005
@christiansanden8005 Жыл бұрын
Awesome car❤❤❤
@ceedoubleyou
@ceedoubleyou Жыл бұрын
until youtube, didn't realise there was a love hate thing for the Espada, I have always loved it, just can't imagine anything designed by Ghandini being ugly.
@christiansanden8005
@christiansanden8005 Жыл бұрын
@@ceedoubleyou Agree
@mattg8369
@mattg8369 Жыл бұрын
I actually love the look of the Grand Am sedan.
@kfh1
@kfh1 Жыл бұрын
IMHO, the Pacer should've been on this list instead of the Grand Am!!! lol
@jmorrow888
@jmorrow888 Жыл бұрын
Reminds me of the Edsel a bit. People thought it was ugly at the time but looking back it’s a great looking car with an unusual front end design.
@dryan8377
@dryan8377 Жыл бұрын
@@jmorrow888 You should've seen the tv commercials about the grand am back then. It featured a 73 model crashing into a brick wall at 5-6mph, the entire front end collapsing, but coming back to form as if nothing happened. The big flexible nose was the key. We had one. That nose you could punch it all day and it would pop back out!
@jmorrow888
@jmorrow888 Жыл бұрын
@@dryan8377 The feature you didn't know you needed!
@Onteo1
@Onteo1 Жыл бұрын
The Bricklin ugly ? Still a great car in my book and it handled very well. Drove one at a dealer I worked at. I still want one today.
@spankynater4242
@spankynater4242 Жыл бұрын
That was the point of this video: ugly but fun cars to drive.
@jwelchon2416
@jwelchon2416 Жыл бұрын
I had a Gremlin with the V8. It was a blast to drive, I enjoyed it more the 75 Corvette I had at the time. The Bricklin was a classic example of trying to make the government happy rather than car buyers. Plus it competed with the Ford Pantera which was a beautiful car.
@richmeyer2064
@richmeyer2064 Жыл бұрын
Taste is subjective, I always admired the 4 door Grand Am and it's longer wheebase. The body colored flexible nose was ahead of it's time compared to the huge bumpers fitted on most cars to comply with new government bumper regulations. Enjoyed the video.
@dryan8377
@dryan8377 Жыл бұрын
exactly! It was designed specifically for that purpose to beat the 73 fm regs that came into play back then for 5mph bumper survivability.
@danielweyant1461
@danielweyant1461 Жыл бұрын
Being slightly ahead of the world is a dangerous place in marketing
@bakgammon
@bakgammon Жыл бұрын
I don't think anybody disagrees with you.
@kentkrueger6035
@kentkrueger6035 Жыл бұрын
I always liked the AMC Gremlin. I thought it was a fine looking car, albeit a bit unconventional.
@plap.
@plap. Жыл бұрын
I was very young when the thing came out. My dad had a 68 bug so VW was something I kept up with. I remember the things release and TV commercials well. For the longest time i thought everytime you drove it under a bridge overpass or behind a tree or building it changed colors and got covered in some pattern such as polkadots or stripes. Thought it was awesome and more than once tried to convince my parents we needed one.
@nastybastardatlive
@nastybastardatlive Жыл бұрын
It's a re-badged NAZI Kubelwagon. Look it up.
@plap.
@plap. Жыл бұрын
@@nastybastardatlive I know what it was. When I was three or four the last thing on my mind was ww2
@petertornabeni602
@petertornabeni602 Жыл бұрын
I think the Pontiac is a stretch - the rest of these cars . . Well I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder huh !
@johnmaki3046
@johnmaki3046 Жыл бұрын
Pontiac "style" REQUIRED LIQOUR CONSUMPTION!
@unarammer2003
@unarammer2003 Жыл бұрын
I remember a Chevrolet truck commercial in the 1980's "DONT YOU BUY NO UGLY TRUCK!!!"classic...
@haworthlowell805
@haworthlowell805 Жыл бұрын
Yes, and look at what thry're selling now!
@terrygugel3803
@terrygugel3803 Жыл бұрын
I think that was a dodge commercial in the 90's
@unarammer2003
@unarammer2003 Жыл бұрын
@@terrygugel3803 come on man,you gotta admit that a dodge prospector is an ugly truck...
@terrygugel3803
@terrygugel3803 Жыл бұрын
I agree,just remember the commercial on TV I'm a Ford fan myself
@unarammer2003
@unarammer2003 Жыл бұрын
@@terrygugel3803 they probably all had one..this was one of those hurry hurry hurry...don't you buy no ugly truck,come on down to dipshit chevrolet
@armyvet8978
@armyvet8978 Жыл бұрын
I had a brand new Gremlin X in 1973. Inline 6 with manual trans. I was stationed at Ft. Hood and lived in Houston, and went home almost every weekend. Put almost 50,000 miles on it in a little over 2 years. Not one problem, never left me stuck on the side of the road.
@chitown1098
@chitown1098 Жыл бұрын
Could not disagree more about the Pontiac Grand Am 4 Door. Really beautiful sedan with the honeycomb wheels. The lines were much better than the 2 door.
@LerockJohn
@LerockJohn Жыл бұрын
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The Gremlin was soooo out there along with the Pacer. Love them both!
@jons.6216
@jons.6216 Жыл бұрын
The Buick Apollo was pretty out there as well!
@JeffFrmJoisey
@JeffFrmJoisey Жыл бұрын
The Grand Am also came in a Police Package for a few years. Rutgers University Police used them for a couple of years. They looked sharp in their bright white paint with red and black markings and a red Twinsonic light bar up top.
@victorvance2573
@victorvance2573 Жыл бұрын
I must say the Espada has always been my favourite Lambo! I even prefer it to the also fantastic Countach and Miura.
@THROTTLEPOWER
@THROTTLEPOWER Жыл бұрын
Great vid, really enjoyed!! 👍👍
@ljmorris6496
@ljmorris6496 Жыл бұрын
The '74 GTO was actually a good seller with decent performance, they should had kept it on the Ventura. The Firebird was the "GTO" of the late '70s and beyond..
@joyceleadbetter2600
@joyceleadbetter2600 Жыл бұрын
74 GTO should of still had the 400 in it. Even better a 455 option.
@ljmorris6496
@ljmorris6496 Жыл бұрын
@@joyceleadbetter2600 I disagree a bit. More than likely if GTO continued with maybe an available 400 option until a probable '77 downsize Lemans based GTO w/301 HO woulda replaced Ventura GTO. I say this because fuel economy/emissions at the time and GTO sales were being stolen by Firebird until Ventura GTO was available plus the Firebird overall was a better performance car in corners than any GTO at that time.
@Badge1122
@Badge1122 Жыл бұрын
The most beautiful and great car of the 70's was the 72 Monte Carlo. I would rather have one than any new car on the market.
@KevinSan88
@KevinSan88 Жыл бұрын
That white on burgundy GrandAm coupe is a sweet looking package
@3.2Carrera
@3.2Carrera Жыл бұрын
In the late 80's when I was in High School (and these were all just used cars), my buddy bought the ugly Cutlass and while it had no HP it still had torque. We had dirt roads all over and made a track and it was a fantastic drifter with extended reverse lock tail out action. Loads of fun for the HP dollar. Also in S FL there's a guy with a Bricklin that goes to the car shows. He's a fanatic for sure.
@MrCapi55
@MrCapi55 Жыл бұрын
Small Correction: The US called "Thing" was used Since WW II, not since Western Germany. It was the VW type 82 "Kübelwagen". "Kübelwagen is a contraction of Kübelsitzwagen, meaning 'bucket-seat car (Wikipedia quote)"
@davidyoung8521
@davidyoung8521 Жыл бұрын
It was a tribute to the WW2 German "jeep". There was an amphibious version of the Kubel.
@davidyoung8521
@davidyoung8521 Жыл бұрын
Strap a MG-42 on the hood of a Thing and paint it grey.
@privateprivate1865
@privateprivate1865 Жыл бұрын
All of these cars look beautiful by comparison with modern day automobiles.
@CICatinga
@CICatinga Жыл бұрын
For sure driving a vw thing is such fun! Without the roof and folded down the windshield, is like driving a bathtub in wheels… 😂😂 1976 VW Thing owner… thanks for share!
@alphawoolf5981
@alphawoolf5981 Жыл бұрын
Aside from the Pontiac, you were waaaaay off-base with your picks of ugly cars. The Bricklin, in particular, was a beautiful car.
@kfh1
@kfh1 Жыл бұрын
I know it had it's short comings, but I always liked the look of Bricklin!!!
@matthewlibanio8227
@matthewlibanio8227 Жыл бұрын
Always wanted a VW thing. Hahaha. Great video!
@dryan8377
@dryan8377 Жыл бұрын
The things were amazing and still are! Driven many of them, mostly as rentals in other countries. Try to find one these days... big bucks!
@whitsundaydreaming
@whitsundaydreaming Жыл бұрын
I really liked the submarine doors and “colonnade” styling of the mid 70’s GMs. Of course the Grand Am coupe was sexier but the sedan was no wallflower.
@joecosta5189
@joecosta5189 Жыл бұрын
The AMC Pacer looked like a fish bowl
@debbiebermudez5890
@debbiebermudez5890 Жыл бұрын
Mr. B. Here ! Am a big fan of GM A body’s they had some short comings ! But today’s vehicles with no style at all ! Today’s vehicles make the so call ugly car look like master pieces.
@debbiebermudez5890
@debbiebermudez5890 Жыл бұрын
Good morning to all ! Thank you all ! It is good to see all of us have open minds ! Have a great day !
@Jim-hu6ou
@Jim-hu6ou Жыл бұрын
My first car was a 73 Grand Am two door. Even tho emissions had choked horsepower the 7.4L 3 speed, it laid rubber in 2nd gear at 70 mph. Loved that car!
@alfx5432
@alfx5432 Жыл бұрын
That's was cool. I remember that car. GM needs to get back in the game, they need to build affordable reliable gas saving cars. Can they do it.
@5litreho
@5litreho Жыл бұрын
I had a 1972 Gremlin X that came stock with a 304 V8 and 3spd manual. It was fast and fun. Then I pulled the engine and Trans, and installed a 360 4bbl and torqueflite 727 auto. Then the Gremlin became stupid fast and hard to stop with manual drum brakes...
@spankynater4242
@spankynater4242 Жыл бұрын
Best comment ever.
@sewluna
@sewluna Жыл бұрын
Ugly is strictly subjective! I love ALL these cars! I would own any of them!!
@nonenonnenopenonenomorefor5556
@nonenonnenopenonenomorefor5556 6 ай бұрын
My buddy has a 74 in early 80s highschool his dad and us painting it .had the 400 in it fun times in Illinois
@nealbeach4947
@nealbeach4947 Жыл бұрын
Compared to the junk that auto manufacturers are making today there were no ugly cars in the 70's
@andykerr3803
@andykerr3803 Жыл бұрын
I had the 4×4 version of the Gremlin called the Kammback, it was fun and great in winter.
@westhavenor9513
@westhavenor9513 Жыл бұрын
The problem with the Bricklin was the old school engine choices in a time of very high fuel prices, not the bumpers. I owed the Datsun at the time. It was totally gutless by then, but at least the fuel economy was acceptable. Also, the Bricklin was really expensive.
@richardkaltenbach3961
@richardkaltenbach3961 Жыл бұрын
Imagine The Bricklin With A 401!
@randolfo1265
@randolfo1265 Жыл бұрын
So Right - It was not the bumpers that did them in. Everything you said, plus the gull wing doors were unreliable and quality control was dodgy.
@daveondre4892
@daveondre4892 Жыл бұрын
If you could afford the car legitimately, one would not care about gas mileage on a car at that price point
@jimoconnor6382
@jimoconnor6382 Жыл бұрын
The Brickland became the DeLorean and some say the Brickland was the AMC Vixen which is why they used a 390. Kinda cool
@bikingD
@bikingD Жыл бұрын
Gremlin was way better looking than a Pacer, Pinto or B210 Datsun in the compact area. Plus was a better car than any of those. The X was actual very cool looking and aged very nicely.
@MichaelandCathy1999
@MichaelandCathy1999 Жыл бұрын
Bricklin was built in New Brunswick, not your Detroit of Canada. I remember seeing this in Montreal in the day, but that was rare.
@MrZdvy
@MrZdvy Жыл бұрын
I think the Lamborghini Espada is a stunning looking car, it doesn’t belong on this list. Instead the AMC Pacer should be on this list.
@tomrinehart3022
@tomrinehart3022 11 ай бұрын
Had a Grand Am - great car! Had a 400cid engine…fantastic handling!
@larrysmoovejohnson4238
@larrysmoovejohnson4238 Жыл бұрын
That Grand Am is clean!!!
@treesnmoguls
@treesnmoguls Жыл бұрын
Fun Video! I never thought the Gremlin was ugly, but the Thing, yes it was ugly! My neighbor had an Orange one. It sounded EXACTLY like a Beetle (same engine and transmission, I believe...).
@averyparticularsetofskills
@averyparticularsetofskills Жыл бұрын
This channel is so interesting for so many reasons. I've got to be honest and say I'm addicted to it and am always ready for the next one. I enjoy and respect your opinions. Keep em coming!✌ Stay Safe & Be Well
@spankynater4242
@spankynater4242 Жыл бұрын
Except the narrater sounds like he's on lithium.
@averyparticularsetofskills
@averyparticularsetofskills Жыл бұрын
​@@spankynater4242 👌 facts... Has to be a bot reader!! No one with real flesh sounds like a 1985 "See n Say"
@berean65
@berean65 Жыл бұрын
They may be called ugly today, but they sure look better than today's cars and trucks!
@msbae
@msbae Жыл бұрын
The AMC Pacer, Ford Pinto and Chevy Vega should have also been on this list.
@Raptor3388
@Raptor3388 Жыл бұрын
The Vega is a lovely design, crappy quality but in that category, I can't think of anything better. The Pinto is nice too. Much better than a bland Golf or some other subcompacts. The Pacer is goofy, yeah not very pretty, but fun. Not ugly though.
@kaysguy
@kaysguy Жыл бұрын
The Vega didn't look bad. It was just an awful car .
@Primus54
@Primus54 Жыл бұрын
My generation was just starting to be able to afford new cars when the Vega came out. We called them mini-Camaros due to the front end similarities. But boy, were they complete junk!
@nlpnt
@nlpnt Жыл бұрын
Four doors was a HUGE IMPROVEMENT to the Grand Am's looks, since it deleted those fugly window louvers! GM only had one attractive quarter window treatment for the Colonnade coupes, the thin-pillared triangular ones that were clearly the original intent, and as the run progressed it was more and more restricted to the base models only.
@arevee9429
@arevee9429 Жыл бұрын
I don't find the 4 door Grand Am or the Gremlin that ugly. And at least the Gremlin was a bit more reliable and solid than the comparable cars from Ford and Chevy. The 70's did have no shortage of ugly cars thanks to the battering-ram bumpers.
@lastgoateddie
@lastgoateddie Жыл бұрын
The Punto was very reliable. Their 2.3 was even used in the Rangers.
@genxskeptic5816
@genxskeptic5816 Жыл бұрын
The ‘75 Grand Am 4 door looks a bit like my first car. A 1976 Olds Cutlass sedan. I bought that Cutlass in ‘82 and drove it until it started falling apart in ‘93. 😂
@paulhiebert1887
@paulhiebert1887 Жыл бұрын
Fun fact in 74-75 Eugenie Street in Saint Boniface (Winnipeg MB Canada sub division) had all five cars on the street, although the Lamborghini only drove for about 6 weeks and broke down and parts were unavailable for it. It was owned by an Italian doctor who brought from Italy when he did a training program at the Saint Boniface Hospital. It was a great time for an eight year old car nut. Another car that could have made this list was the first generation 64 to 66 Plymouth Barracuda. The original design was designed more like the 2nd generation, but the bean counters weren't convinced that there was much of a market for a nimble smaller pony car and okayed production but insisted that they hed to use as much body panels as they could from the Valient. The result was a car that looked odd from certain angles.
@201950201950
@201950201950 Жыл бұрын
Thank you! That was a real fun video to watch. Hey, would you ever do a video on the sub compact cars of the '70s like the Dodge arrow?
@johnmaki3046
@johnmaki3046 Жыл бұрын
The Plymouth/Dodge "Arrows" were "built" by Mitsubishi! 'NUFF SAID!
@timjohnson5519
@timjohnson5519 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for creating this list. I had a '74 Gremlin, blue with gold accent stripes and Levis interior. Loved that car!
@SierraBravo347
@SierraBravo347 Жыл бұрын
My first car was a '73 Gremlin. I paid a Benjamin for it.
@davidmitchell6873
@davidmitchell6873 Жыл бұрын
You over paid.
@SierraBravo347
@SierraBravo347 Жыл бұрын
@@davidmitchell6873 Lol, it was only 9 years old, and I was in High School and had a paid off car.
@MrJoeltrain
@MrJoeltrain Жыл бұрын
I actually think l the front of the Bricklin looked really good. Agreed on the back,it would've been OK if it was just a little smaller. I would love to drive a stick shift 304 gremmy.
@nucleargrizzly1776
@nucleargrizzly1776 Жыл бұрын
The lift mechanism was located inside the doors and they weighed 90 lbs each. If there was a problem you were pretty much stuck there.
@ronjohns8002
@ronjohns8002 Жыл бұрын
1975 bricklin sv1 >> 1976 lotus esprit
@nucleargrizzly1776
@nucleargrizzly1776 Жыл бұрын
There were a tiny number of manual tranny Bricklin's made. I bet they were a blast.
@annek1226
@annek1226 Жыл бұрын
Don’t remember ever hearing of this particular brand of cars and I was all about cars then!
@backachershomestead
@backachershomestead Жыл бұрын
70's smooth ride and comfy seats.
@V8AmericanMuscleCar
@V8AmericanMuscleCar Жыл бұрын
When I was a kid, my parents had a Beetle. I really didn't like that car. Than my parents decided to sell it and I was very happy! But not for long, they bought another Beetle. Thank goodness Thing wasn't available in my country! 😅
@jaspal666
@jaspal666 Жыл бұрын
About 15 years ago my son who was 6 saw a Thing parked in front of the house. He told his grandmother and she took him to see it. The owner came out and let the kid take a look. The next time I was there, the owner let me take my son for a drive in it. And it was terrible! I had an old SuperBeetle. And this Thing was terrible! I didn’t tell the kid… didn’t want to bust his bubble 😂😂
@kiprandom7208
@kiprandom7208 Жыл бұрын
That's being a good parent.
@nonelost1
@nonelost1 Жыл бұрын
That reminds me of the time in 1982 that I gave a 5 year old kid and his dad a ride in my 1962 VW sunroof Herbie the Love Bug, that I decked out with stripes and "53"s.
@OsbornTramain
@OsbornTramain Жыл бұрын
I don't think any one of these cars are ugly, I guess it's because i lived in the years as an adult........
@tommyrregina1227
@tommyrregina1227 5 ай бұрын
WOULD ABSOLUTELY ENJOY THE BUICK RIVIERA & LINCOLN TOWN COUPE, GORGEOUS 🤗🤗
@analogman9697
@analogman9697 Жыл бұрын
The most underrated car from this era was the '71 Buick Riviera.
@tommyrregina1227
@tommyrregina1227 5 ай бұрын
AND THE LINCOLN TOWN COUPE , GORGEOUS 🤗
@perrymckinney6146
@perrymckinney6146 Жыл бұрын
These were good looking cars, they had chrome too and all different from each other, today's SUVs are pretty much all look alike, just tack different trim on an SUV and you tack a different name on it, yep today's junk. Loved the older cars without all the electronics.
@Mr100asd
@Mr100asd Жыл бұрын
I had several 73 to 75 GRAND AM's INCLUDING a NEW 75 2 door with every option including a moon roof. I HATED it because the 455 couldn't get out of It's own way due too catalytic converter and single exhaust. After that I got a used 4 DOOR 74 G.A. with a 455, FAST reliable great handling. DEFINITELY a sleeper. The giveaway was the 7.4 Liter emblem on the deck lid. IF it didn't get totaled, parked on the street, I would still own it today along with my 74 S.D Trans AM I still own !!
@mikee2923
@mikee2923 Жыл бұрын
Back then it would have been totally legal to remove the catalytic converter and put dual exhaust on your GA. Although you would’ve had to get a “double hump” transmission crossmember. Then it would’ve ran about the same as the 74. There was very little difference in Pontiac V8s between 74 and 75.
@patpeterson2671
@patpeterson2671 Жыл бұрын
The VW Thing was super popular in exotic places as a vehicle rental , usually arranged through the hotels ..... and especially in the Caribbean and Central America and the South Pacific islands too ....
@77cordobaguy
@77cordobaguy 10 ай бұрын
I love these videos. Unfortunately the narrator is slow speaking and very monotone. Don't get me wrong but he reminds me of the B9 robot in the 1960s TV series, Lost in Space.
@theodoredugranrut8201
@theodoredugranrut8201 Жыл бұрын
Hey I had a 74 Grand am, very cool car the endurance front end was its downfall. No replacement parts.
@RANDOMNATION907
@RANDOMNATION907 Жыл бұрын
My Grandpa had a '74 Gremlin with the 304 V8. He would always point out that it had a 3-spd manual that was "3 on the tree", which was Not an option on that car for any model year. I don't know the full story as to how he got it that way. I just know he swore it was a one of a kind. I rode in it several times and it indeed had a three speed column shift manual transmission.
@johneckert1365
@johneckert1365 Жыл бұрын
Maybe someone took a 3 on the tree column out of a Hornet for him or something?
@zrocks2001
@zrocks2001 Жыл бұрын
The Grand Am was awesome my best friend got one back when we were in college maybe 86 it was rough on the outside but the performance was like a rocket or something you would never imagine.
@jvsmith7888
@jvsmith7888 Жыл бұрын
The Gremlin was a great car. That chopped off rear end wouldn't look so out of place today. Most of today's crossovers and small cars seem to have a chopped off rear end now.
@WhittyPics
@WhittyPics Жыл бұрын
My dad had a 73 4 door Pontiac Lemans. I knew a guy with a AMC Gremlin. We used to make fun of those along with the Pacer.
@markwoods4439
@markwoods4439 Жыл бұрын
I miss the 70’s😫😩😭
@desertsunman5880
@desertsunman5880 Жыл бұрын
Thx for the Memories 🎯🤙🏄‍♂️😎
@RWildekrav66
@RWildekrav66 11 ай бұрын
Grand Am , ugly ? No freakin way , best looking car I ever had . (2dr)
@nucleargrizzly1776
@nucleargrizzly1776 Жыл бұрын
I had forgotten how attractive those early 2 door Grand Am's really were.
@mrsamsung8184
@mrsamsung8184 Жыл бұрын
Can Ams were cooler
@nucleargrizzly1776
@nucleargrizzly1776 Жыл бұрын
@@mrsamsung8184 Way cool. But well into the emissions choked bad years of Pontiac.
@tommyrregina1227
@tommyrregina1227 5 ай бұрын
THE RIVIERA & TOWN CAR ARE GORGEOUS VEHICLE'S 🤗🤗
@mr_gamble_good
@mr_gamble_good Жыл бұрын
That's a beautiful color on the 4 door GTO! I wish we could see more of the interior of these classics.
@mr.hanger
@mr.hanger Жыл бұрын
The SV1 always confused me. It was supposed to be safe, but those doors don't work with the slightest dent. The also don't work if you're upside down. I'd still love to have one ( with some modifications)
@tomfrazier1103
@tomfrazier1103 Жыл бұрын
The '72 Gremlin was our family car, the only car bought new by my Grandparents I6 Mom sold it to enthusiasts c1983, mint condition. I myself had two '70s cars, '72 Dart sedan, 318, '77 LeSabre sedan, Olds 350, $100 & $200 cars.
@boblittle2529
@boblittle2529 Жыл бұрын
The Gremlin is a testament how widely people can disagree on automotive body styles. I get why so many were turned off by it, but I still think, as I did back then, that it was a pretty sharp little car. I saw one that looked great with chrome wheels and slightly fatter tires. I always wanted to get a Gremlin and put a SB Chevy in it.
@richstanton8545
@richstanton8545 Жыл бұрын
I think back in the day, you would have been happy with dropping an AMC 304 V8 in it with less muss or fuss since the 304 was a factory option. You might have needed a shoehorn for the AMC 360. The 304 probably would have been "plug n play" hooking up the wiring, engine mounting and tranny hook up. We had 69 Ambassador 4dr with the 290 V8 2bbl and a 76 Matador 4dr with 304 V8 2bbl and those big cars moved pretty well with 290/304 AMC small block. So I'm sure the 304 in a gremmie would've surprised a lot of folks. One of our neighbors who was a mechanic at a AMC had a 69 white AMC American "sleeper" with the 390 V8 4bbl and a 4 speed. It was a beast!
@johneckert1365
@johneckert1365 Жыл бұрын
@@richstanton8545 I'm not sure about the older AMC V8, but the most modern ones 304/360/401 were all the same size external, and would've bolted right in a Gremlin with factory parts.
@enhancementtank5876
@enhancementtank5876 Жыл бұрын
That Espada is a must own and its own unique entity. A true man's car
@KoldingDenmark
@KoldingDenmark Жыл бұрын
Absolutely LOVE the look of the Espada and always have. Last time I saw one was in Palm Springs.
@vickiross1025
@vickiross1025 Жыл бұрын
I'd love to have my 1974 Plymouth Valiant again.
@aliciacat2323
@aliciacat2323 Жыл бұрын
My folks had one.
@markalexander3487
@markalexander3487 Жыл бұрын
I think the Pontiac Grand Am looks lovely.
@MillerMeteor74
@MillerMeteor74 Жыл бұрын
We had a `74 LeMans that my grandparents had bought in `75 as a leftover. They gave it to us in 1980. I remember that water went in the trunk when it rained... I remember hearing about Bricklins, but never saw one. I actually saw a VW Thing a couple years ago. Very cool. The guy has a strange way of talking, but I enjoy these videos anyway.🙂
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