Safety and technology nonwithstanding, cars of the pre 1980 era had style, grace and personality. In 1957 at 10 years old, I could name most every make of car on the road. Try that today! Cars today are "cookie cutter" cars. They can't be told apart without a program. My first car was a '56 Mercury Montclair 2 dr ht, Black with red and white tuck and roll interior from the factory. It had "style". Sure, it was a sled and I paid no attention to milage. At .30 a gallon, who cared? For $10.00, I could fill my car, take my girl out to eat and to the drive in and have money left when I got home. My, how times have changed. Even the drive-in's are gone..sniff...sniff...
It's no small wonder the 60's are such a fond era to remember...especially for us "old" guys...
If people drove cars with only safety in mind, no one would drive a "T-bucket"...
Just my two cents worth for what it's worth