It’s 1978, and you’re a Baby Boomer with a wife and a little kid or two, and you just got a promotion. Time to dump that hulk of a Pinto or rusty Nova, and buy a nice, new car. Specifically, a reasonably affordable compact-mid size car (the definitions of those were in huge flux at the time). What will it be?
I popped out with my choice: a 1978 Ford Fairmont ES with the 302 V8, sport suspension, four-speed stick (I’m not sure that was actually available), alloy wheels (not shown on this one), bucket seats, and floor shift. It was the closest thing to an international-style sport sedan, in my opinion, if hardly perfect. But it was clean, unpretentious, roomy, and light. Given what had been available from Dearborn up to that time, it was a first step in a big new direction from Ford, a harbinger of things to come. And yes, it was a “mid-size” in the changing realities of the time; the Fairmont had 90% of the interior room of a 1978 Impala. No, the LTD II wasn’t a “mid-size” car anymore, not that it ever was one, really.
But there were other cars in that general bracket that were appealing too. We’ve shown you some, but there were others too. Now I’ve set this up as a domestic car question, but if you’re from another country, feel free to go shopping from what was available there in 1978. But let’s keep it to sedans/hatches in the roughly comparable price/size bracket, otherwise we’ll be all over the map.
I’d pick a Malibu two-door, 100% because I love the styling of them.
I completely agree with the Fairmont.
What I liked best was that it was the right sized car inside and out and looked like a return to sensible honest design. That 302 was a dependable engine as well.
And I ended up getting a Futura version of one several years later and I was right.
Notchback Cutlass Supreme Calais with the factory T-top and front buckets.
+1. A friend’s father had a 1980 version of this car, black on black with the t-top, and I thought it was an awesome car. I also liked the fact that Olds used different grill treatments on the Calais version for ’78-’80 so you could always recognize the model from the front.
Mercury Zephyr 302 auto was black cherry still available?
Plymouth Volare Roadrunner(I’ve a strange fascination with underdog cars and late 70s”muscle cars”) even though it was a bit of a dud.
“Plymouth Volare Roadrunner(I’ve a strange fascination with underdog cars and late 70s”muscle cars”) even though it was a bit of a dud.”
Not so fast….go to my post on these down below and follow the link I provided. Properly set up, these were actually pretty formidable for the times.
Cruise control was not available on the Fairmont/Zephyr until 1979, so I believe I would take a LeMans or Century station wagon had I been in the market for a mid size car in 1978.
+1 for the Safari wagon.
I had the LeMans Safari in Desert Sand, with planked woodgrain. Vinyl interior. It had the 350 4bbl. It was the dealer’s wife’s car. Rally wheels, crank windows, no power door locks, and a mast antenna. One of my favorites….
We also had a ’78 Catalina. The 305 that ate its camshaft, and was replaced with a 350. Gorgeous Laredo Brown, also with a vinyl interior. We kept that car for years, and 200k miles. We replaced it with an ’85 STE, ordered new.
Someone posted earlier that the 350 in these GM middles was an ‘urban legand’. Nice to see someone here had one!
My grandparents had a 1978 Zephyr with cruise control. Ride-Engineered, baby!
The Olds Cutlass Salon with its unique fastback body has my vote.
In the ’70s, I think that Chevy had the best styling, so I’d take a Monte Carlo if it qualifies, a Malibu if it doesn’t, and a Nova over both. 🙂
Wasn’t the Fairmont considered a compact? The Granada would have probably been closer to a midsize. I guess the Fairmont’s size wasn’t far off a Malibu. Regardless, my father’s 1979 Fairmont 302 wagon was the worst car he has ever owned in over 50 years of car ownership. The car was constantly breaking down, the body rusted severely prematurely, and the car was basically completely worn by 100K miles. We had a few other early Foxes in our family and none turned out to be good cars. My father replaced the Fairmont with a B-body and although the dimensions may suggest that the Fairmont had 90% of the interior room, in reality the difference seemed much more, especially when you had 5 or six adults in the car.
However, the A/G-bodies we’ve owned have all been good. My choice would be a 1978 Malibu coupe, with a 305-4bbl and a 4-speed manual and F-41 suspension. Not only a good looking car, but decent performance and handling for the era.
I looked up the figures, & the ∆ between a ’78 Fox & GM A-body is 3“ & a couple hundred lbs depending on content (unibody vs. BOF). So by this time the gap between an “intermediate” & “compact” was narrowing, as might be expected.
Since I drove a V8 Fairmont, I 2nd Pauls’ choice for performance, but for comfort the A-body might be preferable.
I have to agree – we had Fairmonts as police cruisers in 78-80 during my stint as a USAF Security Policeman – they were universally hated – cheap and always breaking down. I won’t say what we called, them but it was typical GI slang….. Lest you think these were fleet clunkers, a friend had a 78 Fairmont Futura that was just as cheap and unreliable as the others.
Another friend had a 78 Cutlass Supreme and the difference in feel and build quality was drastic – the Olds was really nice.
Note not all the Fords were bad, we had 86 LTDs with the 5.0 SFI engine – these were great cruisers – and the senior guy (or gal) always pulled rank to get one……
An Aspen sedan with the Slant six and a four-speed.
^^^^^I’ll have what he’s having.^^^^^
Dark green if ya got it.
Raising a young family back then, we had a ’76 Aspen Wagon, semi-loaded, dark green. I liked the looks of it and it was pretty roomy for a young family. To stay in the same frequency as Paul requests, the ’78 was practically the same, but I would want one with a manual. The 225 slant six was ok but don’t go looking for many hills, and/or definitely don’t engage the A/C if you want to get home early. How Chrysler let you get the power amenities in a wagon with the six and automatic was amusing at best, heavy labor at it’s worst.
In ’78 I lived in Germany. So I would be choosing something domestic to Germans: Opel Rekord.
That’s just the car I would chose. My grandpa (the one who had a 1957 DKW) had a yellow 1979 Opel Rekord 2.0 E with 110 PS. I remember sitting next to the dog on the back seat. Until recently my younger brother had an almost similar 79 Opel Commodore 2.5 with an engine as smooth as any BMW engine I’ve ever experienced – at least below 4000 U/min. As much as i liked that silky six cylinder, I would have chosen the four cylinder fuel injected Rekord with only 5 PS less than the bigger (and thirstier) Commodore. By the way: Opel had so many great model names back then: Diplomat, Admiral, Kapitän, Commodore, Kadett…
The Dodge Monaco badge moved over to the mid-sized Coronet in 1977, so I’d get a 1978 Monaco with the E86 Pursuit option. Thanks to its relatively uncorked 440 ci engine, it’s the only midsize of the time that would almost be able to keep up with a modern mid-sized car, provided the Camcord was equipped with a 4 cylinder/automatic combo and carrying 3 passengers with the A/C running.
My choice would be a ’78 Monte Carlo…The first of the downsized intermediates and the first year of my favourite body style for these cars, the ’78 – ’80 “shorties”. Pretty much same size as a Malibu, even though it only has 2-doors…Kids (if there were any) can tilt the seats forward and climb in, much like we did when my Dad kept buying 2-door cars in the ’70s…
With 1970’s quality being what it was, no brand-new design would be trusted, so the Fairmont and GM A-bodies would be out. No way I would go for the space inefficiency of the LTD II, and the pretentiousness of the Granada completes knocking out Ford. The quality horrors of the 1976 Chrysler F-bodies would probably eliminate them for me, along with their new, lengthened Dodge Diplomat/Chrysler LeBaron variants. As a tall guy, my love of space would knock out the AMC Concord, leaving me with two decent choices: The Plymouth Fury/Dodge Monaco, or the end-of-the-line AMC Matador. And given Chrysler’s problems in the press, I likely would have gone with the Matador, unless there was a really good deal on a decently-equipped Fury.
The GM A bodies were just shrunken designs that used proven parts. They didn’t have unusual, for the time, bugs. Compared to Monzas and Chevettes, these cars were Mercedes-Benzes.
Maybe one with a Turbo 200 trans, yeah.
No wagons? OK then, a Lebaron or Diplo 2 door or maybe a Cordoba/Magnum. Ties broken by color and equipment available on the lot, along with price. 360 V8, please. And yes, I know the odds of s lemon were about 50-50.
CJinSD may also have something with a Fury/Monaco 440. But by 1980 I would be kicking myself with a choice if pouring big bills into the tank or selling it for cents on the buck.
I wasn’t on board with the Fairmont yet, but a Cougar XR-7 might have made the cut.
I didn’t have one of these until several years later, but I would buy a 78 Cutlass Calais with the 305 V8. It is one of the few used cars I owned that I would have considered buying new.
Fairmont 2-door if wanted low-cost spartan transportation, or…. I’d most likely go for the ’78 Buick Century Sport Coupe. Better handling than the Ford or any Mopar of the day, hatchback utility, and it’s a Buick so it’ll come with some toys. 305 V8 and the 14″ rally wheels with the suspension package, please.
It may look it, but that Century is no hatchback.
Lets see 78 I was overhauling steam turbines for a living but satill didnt have the 60% deposit required for a new car here, a 265 Valiant would have been first choice it being about the only 6 capable of going head to head with what I was driving, I had several vehicles in 78 a 74 F11, 250 Kawasaki dirt bike, a souped up 65 3.3 Velox and a 51 AL110 International flat bed, did I need a new car undoubtably yes did I want one? No.
I was in the market for a new car in 1978 and actually considered the Fairmont with the 302. Unfortunately I couldn’t find one with a four speed, I don’t know if they weren’t available anywhere, weren’t available in California or dealers just didn’t want to mess with them. I ended up buying a 1978 Rabbit (made in Germany) that I drove for 7 years and 120k miles. I know that VW catches a lot of flack here (and other places) for poor reliability but the one I had was an outstanding vehicle. The only major repairs I had were replacing the exhaust system after about 5 years and replacing the brake master cylinder about six months before I traded it away. It still had the original clutch, no slippage, and the rear brakes were never replaced. I wonder if the Fairmont would have done as well.
By 1978, the Rabbit was sorted out into a very good car. It was the early ones that were so bad, mostly due to VW cheapening everything. The later cars were much more expensive. A 1980 Rabbit Diesel L five door retailed at $8500 in Canada, Caprice money.
My folks had a ’75 Rabbit, red, 2 door, 4 speed, plastic covering on the seats that burned your legs. They were hoping for good fuel economy and Beetle reliability, but that car had drivability issues from day one. The carburetor just never worked right on that car. We wound up making the dealer buy it back as a lemon, and my Dad swore off foreign cars for 20 years. He said he’d disown me if I ever bought a VW.
Had a 77 Rabbit, good car but got totaled after about 3 years. 77-78 were the best, or 79 Diesel. I had a 75, the carb was junk but an aftermarket Holly-Weber carb that was available at the time worked great. It even had an adapter for the stock air filter assembly, and was smog legal in California. The car was mostly trouble free after that. The 80 to 84 Jettas were fine cars, German built but expensive. The US built Rabbits, especially 79-80 are best avoided. I’m having a tough time trying to figure out what new 78 US car I would want, I guess a Malibu with 350 V8 and TH350. Hard on gas but easy on repairs, at least for the times.
Volvo 240.
If I had to choose in the USA, I would take a 4-door Grand LeMans with any V8 and a column shifted automatic, the gauge package, A/C and opening third quarter windows.
If I had to choose in my home country, I would definitely buy a Peugeot 304 SLS.
I’d downsize to a compact and get an AMC Concord. Preferably the rare 2-door coupe with the vinyl roof.
Oh jeez, all these bad cars take me back to my high school years. I suppose I’d buy a Fairmont squire wagon in hindsight. But at the time I liked the new Malibu, crisp exterior styling and cool interior styling.
Chrysler LeBaron, because no one else chose it. I drove one and it was lame, but I felt sorry for it.
The EPA used to determine the “size” of a car based on it’s interior volume, NOT the outside measurements or wheelbase….(not 100% sure that is still the case).
As a result, some cars that looked compact on the outside were considered to be mid-sizers, often because they had raised roof lines.
I agree with AKADriver in that I’d pick the Olds Cutlass with it’s unusual fastback roof line. I’d get the top series (I think it was called the Salon) and I’d get it in black with a contrasting color interior.
BTW, I heavily influenced my father into buying a 1978 Zephyr. It was a 4 door sedan with 302 and just about every option short of the Ghia package. Aside from the pumpkin colored interior that was instantly dirty, that car was trouble-free for more than 150,000 miles. But my father, as a travelling salesman took very good care of his cars. The paint appeared thin from the factory and could have been polished more frequently, but rust only developed on that rust belt car in the passenger foot well. A very entertaining car to drive, but assembly quality was not up to GM standards.
Having personal experience with the quasi-fastback Cutlass Salon, I think you’re both out of your minds. I suppose there were less-reliable cars, but that’s the only good thing I can say about it. I struggle to recall anything I could even grudgingly call a virtue, aesthetically, dynamically, or from the standpoint of utility.
The current size is based on the interior plus cargo volume. Midsized is 110 to 119 cubic feet. Actually large is 120+, so midsize is really 120-. Station wagons are classed separately.
AmonFM:
GM knew that most Americans associated hatchbacks with econocars so the Olds and Buick slantbacks had “conventional” trunks. I’m not sure, but I don’t think/remember these cars as having folding rear seats to expand the trunk.
I don’t think so either.
I remember the ’78s well, the Chev Olds dealer my Dad worked at was a busy place that year. Malibus and especially Cutlass’s were hot sellers, but I recall a Rally Nova that arrived with a 350 and a 4 speed. It was a special order car that was only on the property long enough to PDI and clean it, and I never saw it again but that’s what I’d want from ’78 if I had to pick a mid sizer.
I know, it’s supposed to be a compact, but there wasn’t really much difference in size from a Malibu. It was sort of a forgotten car that year, there were only a couple in stock at any time and they were kept around the side along with the Monzas and Chevettes.
Second choice would be a ’78 Grand Prix, an old girlfriend had one and it was a very nice car to drive. It was a 2 tone silver/grey with red interior and looked great as well.
Been lurking here for years and thought I just had to post a comment on this one. I was 14 in 1978 but if I’d been old enough to buy a car it would have been an AMC Concord D/L wagon. Tried to get my Dad to take one for a test drive and he actually went to the dealership to look (when they were closed) and instead tested a ’78 Ford Granada – what a piece of junk! My suspicions were borne out a dozen years later when I finally got my Concord wagon in the same colour as the attached pic, and my BIL got a ’78 Granada – the AMC was way better!
I admired the Concord wagon as well. But think I would have kicked myself if I bought one, as the 1980 Eagle Wagon would have been my preference.
Gotta go with Frank. In 78 I bought my Concord after a terrible go around with the general.. Two door with vinyl roof in just about that color. I would have preferred the wagon but my (ex)wife who had just been driving a firebird wouldn’t have a mom car.
I think this time I would take the 232 over the 258. High teens for gas mileage with the 258 and I am not sure the 232 would have been better.
Nova/Aspen-Volare high on my list but the concord just seemed to be a much higher quality. No regrets except that I took it to Guam and should have brought it back.
I would go with the Volare/Aspen wagon. A co-worker bought a Volare wagon new in 1977 and it was a trouble free vehicle for him.
Nothing GM made then would do it for me ,same for Ford.
Although if there happened to be a AMC dealer along the way ,as I was going to test drive the Volare….???..
.Actually in 1978 I was the proud owner of a 1974 Plymouth Duster 360. I would have cringed at the thought of driving anything else..
I liked the Volare/Aspen wagon as well. They were well packaged, and good cars, if not for the recalls, stalling and early rust. I remember after a few years, virtually all Chrysler compacts with the transverse torsion bar front suspension, would develop very embarrassing (and cheap sounding) front end rattles. Otherwise, based upon their engineering, these could have been great cars for Chrysler.
1978 Oldsmobile 442. Fastback. Yes.
In a dream world, I think I might have gone with a Cutlass Supreme coupe, just because I think it looked a world better than the 4-door sedans of that vintage. I distrusted both Ford and Chrysler in those days, and AMC just didn’t even figure into my world–especially after having driven a ’67 Rebel station wagon.
In the real world, in 1978 I missed out on a ’72 Dodge Dart sedan with automatic, PS, PB, A/C, and the 318 V-8. Then I considered seriously a ’75 Valiant sedan with similar equipment but the 225 six. (Unlike a lot of Chrysler products, the word was that modern Darts and Valiants were reliable and durable.) What did I buy? A 1970 Torino Brougham with about 60,000 miles, 2-barrel 302 V-8, auto, PS, PB, and A/C, and a good price. It served me well for five years, and was the first decent car I had had.
Give me the Volare Roadrunner with the Super Coupe package, 4 bbl 360 with TF tranny. Not sure if T-tops could be had with that package, but that’s what Id want. I found some interesting specs on these:
http://hooniverse.com/2013/12/20/hooniverse-obscure-muscle-car-garage-the-dodge-aspen-rt-and-plymouth-volare-road-runner/
If you scroll down, you can see how these stacked up against the competition. The ‘street kit car’ is good for a low 7 sec 0-60 time. That’s VERY respectable, given the times of tape and spoiler performance.
FYI, I just noticed that these are wearing the 6-slot 15×8 roadwheels used in the police package M bodies. Looks like a whole new animal in dull silver with bright trim rings and centercaps, don’t it?
At last someone else likes them!
I pretty much just like the RR and R/T coupes…although Daniel’s sport wagon down below is pretty tight. I did the same facepalm as every other Mopar fan for years, until I saw how they REALLY stacked up back in the day. IF you can find one after they improved and it doesn’t un-build itself.
I forgot to point out how the simple act of blacking out the bumpers and other chrome on the Super Coupes make these look at least 65% better!
I liked them too, but compared to the late 60s versions, they weren’t in the same league IMO. I thought the Super Coupe and the Richard Petty tribute coupe looked interesting in the brochure… Especially the Super Coupe, but I never saw them on the street. The R/T Aspen was very popular in ’76/’77. I thought they looked great in black. Wasn’t a huge fan of the red orange Roadrunners. Even with the rally wheels, they needed bigger tires to fill out the wheelwells.
If I’m making the salary I make today, it would be an easy choice: Cadillac Seville (sorry, Paul, I know you dislike them) as I believe this is the first year you could have one without a vinyl roof.
If we assume I’m making the inflation-adjusted equivalent of what I make today, I’d probably go for a Granada with the 302 and the “ESS” package, if it was available that years.
Hmm…Seville or Granada. I’m starting to sound like the infamous comparison ads that Ford ran during that era, or the lady from Brooklyn in the “parking ticket” ad that Syke has referred to a few times over the years.
You could split the difference and go with a Versailles…
Daniel – you’d be surprised to know that even though I didn’t much like the Granada/Monarch, I had a bit of a sweet spot for the Versailles!!! Go figure. So if I’d been old enough and rich enough in 1978, I would have considered this:
Not a fan of the Versailles.
No, on second thought the Monarch was available with the ESS package, and could be ordered with four wheel disc brakes!
I liked the wagon choices from this era. I especially liked the LeMans Grand Safari wagon. Unfortunately, they were expensive, and beyond my budget, when compared with the competition. At the time, I liked the disco cars (with extra trim packages), so I likely would have chosen an Aspen/Volare wagon with the 318 or 360, and 1979 only Sport Package.
But . . but . . but . . . you could have had one of these!
Or, if you prefer the grille upside down . . . .
I am in agreement with you JPC… Those wagons are fiendishly seductive. However, I did have less budget to work with at the time. Plus, the LeBaron wagon struck me as an older gentleman’s car.
Seeing one on the road last year, that wood trim treatment looked fiendishly out of place…
Funny you should mention the LeBaron and the Grand LeMans wagons since my parents chose between those two finalists in 1979. They went with the Pontiac. You have to admit, when it came to fake wood on mid-sized station wagons, those 2 were the most distinctive on the market.
Well, my first thought before reading any of the comments was that I’d likely have gone with what had been a Coronet sedan, but by 1978 was called Monaco. Preferably in blue, or green or even a pale yellow or cream color. But then I started reading and thought the Aspen or Volare would have made a lot of sense, as hopefully most of the bugs would have been worked out by 1978. Oh, and my engine choice for the Monaco would have been the 318. And, the 225 slant six (or maybe even 318) for the Aspen. And, yes, an Aspen wagon appeals to me more now than it did back then. But, JPC, you’ve changed my mind seeing that particularly rare Diplomat wagon. Have seen very few – if any – over the years. That looks like just the ticket. That’s my choice if I could go back in time. And, yet, an Aspen or Volare would have been more affordable. Yes, that Volare wagon posted by Daniel with the 1979 – well, let’s say fall of 1978 – Sport Package would work equally well. And, it’s sportier and thus more youthful, as well as more affordable. The reality is I’d have had to go with the most affordable choice, the Aspen or Volare wagon. And, there’s a good chance that wagon could have been ordered with a manual transmission, so that makes it my final choice.
Those LeBaron Town & Countries were oh so classy looking. The lighter-toned woodgrain surrounds really made that car. I know we’re speaking of 1978MY and non-wagons in this post, but I’d take a 1980 Town & Country, with the more formal waterfall grille and wrap over headlights. With leather and wire wheels, of course!
The LeBaron wagon is a guilty pleasure. The version JPC posted sold well enough, but the ’80 revisions on this car are jarring – so familiar, yet like a dream. I think this was one year only, possibly two, and they must have sold about ten of them in Chrysler’s dark years. I may have seen one or two in their time. This would be one heck of a CC if anyone could turn one up.
This may count as hitting below the belt… but I don’t like feeling/looking like this:
I’d be embarrassed to be seen in this, the “Griswald Family Truckster”.
Agree. Parents had one.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/that_chrysler_guy/12174977654/
Someone is finally with me, only I would take the sedan. In white with blue interior/half vinyl roof. It was a rental that I drove. Had the 318 2-bbl, and man was it wheezy. Smooth and surprisingly quiet, though.
I really like that wagon! The wheels are decent but the air dam and darkened grille sells it. I love hotrod station wagons….
I had a 78 Volare Premier wagon. 360 with a floor shifted 4 speed. A pretty quick wood grain trimmed wagon. Build quality was awful and it went through three transmissions with the original owners( my in-laws). Being such an oddball combination, a lot of parts didn’t seem to fit quite right.
That’s a difficult question to answer, because I’ve never owned, nor driven an American named car. I like the styling of the GM compacts, I also like the engineering underneath the Chrysler compacts. I also like the independent spirit of American Motors.
Olds Omega SX hatchback with a 350.
With the combination of youth and young family you describe, I’d have dearly wanted a Caprice, two-tone red like my folks had, but with the 350 instead of the 305. But that would not be playing.
With family in tow, it sounds like time for a four door. The GM A body four door with the fixed rear window would have been jarring. I hate to say it, but an LTD II might have made the list, but maybe a lack of coolness would have killed it. My tendency to shop brands beyond the low price three also means it could have been a Cougar sedan.
When I was in the actual scenario you describe in 1995, I went with a Chrysler Concorde. So, maybe, having to play by the rules……..a Chrysler LeBaron Medallion sedan.
I’d buy the 1978 Mercury Monarch-mobile! Decent mileage, pretty good reliability for detroit, okay torque with the 240 six and mercury comfort. Plus I could do a custom paintjob with a Venture brothers mural on the hood and trunk.
What? No Stanza?
I just wish Dr. Girlfriend would stop scraping her vocal cords with that cinnamon grater. That voice is starting to make me twitch…
The scenario that is the premise of this subject was exactly me in 1978. I was driving a Mustang II and we were expecting kid #2 in January ’79. I couldn’t get a ’78 as I waited too late so I ordered my ’79 Malibu coupe, V8 four speed, buckets, F41 suspension, rally wheels, and sun roof. I loved that car when it finally arrived and still do today. If I want to look at it all I have to do is go out in the garage. It doesn’t get driven much, but is still a great car..The baby is now 35 and her son has gotten to ride in it many times.
The reason that I was attracted to these cars is the styling. I am a Ford guy but did not like the looks of the Fairmont.
Let’s see, 1978….Well, I guess a Volvo 343 DL Black Beauty. Domestic alternatives: either a big diesel truck or a bus.
I’d take the big diesel truck instead!
With a mind to the 2 oil embargos, part of me would like to go with a Malibu coupe with a/c, the small V8 and a 4 speed manual, minimal options, maybe the gauge cluster and the rally wheels.
Though if I wanted something a little fanicier, but still frugal, I would maybe go with a 78 Century Custom Coupe aeroback with the 3.8 V6 and a 4 speed manual, with the Rally Ride and Handling package, road wheels and dual sport mirrors.
Though I could also be lured to a 4 speed and 301 combo Grand Am coupe, with the gauges and Rally II’s.
The other “money no object” side would lean towards spec’d out A-coupe, I like the Cutlass Calais with buckets and T-tops, the 260, to keep it all Oldsmobile, or a loaded out Cutlass Supreme Brougham, with the T’s too.
I like the 78 Grand Prix’s too, a nice black 301 V8 SJ with the snowflakes, leather interior, buckets and console and the full gauges could sway me over to the Pontiac dealer.
Then there is Buick, which probably offered one of the more technically interesting A-bodies, the Regal Sport Coupe, with the 4bbld turbocharged 3.8 V6, T-tops and bucket and console interior.
Damn, so many choices, If I had to pick 2 overall, I like the 4 speed Century coupe and the SJ Grand Prix with the T-tops and leather.
There were so many combinations available on these cars….
I thought GM offered some of the best domestic choices at the time. Many very desirable cars. I was still a big GM fan, until I saw the first spy photos in Popular Science of the ’80 X-cars. It marked the start of so many mixed feelings towards the corporation. GM seemed at the top of their game in ’78.
1978 was peak for GM for lots of things, peak market share, something like 58 or 60%, their stock was at $60/share, they had peak worldwide employment for 1978 too, something like 860,000 people worldwide collected a check from The General.
By 1978 the imports had gained nearly 20% of the market (not quite, but nearly), so I very much doubt that GM’s share of what was the big three’s share (around 80%) would have been more than 50%, if that. Gm’s share was below 45% in the early 80’s.
47.6%, to be precise (GM market share in 1978. From there it was all downhill).
Maybe it was 58 or 60% of the domestic market share I remember reading.
US sales peaked at a record 15.3 million in 1978. GM’s sales for cars were a bit over 5 million and trucks added about 1.5 million. US sales have beat the 1978 numbers since.
I’ll add something else, the newer GM cars are pretty fantastic, the new CTS is stunning and has an incredible interior and a really good looking exterior, and the twin turbo is incredible.
And the ATS is just as stunning AND it’s affordable!
In Feb 1978, my (slightly older than boomers) parents needed to replace our ’74 Pinto wagon which had become completely unreliable.
I don’t remember why, but I don’t believe they looked at a Malibu. They Volare was out, because the only Plymouth dealer was very inconvienently located. My Dad liked the Aspen wagon they tried, but they ended up going with a Fairmont once the local dealer found one with few enough options to be affordable.
I think it was a good choice, as it was solid and reliable for the next 6-7 years.
On the other hand, hypothetically speaking. If I’m making the choice (and have fewer kids, and more money 😉 ) Cutlass or maybe Regal coupe
V8 Concorde, loaded, give me the wagon but I’ll take a sedan.
Why? Because among the domestics AMC was actually spitting out vehicles that were pretty well screwed together despite the lack of development budget or using the same exterior door handle design for a decade or more.
Oh and living 2000 miles from the factory and the Jeep being the only truly popular vehicle from AMC in the American Southwest, a loaded Concorde would be easy to pick out in a parking lot.
A few years ago I was going to restore a Ford Fairmont, but when I saw that the rear bumper was ready yo fall off, I restored a Ford Maverick instead.
If it was 1978, and I was in the same situation I’m in now: early 40’s, 2 sons (one who is about to turn 16), 42 mile round trip commute each day, I would probably have to pick a Malibu station wagon. Let’s face it — we buy cars for practical reasons. The station wagon offer the space for hauling groceries, etc. That’s why I have a CUV today. My father-in-law often accompanies us to the kids’ events. There would be room in the station wagon for him.
If it was just me, or just my wife and me, I would buy the Olds Cutlass Supreme or Pontiac Grand Prix.
Malibu all the way, in silver, please. I think the AMC’s were built like tanks but my parents had a 78 Hornet Wagon that was a backfiring, stalling, noise making POS.
Speaking of all over the map, from our midsize cars I would have to go for a Holden Torana SS hatchback with a 308 and 4 speed. Ideally with the A9X option package as per the Bathurst race cars! The road cars didnt get any more power but did get huge flares and a big reverse hood scoop.
I concur. A very handsome car, but I prefer it without the bonnet hump.
Except 78 saw the introduction of the UC with no V8 options unless you latched onto a runout previous 77 model yer outa luck. the last of the Chargers were still on sale here and were still cleaning up in the B & H race series that woulda been my choice.
Some might say early Vega, but that looks to be a near copy of the European mark II Escort to these eyes:
If someone set the copy machine to 130%.
My favourites are the LC Torana and the UC Torana.
Owned a 161 4speed LC and a 202 auto UC those put me off them though the UC lasted 2 years I ditched it for a EH sedan I rebuilt.
To the shock of no one on here: Regal Sport Coupe 231 turbo 4bbl.
Nova coupe. with the 9c1 police option, and the Concours level interior. I remember reading a Motor Trend at the time featuring one of these. they even came with the four spoke sport steering wheel the Camaro had.
In 1980…..I bought a 1980 Ford Fairmont Futura. The car came with “0” options. 2.3 liter with the 4 speed.
I think it invoiced at around 4200 bucks.
I drove the shit out of that car for 9 years. I put over 140k highway miles on it and other than oil, and oil and air filters and tires….I spent “0” dollars on extra maintenance.
There wasn’t much left of the body after 9 years of Northeast winters, but I certainly got my money out of it.
It’s a pretty tough call, but I would probably factory order a Cutlass wagon, with the 305 4 bbl and order it loaded. The higher trim cars were much nicer and a/c was a necessity since the rear widows were fixed, the ultimate in cheap.
If the call came down to get a sedan in 1978, I would have a tough time picking an A-body because of the non-roll down rear windows, though I always found the power vents a novelty, they must have had some extra power vents left over from 1968 in the back of an old Delco warehouse. I would have probably found a way to get into a B-body if I needed a 4 door in 78.
Given the muddle that was full-size, mid-size and compact in ’78, the B arguably fits here. Many actual ’78 buyers agreed wholeheartedly. If a young pup on a budget – Caprice. If money were plentiful, a loaded Delta 88 Royale, please.
I was thinking exactly the same thing, Carmine, but the price difference would be at least $1000, not small money in 1978.
But the game is for a mid-size, so I stick with Cutlass wagon.
I saw how the Fox, A-body and Aspen wore down over the years. I sat as kid on the the 3 of them and in my case, I’d chose the A-body hands down.
The Poncho from a previous post has a good looking interior, so maybe that with a V8. Could be a Monte Carlo with a 305, console shift…
Or a Malibu Classic, with round gauges, 305 V8.
A/C, cloth seats, rear sway bar and dual bullet mirrors (my favourite side view mirror style) as rigorously mandatory options on any of them.
European car wise, it would be either a R18 or a 131 with the 1800/2000TC engine.