70-79 vehicles

[gray07]

Iam a nut for 70-79 cars, trucks, vans. so i was sitting here thinking i would like to build at least 1 of every 70s-79 vehicle, I remember when i was growing up my parent couldnt get a camaro or mustang because they had me and my sister, so we always bought family cars. So i got to thinking what 70s-79 vehicles did the model companies make and iam not talking about the mustangs and camaros (i think they made every year of them), but what about the other cars the family cars the big or little cars or even the in between cars. Post a picture of them if you could that way i can see whats out there and what i should look for. I know iam probally the only person that love these cars, but i do. Here are a couple that ive picked up already. Thanks

Edited August 18, 2011 by gray07

[gray07]

[Junkman]

I find that decade is grossly underrepresented. For decades I ask where the models of these cars are. Apart from the Caprices, and the 76 Caddy by the Modelhaus, there is absolutely bugger all in terms of fullsize family cars. Same goes for European stuff, absolutely nada. The Japanese stuff is comparatively well represented though.

[Eshaver]

It was an interesting time as far as 1-1 cars go . I quit building models by 1970 as the Draft was a calling me and my studies at college were interfering with a part time job . I then went on to manufacturing Custom Van accessories . I'll try and find some shots of trucks and Vans of that era I've done subsequently . Sorry but have you ever really tried to overhaul a Chevrolet Chevette , change a starter on one , or re- build their carburetors ? Ed Shaver

[Harry P.]

Not much representation of '70s cars in scale because '70s cars in real life were ######-and not too many people have any interest in, or fond memories of, cars of that decade. The beginnings of smog regulations and in response the manufacturer's pathetic and undeveloped technology... those incredibly ugly tacked-on 5 mph. bumpers... the Caddy "8-6-4" debacle... dubious (at best) build quality... GM's bland badge engineering at its peak... etc.

If there is a "black hole" in automotive history, the '70s are definitely in the running.

[Kit Basher]

'70s cars in real life were ######

I think it depends on the car. My Dad's Vega was a piece of junk, so was my sister's Audi Fox. My '74 Corolla SR5 was a great car! It had a Hemi (well, half of one anyway).

Hey Harry, your quote got censored! I didn't do it!

Edited August 19, 2011 by basher

[philo426]

How about an MPC '73 Caprice?

[von Zipper]

There are alot of cars, trucks & vans that I wish they would make in scale from the '70s.

The 1970s was a growing time for cars and trucks in the U.S.

A few of the things that come to mind are- the '70s started out with round head lights and ended with square head lights, started with points and ended with electronic ignition, and the worse of all to performance- un leaded gas.

It would be cool if some one could make an old fashion cartoon flip book of every year full sized Chevy cars to see how they evolved from then to now.

From the '70s I wish they made a '76 Ford Torino Elite, a '76 Chrysler Cordoba and a '76 Buick Regal in scale....but that's just my modelers dream.

[Junkman]

Seventies cars ######? I wish they'd make a model of my 78 Caprice Classic, the best car I ever owned, and not by a narrow margin. Even its 'italianesque' design with those "incredibly ugly tacked-on 5 mph bumpers" stood the test of time very well.

When it comes to American cars, give me full sizers please. Nothing is more American, than an American full sized car.

[Dr. Cranky]

I grew up in the 70s in California and I can tell you all those Impalas, Novas, and Firebirds were still prevalent, not to mention the GTOs, the Challengers, etc . . . but then something happened and along came the Pinto, Vega, Gremlin, Pacer . . . etc . . .

I respect your decade choice for automobiles, but the 70s really marked the end for great looking cars. Good design was sacrificed for fuel efficiency. Plastic replaced metal, etc . . .

Edited August 19, 2011 by Dr. Cranky

[Art Anderson]

Not much representation of '70s cars in scale because '70s cars in real life were ######-and not too many people have any interest in, or fond memories of, cars of that decade. The beginnings of smog regulations and in response the manufacturer's pathetic and undeveloped technology... those incredibly ugly tacked-on 5 mph. bumpers... the Caddy "8-6-4" debacle... dubious (at best) build quality... GM's bland badge engineering at its peak... etc.

If there is a "black hole" in automotive history, the '70s are definitely in the running.

The decline of the production of model kits of American cars in the 1970's had as much to do with the drop-off of the use of "promotional models" by the marketing & sales departments of the US "Big Three" (and American Motors); due to the rise of the large, mega-dealer showrooms and sales lots.

Promotional models (or "promo's") had their heyday in the the time frame 1950 to about 1964-65; when. given the rather small size (compared to today) of new car dealerships, there was a need for some way to illustrate to potential car buyers the wide variety of body styles and colors and combinations of colors. From this came the idea of being able to have a whole pallette of colors of toy cars in the showroorm to show Mr and Mrs car buyer the possibilities. In addition, a promo was the perfect incentive for a salesman to give to the son of a prospect--pretty hard to turn down buying that new car you'd been looking at when your kid is busy ogling a scale model of it, given completely free of charge. It's from those promotional models of back then that our hobby really took off--those legendary 3in1 Annual series cars from AMT, JoHan, MPC stemmed first from promotional model tooling, with a few modifications, some added parts.

Now, of course, while there were promo's of so-called "mainstream" cars (you know, 4dr sedans with 6 cylinder engines and bench seats), as model kits models of that sort of subject were guarranteed "dust catchers" on hobby shop shelves, so the emphasis very quickly became making customizing kits out of promo's of hardtops and convertibles--with the occasional station wagon thrown in.

Additionally, by the early 1970's, the idea of annual major styling facelifts had given way to a particular set of sheetmetal being used for 3-4 years with only low-cost detail changes in stuff like grilles and headlights, interior upholstery patterns. The once-seemingly traditional fall outings by fathers and sons to see all the "new cars" at introduction time gave way to other pursuits.

Yeah, the 70's saw their share of promotionals and model kits of more or less mainstream cars, driven by the desire still of automakers to have a promotional model/toy of their latest creation--think Gremlin, Pacer, Pinto, Vega, Aspen/Volare here. But the model kit market for models of new cars was still dominated by stuff like hardtops at the more desirable end of the spectrum--Olds Cutlasses, Cadillac Coupe DeVilles, Caprice Classics. Pickups and vans were one area that seemed to excite modelers, just as they were coming into their own in the 1:1 world.

But, the 1970's began as the huge fad of building model cars (sheesh, in the 60's, I kinda think that virtually every red-blooded American boy at least tried to build a model car, somewhere about Jr High School) was starting to decline--the later Boomers had found other areas of pursuit it seems; by the end of that decade, the number of truly new kit announcements each year could be counted on the fingers of both hands, no need to take off your shoes to use your toes as counters!

Had it not been for the tremendous "return" to the hobby of their youth by guys born say, 1944-50 (the leading edge of the Baby Boomer model car craze of the 60's) as adults, it's likely we'd not be having this conversation in August 2011.

Art

[Jantrix]

Not much representation of '70s cars in scale because '70s cars in real life were ######-and not too many people have any interest in, or fond memories of, cars of that decade. If there is a "black hole" in automotive history, the '70s are definitely in the running.

I would say that about the cars of the 80's before I would the 70's.

Seventies cars ######? I wish they'd make a model of my 78 Caprice Classic, the best car I ever owned, and not by a narrow margin. Even its 'italianesque' design with those "incredibly ugly tacked-on 5 mph bumpers" stood the test of time very well. When it comes to American cars, give me full sizers please. Nothing is more American, than an American full sized car.

Oh man I totally agree. I had a 75 Olds Delta 88 two door, that I miss so much.

[Dr. Cranky]

It was also the decade of all those non-descript Japanese cars that flooded the market.

[charlie8575]

Gee, my 1970s cars were some of the best ones I had, too. Easy to repair when the needed it, sound construction, durable, started in the worst of weather. About the only really issue I had, and would still have with a 15-20 year-old car in New England, is rust.

I agree with Christian, and with the discontinuance of the Ford Panther platform, America has now lost its last true full-size cars. The 300/Charger are close, but not quite the same thing. They're missing one seating position and about 5-6 cubic feet of trunk space for a start.

Charlie Larkin

[gray07]

Yes the 70s cars had huge bumpers but look at the cars of the 2000s to 2011, they all look the same, plastic bumpers that i wouldnt trust over 5mph. My mom bought a 2011 chevy cruze my neighbor bought a 2011 hundia (i know i didnt spell that right) something and they look so close, Why would a person want to buy a car that looks like everybody elses cars, I will stick with my 70s cars. When i go to car shows i look at the unusual cars, you only can look at so many mustangs or camaroes in your life, oh before someone says iam a hater of these cars let me tell you, I was in a camaro club for many years ive owned a 67,68,71,76,80,and a brand new 88 and with mustangs ive owned a 66,67,71 mach 1,74 that i drove to school everyday for my senior year.. So yes ive owned quite a few mustangs and camaroes so no i dont hate them. I think my 74 mustang got me loving the 70s cars i traded it for a 76 levi edition gremlin.

[exnyman]

In late 1974, I learned how to drive on my Dad's then brand new 74 Impala, not as well screwed together as our 68 impala was, but still a nice car. I own what has to be one of the most unusual 70's cars optionwise: a 79 Malibu Classic Landau Coupe with factory 4-speed manual and V8, and factory electric sliding sunroof. There were only about 1902 4-speeds built in 79, and only 842 79's had a sunroof....I have only heard of two others with both the 4-speed and sunroof. I love this car every bit as much as my 60's Chevys,even if it is a 70's car. Personally, cars from the 70's get a bad rap but just look at what you could still get in the 70's, that is now gone or almost gone.....convertibles? in an American brand, other than the Mustang, Camaro and Corvette, gone, Wagons? gone. Coupes? almost gone...4-door hardtops...gone, bench seats, gone......mix & Match options...gone, annual model changes, gone....Whitewlls, raised white letters....gone. Chrome bumpers, chrome trim, vinyl interiors, vinyl tops, all gone. So to me, while the cars from the 70's may have been slower than their 60's counterparts, may not have had the best workmanship, and many had big bumpers, they have far more personality than the generic Asian silver/gray/black/burgundy blandmobiles or the just plain uglymobiles that pass for cars today. Park a 70-73 Gremlin next to a Honda Fit and tell me the Honda isn't the uglier of the two.....I'll take the Gremlin any day!

Edited August 21, 2011 by exnyman

[charlie8575]

In late 1974, I learned how to drive on my Dad's then brand new 74 Impala, not as well screwed together as our 68 impala was, but still a nice car. I own what has to be one of the most unusual 70's cars optionwise: a 79 Malibu Classic Landau Coupe with factory 4-speed manual and V8, and factory electric sliding sunroof. There were only about 1902 4-speeds built in 79, and only 842 79's had a sunroof....I have only heard of two others with both the 4-speed and sunroof. I love this car every bit as much as my 60's Chevys,even if it is a 70's car. Personally, cars from the 70's get a bad rap but just look at what you could still get in the 70's, that is now gone or almost gone.....convertibles? in an American brand, other than the Mustang, Camaro and Corvette, gone, Wagons? gone. Coupes? almost gone...4-door hardtops...gone, bench seats, gone......mix & Match options...gone, annual model changes, gone....Whitewlls, raised white letters....gone. Chrome bumpers, chrome trim, vinyl interiors, vinyl tops, all gone. So to me, while the cars from the 70's may have been slower than their 60's counterparts, may not have had the best workmanship, and many had big bumpers, they have far more personality than the generic Asian silver/gray/black/burgundy blandmobiles or the just plain uglymobiles that pass for cars today. Park a 70-73 Gremlin next to a Honda Fit and tell me the Honda isn't the uglier of the two.....I'll take the Gremlin any day!

I agree 100%. The 1970s were a time a major transition society-wise and with changes in society, come changes in its products. No, the cars of the time weren't always the best work they could do- a combination of the general malaise on society at that time, and regulations that changed so fast, and such great number, that it made consistent engineering and construction quality very difficult.

Very few cars have personality anymore. I kinda like the Chevy HHR; I think that has more personality than most cars on the road now, at least style-wise. And Ford seems to be making an effort to re-introduce some into all its cars, but when the engineers and stylists are the same (a bunch of stuffed-shirt bureaucrats, product liability attorneys, insurance dweebs and the wind-tunnel,) you can only do so much.

What I find difficult to understand is the lack of color. I like having choices beyond bland, ugly and unattractive, unless I want to add $300-1000 to my sticker price.

Yes, cars are a reflection of their society. What ours reflect today, don't reflect on us well.

Charlie Larkin

[philo426]

I agree about the Dodge Magnum.If Aurora could make a HO slot car of it than the little 3 surely could have!

[philo426]

Yeah it runs pretty well also!

[Lunajammer]

I'm afraid I'd have to include the Magnum in the category of 70's dark ages. It may have been a great car but to me it was a last gasp of unrequited muscle car glory. As a NASCAR it did look hot, as much as it looked bulky. A sad replacement for the early 70's Chargers and with the aerodymamics of a brick, was abandoned by most Dodge teams halfway through its first season.

The Cordoba rode like a dream but it wasn't pretty. The Magnum, to me, just seemed like a Cordoba with tilted headlights and bulgy fenders. Another on a list of overly large, aesthetically disproportional 70's homages to excess. My bias was forged from culture shock a lot of us suffered when Detroit took us from the muscle car era to the age of ambiguity and as mentioned in previous posts, the clunky 5mph bumpers sort of symbolize that change.

[Junkman]

Let's imagine model kits would exist of all American 70s cars. Which ten would I buy first?

1973 Buick Electra 225

1971 Cadillac

1973 Pontiac Grand Am

1973 Continental MK IV

1975 Lincoln Town Car

1970 Imperial

1974 Imperial / Chrysler New Yorker Brougham

1978 Ford LTD

1977 Ford Thunderbird

1973 Dodge Monaco

[Joe Handley]

Unless they're the last of the muscle cars, vans, or Jeeps, I have no interest just about anything else from the 70's.

[charlie8575]

I've got to side with Jacen, I'd love to see a Magnum, and I think it would be an easy car to set up for NASCAR, rep-stock, and whatever else.

Christian had some nice picks, too. One of my 5 personal favorite of the decade is the 1977-'79 full-size Chevy coupe with the wrap-around backlight. I always thought those were one of the nicest-looking cars on the road at the time.

Charlie Larkin

[Tonioseven]

I'm just glad to have my two '73 Caprice kits and my '71 Impala kit.

[gray07]

We need more pictures