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Curbside Classics Archives
1970s Archive
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![The Carina was a somewhat curious addition to Toyota’s lineup in 1972, as it squeezed in the rather modest-sized gap between the smaller Corolla and larger Corona. Presumably not a […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/carina-1-top.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Review: 1972 Toyota Carina – Toyota’s First “Hybrid”")
Vintage R&T Review: 1972 Toyota Carina – Toyota’s First “Hybrid”
Posted on October 31, 2020 | 22 CommentsThe Carina was a somewhat curious addition to Toyota’s lineup in 1972, as it squeezed in the rather modest-sized gap between the smaller Corolla and larger Corona. Presumably not a […] -
![The rotary engine Mazda RX-2 made quite an impact in the US. It was one of the first Japanese sedans/coupes available here that had genuine sporty ambitions. The Datsun […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/3-way-top.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Comparison: 1972 Mazda RX-2, Alfa Romeo 1750 Berlina and BMW 2002tii – Can The Cheaper Japanese Rotary Compete?")
Vintage R&T Comparison: 1972 Mazda RX-2, Alfa Romeo 1750 Berlina and BMW 2002tii – Can The Cheaper Japanese Rotary Compete?
Posted on October 20, 2020 | 27 CommentsThe rotary engine Mazda RX-2 made quite an impact in the US. It was one of the first Japanese sedans/coupes available here that had genuine sporty ambitions. The Datsun […] -
![Having made his mark with “Unsafe At Any Speed”, the highly influential book that instigated the government’s safety regulations, Ralph Nader took on a number of other consumer-related subjects. “Unsafe” […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Nader-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Road & Track Takes On Ralph Nader: “Nader VS. Volkswagen – A R&T Report” – A Forceful Rebuttal (and Apparent Exoneration)")
Road & Track Takes On Ralph Nader: “Nader VS. Volkswagen – A R&T Report” – A Forceful Rebuttal (and Apparent Exoneration)
Posted on October 17, 2020 | 62 CommentsHaving made his mark with “Unsafe At Any Speed”, the highly influential book that instigated the government’s safety regulations, Ralph Nader took on a number of other consumer-related subjects. “Unsafe” […] -
![The failure of the Crown in the US market has been hard for many to grasp. If the Corona and Corolla and all the other Toyotas were so red hot […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/T-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Review: 1972 Toyota Crown 2600 (S60) – There’s Some Very Good Reasons The Crown Failed In The US")
Vintage R&T Review: 1972 Toyota Crown 2600 (S60) – There’s Some Very Good Reasons The Crown Failed In The US
Posted on October 13, 2020 | 23 CommentsThe failure of the Crown in the US market has been hard for many to grasp. If the Corona and Corolla and all the other Toyotas were so red hot […] -
![It’s easy to forget what an impact the Capri made in the US, never mind the huge one in Europe. It filled a perfect hole, an affordable European sporty coupe […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Capri-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Review: 1972 Capri 2600 V6 – “Our Enthusiasm For This Engine Is Almost Unbounded”")
Vintage R&T Review: 1972 Capri 2600 V6 – “Our Enthusiasm For This Engine Is Almost Unbounded”
Posted on October 11, 2020 | 33 CommentsIt’s easy to forget what an impact the Capri made in the US, never mind the huge one in Europe. It filled a perfect hole, an affordable European sporty coupe […] -
![We’ve yet to do a proper CC on the Elan, but this review by R&T goes some distance to help put the Elan in perspective. This Sprint version was the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Lotus-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Review: 1972 Lotus Elan Sprint – The Best Elan Yet, And The Last One")
Vintage R&T Review: 1972 Lotus Elan Sprint – The Best Elan Yet, And The Last One
Posted on October 10, 2020 | 10 CommentsWe’ve yet to do a proper CC on the Elan, but this review by R&T goes some distance to help put the Elan in perspective. This Sprint version was the […] -
![The Volvo P1800 was already stylistically outdated when it finally went into production in 1961, having been designed back in 1957. Yet it soldiered on all through the sixties, with […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Volvo-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Review: 1972 Volvo 1800ES – A Successful Butt Lift")
Vintage R&T Review: 1972 Volvo 1800ES – A Successful Butt Lift
Posted on October 9, 2020 | 20 CommentsThe Volvo P1800 was already stylistically outdated when it finally went into production in 1961, having been designed back in 1957. Yet it soldiered on all through the sixties, with […] -
![It’s interesting to read this review of a Saab 99, from a time before it morphed into the more mature 900. The 99 had a lot of positives: a roomy […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Saab-1-a.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Review: Saab 99E 1.85 – Better, But Still A Ways To Go")
Vintage R&T Review: Saab 99E 1.85 – Better, But Still A Ways To Go
Posted on October 4, 2020 | 29 CommentsIt’s interesting to read this review of a Saab 99, from a time before it morphed into the more mature 900. The 99 had a lot of positives: a roomy […] -
![Now that’s an interesting line, as this Diplomat was actually seriously considered as the basis of the 1976 Cadillac Seville. As the story goes, the big Opel’s body tolerances were […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Opel-1-a.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Review: Opel Diplomat V8 – “Something That GM Could, And Should, Build In The US”")
Vintage R&T Review: Opel Diplomat V8 – “Something That GM Could, And Should, Build In The US”
Posted on October 3, 2020 | 23 CommentsNow that’s an interesting line, as this Diplomat was actually seriously considered as the basis of the 1976 Cadillac Seville. As the story goes, the big Opel’s body tolerances were […] -
![We’ve never taken a closer look at the XJ6 Series 1 here. I did find an early XJ12 a block from my house, back in 2009 or so, and wrote […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Jaguar-1971-XJ6-side.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Review: The (Almost) New Jaguar XJ6 – “A strange and wondrous car”")
Vintage R&T Review: The (Almost) New Jaguar XJ6 – “A strange and wondrous car”
Posted on September 27, 2020 | 35 CommentsWe’ve never taken a closer look at the XJ6 Series 1 here. I did find an early XJ12 a block from my house, back in 2009 or so, and wrote […] -
![We’ve had a lot of Volvos in our current Saturday COAL series, but how about a vintage review of the newly fuel injected 1972 164E? Like so many cars of […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/scans0006.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Review: 1972 Volvo 164E – Now Fuel Injected, Depending On Where You Live")
Vintage R&T Review: 1972 Volvo 164E – Now Fuel Injected, Depending On Where You Live
Posted on September 23, 2020 | 10 CommentsWe’ve had a lot of Volvos in our current Saturday COAL series, but how about a vintage review of the newly fuel injected 1972 164E? Like so many cars of […] -
![I’ve started scanning another box of the vintage R&T’s sent to me by CC reader Lee J., these going back further to 1972. I still have a loooong way to […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/scans0001.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Analysis (1972): Citroen GS – “‘Remarkable’ Would Be An Understatement”")
Vintage R&T Analysis (1972): Citroen GS – “‘Remarkable’ Would Be An Understatement”
Posted on September 22, 2020 | 34 CommentsI’ve started scanning another box of the vintage R&T’s sent to me by CC reader Lee J., these going back further to 1972. I still have a loooong way to […] -
![Given today’s high beltlines and gunslit windows, the Volvo 262C doesn’t look all that odd. It was just forty years ahead of its time. But it raised eyebrows pretty consistently […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Volvo-262-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Review: 1978 Volvo 262C – “There Simply Is Not Enough Headroom”")
Vintage R&T Review: 1978 Volvo 262C – “There Simply Is Not Enough Headroom”
Posted on June 26, 2020 | 22 CommentsGiven today’s high beltlines and gunslit windows, the Volvo 262C doesn’t look all that odd. It was just forty years ahead of its time. But it raised eyebrows pretty consistently […] -
![Yes, it was “reliable” in that it didn’t actually break down and leave them stranded, but it’s hardly a word that is applicable in the modern sense to a car […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Vega-1-top.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T 24,000 Mile Test: 1971 Vega 2300 – “Reliable” But It Got a New Short Block, Carb and Exhaust System")
Vintage R&T 24,000 Mile Test: 1971 Vega 2300 – “Reliable” But It Got a New Short Block, Carb and Exhaust System
Posted on June 17, 2020 | 61 CommentsYes, it was “reliable” in that it didn’t actually break down and leave them stranded, but it’s hardly a word that is applicable in the modern sense to a car […] -
![This 1978 review of the newly-introduced Jeep Wagoneer Limited provides an interesting perspective, as it was right about the time that the Wagoneer morphed from being a genuine utility 4×4 […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Jeep-top.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Review: 1978 Jeep Wagoneer Limited – “Can You Imagine An American Manufacturer Building the Same Body For 15 Years?” How About 29 Years!")
Vintage R&T Review: 1978 Jeep Wagoneer Limited – “Can You Imagine An American Manufacturer Building the Same Body For 15 Years?” How About 29 Years!
Posted on June 3, 2020 | 48 CommentsThis 1978 review of the newly-introduced Jeep Wagoneer Limited provides an interesting perspective, as it was right about the time that the Wagoneer morphed from being a genuine utility 4×4 […]
