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Curbside Classics Archives
1970s Archive
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![(first posted 1/12/2018) While Ford’s square new Fairmont/Zephyr was beloved by American buff book writers for its engaging handling and functional persona, the U.S. car market in 1978 […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/CD0378-Z7-Main-Image.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Review: 1978 Mercury Z-7 – Personal Luxury Pretender")
Vintage Review: 1978 Mercury Z-7 – Personal Luxury Pretender
Posted on January 12, 2024 | 103 Comments(first posted 1/12/2018) While Ford’s square new Fairmont/Zephyr was beloved by American buff book writers for its engaging handling and functional persona, the U.S. car market in 1978 […] -
![(first posted 1/11/2018) For years, and most particularly after the Arab Oil Embargo in 1973, American car enthusiast magazines had been clamoring for Detroit to build more internationally-oriented […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/CD0977-Fairmont-Cover.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Review: 1978 Ford Fairmont/Mercury Zephyr – Functional But Flavorless")
Vintage Review: 1978 Ford Fairmont/Mercury Zephyr – Functional But Flavorless
Posted on January 11, 2024 | 86 Comments(first posted 1/11/2018) For years, and most particularly after the Arab Oil Embargo in 1973, American car enthusiast magazines had been clamoring for Detroit to build more internationally-oriented […] -
![(first posted 1/4/2018) This is it. This is the generation of sedans that firmly cemented Mercedes-Benz’s hold on the American luxury market. Fully redesigned and reengineered, the “volume series” […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/CD0377MB280E-Main-Image.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Review: 1977 Mercedes-Benz 280E – Teutonic Triumph")
Vintage Review: 1977 Mercedes-Benz 280E – Teutonic Triumph
Posted on January 5, 2024 | 109 Comments(first posted 1/4/2018) This is it. This is the generation of sedans that firmly cemented Mercedes-Benz’s hold on the American luxury market. Fully redesigned and reengineered, the “volume series” […] -
![(first posted 12/23/2017) Brendan’s excellent post on the Spirit GT captures AMC’s Herculean efforts to create something out of nothing. In February 1979, Car and Driver reviewed the Spirit GT, […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/CD-0279-AMC-Spirit-p1.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Review: 1979 AMC Spirit GT – Desperately Seeking Salvation")
Vintage Review: 1979 AMC Spirit GT – Desperately Seeking Salvation
Posted on December 23, 2023 | 56 Comments(first posted 12/23/2017) Brendan’s excellent post on the Spirit GT captures AMC’s Herculean efforts to create something out of nothing. In February 1979, Car and Driver reviewed the Spirit GT, […] -
![“What can we say? The AMX is a great machine in so many ways but in others, it wants.” – MT ’69 That basically sums up just about every period […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4384423704_23630dca70_o.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Motor Trend Road Test: 1970 American Motors AMX – Distinct, Potent And Rough")
Vintage Motor Trend Road Test: 1970 American Motors AMX – Distinct, Potent And Rough
Posted on December 6, 2023 | 14 Comments“What can we say? The AMX is a great machine in so many ways but in others, it wants.” – MT ’69 That basically sums up just about every period […] -
![Back in September 1977, R&T had an early glimpse of GM’s new downsized A-bodies by briefly testing a 1978 Pontiac LeMans. That article focused mostly on the background and engineering […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Scan-231004-0003a.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Road & Track Review: 1978 Chevrolet Malibu (F41 Sport Suspension) – Leaner And More Functional; An Enjoyable Driver’s Car")
Vintage Road & Track Review: 1978 Chevrolet Malibu (F41 Sport Suspension) – Leaner And More Functional; An Enjoyable Driver’s Car
Posted on November 26, 2023 | 44 CommentsBack in September 1977, R&T had an early glimpse of GM’s new downsized A-bodies by briefly testing a 1978 Pontiac LeMans. That article focused mostly on the background and engineering […] -
![(first posted 11/23/2017) Today, as Americans prepare to gobble up turkey in celebration of Thanksgiving, I thought it would be fun to take a look at an automotive […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/CD0679-CenturyTurbo-Main-Image.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Review: 1979 Buick Century Turbo Coupe – This Wild Turkey Tried To Fly")
Vintage Review: 1979 Buick Century Turbo Coupe – This Wild Turkey Tried To Fly
Posted on November 23, 2023 | 95 Comments(first posted 11/23/2017) Today, as Americans prepare to gobble up turkey in celebration of Thanksgiving, I thought it would be fun to take a look at an automotive […] -
![Just a few months before this June 1971 review, R&T had described the Pinto as “mediocre but cute” in a 5-car comparison against the likes of the Corolla and Datsun […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/1971pinto_03.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Road & Track Review: 1971 Ford Pinto 2000 – A New 2.0 OHC Engine Creates A Hotter Pinto")
Vintage Road & Track Review: 1971 Ford Pinto 2000 – A New 2.0 OHC Engine Creates A Hotter Pinto
Posted on October 29, 2023 | 40 CommentsJust a few months before this June 1971 review, R&T had described the Pinto as “mediocre but cute” in a 5-car comparison against the likes of the Corolla and Datsun […] -
![The Corona and Corolla had gained a solid foothold in international markets by the late ’60s, and studious Toyota was ready to strive for more. After earning respect through diligence […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Review: 1971 Toyota Celica – The Arrival Of Toyota’s Pony Car")
Vintage R&T Review: 1971 Toyota Celica – The Arrival Of Toyota’s Pony Car
Posted on October 1, 2023 | 29 CommentsThe Corona and Corolla had gained a solid foothold in international markets by the late ’60s, and studious Toyota was ready to strive for more. After earning respect through diligence […] -
![Everything remains the same until it doesn’t. Detroit’s Brougham era had gone undisturbed for a good number of years, guided by the wider and longer mantra. And while Detroit had […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/n_1978-Mercury-Zephyr-04.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Road & Track Review: 1978 Mercury Zephyr-Ford Fairmont – A Boxy New Dawn")
Vintage Road & Track Review: 1978 Mercury Zephyr-Ford Fairmont – A Boxy New Dawn
Posted on September 24, 2023 | 24 CommentsEverything remains the same until it doesn’t. Detroit’s Brougham era had gone undisturbed for a good number of years, guided by the wider and longer mantra. And while Detroit had […] -
![The future troubles facing Detroit’s carmakers were evident by the start of the ’70s. If there had been signs during the prior decade, by the dawn of the ’70s they […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Car And Driver’s New For 1971 Issue: Chevrolet Impala, Mustang Mach 1, Mercury Comet – Early Impressions And Wrong Signals")
Vintage Car And Driver’s New For 1971 Issue: Chevrolet Impala, Mustang Mach 1, Mercury Comet – Early Impressions And Wrong Signals
Posted on September 10, 2023 | 31 CommentsThe future troubles facing Detroit’s carmakers were evident by the start of the ’70s. If there had been signs during the prior decade, by the dawn of the ’70s they […] -
![Old habits are hard to break. How else to explain VW’s 1969 411? After being poorly received in Europe, it took the 411 two years to reach US shores. And […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Untitled-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Review: 1971 Volkswagen 411 (Type 4) – Old Habits Die Hard")
Vintage R&T Review: 1971 Volkswagen 411 (Type 4) – Old Habits Die Hard
Posted on September 7, 2023 | 39 CommentsOld habits are hard to break. How else to explain VW’s 1969 411? After being poorly received in Europe, it took the 411 two years to reach US shores. And […] -
![After successfully downsizing their full-sizers in 1977, it was time for GM’s intermediates to face the shrinking process for 1978. In September of ’77, R&T reviewed those efforts in the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Scan-230826-0001a.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Review: 1978 Pontiac LeMans – GM’s Second Downsizing Act Goes -Mostly- Okay")
Vintage R&T Review: 1978 Pontiac LeMans – GM’s Second Downsizing Act Goes -Mostly- Okay
Posted on August 27, 2023 | 54 CommentsAfter successfully downsizing their full-sizers in 1977, it was time for GM’s intermediates to face the shrinking process for 1978. In September of ’77, R&T reviewed those efforts in the […] -
![In September 1969 Car Life magazine released its ‘Best Of’ issue, a title awarded by market segment and vehicle class. In the ‘Prestige Car’ category, CL declared the Chrysler 300 […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/26070534761_f27a4b4f4e_k.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Review: 1969 Chrysler 300 – Car Life’s Best Prestige Car; Luxury And Performance")
Vintage Review: 1969 Chrysler 300 – Car Life’s Best Prestige Car; Luxury And Performance
Posted on August 24, 2023 | 25 CommentsIn September 1969 Car Life magazine released its ‘Best Of’ issue, a title awarded by market segment and vehicle class. In the ‘Prestige Car’ category, CL declared the Chrysler 300 […] -
![(first posted 6/1/2017) Road and Track tests the new Fiat 131 Mirafiore (“Brava”), which replaced the 124. Although the 131 was very successful in Europe and other locales, it […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Fiat-131-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Review: Fiat 131")
Vintage R&T Review: Fiat 131
Posted on August 22, 2023 | 39 Comments(first posted 6/1/2017) Road and Track tests the new Fiat 131 Mirafiore (“Brava”), which replaced the 124. Although the 131 was very successful in Europe and other locales, it […]
