We’ve wrapped up our week reviewing Motor Trend’s coverage of the new 1977 domestic cars. So now it’s time for you to choose: imagine if you were buying a new car in 1977, what would you have picked? One of the new downsized models from GM? Would a personal luxury coupe have captured your fancy? A traditional “Big American Car”? Or would you have motored away in something smaller?
As for me, let me start by saying that I was 10-years-old in 1977 and an emerging hard-core car nut. At that time, there was one car that I really, really wanted–yep, a 1977 Firebird Trans Am. My buddies and I thought Trans Ams were just the coolest cars and we were crazy for them, “Screaming Chickens” and all. Remember, we were Malaise-era kids, so our automotive expectations were much lower. Cars like the Camaro and Firebird were about as good as it got in terms of available “muscle.” I was certain that I would be a Trans Am driver (nope, never ever happened). But if it had… my pick would have basically been like the Smokey and the Bandit car, a black/gold Trans Am with a black interior and the real Pontiac 400 V8. I can just see the younger version of me beaming as I grasped the padded Formula steering wheel, gazed at my instruments housed in their “machine turned aluminum” trim panel and looked out over the long, sculpted hood…
The other cars I was infatuated with as a kid were the new downsized GM full-sized cars. These really were a big deal at the time, and generated a lot of buzz. They felt so new and smart, and it was very exciting to spot the first ones as they appeared on the streets. My Pop got a 1977 Caprice Classic sedan as a company car in January 1977, and I was absolutely crazy about it (as were my buddies–hard to imagine 10-year-old boys excited about a family sedan today…). So now, as a rational adult (most of the time at least), I would have to answer this week’s QOTD by selecting a downsized full-sized car from GM. But which one?
That is a hard question for me, because I genuinely love all of the GM full-sized cars from 1977, and would happily have owned any of them. So I’m going to cheat a bit with my answer…
For a B-Body sedan, my choice would be the Caprice. I’d want it to be very similar to the one my Pop had, Dark Blue-Green Metallic with no vinyl top, sport mirrors and sport wheel covers, Chevy 350 4V V8, F41 suspension and loaded with options. Unlike Pop’s car, which had vinyl seats, “my” Caprice would have come with the more upscale Special Custom velour interior in saddle tan.
For a B-Body Coupe, I would have a Pontiac Bonneville. Make mine Nautilus Blue, with body-colored Rally II wheels, sport mirrors and no vinyl top. Inside would be blue velour, with all the toys, including the Rally gauge cluster and built-in AM/FM CB radio. Power would come from a genuine Pontiac 400 4V V8, and handling would come courtesy of the Rally RTS package. This beauty would put personal luxury intermediates to shame!
For a B-Body wagon, my pick would be the Oldsmobile Customer Cruiser. Please give me that distinctive Olds woodgrain treatment (I love the way it wraps over the wheel arches), and since these woodgrain-trimmed wagons often seemed to come in some shade of tan or brown, I’d stick with the Light Buckskin as shown on the car pictured above. In fact, that’s exactly what my Custom Cruiser would look like, down to the tan vinyl interior and cornering lights. Under hood you’d find the Olds-made 403 4V V8 and inside would be every comfort and convenience feature Oldsmobile had on offer (including AM/FM Stereo with 8-track stereo tape player), all the better to keep the kiddies entertained and the parents relatively stress free.
Moving on the C-Body, my choice for the larger sedan would be the Buick Electra 225. While lighter colors and earth tones were all the rage in 1977, I’d have gone in a slightly different direction: my Electra would have been Black with a Black vinyl roof and a red interior. Though I am usually a top-trim-level person, in this case I’d stick with the base car for my red interior–the Limited and Park Avenue velours in red would be a bit “much” for my tastes, then or now. However, I am staying true to form on the options front–I’d add everything I could, and my Electra 225 would roll on Buick’s beautiful chrome Road Wheels. Powering my black beauty would be a Buick-built 350 4V V8.
For the C-Body 2-door, I’d definitely want to bring home a Cadillac Coupe DeVille. Since it’s a Cadillac, I’d go positively berserk with options: Astroroof, wire wheel covers, Firemist paint (make mine Cerulean Blue with a matching Cabriolet vinyl roof), Cadillac 425 V8 with Electronic Fuel Injection, 50/50 power adjustable and reclining seats in Antique Light Blue leather, plus anything that could illuminate, be power-operated or work automatically would be specified for my Coupe DeVille. Take that, Continental Mark V!
So those are my (ample) choices for 1977? What are yours?
You know, it may’ve been the malaise era, but there were some pretty cars then. I just got my license in the fall of ’76 when the ’77s came out, and my driver was my Dad’s and later my first car once I started working, a ’73 LTD. But my Dad bought a beautiful metallic red Chevy Concours 2-door coupe with a red crushed valor interior with a 305 V8 in it. It was thought it was too powerful for me as a newbie behind the wheel, but later I did get to occasionally drive it. It was the prettiest Nova I had ever seen. I wish I had some pictures to share!
But a favorite of the era as a car crazy teenager with eclectic tastes? – I’m all over the place but here goes:
Full Size: Ford LTD Landau (one of the last of its kind and a sentimental favorite). I hadn’t quite warmed up to the new downsized B-body GM cars, but by 1978, I would’ve gone for a Bonneville. Love those taillights in ’78. A new Caprice in the Black and Silver two-tone with a red interior would be sweet as well, but that wasn’t a 1977 combination IIRC.
Mid-Size: Love the T-Bird. Nuff Said.
Smaller Car: the aforementioned Concours. Just like Dad picked it off of the Luby Chevrolet showroom floor.
Pony Car: A Smokey and the Bandit special of course. ;o) – and I’m a Mustang guy! (although I DID like the Blue and White Cobra II on Charlie’s Angels.
Luxury: Contental Mark, although the downsized Caddies were nice and clean, yet still appealed to my Broughamish nature at the time.
And who doesn’t like a Vette? A neighbor kid (with a rich dad) had a black one that he kept showroom perfect until he traded it in on a 1984 Porsche 944. I would’ve taken a Vette just like that, as to me, the Gen 3 Corvette was the prettiest of the lot.
Not much interested me after ’74 as the beloved American iron was losing its edge. It would have been a toss up between the afore mentioned Pontiac Can-Am or the LeMans GT. For a second car maybe a Chevy Monza 2+2 with a 305 and the Spyder equipment package.
If I had to buy a new domestic in ’77 it would probably been a Nova as of all the GM mobiles in our drivers ed stable that was the only one that was any fun to drive. What I WANTED to buy would have been a Renault 17 Gordini. What my dad actually bought was a new ’77 Subaru DL 4WD wagon*. As his last American car was a ’54 Studebaker I guess my vehicular tastes were warped early.
*Even with all their growth as cars and company most Subarus I’ve test sat continue to have a “my knees are at 8:00/4:00 on the wheel” driving position.
Small car? A black Mustang II Ghia with the Chamois package, 302 V-8 and alloy wheels.
For a personal luxury coupe, I loved the new for ’77 Mercury Cougar XR-7. I wanted a black or navy blue one with the Chamois package, loaded to the max with options.
If I went for a family car, I think I would have sprung for a blue Delta 88 Royale Coupe. I always loved how they could be equipped to be a blend of both sporty and luxurious at the same time.
If it were a luxury sedan, I would have picked a chocolate brown 98 Regency with tan leather seats. The next choice would have been a gold Sedan deVille d’Elegance or dark blue Fleetwood Brougham.
Sporty car? A red Firebird or blue 280-Z.
Pontiac Sunbird notchback. 4 or V6
Mercury Monarch Ghia 6
AMC Hornet Sportabout 6
Chrysler LeBaron 2 door w/225.
Never got the “personal luxury” thing from the time it started: all bulk and hood, compact size interiors, so big as to be decidedly not personal. And never thought the 70s large cars were desirable when they were new and still don’t: obscene size and gas mileage.
I’ve been too practical all my life I guess.
I had a Monza Towne Coupe with the Buick V6, and a 77 Olds 88 with an SBC. It’s like they were made by different companies.
If it doesn’t have to be American, it’ll probably be a Volvo 245.
If it has to be an American car, it’s going to be a Caprice sedan. Dark-over-light metallic green or vice versa, no vinyl top, and it’s going to be painstakingly specced up well beyond all bounds of normality—I don’t mean by browsing the brochure, I mean by looking at the canonical list of GM production options (something like this). It’s going to have export front, side, and rear lights, export mirrors, export glass and seatbelts, export emissions. It’s going to have every heavy-duty option including seats and grounding; it’s going to have every comfort and convenience option. EFI Olds 350 engine, TH350 transmission, Posi-Traction, on and on and on.
I would’ve bought a Fiat X1/9. No domestics held any interest for me. I made the big mistake of buying a new Buick Turbo Regal Sport Coupe the next year and it was the last new GM I’ll ever purchase. That bad.
Shirley, you can’t seriously think a Fiat X1/9 would’ve been better!
At least the Fiat would have been fun when it was running. After my brother was going over his 850 spider for the nth time he commented the only good thing he had to say about Fiat electrical systems were they made Lucas look good. As I was elbow deep in SAABs and Citroens by then I kind of agreed.
Actually, I do. My first new car was a ’74 X that I owned for nearly 100k trouble-free miles, only sold it because my wife and I were adding to our family and needed something roomier. That car never let me down, just followed the recommended maintenance schedule. That Buick was a nightmare.
I turned 14 in late 1976 when these 1977 cars were released. I was the typical midwestern boy, all the tape stripe edition muscle cars turned my head. In fact, looking at some of the pics over these last few articles has triggered so many memories. Just when I think I’ve settled upon the new car I would want most from 1977, I see another pic of a different model and think: Oh that would be fun…
I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s with these cars and have experience with a number of them. But this part sucks, because I was looking forward to seeing the 1977 cars again. But for me, there are just too many I’m interested in and I really can’t choose just one.
Truth be told the mid-70s was a terrible time to buy most domestic cars… assembled by people who thought nothing of beer and/or dope-smoking – in lieu of coffee – breaks and lunches.
In 1977 I bought a new Buick Skylark 4-door sedan. It was the perfect car for my growing family and me.. I loved the 231 V6. Beautifully styled. Great handling. Decent fuel economy. It had exactly what I wanted. Air, suto, PS, PB, AM/FM, white walls, full wheel covers and a good model year-end deal.
If I could go back in time to 1977 I’d pick the Skylark again. One of my favorite cars that I have owned.
I sure would like to be original and say something other than “Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am!” but, nope. Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am! I was thirteen years old that year, and there were three things in my universe: Star Wars, Slapshot (because my parents would not let me see it) and Smokey and the Bandit (because it was my first blind date). I can’t go midlife-crisis and buy a Millennium Falcon, so Trans Am it is!
You guys are gonna bully me. Despite my size, I like smaller cars. So I’d go with a Mustang II hatchback and a Mercury Bobcat wagon. My alt would be a Hornet hatchback or wagon.
I ain’t gonna hassle you at all for those choices. In fact I currently have 2 Pinto’s. Both 78’s. A sedan parts car and a 78 wagon with the Cruising Wagon Package. Both 2.3/4-speeds. I have owned 5 pinto’s over time. I still deeply miss my 76 Wagon I owned from 98-05. I should have fixed it ( wiring fire) but didn’t. At least I kept a lot of parts off it. So spiritually it’s still here.
Luxury – Town Car
Large – Catalina or Bonneville with a 350 or 400
Intermediate – Cutlass Supreme or Thunderbird
Wagon – LTD wagon or Country Squire
Compact – Granada with a 302
Small – Pinto wagon
Sporty – Firebird Formula
The LTD II was ridiculous. Should have kept the Torino name, but better yet should not have debuted at all. I much prefer the 1980 updates to GM’s B and C cars to the 1977 versions.
This is tough to answer (or not..); this generation of cars was presented to me as a new driver. Natch, I wouldn’t be in the market for any of them for real. If I was a spoiled kid (not one paying $150 for a ’59 Oldsmobile 98…,) I’d go with the Buick Electra, Who would have guessed,?
I joined the Air Force in the spring of 1977, via delayed enlistment. What I liked back in the day, as well as now, was the full-size Plymouth Grand Fury Brougham or the Dodge Royal Monaco Brougham, for a family sedan. One of the non-Mopar cars that caught my attention at the time and which I had the sense to recognize would be collectable, was the Pontiac Lemans Can Am; have seen very few over the years, although there was one on the base at which I was stationed. Were I to have actually bought and been able to afford a new car then, most likely a Dodge (Mitsubishi) Colt with a manual transmission.
I was 24 and driving a Dodge A-100. So, this is what I wanted in 1977.
Make mine a Bandit style TA 400 with a second option of a Cutlass Salon 403 coupe.
A 4dr Maverick with the base 200/3-speed stick, AC, power steering, am/fm mono, tinted glass, sport mirrors, bucket seats, deluxe bumper group, conveinence group, light group, rear window defogger, HD battery, HD suspension, white sidewall radial tires, Interior Decor Group, Exterior Decor Group, and bodyside molding. Make it white with a blue interior.
lol. I owned a ’72 4dr Maverick (in ’80) with the base 200 Auto. no A/C, no pwr. anything & drum brakes all around. What a simple car.
I’ve owned 28 Mavericks and Comets over the years both plain like yours and fully loaded. Currently own 7 with a building of spare parts. They seem to suit me. I also own a 72 2dr with the Spring 72 Sprint package. 200/auto like yours also without power steering.
To each his own, I guess? So simple to work on & no expensive electronic anything that you need an OBD-II code reader to sort it out! You’ll save money in the long run!
Have you ever had a rear shock tower mount BREAK? Mine cracked apart from the body
Once, I bought a ’74 Comet 250/6 junkjard motor (low mileage) to put in my ’72 Maverick (replacing the 200/6). The junkyard BOSS said “It’ll fit”. A worker bee there, said, “No it won’t”. Guess what? It did NOT fit, unless I cut a hole in the hood (as I recall?) So I brought the 250 back to the junkyard & traded for an older 200 with higher mileage. The junkyard wouldn’t give me any $’s back! They called it an “even trade”. I was pi$$ed!
I became addicted to early BMW’s… 1970-1990. I had over 50 cars in the span of 30 years….parts cars AND 5-7 “drivers” at any given month. Sold parts on the internet almost 20 years. The most I paid for any car was $300.I only bought 4 cars out of 50. I sold EVERYTHING this past year. i have one 1976 2002 motor for sale left ($600) That is getting picked up next weekend, then I am DONE. I’ve made only about $50k in all that time. But all my parts (and cars) were essentially FREE! This is an OLD photo, BEFORE i had acquired 7 absolutely beautiful “drivers”. Sad I never took a photo of the best of the last all in one shot.
Have fun working on your simple cars!
Yup. The 250 uses different motor mounts than the 200 that puts it lower in the chassis because the 250 is taller. It also uses the bigger small block ford bellhousing. If you had gotten those, it would have fit. And no I’ve never had a shock mount break. Lousy salvage yard!! Glad I have bought my own parts car’s over the years.