We previously looked at the “Most Jaw-Dropping Cars of the Sixties” – which generated some great discussion and very insightful comments. So let’s pose the same question again – but move forward a decade – to the Seventies.
While the ‘60s were exciting, the ‘70s were, well, let’s just say “weird.” In what other decade could you say the height of fashion was a powder blue polyester leisure suit…..(no offense to anyone who may still have these as part of their wardrobe).
The ‘70s were bookended by two tragic events; the Ohio National Guard shooting of 13 student protestors at Kent State University in May 1970, and the November 1979 capture of 52 American citizens by Iranian revolutionaries at the US Embassy in Tehran. In between we had Watergate, the Oil Crisis, and Disco….
In terms of automobiles, the ‘70s are generally considered to be a low-point; emissions-strangled engines, baroque styling, horrendous build quality……but as in any decade, there were stand-outs – cars that when first seen “stopped you in your tracks.” But as was pointed out by a perceptive poster in the prior article, jaw-dropping can be reflective of both good and bad first impressions – for purposes of this post, let’s just focus on the positive. Though there is the seed for a future QOTD post for a list in the opposite direction…..
Including Japanese, European and US manufacturers, here’s one take on the five most jaw-dropping cars of the ‘70s.
1971 AMC Hornet Sportabout Wagon
As a 15 year old in 1971, my automotive fixation was anything with a Cobra Jet 428 engine; Mustang, Torino, etc. Station Wagons? That’s what Steve Douglas (My Three Sons) and Mike Brady (The Brady Bunch) drove – hardly the epitome of cool. But then one day I saw this really attractive wagon go by – sleek, lithe, sporty – “What the heck was THAT?” It was a new Hornet Sportabout Wagon. I think it ranks right up with the AMX Concept Coupe as one of the great Dick Teague’s most beautiful designs. And while AMC’s yearly budget woes were certainly a factor, the design remained in production almost without change for 12 years.
1971 De Tomaso Pantera
Notice how most sports cars look good in red – pick almost any European sports car; Italian, German, English – they all look good in red. The Pantera looks best in Black. Very few cars, especially sports cars, can pull off looking good in black. A black Pantera looks absolutely sinister. I remember when I first saw one, I had two over-powering simultaneous emotions; deep attraction and deep foreboding………
1973 Isuzu 117 Coupe
Japanese car design in the ‘60 and ‘70s can perhaps best be described as “quirky”. Yes, there were both interesting and attractive designs; the Toyota 2000 GT, 1st generation Mazda Cosmo, and Datsun 240 Z (Fairlady). But I was stunned when I first saw an Izusu 117 Coupe (during a military tour in Japan in 1981). Sensuous was the first thought that came to mind. And after a little research I learned why – it was penned by the famous Giorgetto Giugiaro – one of the first designs an Italian studio had done for a Japanese manufacturer. Seeing it on a Tokyo street, in a sea of somewhat dour Corona Mark IIs, Bluebirds and Luces, it really stood out. I think it still looks great today.
1976 Aston Martin Lagonda
This car created quite a shock when introduced in 1976. Ultra-modern in the extreme – and that applies to both the exterior and interior. Designed by the estimable William Towns, who worked at Aston Martin from 1966 to 1977, it dropped a lot of jaws in the disco-era. Unfortunately, as interesting as it was to look at, it was a nightmare to own, as the complex electronics and mechanicals frequently broke down……..no doubt leaving owners hearing the O’Jays ‘70s classic “For the Love of Money” playing in their heads……
1976 Jaguar XJS
A controversial pick. This car was greeted with lukewarm reviews when first introduced – unfortunately being compared (unfairly) to the car many thought it was designed to replace – the legendary XK-E. But assessed on its own merits, it’s a beautiful design; long, balanced, feline…….a superb Grand Tourer. And another car that enjoyed a very long production run – 21 years. This specific car was used on the 78-79 British series, “Return of the Saint.”
Honorable Mention:
1970 Plymouth Superbird
1970 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
1971 “Boat-tail” Buick Riviera
1978 Lamborghini Countach LP 400S
1978 BMW M1
OK, what’s your take on the most jaw dropping cars of the Seventies?
I don’t understand the love for the Lagonda. It is not easy on the eye.
The 70s had plenty of great looking cars.
As I read it, the question isn’t really how attractive a car is, it’s how radical it was for its time.
But these sort of questions invariably turn into ‘My favorite car’ threads.
That’s what I thought too.
I’m surprised no one has mentioned the Volvo P1800ES..
The best looking Volvo I’ve ever seen, the P1800ES
No on has mentioned the boat-tail Rivieras of the early ’70s.
Fully as crazy in their own nostalgic way as the ’59 Cadillacs were in their futuristic way. And really beautifully realized, at least in their first couple years.
For one year only(I forget which year) the Plymouth Duster 340 was the fastest accelerating car you could buy. That is extremely jaw dropping to me.
In 1976, Car and Driver did a comparison where the Corvette was faster than the final year Dart Sport 360.
So, my guess would be the prior year (1975, when the Corvette had less horsepower) would be the one when the 360 engine A-body ruled the waning musclecar scene.
I also thought the 1971-73 Ford Mustang’s were huge and jaw dropping compared to the earlier Mustang’s, it looked like a Ford Torino compared to the 1965-68 Mustang’s.
71-73 Buick Riviera. Especially the 71-72. As a personal luxury car it was jaw dropping, and nothing is like it.
I question whether any of the classic wedge-shaped mid-engined cars can be considered especially ‘jaw-dropping’ in the 70s, that was really the Golden Era for those cars (Now, the Lamborghini Miura was jaw-dropping in the 60s when most Ferraris and Maseratis were front-engined).
Going from memory, I can think of the following mid-engined cars introduced in the 70s:
Ferrari: GT4, GTB/S, 512BB, 246 Dino, Mondial
Maserati: Bora, Merak
Lamborghini: Countach, Urracco, Sillhouette/Jalpa
Lancia: Stratos, Montecarlo
Ford/DeTomaso Pantera
Fiat X1/9
Lotus: Esprit, Europa
Most were good-looking cars but not particularly ‘jaw-dropping’ for the era (Not like the 928 or Lagonda, which were truly radical for their time). I think that’s why many of them began growing bizarre spoilers and aero-kits to distinguish themselves (Countach and Pantera were the worst offenders here).
Great piece! There was a reclusive Lagonda in the village where I grew up and seeing it always made my jaw drop as a kid.
Very few cars, especially sports cars, can pull off looking good in black.
have to disagree here though. IMO the Pantera is in good company in looking great (even best) in black – a few examples of good looking black sports cars that popped into my head below (it’s heavy on the Italians because that’s what tends to pop into my head). I’d go so far as to argue some like the Fulvia and Quatroporte actually look wrong in other colours. (Also I realise the Stratos is probably *very* dark blue but it makes the point and is such a good photo… another 70s jaw dropper!)
Alfa Romeo Montreal. First shown in ’67, but didn’t enter production until 1970. I also like the Fiat 130 coupe, although I’ve only seen it in photos. Oh, and let me add the Jaguar XJ-C hardtop coupes.
How about the Bricklin SV-1? For a brief period, those gull-wing doors were something.
I doubt if anyone else on here will agree, but for me personally, it was the ’78 Chevy Malibu coupe. I have always been a Ford guy, but the first time I saw one I did have one of those jaw dropping experiences. It was love at first sight.
For me it was the right size and I loved ( and still do) the styling. In fact, I ordered and still own a ’79 Malibu coupe. It has been a great car and I have a lot of memories, both good and bad with it over the last 37 years ( as of this week).
These have been noted already, but here’s my 2 cents.
If we are talking jaw-dropping, to me, this means my reaction was just “Whoah!” at the time. So in no particular order…
First Seville – it was just so radically different looking and sized from the rest of the line up. I remember seeing my first one, summer 1975, and thinking it was just something new entirely.
The Aston Lagonda – I completely remember the Road & Track cover and thinking, WHOAH. I loved it.
Porsche 928 – again, so fresh and modern. Not everyone loved it, but I did. And it stayed modern looking for a long time, and still does so. Another car I literally remember when I saw one the first time in the metal, October 1977.
AMC Pacer, totally different. Although, the similarities the 928 had to the Pacer, which came first, are remarkable.
Citroen SM. Saw one of these at a dealer near where I grew up, where they also sold Lincoln-Mercury, Fiat, Lancia, and maybe a few others like MG. The SM was so low, smooth and sleek, with those rear fender skirts. So cool, without looking Brouhamy. I want to see a return to these…gotta help aerodynamics, right?
I had to think about this one, and the only time my jaw dropped about a car in the 1970s was when I went in a Chevy showroom in late September, 1972, and saw my first 1973 Chevelle Colonnade coupe. Where did the pillarless hardtop option go? Did they have one in the back?
OK, it wasn’t actually produced, but for sheer 1970s jaw-dropping chutzpah, nothing rivals the Dale. It’s a great story; look it up!
My mother’s jaw dropped at the first sight of an AMC Gremlin. And not in a good way. She loved the early 70’s Chevelles, Monte Carlo’s and Cutlass Supremes.
The AMC Pacer. By far the wackiest, craziest and most bizarre looking car I had ever laid my eyes on in the 70’s.
Jaguar XJ6 Series III just sneaks in by a few months (April 1979 intro) . Pininfarinas redesign made a new car out of it.
My bids are for the Lagonda, Matra-Simca Bagheera and the Countach, with an honourable mention for the NSU Ro80 (yes, I know it’s a 60s design but there were some changes in the 70s)
The “what they were they thinking” candidates have to include the Fiat 133 and the Allegro (obviously) but the winner is surely the Volvo 262 Bertone Coupe
1972 Luxury LeMans?
Although they quickly became ubiquitous because they sold so well, the 1977 GM B and C bodies were quite jaw dropping when they debuted in the fall of ’76. Part of that was for their handsome styling, but it was mostly for their dramatic departure from the longer, lower, wider philosophy that had driven Detroit for a generation.
Europe-
Pretty much any Italian exotic at the time was jaw dropping when I first saw them, but the Pantera was on display next to Mercury Cougars and the like, making even more of an impression on me.
USA-
AMC Matador Coupe and Pacer, as many others have already mentioned.
Japan-
Datsun F-10, weird and ugly. Today’s Nissan Juke must have been inspired by it.