In the 1970’s, facing threats from imports, Detroit automakers began producing and marketing compact cars. Lots has been written about Detroit’s rush to the marketplace resulting in some disastrous cars – the epitome of which is the Ford Pinto that would sometimes burst into flames when rear-ended due to the placement of the gas tank.

 

While these cars were all initially beloved by many, they quickly fell out of favor, only to become beloved again and highly collectible.  I hope you will enjoy this 1970’s themed collection of car art, challenges, and all!

 

The Ford Pinto was manufactured and marketed from 1971 until 1980. Since the 1970s, the safety reputation of the Pinto has generated controversy. Its fuel-tank design attracted both media and government scrutiny after several deadly fires occurred when the tanks ruptured in rear-end collisions.

 

The Chevrolet Vega  was manufactured and marketed from 1970 to 1977. The Vega received praise and awards at its introduction, including 1971 Motor Trend Car of the Year. Subsequently, the car became widely known for a range of problems related to its engineering, reliability, safety, propensity to rust, and engine durability.

 

The AMC Gremlin is a subcompact automobile introduced in 1970. The Gremlin was classified as an economy car and competed with the Chevrolet Vega and Ford Pinto, as well as imported cars including the Volkswagen Beetle and Toyota Corolla. The Gremlin stopped production in 1983 long after the retirement of the Ford Pinto and Chevrolet Vega. Cheap and incredibly deprived — with vacuum-operated windshield wipers, no less — the Gremlin was also awful to drive, with a heavy six-cylinder motor and choppy, unhappy handling due to the loss of suspension travel in the back.

  

The Ford Maverick was manufactured and marketed from 1970–1977.  Yet another car that seemed fine when it was new, but which turned out to be a badly built disaster on wheels, due to metal fatigue and rusting, as well as a gutless and fragile in-line six engine.

 

The second-generation Ford Mustang was manufactured and marketed from 1973 until 1978. Named Motor Trend's 1974 Car of the Year and reaching over 1.1 million sales over four years of production.  It is regarded by certain enthusiasts as having abandoned essential aspects of the Mustang heritage and in a retrospective after 40 years since its introduction described as embodying the Malaise era. The front fenders were prone to rusting, engines were underpowered and unreliable, and emission systems challenged fuel economy.