FORGOTTEN CARS OF 1970s

Among the 1970s cars that we remember are the AMC Pacer, Ford Mustang II, and Porsche 914. Each of them has an interesting story to tell, even if it's not always a happy one.
These weren't the only significant cars of the 1970s, an era when hard times gave rise to a love of funky vehicles, many of which have been forgotten. Now it's time for us to remind you: Here are 12 forgotten 1970s cars that belong in our collective memory.
American Motors, the smallest of what used to be called the Big Four, made some of the most memorable cars of the 1970s. We all know the Pacer, Gremlin, Javelin, and maybe even the Matador, but what about the Hornet?
Consumer Reports rated the Maverick even higher than its Japanese competitors. But somehow the car community has completely forgotten about it. What a shame.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

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[@lssimon.7143]

They don't make affordable cars anymore 🙄

[@richardhollins902]

I love them all they are better than the cars of today

[@auaiao9]

These cars aren't forgotten to the ones who grew up around them. I remember all of them.

[@ezrabarkley2574]

EXACTLY

[@robk9685]

Yup, I'll never forget my Dad's Granada. I was about 12 and he'd tell me to drive it into town to pick up this/that at the hardware store with his credit card. Probably didn't want to drive it himself because he was three sheets to the wind and the cops knew that car......but me driving it threw them off. REALLY upscale area. Could imagine the cops saying "Who's NOT driving a Benz around here?" but when they saw those hubcaps on the Granada they thought it could have been a Mercedes. Remember those ads comparing a Granada to a Mercedes Benz? LOL

[@rockettcustoms6266]

Same here, I remember all of these cars when they were brand new. Not sure how this poster thinks they are "forgotten". I used to drive my grandparents '73 Polara around town when I was 13.

[@geraldscott4302]

Same here. I got my drivers license in 1975. And to this day 1970s cars are by far my favorite. Especially with the hideous abominations on the road today. I still have a 1972 Ford Pinto woodgrain wagon and a 1975 Ford Granada. I will never give them up. If they weren't any good, why are they still here, and still running like new, 50 years later, when a minor fender bender will total a new car? I have also owned (and loved) three air cooled VW bugs, a 1970 Dodge Challenger, 1972 Chevelle, 1974 Rally Nova, 1977 Pontiac Ventura, 1977 Corvette, and 1979 Camaro. The Dodge Magnum was a slightly restyled Chrysler Cordoba. Though I never owned one, I absolutely loved the 1977-1979 Ford Thunderbird. I totally fell in love with it the first time I saw it. Sad it only lasted 3 model years.

[@KenanTurkiye]

8:49 ''magic means of transportation'' man the stupidity the ads go to to get your money ! lol

[@tedlym.3390]

Due to my extreme youth, back then, I only owned two "70s cars. A 1971 Thunderbird Landau and a 1973 Torino. I really miss the Thunderbird. Thank you for this trip down memory lane.

[@michaelduttry182]

Not totally forgotten. I remember all of them and wouldn't mind having a couple of them.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Same here Michael.....Same here. Thanks for watching. Hope you are a subscriber.

[@lewisjones4130]

@@ThisOldCarChannel JUST WANTED TO BRING UP THE 1972 CADILLAC ELDORADO

[@stevehoward3541]

One of the biggest automotive tragedies is the end of AMC. They made great cars at the time.

[@McNabbulous]

They did miracles with very little money.

[@maxmulsanne7054]

Those things kept running too. At least 3 of my friends had them, Hornet, Gremlin and Javilin. No problems with the power-train at least.

[@arty8255]

The AMC Pacer killed that company. Big and wide with no room.

[@TheREALOC1972]

@@arty8255 and the Pacer is the one that just everyone wants now......

[@selfdo]

They did well with what little they had, but they gambled on the Pacer and that they'd be using GM's Wankel engine. Since that didn't materialize, the car flopped, and AMC simply had no money to upgrade their product lines. Along came Renault, as the French automaker wanted to re-establish itself in North America, but Renault had its own problems with labor troubles, currency devaluation, political strife, and the small car offered in America, the "Alliance", was...MEH. The Spirit, which indeed was a crossover before the concept had even been realized, and the Jeep line kept AMC going, but their passenger car business was dying. Chrysler bought AMC in '87 strictly for the Jeep line, though they did continue production of a Renault-developed mid-size car for a few years (Renault Medallion/Eagle Premier), and for about ten years following the acquisition, re-branded the AMC/Jeep dealerships that survived (some Dodge and/or Chrysler-Plymouth dealers also acquired Jeep lines) as "Eagle". After the Renault-developed cars had run their course, Mopar put out the "cab forward" LH vehicles, and soon the Eagle brand disappeared. FWIW, Plymouth followed only a few years later.

[@Myvintageiron7512]

I had an AMC Hornet and an early 70’s maverick they were both great cars

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

That they were!

[@rickeyricardomatthews2147]

The Magnum was a cool ride

[@martinreed5964]

me too, I still have my V8 Gucci Hornet

[@chasstiles7611]

I had a 74 matador and a 72 mercury comet with a 302 interceptor amongst many others,long list,some on this video

[@codyluka8355]

The Ford Maverick was virtually bullet proof. There were quite a few in the parking lot when I was in high school and they took some decent abuse. And decent on gas too.

[@allenallen5005]

The 1972 Ford Torino in my opinion was one of the best looking Torinos made.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for watching Allen! We hope you're a subscriber to our channel.

[@happydays8171]

One of the best looking cars ever made. In my opinion. That and early 70s Cougars.

[@a.leemorrisjr.9255]

@@happydays8171 Loved Cougar convertibles from late '60s, recently saw a young man driving an exceptionally clean '71 convertible. I wondered if he knew what he had. Last year before "smog" controls turned them into "dawgs" I think.

[@mkshffr4936]

And they are the first year for BOF construction which is a huge plus for me. In the looks dept I actually prefer the 69 but the 72 is a beaut too.

[@junkiejackflash]

@@jesusislord6545 scram

[@Rossturnerphoto]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I remember seeing many of those cars on the road growing up. Some were works of art and others not so much, but they were all interesting and unique from one another.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Yes. Me too Ross. Man I miss those cars and those days. Thanks for watching. Make sure and subscribe.

[@fredsimmons6188]

I've had great experiences with at least two on this list. I had a 79 Dodge Magnum. It was a great reliable car. I also had a 77 Mercury Bobcat Villager wagon. Using Mustang 2 parts, I dropped a 289 V-8 and a C-4 into it. What a fun stump jumper that was.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

I wish I had the Magnum with the tops Fred! Thanks for watching and the comment. We hope you are a subscriber!

[@SonnyGTA]

@@jesusislord6545 JC had a Magnum too!

[@altima119487]

My mom had a Bobcat Villager

[@pariahthistledown540]

'73 Mercury Capri was fun on the 110 Freeway ...and Angeles Crest...

[@sped6954]

@@SonnyGTA He also built my hotrod

[@genecarpenter5511]

I owned the 70 Maverick & the 72 Gran Torino. Both were great cars and I wish I had them both back in my garage

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

We with we had cars we sold in our past. Mine was a 78 T/A. Traded it for a 78 Accord! Thanks for watching! Hope you subscribe to our channel if you haven't already!

[@frankmontoliu2341]

I had a root beer Brown grand Torino with a matching vinyl top 351 Cleveland engine oh is a great car still still wish I had it

[@billolsen4360]

Maverick 2dr was a handsome lil coupe

[@martiniangoldberg]

I was a kid in the '70s. I distinctly recall people saying that the Maverick was a horrible car!

[@billolsen4360]

@@martiniangoldberg My college roommate had a 2-year-old Maverick and it never broke down in the year we lived in the dorm. He & I even took it from Greeley Colorado to Yellowstone & back and it was comfortable on that trip. The 6-cyinder had plenty of power over the mountain passes. Kind of recall that the bodies didn't last too long in midwest & northeast states where they salted roads in the winter, though.

[@JoeBidenIsNotMyPresident]

I had a 1977 Lincoln Versailles. That was the fancy Granada. I really liked that car. It handled well on the road and rode smoothly over bumps. I sure do miss that car😢😢

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for watching! Hope you subscribe to our channel if you haven't already!

[@mikeholland1031]

Only good thing about them was a shortened 9" rear end. Always gone if you find one in the wrecker

[@brucewechtler7721]

I had a Granada Ghia,not as fancy as your Versaille but still miss it.

[@tomlangley6236]

I had a fully loaded 78, Granada. One of the best cars I've ever owned. It was like a mini Lincoln Continental.

[@robk9685]

You couldn't afford the Lincoln Versailles ("the Granada with a hump")? Lol

[@73jamawhoha35]

79 green Granada got me through college and beyond.

[@takata98]

Whilst I had my 79 Grand Prix (not in the list lol) I helped my two coworkers negotiate their new vehicles. The first was a white Granada Landau, and the very much less memorable Fairmont for the second. I recall the distress my coworker experienced when her son totaled her beloved Granada.

[@deborahboggs7573]

1970 Plymouth Duster w/340, bucket seats 2 door- she was called Dusty~~~~ she went ZZZOOOOOOMMMM~~~~😃😂so much fun

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

I had a buddy at school in the 80's who drove a Duster. Not a bad car Deborah. Thanks for watching. Hope you are a subscriber.

[@crankychris2]

A great motor, the NHRA ran one on a dyno and reclassified it at 306 hp for it's weight class. The Dodge Demon was the same car. In 1972, Mopar remade this engine into a low compression 360, and the fun was over.

[@deborahboggs7573]

Yep I agree

[@deborahboggs7573]

My Chrysler 300 has a Hemi! She is a freakin blast! You can have the fastest and the best Reality is in the driver ! If you know your a great driver , you can take an old Volkswagen and take down a pretty car , if you can handle it! I used to love to safely race my car I killed it every time but once I won at the lite I felt bad and let them get ahead! Omgod I miss that! Sorry TMI

[@Cammi_Rosalie]

When I was 16, I had a 1980 Granada. The front fender was messed up, and the seats were cloth benches that were getting a little thin it ran really good, and drove quite well though. I later found a '75 Monarch with a blown engine. Bought it for 50 dollars. I took the front clip, fenders and grille, as well as the tail-lights and all of the interior (leather, reclining bucket seats, and floor-mounted shifter) and transferred it all to the Granada. My Dad would say that I had a Granadarch or Monada. I drove that car up until the middle of my senior year. My Mom bought a 77 Chevy Cheyenne Truck from my Aunt. But she really wanted a car. I traded the "Monada" for the truck. Mom drove the car for a few more years until some old guy backed into the side of it and mashed the drivers side doors shut permanently. The Fairmont ad.. That's Leonard Nimoy.. 🤩

[@pariahthistledown540]

an ex of mine had an '82 Granada...we painted it Perrywinkle, lol! it would still be running now if not totalled

[@dane3038]

My first was a 75 and then a 79. I want Leonard Nimoy to narrate my life.

[@lancerevell5979]

First new car I ever bought was a '79 Mercury Monarch, two door. Dad had Mom buy the four door model same day. Both were total POSes. Consumer Reports had listed Monarch as a lemon, but said the '79 was slightly improved, so rated it a lime. I made the mistake of wasting money on the extended waranty, which Mercury would not honor. AC never worked, both window cranks, made of PLASTIC, quickly broke. I dearly hated that car. Transmission rod rattled loudly in both cars. The 250ci six had 87 thundering horsepower! It couldn't get out of it's own way. As soon as I owed less than resale value, I traded it in on a well-used 1975 Firebird, which I put another 200,000 miles on over eight years. I have never owned another Ford, or new car of any make.

[@keitmo]

Oh man, this brings back memories. In high school (1982) I drove a metallic brown 1975 Ford Granada with four doors, reclining bucket seats, and a 351W smog motor. It may have been gutless, but what it lacked in speed it made up with abysmal fuel economy.

[@chr970]

Fun video, brought back a lot of good memories. It was a huge event in our neighbourhood when some family got a new car. Didn’t matter what it was, people would gather and admire, and smile and wave at the family as they took it out for the first ride. Those were enjoyable moments....and memories.

[@39butchy1]

I fondly remember those times too. Great comment, Chris.

[@lancerevell5979]

I owned several AMC Javelins, and one '68 AMX two-seater. That was my all-time favorite car. A truly misunderstood car by a midunderstood company. Excellent cars very underappreciated.

[@robertmontgomery110]

chevy vega a hopeless flop

[@dannyg6592]

I was a teen in the 70's and remember each of these cars well. And I owned a Maverick. Brings back great memories of a more carefree time.

[@derekcrymble9085]

The Monza V8 was a problem changing the sparkplugs . The engine had to be un-mounted and lifted a few inches to change the back 2 plugs . I worked in a gas station in the 70s , I remember all of these cars .

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Wow...Thanks for the info Derek! Thanks for watching and the comment. We hope you are a subscriber!

[@mikeholland1031]

Mustang 2 was bad for that too

[@pcno2832]

That was fairly unusual problem back in the 1970s; now there are cars that require disassembly of the valve covers to get at the plugs, although they last a lot longer. I remember doing the plugs at 150K on my V6 Accord and having to drop the socket extensions, section by section, using the sides of my fingers as chopsticks. It's a wonder I got the old plugs and all the socket parts out without loosing them or stripping the threads.

[@dougharris8328]

The Monza replaced the Vega

[@derekcrymble9085]

@@dougharris8328 What ever . The Monza was V6 or V8 , the Vega was only ever a 4 cylinder . Completely different cars .

[@AntyTiff]

I love the smell of old cars. If I come across one with a window rolled down, I will stop for a whiff. Nostalgic.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for watching and the comment! We're asking our viewers for a little help. Can you please subscribe if you haven't already? We can't tell who is and who is not. lol....Again, appreciate ya watching!

[@Saint-eg7yg]

The 1977 Granada! I had the Sport version in high school with a “T” shift and a 302 V-8. I graduated in 1984.

[@TheREALOC1972]

My next door neighbor is building a 77 Granada, sweet car, Idk if it's a T type or not because I honestly haven't looked at that close and honestly I don't alot about them but it does have a factory 302 in it. He's mid 20's kid, new to "Classic cars", right before Thanksgiving he came over and while I was working on my 73 Regal and said he wanted to find one to build, I told him he wanted to buy something with either a 302, 318 or 350 because being his first engine build he wanted one of those 3 because they are all 3 stupid simple to build and work on. I'll pop over there once in a while or pop over here when he has a question and we'll chat a lil bit. He's got it running and driving and almost ready to paint, I told him he needs to take it to a Cars and Coffee with me sometime but he wants to wait until he gets it paint, he's painting it that Mint green that GM had back in the late 80's and 90's, because the interior is green and in really good shapewith Thurst torque wheels on it. It's going to be a really nice car when he's done with it.

[@bradschroeder809]

I recently bought a ‘78 Magnum GT with T bar roof, nice condition ones are few and far between nowadays! The main reason Dodge made them from what I have learned, is that they were trying to keep Petty on board racing a Dodge in NASCAR. The post 74 Dodge Chargers, which were badge engineered Cordobas, were not aero enough to be competitive and the rules wouldn’t allow him to race 74 coke bottle body Chargers after ‘77. So they designed the aero front Magnum to be the basis of a competitive stock car. The retract headlight covers were the only way to meet US headlight standards of the time and still be aerodynamic. Aero headlight assemblies most vehicles have today weren’t US legal until the mid 80s. Petty finished well in many early season races with the Magnum but he said they were undriveable over 190 mph, and jumped ship to GM mid season. Oh well, at least we got an interesting 2 year only car out of this footnote in automotive history. Glad I finally found one, much more comfortable to drive than my vintage Challengers it shares a garage with now, and I hardly ever see another one. Thanks for the video!

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Awesome Brad! I've been looking for one but tough to come by. Thanks for watching. We hope you're a subscriber to our channel.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

The old style Cordoba based Dodge Charger was also produced in low volume in the 1978 model year.

[@fargomonkey5133]

My uncle had a Magnum though it was an earlier model, I want to say it was a 75, and it had the 318, which was a really reliable engine. I thought it was pretty, though I was driving a 73 Plymouth Satellite at the time, and there is no doubt mine was but far the prettier car! 😂 Still, for a car the came out late 70's, during the oil shortages when everyone was looking for economy boxes that were pathetic too drive, the fact that Dodge had the guts to stuff a 400 big block in that pretty car is awesome. I would love to find one to be an every day runner. What a nice ride they were! Fast but still comfortable, personally I think they nailed it, this car was just right in my opinion.

[@ScottJohnson4449]

@@fargomonkey5133 I begged my Dad to get one, as I turned 16 in 78. No dice. I got a 72 Satellite Sebring plus with a 318 and it became my learner car. Then in 83 I got Sebring Plus with a 400 4 barrel. Oh, yeah! Then a 72 Roadrunner 400 4v 4 speed. Oh yeah , baby!

[@fargomonkey5133]

@@ScottJohnson4449 after wiping the drool off my phone, I liked your comment despite being completely irrationally jealous. 😂 You've owned my dream cars. I love muscle cars, all muscle cars, but my favorites are Mopar muscle. The Roadrunner, Charger, Challenger, Barracuda/'Cuda, these are the greatest cars ever. I bet driving that Runner was a blast!

[@mw4mpr]

I own 4 Magnums. It wasn't Chryslers attempt to make a personal luxury car. They already had the Cordoba. It was Chryslers last ditch effort to stay in NASCAR, when Petty wasn't allowed to use the 74 Charger bodystyle after 1977.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for the info Mike! Do you have one with tops? I want one! Thanks for watching! Hope you subscribe to our channel if you haven't already!

[@SonnyGTA]

@@ThisOldCarChannel Mine doesn’t have the t-tops but I was considering selling it. A true GT.

[@mw4mpr]

@@ThisOldCarChannel sadly, no. I have all hardtop. 2, 78s, 2, 79s. One of the 78s is a white 400 big block, the other a triple black with 360. The 79s include a GT in teal with teal interior and a 360, the other a triple burgundy, 318 with a sure grip rear end.

[@richardwilliams5842]

Seeing all these cars reminds me of the era growing up and makes me feel nostalgic lol 👍

[@williemoon7522]

i have had about a dozen pintos over the past 45 years .. still have one today .. my profile picture .. 73 model ..

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Awesome Willie! Thanks for watching. We hope you're a subscriber to our channel.

[@part1801]

My mother had 77 Monte Carlo that I took my drivers test in. I loved that car

[@19chucki74]

My grandpa owned a '76 Ford Granada, and loved it. I liked the Omega back then, and the FWD one from the early 80s. The Datsun 200SX is the original Silvia in other parts of the world. But I absolutely LOVE the '72 Gran Torino, particularly the SportsRoof version.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Hey Charles! We took a trip in a 76 Ford Granada from Texas to California. ALL SIX OF US! I remember I had to stick my leg out of the back window because it was cramping. HAHA! Thanks for watching. Make sure and subscribe.

[@lopakabanzon3910]

My first car was a 1976 Ford Granada 2dr back in 1987 and I had a 1981 Ford Fairmont wagon, the Fairmont I drive it 5 years.

[@deborahbode5577]

My first car was a red 2 door '76 Granada. Loved that car! Wish I still had it!

[@brianmoore6306]

Fantastic clip!!! Love 'em.

[@railfan100]

Fond memories where made in a 1973 VW 412 wagon....my dad and I took a trip from Cumberland Md. to nearly every national park in the western US all the way to the west coast.....the car proved very useful for this trip !All luggage went up front in the huge trunk and we used the wagon space for sleeping! people used to ask us "where is the engine'? Never spent a dime on hotels!

[@70sleftover]

By the way, you could not easily forget the Ford Maverick, because as they aged and there were still a lot of them on the road in the early 1980s you could hear one coming down the road. A motorhead friend pointed out to me as a young teen that all Maverick front ends squeaked loudly. I recall a high school friend's mother's metallic army green Maverick coupe's squeaky front end could be heard inside as she drove us to soccer games! I love that you also noticed the big thing we had for fastback coupes still in the early '70s. I never lost my love for that look in cars.

[@nonelost1]

I had two used Mavericks (a '75 4 door and a '77 2 door) during the '80s and '90's. Both were good cars, except for poor to mediocre MPG.

[@goldenltd1970]

The 1972 Gran Torino had his own movie, its one of the most remembered and known Ford intermediates out there. The only one more famous must the the '76 from Starsky and Hutch

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

UP. Thanks for watching! Hope you subscribe to our channel if you haven't already!

[@pcno2832]

By the time Starsky and Hutch became popular, the Torino was out of production, so they sold special editions of the LTD II with the same paint job. That must have been quite a mixed-blessing of a car.

[@gr8fulfox488]

And the '73 from The Big Lebowski.

[@goldenltd1970]

@@gr8fulfox488 definitely 😁

[@70sleftover]

@@pcno2832 Gah! The LTDII - it had to be Ford joking when they touted it as downsized. That long-hooded land yacht appeared to me to be larger than any Torino. I understand Henry Ford II was deeply against downsizing and this was the result. But it seemed a lot of them were sold as the roads were full of those monstrosities in the late '70s.

[@berrylee6787]

I rebuilt my1969 AMC AMX GO PACK WITH EVERY AVAILABLE OPTION. WHAT AN AMERICAN TREASURE. I can't tell you how many times I jumped into a 70's car and most started right up. For 5 years I had a new Pontiac fireo as a demo. What a gift to drive with the v6. I miss those but still have my AMX

[@williamdavis8161]

I have a '78 Granada 2 Dr with 59k miles. It's never let me down in the years I've had it.

[@Legenddjt]

My 1st car wads a 78 granada . Miss it . I. Jelly 😆

[@discerningmind]

Good job Boca Brothers! Generally, when I watch a historical look-back automotive video I become angry and disappointed because little to any effort had been made to achieve accuracy. I know what's true, being a car guy and often lived through the time of a given video. This video is spot-on. Not one error! I was so taken that I decided to subscribe, but I already am.

[@rudybrooks3722]

I had a Ford Fairmont, it was a pretty reliable and fun to drive,also it was easy to work on.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

That they were Rudy. Thanks for watching and the comment. We hope you're a subscriber!

[@markmurphy3177]

Had a Grenada 77 gold color. Fairmont looked not much different.

[@caydenangusmacintyre5949]

I'm so glad this video popped up. I love seeing these cars. I remember seeing them when I watched Dukes Of Hazzard. They had all sorts of cars from the 70s including a 1977 Buick Skylark S 2 door coupe.

[@davegoldspink5354]

What a great selection of car thanks for sharing. Remember all of these from books as none of these were ever officially sold here in Australia. I have seen several Gran Torinos, Chevy Novas and Hornets and the like over the years here. I did my mechanical apprenticeship at the end of the 70s to the beginning of the 80s and even working on cars and bikes today I still miss the simple old technology. Back then there were no computers to deal with and I never forget disappearing into my own or someone else’s garage with a slab of beer to rebuild an engine gearbox or whatever over a weekend and enjoying the experience. As much as a lot of people don’t like them I even loved working on carbies. Think it’s sad we don’t see these old cars around a lot these days.

[@deborahchesser7375]

The more of these type vids I watch, the more I respect AMC, they did pretty damn good things with leftovers. Jeep and AMC was a match made in heaven that I hated to see end.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

My brother and I were saying the same thing. lol.....Thanks for watching and the comment! We hope you subscribe to our channel if you haven't already. Boca Brother #2

[@davidallen5776]

I, for one, did not forget about such models. I would see them all the time growing up!

[@SDSWrath004]

I own a 1978 pacer wagon and a 1965 marlin. Very interesting cars, built with parts from all of the big 3.

[@brucehensley8770]

My first car was a 1973 oldsmobile omega. Miss that car.

[@rucerius4968]

Our names are surprisingly similar, I had a 1973 Pontiac Ventura. It was a great car until my wife blew up the engine.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Glad it worked for you Bruce!

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

How did he blow up the engine Rucerius?

[@rucerius4968]

@@ThisOldCarChannel She over revved the engine after getting stuck on some ice.

[@bobmcl2406]

You hit the nail on the head with the description of the Ford Fairmont. Just a very honest car. Nice to drive, dead reliable, and a real pleasure to work on. I owned several 6-cylinder versions here in Canada, including a couple of wagons, which were absolute workhorses. I occasionally check out the classified ads in Mexico, where there are still quite a few Fairmonts running around. Most down there seem to be V-8s, for some reason.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for watching Bob! Good information about the Fairmonts in Mexico. We did not know this. We hope you're a subscriber.

[@colehara]

I saw a Mercury Monarch in a scrap yard that had a 351 4 barrel and a 4 speed standard. Came that way from the factory. That must have been a fun car. I think it was a 1980 model.

[@georgeforyan113]

The Ford Fairmont was sort of like the same version a a Dodge Dart for the same years

[@MarcFutoran]

Summer breaks during my college years I was able to drive the Granada, the LTD and the Fairmont. The Fairmont had a serious knocking/pinging problem, but got me where I had to go. Good times.

[@chessflower2092]

The pinging was probably the timing off just a little and some times a higher octane gas fix that problem as well. Old school mechanics used to set the timing back like that to get better gas mileage. Most of the time you only heard that when you started off after stopping.

[@MarcFutoran]

@@chessflower2092 Yes, that is the way it went, pinging/knocking during acceleration. The mechanic said he could adjust it to not ping but that would result in less power. So there was a trade off. I kept the pinging.

[@franklyspeaking4480]

I had a 79 Magnum XE 360 Magnum My inlaws neighbor had the T top Magnum, console shifter, bucket seats all in white. Mine was green with a bench seat, column shift. I miss that car. Sold it for $500 and turned around and bought a Buick Skylark for $250. It was a blast to live back then. Cars were dirt cheap because nobody wanted to put 50k on a car, so they sold them dirt cheap. My dad sold his 69 Road Runner in 1988 for $800. It had 48k on it, thats why he sold it. 😕 I have owned several trucks, only paid over $500 once. $1200 for a crew cab xl f250 Model year 2000 with a V10. I still pick up dirt cheap cars. 😂

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

I'm looking for the t-top version! Tough to find. Thanks for watching. We hope you're a subscriber to our channel.

[@franklyspeaking4480]

@@ThisOldCarChannel I have only seen 1 since then. (90's) I find/buy/sell rare vehicles. I have also been looking for 1. Either one, to throw a 340 6Pak in it.

[@violapittman8039]

Yes I really admired those classic sassy cars from the 70's growing up 🙂

[@WarioSaysSo]

2:47 - The "1972 Ford Gran Torino sports" was introduced to a modern generation thanks to legend Clint Eastwood in his own made motion picture "Gran Torino" (2008) that made us born in the 80's and up not only learn and develop love for the classic muscle luxury car but also discover other classics from the 60's and 70's.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Glad to hear you enjoy classic cars! Thanks for watching. We hope you're a subscriber to our channel.

[@rodcharade5919]

The same Gran Torino made an appearance in The Fast and The Furious movie franchise. I'm sure it was Fast 4.

[@jamesmichalek5406]

Starsky and Hutch.

[@WarioSaysSo]

@@jamesmichalek5406 Yeah those where first allright, but I never really grew up with them.

[@kjquinn7856]

I remember driving a 1978 Ford Fairmont rental car. It was cheap and cheesy inside with the horn button mounted on the end of the turn signal stalk! great placement for a piece of emergency equipment...

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Funny Kevin. lol......Yeah...the horn was on the signal lever. I forgot about that. I was also on the 82 Mustang that I had. Thanks for watching. We hope you're a subscriber to our channel.

[@seanthoman2676]

Had a 76 and 77 Granada. Loved them both.

[@stevenbarnett9190]

THESE CARS BRING BACK MEMORIES=THE DECADE HOLDS A WHOLE LOT FOR ME;YES IT DOES❤️🌹🙏🙏☺️☺️

[@rayjames6096]

AMC cars were reliable, a friend in the mid 70s had a 71 Gremlin and we drove it everywhere and another friend had a 68 Rebel and it was also very reliable.

[@glenmo1]

In 1977 I purchased a 19 73 gremlin and I loved it.. good gas mileage and that straight 6 had a lot of power.. mine was yellow with black racing stripes 😜

[@rayjames6096]

@@user-ml6hf6fp5f Those "ignorant" Americans are a superpower, which you enlightened people are not.

[@rickysig]

Don’t forget the Pacer and Matador.

[@MrFlintlock7]

To be fair, as a machine, the Pacer was an excellent vehicle...as long as nobody recognized you driving it.

[@BrianKliewer]

@@MrFlintlock7 🤣👍

[@michaelcoffey7362]

Cool, I like these 😀

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks Michael

[@CLL-1]

Great video! Some may chuckle at some of these old classics. But they spotlight something we are sadly lacking these days…good simple vehicles that people can easily afford to own.

[@johnericejr.9066]

It was awesome 😎

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for watching John. We hope you're a subscriber to our channel.

[@georgeforyan113]

I had a 1978 Ford Granada 2 door sedan and liked it very much as it rode real smooth although the six cylinder version seemed rather poor performance due to the weight of the car. The only thing I did not like about the 2 door version was the side doors were very long which made it difficult to get out of the car when parked in a tight spot.

[@bernadettegreen7134]

Purchased a new, light yellow 77' Ford Granada in Charlotte, N.C. Gas guzzler but boxy and safe.

[@jeffhale2278]

I had a 75 Monarch with the 250 Six, and what really held back the performance was the log-type intake. The air has to make three 90 degree turns to get into the large chamber, low compression cylinder. There is now an aluminum head available, with larger valves, better ports, and a tighter (smaller) combustion chamber. They even have the bosses for fuel injectors on the intake runners. Many aftermarket intakes are available, 2bbl, 4bbl, FI, even some for side draft carbs. Match the right camshaft, add a header, and these little engines come alive. If I'm not mistaken, the pistons from some Fusions have the same bore, and will fit the 250. They are flat top, not dished, and will raise the compression even more, especially if you zero deck the block. Throw in a modern 5 or 6 speed manual, and you've got a little sleeper. "Oh, it's only the straight 6 that came in it." 😉

[@MisterMikeTexas]

Umm, the Ford Fairmont replaced the Maverick, not the Granada.

[@fredboat]

Thanks ,Enjoyed, I remember all those cars Originally. Had several of them.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Good to hear Fredboat. Thanks for watching and your comment. We hope you are a subscriber.

[@ronaldmiller2740]

WOW GREAT VIDEO!!!! I GREW UP INTHE 60S AND I SAW ALL THESE CARS OR HAD ONE OF THESE CARS THE HORNET ,,YOU COULD NOT KILL IT THAT CAR WOULD NOT DIE ,I LOVED IT .. I NOW HAVE A 1978 BUICK SKYLARK 2DOOR PUMPED UP RACING STYLE I RACE IT ON THE RACE TRACK, YES IT STILL HAS ITS 231 V6 ENGINE I KEEP RUNNING GREAT (TALK ABOUT 1978 BUICKS).. THE COUGER I HAD ONCE 2 DOOR FLIP LIGHTS ,, I LOVED THE AD. WITH THE COUGAR ON TOP OF THE SIGH GROOWLING (FUNNY) LETS SEE THAT TV AD. THANKS...

[@johnpapa8681]

These cars aren't forgotten. I remember them very well.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Others do not John. We remember them also. Thanks for watching! Hope you subscribe to our channel if you haven't already!

[@irenes3470]

Great vid! If you do a Part II, include the Plymouths of the 70s

[@maxmulsanne7054]

My dream car - 1970 Plymouth Fury I w/lights & sirens (so I could pull my friends over when I was in high school).

[@GMCTIM]

When I met my now wife, her mom drove A 75 ford Granada ! She loved that car ! Every time it would break down, shed about cry ! 😳

[@williamalton2695]

My first car was a 1984 Oldsmobile Omega. I'm 56 today and I still remember the Omega and was proud to own one

[@hughbarton5743]

The VWs included two fun ways to catch on fire: 1) the fabric/rubber fuel lines that practically covered the engine would begin to weep gas onto all the engine electrics. 2) the gasoline powered heating system installed to keep away hypothermia-inducing temperatures in the cabin would also start really interesting fires too.... By the way: these blazes occurred when the cars were less than 10 years old.( I was in service management in a VW dealer in 1978, and saw these occurrences several times a month. Customers were generally not pleased....)

[@deborahboggs7573]

I had a 72 VW orange. It matched the color of my Chinese maples in the fall, this was in 2002. That was probably the reason mine didn’t have covers on it , the straw was revealed and yes I saw the cigarette land in the seat when I tossed it. We had bought this vw for our daughters 1st car but it wasn’t what she wanted so I shifted my way into glorious bliss driving it. What a thrill. She did 80 on the freeway like everyone was standing still Yeh-no I would not have wanted this when my kids were babes but I was 50 and killen it. I’m sorry your experience’s were in your line of work. That took all the fun!

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for watching Hugh. Make sure and subscribe.

[@georgehenderson7783]

The Ford Maverick was great. Had two of those. Good on gas ( 200 six ) and reliable.

[@richardshermanjr1899]

I had a blue 74 Maverick. It was a 2 door. I always thought it was a cool car even though it wasn't a Mustang.

[@marlinpace514]

In 75 I bought a new Toyota Corolla. One of my coworkers bought a Maverick. Our business was at the bottom of a deep parking lot. He noticed that the Toyota had no problem with the driveway with the stop at the top, but the Maverick had problems with it (start and stop on a fairly steep grade). I let him try my Toyota and he was impressed with the power difference, plus he had to pay $1000 more, and I had to pay full sticker with no discount (gas prices). We went inside and found a car book to compare horsepower, my 1600cc 4 cylinder (about 97 cubic inch)vs his 200 cubic inch 6 cylinder . Turns out there was only around 10 horsepower difference. We both left that job soon after so I don't know anymore about the ford, but I kept the Toyota for at least 10 years

[@Robert-lg2bl]

Awesome!

[@roberts459]

In high School my grandfather gave me his 1976 Ford Granada, it was basic as you could get them. It had manual brakes, manual clutch, manual steering, an inline 200 cid 6 cylinder and a three on the tree. I drove it from 1993-1997 when I sold it to my sisters boyfriend, it had 228,000 miles on it an still got 32mpg on the highway at 75 mph. I wish I still had it to be honest, it was very reliable and economical large car.

[@rkirschner7175]

Modified Hornet SC 360 can be formidable. Knew guy back in the day ran mid 12's in street trim with slicks.🙀

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Wow! Not bad. Thanks for watching. We hope you're a subscriber to our channel.

[@melrose9252]

I am sure your ET times are 1/8 and not 1/4.

[@caroldriehorst1165]

I always like the look of the Pacer, sleek and a lot of glass.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

The fish bowl is what they call it Carol. HAHA! Thanks for watching! Hope you subscribe to our channel if you haven't already!

[@ninac4501]

It was good enough for John Denver and "god" (George Burns)…he even made it rain inside of it, in the 1977 movie, "Oh God".

[@markdeang3106]

Coolest cars from the 70's are the best

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

I agree Mark! Merry Christmas and thanks for watching. Make sure and subscribe!

[@stratman1021]

We had a Ford Torino wagon with a rear facing back seat and I loved it as a kid. Perfect for the times.

[@budsvtec]

I own a 73 Dodge Dart custom. I’m surprised it’s not on the list. I love the car

[@georgeforyan113]

I had a 1969 beige with a tan vinyl roof Dodge Dart Custom 2 door hardtop with a small V8 engine (I think it was a 273 cubic inch). I like it very much and it performed great. I drove it until the valves begin to burn. I sold it to a neighbor and within a week he got drunk and totaled it. What a shame!

[@michaelwhite2823]

Loved this. Grandparents had a fish mouthed Gran Torino. When the gas crunch hit, they traded in their Marquis for a Maverick and had it with the Torino. Later they went back to an LTD Landau and had a Lincoln Versailles for a year and got rid of it. My first car was an old Nova Concours. Is love a Nova, Ventura/Phoenix, Apollo/Skylark or Omega now.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

My first car was a used 1979 Ford LTD Landau Coupe....but I prefer the pre-downsized big cars from FoMoCo. My best friend in junior high school showed me his parent's impressive gold 1972 Mercury Marquis Brougham.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

"Fish mouth" lol...Never heard that before Michael. Makes sense though. lol..... Thanks for watching and we hope you are a subscriber!

[@michaelwhite2823]

@@SpockvsMcCoy yeah I had that 77 Ltd Landau with all the options and the 460 it was nice. 72 mercury was one of the most beautiful cars of the 70s.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

@@michaelwhite2823 Was the 1977 LTD Landau a coupe or sedan? Which model years were your grandparents' Marquis and Versailles?

[@michaelwhite2823]

@@SpockvsMcCoy A sedan. Baby blue with a dark blue vinyl top and color keyed luxury wheel covers. Lol My grandparents didn't know about power trunk. I read about the power lock groupk at 13 and told them look in the glove box if you gave power locks you gave power trunk.

[@THX-kw2jh]

I Will Never Forget The 1975 Ford Granada Coupe, It Was My First Car Back in 1983, a Greeen 2 Door 6 Cylinder Coupe with Huge Doors. I Wonder Were That Metal is Now.

[@chessflower2092]

Probably someone is drinking beer out of it. Or maybe rims on car's.

[@rrad8106]

My first car was the stable mate to the Ford Maverick - the 1973 Mercury Comet. I still have an affinity for one when I see one on the road!

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

My aunt had the baby blue Maverick. Thanks R Rad! Thanks for watching and the comment. We hope you are a subscriber.

[@jaydawg4065]

My favorite car of all time is the 1972 Gran Torino Sport.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

That is one of my brothers favorites Jay. Thanks for watching. I hope you're a subscriber!

[@joelabbe6185]

Had one in the late 80's. First V-8 powered car. The ONE I will miss forever!

[@kd6836]

My viewing started with a commercial for a new Silverado. I would ask what happened to trucks? Today’s trucks are optioned like luxury cars. I don’t see a lot of things hauled in many of them.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

You are correct KD 68. They are more than luxury cars these days! Thanks for watching.

[@bobmcl2406]

Yeah, most truck owners these days are afraid to use their trucks as trucks. Don't wanna get dirt in the bed, or scratch the pearlescent paint! 🙄

[@rodneykingston6420]

My first car was a '76 AMC Hornet. Got it in 1982, near mint condition. A friend of mine who was a mechanic told me it was just a re-worked Nash Rambler. I had no idea what he was talking about, but there was a lady who lived down the street from us we nicknamed Mrs Putt-Putt. You never wanted to get stuck behind her leaving the subdivision because she drove like 7 mph. Maddening. Going down my street once and she's just pulling out of her driveway. Damn! and I can't be rude to her, she's friends with my mom. So I'm tooling along behind her dreaded mid-60s vintage (immaculate, mint) blue car on the way to the main road and I read the word Rambler on a little plate on her trunk and now I can see all the similarities and realize, yes, I'm basically driving a Putt-Putt mobile. It wasn't the car. She'd have driven like that in a Ferrari, but still...

[@chessflower2092]

That's funny. The Rambler was a tank ! Hit something with one and it would run over it like it was plastic.

[@vassa1972]

Cool stuff I was born in Toronto back on July 15 1972, I'll be 50 omg I'm old LoL

[@rickloera9468]

The Fairmont didn't replace the Granada. The Granada was supposed to replace the Maverick/Comet. 1974 sales were so good for the pair that they stayed on till they were phased out in 1977 and made room for the new 1978 Fairmont/Zephyr line. The Granada continued its first generation til 1980 then adopted the Foxbody platform for 1981. It was finally dropped when Ford applied the LTD name to it with a redesign in 1983. It evolved to the Ford Taurus starting in 1986 when Ford went back to only full sized LTD which later became the Ford Crown Victoria that we all know and love today.

[@brucegreenfield9903]

Zepher was a good ride.

[@corvetcoyote443]

OMG,the white 70 Hornet 2dr was identical to the one I owned back in the 80s only difference was that mine had a black vinyl top and was an SST badge on it.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Hope your Hornet was good to you Corvet. Thanks for watching. We hope you're a subscriber!

[@philipwright769]

Forgotten but not lost I have a 1974 buick apollo 350 and damn she is amazing

[@honestone490]

Don't forget the Chevrolet Monza. The Monza 2+2 won Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year award for 1975. It competed with the Ford Mustang II. Other versions that existed were the Pontiac Sunbird, Oldsmobile Starfire and Buick Skyhawk. The standard engine was the Vega's aluminum-block 140 cu in (2.3 L) inline-four engine. Chevrolet decided to discontinue the Monza at the end of the 1980 model year although production of 1980 models continued to the end of calendar 1980 with its "1982" Cavalier replacement debuting in early calendar 1981.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

Horrendous cars replaced by equally horrendous cars...all of them were a gift to the Japanese.

[@honestone490]

@@SpockvsMcCoy I agree the Cavalier wasn't any better than the Monza. Can you believe the Cavalier lasted until 2005. I still can't. 😵‍💫

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

@@honestone490 The Cavalier and the other J-body cars were more likely to end up in rental car fleets.

[@stockamx]

I worked on all of them back then. Some of them were real junk! Amazing how cars have evolved.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Were you a mechanic?

[@timothypope1580]

I had a 77 Ford Granada, I put a 302 4 speed in it from a 1969 mercury cougar. It was fast, lost 2 police cars one night that were chasing me. It was originally a 6 cylinder 3 speed overdrive manual transmission.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

lol. Thanks for watching and the comment. We hope you're a subscriber!

[@Hattonbank]

What were they chasing you for?

[@manthony225]

For part 2: Mercury Capri, Dodge Colt, Cadillac Seville, AMC Matador, Renault Le Car.

[@donaldhollums3278]

Don’t forget the Ford Torino Elite. I had a 1974 model. It was my first car that I paid $200 for back in the mid-80s. I basically got the car for free as the $200 was to reimburse the owner for the new tires.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

awesome! Thanks all!

[@JohnDLeo-rg8tc]

love your work Boca Bros., i still long for my 78 Fairmont that my dad handed me down.

[@big2868]

I had a 1974 Chevelle Laguna S.3. While there are many sales training films on all Chevrolet models, I have yet to find one for this trim level.

[@larrywhite2574]

I had a 1976 Laguna S 3 . A heavy car and put snow tires on it . It went through snow really well. I still miss that car.

[@johnmadison3472]

I thought the Ford Maverick was a great looking car for it's time. I owned a 72 Grabber model with a 302 V8. Very underrated car.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Grabbers were awesome John. Thanks for watching!

[@golfboy83]

My first car was a 1979 Dodge Magnum, I got it in 1999. Such a fun car to have in high school.

[@erikgour3475]

I had the Granada with the 302. That thing would burn the tires right off. I also had the Nova (everyone had a Nova). The Dodge Magnum was my favorite car. I had it for 4 years. These days me and my wife both own 2019 Ford Escapes. Of course, I still have my toy from the 70s, but it isn't on your list. 1972 MonteCarlo. Cool video

[@TheBrooklynbodine]

Another, though more recent car. The Mercury Cougar. Mercury hasn't been made for a long time. Yet another, the Olds Toronado. I know, I know, we're talking about the '70s her, but I liked the '66 to '69 Toronados. Oldsmobile's another fine brand that went to that great assembly line in the sky.

[@a.leemorrisjr.9255]

72 Gran Torino was a good looking car, quite fast for a heavy car w/right engine, trans, & rear end, but like many '70s era Ford's, they were notorious "rust buckets."

[@a.leemorrisjr.9255]

@@tramr3203 You're correct there too. They were using cheaper, thinner steels (sheet metal,) & a cheap rubberized undercoating that soon dried out, cracked, & fell off. Zeibarting was a must if you lived in "rust belt" area.

[@sir_christmas_leopold_duckson]

Yeah, these definitely haven't been forgotten.

[@kenlichtig8024]

1970 Lincoln restyled the Continental Gone were the suicide doors

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for watching Ken. We hope you're a subscriber to our channel.

[@kenlichtig8024]

I am a subscriber

[@philpatterson7085]

My stepfather had a VW 411, good handling car but no powerhouse. He was driving it to work one day when the motor blew. He pulled to the side of the road and walked back (rear engined) and discovered a trail of oil and engine parts behind the car. Popped the engine cover open and discovered very little left ot the engine. While it ran it was a nice car though.

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Thanks for sharing Phil. Thanks for watching. We hope you're a subscriber to our channel.

[@TheStaffmaster]

My first car was an AMC Concorde wagon. 258 straight 6 Automatic. It had 2 gears in the torque converter and a locking rear diff that was the "final" gear. You were all done at 45 mph, but because it was a front to back mounted I-6, the GOD LEVELS OF TORQUE present meant that it had the lovely side effect of if you got on the gas hard enough when accelerating from a stop you could lay rubber! XD Had a buddy who called it the Dragon Wagon. My dad really got into AMC's after that, and my Next car was an 83' Eagle. I could off road in it and laughed at old man winter HARD with that car. Both sipped fuel too; they had 20 gallon tanks and got about 27 MPG city. I could almost go 2 weeks between fill ups if I didn't go on to may crazy adventures. I drive A Toyota Venza now, and in a lot of ways it's like one of those Eagles, though, I'm not going to take this one out trail hopping like I could the AMC.

[@TheBrooklynbodine]

Wow, wow, and WOW!!! Thanks so much for this! I never knew about the Volkswagen 411/412. I've seen them around, but didn't know what they were called. At 5:36, the Ford Granada is mentioned, along with the Mercury Monarch. They were sister cars. Ford and Mercury each has corresponding models, e.g., the Ford Fairmont and the Mercury Zephyr, and as mentioned, the Ford Pinto and the Mercury Bobcat. I was born in '63, so I well remember these cars. Here are some more for you. Mercury Cyclone and Montego, Pontiac Catalina, Plymouth Satellite, to name but a few. Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Mercury, and Plymouth are no longer made. My brother bought a '76 Omega new. Posting March 2, 2022. Also, though they're not mentioned here, the '71-'73 Buick Rivieras. Boattails!

[@chessflower2092]

I think Mercury's are still made.?

[@TheBrooklynbodine]

@@chessflower2092 No, they were discontinued January 4, 2011.

[@recoveringcatholicbornagai5410]

when I was 14, I stole/joy rode my mom's work car a 1972 Monte Carlo, .....she caught me. I was grounded for 2 months( in which I joy rode several more clandestine times)....I told my mom years later that the grounding only made me more determined to get away with it...........and I did......, a lesson for teaching my kids

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

My Aunt had a green 72 Monte Carlo. It was a nice ride. Thanks for watching Mark. We hope you're a subscriber to our channel.

[@reallyrandomrides1296]

Most of those cars are not "forgotten" - I think they're well remembered, but just not seen on the road anymore, as with any car from the 1970s. The VW 411 and 412 , Dodge Magnum sold so few they could be forgotten, and maybe the Oldsmobile Omega / Buick Apollo, Mercury Bobcat and Datsun 200SX (which was so ugly it was cool, I'd have bought one just for that reason).

[@ThisOldCarChannel]

Forgotten and not on the road is the point of our video. Thanks for watching and the comment. We hope you are a subscriber!

[@calebwhite1454]

Ford Torino forgotten? Laughable. Also what about the Plymouth Valiant/Duster, Dodge Dart? But this is a great video

[@user-mq2dd6hp1g]

Remember I had a 1977 granada 2 doors with 350 engine. Just loved this car.