By the beginning of the 70s, Americans began to get used to the fact that an SUV is suitable not only for trips along the Nebraska country road from Sam's farm to Joe's farm ... The turbulent sixties were very fruitful for American SUVs (see the previous issue for more details).
Cars acquired automatic transmissions, power steering and brakes, ventilated front brake discs, air conditioning, an adjustable steering column and other luxury attributes borrowed from cars.
Since that time, the great migration of off-road vehicles from rural spaces to paved city streets began. However, the real all-wheel drive fashion appeared after 1971, coinciding with the end of the Muscle Cars era. The new generation preferred the opportunity to communicate with nature to crazy races through the night streets.
Salon and dashboard. Chevy Blazer of the second half of the 70s. The choice offered a triple sofa or two armchairs with a glove compartment
THERE ARE NO CLAIMS TO THE PEASANTS
In fact, there were several reasons for this. The first, and perhaps most important, is openly leftist sentiment among American youth and the intellectual elite, who despised bourgeois values in the form of large and heavy-duty cars - both sports "muscles" and full-size (full-size). It even came to the demonstrative funeral of the hated "gasoline eaters" bought together. Off-road vehicles, by inertia, were considered cars of farmers and the working class, but how can a decent left have any claims against workers and peasants? Well, except perhaps for reproaches of insufficient consciousness.
The second reason is the introduction of strict speed limits on all roads. And if the speed limit is 60 miles per hour (however, in each state in its own way), then there is no point in buying a high-speed passenger car with a low seating position and decent handling. High all-terrain vehicles with fully dependent suspension are also quite suitable.
The third is the mandatory installation of catalytic converters for exhaust gases on all American cars. And since they only work properly at a certain number of revolutions, the motors had to be strangled with limiters. As a result, 300-400-strong monsters instantly became history.
Oddly enough, the fourth reason was the 1973 fuel crisis. On the one hand, he greatly frightened the Americans, forcing many to pay attention to compact, economical cars. On the other hand, it ended so quickly that many again wanted something powerful and preferably an eight-cylinder. And here, in favor of SUVs, coupled with all of the above, the effect of novelty played.
Dashboard Plymouth TrailDuster:
1. Large diameter thin steering wheel with power steering
2. Automatic Speed Control - Chrysler analogue of Cruise Control
3. Index of automatic transmission modes Torque Flite
4.AM/FM receiver
5. Air conditioner nozzles
6. Roomy glove box
7. Banks with drinks in "bank holders" and a compartment for small change
8. The only puncture that affected sales was the unfortunate location of the transfer case selector
NOT WORSE THAN CARS
And, finally, the fifth reason was that the new generation of SUVs in terms of comfort was in no way inferior to cars. And in terms of high landing and visibility, it even excelled. By about the mid-70s, any American all-terrain vehicle, except for the simple Jeep CJ series, could boast of a complete “passenger” set of luxury items. The typical look of an SUV of the 70s quickly formed: two doors, a convertible body with a quick-release roof (often fiberglass), a fully dependent suspension. The exceptions here were the four-door Jeep Wagoneer and its two-door Cherokee version, which did not have a removable top (see 4x4 Club #6'2011 for details) and the compact CJ-series Jeep. However, we will talk about it another time.
ENTERTAINMENT, NOT WORK
At the same time, in all advertising publications and commercials, a special emphasis was placed on the fact that these cars are intended for recreation and entertainment. For example, for a trip to the beach with surfboards in a spacious body or for fun "rides" on the sand dunes. And to further provoke the buyer, since about 1976, all SUV manufacturers began to vied with each other to offer special modifications.
The Plymouth TrailDuster featured a quick-release roof that was easy to replace with a convertible top.
Brightly painted, usually in two or three colors, often with additional details on the sidewall, hood and even the roof, with expensive interior trim, they, at the request of the future owner, could be understaffed with everything your heart desires! Forged wheels (later cast from aluminum alloy), "bars", winches, roll bars with powerful headlights, chrome-plated hooks and footpegs and much more. Soon, mass-produced kits appeared that turned a standard SUV into a monstrous "Big Foot" on huge wheels with a tank's cross-country ability.
Blazer/Jimmy.
Dodge Ramcharger from the 1978 "Four by Four" limited edition
SECOND GENERATION
In 1973, General Motors released a new generation of Blazer / Jimmy SUVs - naturally, based on the frame, components and assemblies, again a new series of light trucks. Unlike the previous model, the external differences between the Chevrolet Blazer and the GMC Jimmy were minimal and mostly limited to the nameplates and grille pattern. Engines were offered most often eight-cylinder, with a working volume of 5 to 6.5 liters. Power varied between 140-180 hp. With.
International Scout II, 1974
The updated International Scout II, at the request of the buyer, was decorated with "wooden" panels on the sides of the body. Of course it was just vinyl.
In 1976, the body was slightly changed. The roof was no longer completely removable - now only the rear part above the cargo compartment and the second row of seats were subject to dismantling. At the same time, the driver and passenger remained in the cab as in a conventional pickup truck, only without the rear wall. Around the same time, the Blazer/Jimmy buyer gets to choose between either a permanent all-wheel drive version or a plug-in front axle version.
CHRYSLER INCLUDED IN THE GAME
Exactly one year after the debut of the second Blazer, the new Dodge Ramcharger and Plymouth TrailDuster all-terrain vehicles, based on a shortened pickup chassis, saw the light of day. Both cars boasted the largest engines among American SUVs - 7.2 liters. Power after strangulation with a catalyst was 230 liters. With. at 4000 rpm. But the torque was impressive - 475 Nm at 3200 rpm. For comparison: the torque of the seven-liter gasoline engine of the Soviet all-wheel drive truck Ural-377D was 466 Nm at 2000 rpm.
International SSII, 1977.
It was distinguished by a simplified body with a soft top and canvas doors (pictured). But forged wheels, a powerful V8 and reinforced suspension were in the base
The rest of the engines of the "Chrysler" SUVs in the first year of production were also eight-cylinders with a volume of 5.2 to 6.5 liters and a power of 150-200 hp. With. In 1975, an in-line "six" appeared, which, with a working volume of 3.7 liters, developed a modest 90 hp. With.
Oh, and don't forget: for people who understand the important feature of the Dodge Ramcharger and Plymouth TrailDuster, it was permanent all-wheel drive with a lockable center differential.
FAREWELL SCOUT
International Harvester rolled in in the 70s with the new Scout II off-road vehicle. The main differences from the old one were, firstly, the modern angular design, and secondly, the instrument panel, unified with the larger family of pickups. Structurally, the car did not change much - the dependent spring suspension and the connected front axle did not disappear until the very end of production.
Interior of International Scout II.
Pay attention to the air conditioning nozzles under the instrument panel
Usually, the following engines were installed on the Scout: a four-cylinder displacement of 3.2 liters (76-111 hp) and two "eights" - 5.0 liters with a capacity of 122-144 hp. With. and 5.65 liters V8 with a capacity of 148-197 hp. With. Part of the eight-cylinder engines were equipped with fuel equipment for operation on liquefied gas. Since 1977, Nissan diesels (3.3 liters, 98 hp) have been installed in small quantities, since no power plant, even from an average truck, could fit under the hood of the Scout II. But they did not intend to cut off a half from a large diesel engine (so, by the way, a four-cylinder gasoline engine appeared at one time).
In 1976, the IHC management decided, following the example of competitors, to unify the Scout with light trucks as much as possible. But instead of making a new large SUV based on a full-size pickup truck, International did the opposite - the base of the Scout II was stretched from 2540 to 2997 mm. The result is the new Terra light truck and the long Scout Traveler station wagon. Alas, the full-size family of pickup trucks and a direct competitor to the Chevrolet Suburban - the four-door Traveler - was not produced for long. Naturally, this did not happen because of a good life. Due to errors in management, IHC began to rapidly lose ground to competitors. If in 1972 it was possible to sell 212,654 light trucks and SUVs, then in 1976 - a little more than 111 thousand copies.
GMC Jimmy (1973-1976). Differed from the Chevrolet Blazer mainly in the grille and emblems
WITHOUT ROOF AND DOORS
One of the last efforts to stay on the market was an attempt to create in 1977 a kind of analogue of the Jeep CJ7. To do this, they removed the doors from the usual Scout II, narrowed the doorways with special inserts, removed the roof, installed a safety arc, decorated the front with a black plastic radiator grille with large vertical teeth and something like a rudimentary kengurin. In addition, a new special modification, called SSII (i.e. Super Scout II), has acquired forged wheels, reinforced suspension and bright gold-black details on the sidewalls. The "eight" with a working volume of 5.7 liters was standard.
LATE BRONCO
Ford in the 70s somewhat underestimated the SUV market. "Ford" managers believed that there was no point in investing in this direction. Therefore, it is not surprising that the 1966 Ford Bronco (see previous issue) did not change for a long time. Of course, it has become more powerful, more comfortable, more convenient and safer to operate due to the installation of a V8 with a working volume of 5.0 liters, power steering and seat belts. But outwardly, he remained the same Spartan SUV as ten years ago. In addition, it was poorly unified with pickups, which increased the cost. As a result, the new Bronco was introduced very late, only in 1978.
HIGH VOLUME WITH SMALL POWER
Strictly speaking, it was a transitional model, since it borrowed the front lever-spring dependent suspension from its predecessor, and the frame and most of the body from the Ford F100 pickup truck. Like the Chevy Blazer, the big Bronco got a quick-release rear roof, while Chrysler SUVs borrowed the idea of permanent all-wheel drive. They equipped the Ford Bronco until 1980. The standard engine was a 5.8-liter V8 with 130-156 hp. with., for an additional fee, it was possible to install a 6.5-liter engine with a capacity of 170 liters. With. However, in this form, the big Bronco was produced only until 1980. The second fuel crisis and the events that followed it required significant adjustments to both the design and the very concept of the SUV. And not only Ford.
1960-1970 - a short period of time in the history of mankind when a breakthrough was made in technology, Gagarin flew into space, Jacques Picard plunged to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, and ordinary people enjoyed the music of The Beatles and the songs of Vysotsky. But this time is also famous for powerful cars that are loved in every corner of the world to this day. We present a ranking of the best muscle cars of the "golden age" of the American automotive industry.
The brutal and muscular bodies of the rear-wheel drive coupes "hid" huge V8 engines under the hood, with a capacity of 300 or even all 400 "horses", which made them the kings of quarter-mile distances. It is here that you will hear such legendary names as the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Plymouth Barracuda, Pontiac Trans-Am, Dodge Charger and others.
Rating of muscle cars of the 60s - 70s
1st Place: 1964 Pontiac GTO
First on the list is the famous 1964 Pontiac GTO muscle car. In many ways, this car was considered a "pioneer" in its class. The idea was to take the largest engine available and place it under the hood of a lightweight body. The Pontiac GTO was born as a street racing car. In this case, the car received a 6.4-liter V8 and 325 hp. at 4800 rpm. Acceleration to hundreds took 6.7 seconds, and the maximum speed at the finish of ¼ mile was 161 km / h.
2nd Place: 1967 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake
Next on the list is the limited-edition Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake 1967. Despite its sleeker and more elegant body design, this car has huge muscle mass compared to its siblings. At the heart of the Shelby Cobra was a 7.0 liter V8 engine producing 410 horsepower. But adding some extras and a supercharger to it, Carol Shelby created two unique "jet" cars with 800 hp. power.
The latter accelerated to hundreds in 4.0 seconds, and the maximum speed exceeded 260 km / h.
3rd: 1968 Dodge Charger R/T
Another champion on the list is the legendary "athlete" and "movie actor" - 1968. Brutal and aggressive - the car of a true man is exactly like that, after 47 years, many motorists believe. The Charger is known for its "hidden" headlights, long aft end and many chrome accents on the body. A 7.2-liter Magnum V8 was installed under the hood, delivering 375 hp, and a 7-liter Hemi engine with a herd of 425 horses was also available.
4th: 1970 Plymouth Road Runner
The Hemi engine was also installed in the famous Plymouth Road Runner associated with the cartoon character from Looney Tunes. The car looked simple enough, but at the same time hid its high-performance potential. There was nothing superfluous in it that could interfere with the enjoyment of driving in everyday life, its owners assured.
5th Place: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Don't forget about the formidable 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. This car was rightfully considered one of the fastest and most powerful of its time. 7-liter Big Block with eight cylinders, gave out 500 hp. power and started from zero to hundreds in 5.5 seconds.
6th Place: 1968 Mustang 428 Cobra Jet
One of the main competitors of the Camaro was the Ford Mustang. The most powerful at that time was the 1968 Mustang 428 Cobra Jet. A sport-tuned 7-liter V8 engine provided 410 horsepower to the rear wheels.
7th Place: 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS
In addition to the Camaro, Chevrolet had another no less famous and attractive muscle car - the Chevelle SS. The 1964 model had a rather simple and unattractive design. The peak of popularity came in 1970, when a new spectacular body design and a 7.4-liter V8 found themselves under the "one roof". The engine generated 450 hp. power and 678 Nm of torque. Acceleration to hundreds took 5.9 seconds.
8th: 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda
One of the rarest muscle cars of those times is considered to be the 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda in the back of a convertible. A tandem of a 7.2-liter engine and a 4-speed manual made it possible to spend 5.6 seconds to accelerate to hundreds, and the top speed was 251 km / h. It was a worthy answer to the eminent muscle cars of Ford and Chevrolet. A total of 11 units were produced. Today, their cost is from 1.3 to 4 million dollars for each copy.
9th Place: 1973 De Tomaso Pantera
And completes the list of muscle cars with Italian "roots" - De Tomaso Pantera. The car was "born" by the Argentine racer Alejandro De Tomaso, who sought to combine Italian engineering innovations with American "muscles". Thus, the car received a 5.8-liter V8 engine with 330 horsepower, as well as a 5-speed ZF manual transmission. Practice has shown that the start from zero to hundreds took 5.7 seconds, and the maximum speed was 241 km / h. It is worth noting that a similar car was owned by Elvis Presley himself.
In every country there are car legends that, having become classics, acquire great value for collectors, millionaires or fans of domestic car brands. In our country, such vehicles were Gaz-21, Chaika, etc. vehicles. But today we will not talk about our Russian auto industry, but about amazing ones. Let's find out which ones.
Let's turn back the clock and think about cars, both without and with cruise control, that could not reach speeds of more than 100 km / h. And also along with this, let's also remember the time when it was impossible to listen to music in a car using a smartphone, since there were no mobile phones then, and music in a car was available only on car radios. Here are ten classic cars dreamed of by thousands of Americans, and not only them.
Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe
The car was produced by the company from 1949 to 1975. Here is a 1957 car. Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe was equipped with a 4.3-liter V8 engine. The 1957 Chevrolet is the most coveted classic in both the US and other parts of the world. This is a beautiful vintage car that represents the industrial revolution in the USA.
The power of the car was 165 liters. With. at 4400 rpm, maximum torque: 348 Nm at 2200 rpm.
The car was equipped with rear-wheel drive and a two-speed automatic transmission. And also certain versions of the cars had a three-speed manual gearbox.
Fuel consumption: 25 liters per 100 kilometers
Fuel tank: 60 liters
Acceleration from 0-100 km/h: 12.1 seconds
Max Speed: 159 km/h
Ford F-250 Camper Special
No American car has had as many sales as the Ford F-series. Here is the fifth generation of the 1967 pickup truck.
The appearance of this car in the US market was not without reason. Already towards the end of the 60s, 2/3 of pickups belonged to private individuals.
The car was equipped with a three-speed automatic transmission (the shift knob is located on the steering wheel) and a 5.8-liter V8 engine.
The power of the rear-wheel drive pickup was 179 hp. With. at 4000 rpm, maximum torque: 410 Nm at 2900 rpm.
Fuel consumption: 21.5 liters per 100 kilometers
Max Speed: 165 km/h
Chrysler PT Cruiser
Unlike the Dodge Viper and Plymouth Prowler cars, this car is most familiar in our automotive market, since at one time. As a result, many such cars were imported from Europe to Russia for the purpose of their subsequent resale.
The car claims to become a classic all over the world. The fact is that in the USA this car has recently become very popular in a certain circle of brand lovers.
This car first appeared on the market in 2000 and became a complete alternative to models such as the Citroen Berlingo and Ford Ka.
Despite its clear competitive advantages, the model did not gain huge popularity around the world and therefore was soon discontinued. As a result, due to the small number of copies produced, this model began to be of some value to many collectors.
The car was equipped with a 2-liter 4-cylinder engine, the power of which was 141 hp. With. at 5700 rpm, maximum torque: 188 Nm at 4150 rpm. The engine worked with a five-speed manual transmission. A four-speed manual transmission was also available.
Fuel consumption: 8.7 liters per 100 kilometers
Max Speed: 190 km/h
Acceleration from 0-100 km/h: 9.7 seconds
Dodge Charger
In 1966, the debut of the car took place. This model has become the most beautiful of all American cars that entered the market in the 60s of the last century.
Due to its non-standard appearance, the car turned out to be trendy for that time.
The car was equipped with a 6.2-liter V8 engine with a capacity of 330 hp. With. at 5000 rpm, maximum torque: 576 Nm at 3200 rpm. The car was equipped with rear-wheel drive and a three-speed automatic transmission.
Fuel consumption: 25 liters per 100 kilometers
Max Speed: 198 km/h
Acceleration from 0-100 km/h: 7.3 seconds
Cadillac Brougham
This model appeared on the market in 1990, it ended the era. Although it must be admitted that the appearance of this model of the early 90s most of all corresponded to the fashionable style of the 70s.
Inside this model, everything was done in shades of red. Under the hood, a V8 engine with a volume of 5 liters was installed. In the early 90s, most American cars had already managed to change their classic appearance to more. But the Cadillac Brougham model remained an adherent of the old boxy style with its large body sizes.
Engine power was 173 liters. With. at 4200 rpm, maximum torque: 346 Nm at 2400 rpm. The engine was paired with a four-speed automatic transmission.
Fuel tank: 95 liters
Fuel consumption: 12.4 liters per 100 kilometers
Max Speed: 190 km/h
Acceleration from 0-100 km/h: 12.1 seconds
Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Indy 500 Pacecar
This car was created specifically for the Indy 500. . The car, compared to its predecessor, has become a little smaller in size, which made it possible to reduce the weight of the body itself.
For the first time in the design of the third generation Camaro, engineers stopped using the front subframe. The car was equipped with a 5.0-liter engine with 167 hp. With. at 4200 rpm, maximum torque: 326 Nm at 2400 rpm, the engine was paired with a four-speed automatic transmission.
Fuel consumption: 12-19 liters per 100 kilometers
Max Speed: 195 km/h
Acceleration from 0-100 km/h: 9.4 seconds
Winnebago Brave
In the 70s and 80s, there was a boom in the fashion for traveling by car in America. The most popular cars of that time were the so-called. Later, this fashion spread to Europe and other developed countries. Here is the classic Winnebago Brave motorhome, which has a bathroom with a toilet, a gas stove, a large living room, a real refrigerator. Thanks to the large bed, the living room can easily be turned into a bedroom.
The motorhome is equipped with a 5.8-liter V8 engine producing 167 hp. With. at 4000 rpm. The machine is equipped with rear-wheel drive and a three-speed automatic transmission.
Fresh water tank: 150 liters
Waste water tank: 80 liters
Max Speed: 115 km/h
Fuel consumption: 15-18 liters per 100 kilometers
Ford Mustang GT 390 Fastback
When the car appeared in 1964, it instantly turned all the notions of sports cars that could be used to make daily trips. This car has influenced the entire automotive industry as a whole. You can compare this with how the company once influenced the entire world of electronics. The Ford Mustang has become a very fashionable car with a stunning design. That is why the youth fell in love with him. The same thing happened to this car as it did to iPhones.
The GT 390 was different from the rest of the models with its crazy character. For example, the car had amazing torque, which was 579 Nm at 3200 rpm.
Before you, dear lovers of retro cars, is the 1964 model, which was equipped with a 6.4-liter engine with a capacity of 320 hp. With. The car had rear-wheel drive, and as an option could be equipped with a three-speed automatic transmission. In the basic trim levels, the car was supplied only with a four-speed manual gearbox.
Fuel consumption: 20.5 liters per 100 kilometers
Max Speed: 200 km/h
Overclocking With 0-100 km/ h: 7.5 seconds
Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser
It appeared on the market in the 70s. The car was equipped with a 5.7-liter V8 engine. Here is a 1972 model.
The most valuable thing in this passenger car is the volume of its trunk, with the rear seats unfolded, it was 2367 liters.
The power of the car was 162 liters. With. at 4000 rpm, maximum torque: 372 Nm at 2400 rpm.
The car was equipped with rear-wheel drive and a three-speed automatic transmission.
Max Speed: 170 km/h
Fuel consumption: 15-21 liters per 100 kilometers
Ford Hot Rod
Those Americans who amassed a sufficient fortune in the 1930s and 1950s could afford to buy a Ford Hot Rod. Before you, dear friends, is a charged version of this legendary car.
The car was equipped with a 7.0-liter engine with 360 hp. With. The car had a rear-wheel drive and a 3-speed automatic transmission.
Fuel consumption: 20 liters per 100 kilometers.
In conclusion, we would like to note that all these models presented by us in the rating had a huge impact on the US auto industry in their time. Without these cars, we would never see many of today's stunning modern American models.
You will find a story about American cars presented at the Museum of Retro Cars on Rogozhka. Today we look at Americans in the 60s, 70s and 80s. In my opinion one of the best eras in the automotive industry.
Post sponsor: air conditioner selection
1 Ford Thunderbird
The Thunderbird is a legendary car from the 50s and 60s. Among his fans you can find truly cult figures. For example, John F. Kennedy, who included 50 new cars of this model in his inaugural cavalcade. Movie star Marilyn Monroe had a pale pink Thunderbird.
Translated from English Thunderbird "Petrel". It has its roots in the mythology of the American Indians. This bird was a totem of some tribes and at the same time a folklore character. The wonderful bird was considered the messenger of the gods, she ruled the sky and helped people save the harvest. Traditionally, she is depicted with a sharply curved beak, a crest on her head and wings spread out to the sides. From its debut on February 20, 1954, to the present day, the Ford Thunderbird has adorned one or another version of the Indian totem.
The arrival of the Thunderbird is Ford's answer to General Motors' introduction of the Corvette. Thunderbird was developed in the shortest possible time, only one year passed from the idea to the first prototype. Unlike the Corvette, the Thunderbird had a metal body. Generally speaking Thunderbird was never positioned as a sports car, Ford created a new segment in the market - Personal Car. Initially, it was a 2-seater car, but in 1958 the car received a second row of seats, and all subsequent generations increased in size until 1977, after which they began to decrease again.
In total, there are 11 generations of Thunderbird, the last generation was produced until 2005. The museum presents the car of the third generation.
The third generation was introduced in 1961. The car received a new 6.4 liter FE series engine with 354 hp. The 1961 model had a part of being a pace-car at the Indianapolis 500 races. It was also the 61 model that participated in the inauguration procedure.
The 3rd generation Thunderbird was produced in 2 door hardtop and convertible body styles. In just 3 years of production, 214375 cars were produced.
3. Cadillac 6239
The absence of any identifying marks on the bots of the car indicates that it belongs to the "youngest" of the three Cadillac series offered in 1963 - then it did not yet have its own name, only the digital index 62 - and allows you to identify it as model 6239, issued in the amount of 16980 copies.
Externally, the 1963 Cadillac cars were significantly different from previous models: the body was redesigned, it looked more angular and smooth-sided, and the famous tail fins were now barely visible. The limousines have a panoramic windshield. Among 1963 Cadillac models, hardtops made up the vast majority.
Cadillac cars, for the first time in 14 years, received a new engine. We designed and put into production a power unit with the same basic characteristics - volume, power, torque - as the previous model of 1962, but with a good margin for further increasing power. In addition, the new motor was noticeably smaller than the previous one and better arranged: all attachments were moved forward to make it easier to reach during maintenance.
4 Cadillac Series 62
5 Cadillac Series 62
6 Cadillac Series 62
7 Cadillac Deville 1969
The literal translation of the name De Ville is "urban" in French. The name "Town Car" was reserved for Lincoln, so Cadillac had to go to some lengths to use the French version of essentially the same name. The Cadillac De Ville series is one of the most “long-playing” in the history of the automotive industry: from 1949 to 2006, 12 generations of luxury cars were produced. In 1969, the design of Cadillacs was noticeably updated. The cars again received headlights located on the same horizontal line.
The car looked great: a long nose, a short tail, open headlights and relief stamping on the rear wing, like some kind of “fins”. Finally, "Cadillac" lost its "tails" only with the debut of the 1971 model. Rectangular body shapes gradually became the epitome of the new American style.
But horsepower has become the main lure for the consumer. And if by the beginning of the 60s the displacement increased to 6.4 liters (power reached 325 hp), then in 1964 a stronger V8 with 7 liters (350 hp) was created, which provided "cruising" speed at 235 km/h. The engine itself received an aluminum cylinder block and a lifetime maintenance-free lubrication system. Also on the 5th generation, a 7.7-liter engine with a capacity of 375 hp was offered.
For the first time, an adjustable tilt steering wheel and automatic air conditioning were used. And yet the improvement of these machines was not caused by consumer need. It was, so to speak, art for art's sake.
The presented car belongs to the 5th generation Deville, which was produced from 1965 to 1970.
A fairly well-known car in certain circles. It is claimed to be a '76, but to be honest, it looks more like a 7th generation Deville that was produced from 1977 to 1984. The 7.0l engine, standard for this car, produced 180hp. or 195hp with injection system. also on the 7th generation, a 5.7 liter diesel engine or a v-shaped 6 with a volume of 4.1 liters was installed.
Generally speaking, the convertible body is not peculiar to the Deville of this generation. Unfortunately, nothing could be found on the Internet about the Deville cabriolet of these years. There is an opinion that this is not a factory alteration.
Eldorado is a line of Cadillac cars that was produced between 1953 and 2002. The name Eldorado was proposed in connection with a special automobile show held in 1952 in honor of Cadillac's golden jubilee. The word Eldorado was derived from the Spanish words "el dorado", which means "gilded" or "golden". Cadillac Eldorado in those days became the founder of the design ideas of General Motors. Other car companies began to follow the Eldorado's style trends and adopt elements of its appearance.
The museum displays the 6th generation Eldorado, which was produced from 1979 to 1985. The release of this model caused a scandal, because in 1976 the Cadillac Eldorado was released, which was advertised as "the last American convertible." It was assumed that the release of convertibles in the United States would be banned. Many bought the Eldorado in 1976 at an inflated price as an investment. By the way, at the same time, 200 convertibles in honor of the 200th anniversary of the discovery of America were painted in the colors of the American flag and named the Bicentennial Edition. In 1983, General Motors again begins to produce convertibles. The owners of the 1976 Cadillac Eldorado considered themselves deceived and even sued.
Due to the fact that 1985 was the last year when the Cadillac Eldorado was produced in the back of a convertible, and the production volume of the latest version was 1000 cars, today this car is a value for many collectors.
By the way, this Elda was at our wedding 🙂
The first Buick Riviera appeared in 1949, but the word "Riviera" was used rather than as a designation for a separate model, but as a designation for a specific body - namely, a hardtop. In this sense, it was used until 1963, when the full-fledged Buick Riviera finally appeared. Its appearance had nothing in common with other Buick models of that era, although the frame for it was used as a standard Buick, only shortened and narrowed. The model was produced exclusively with a coupe body, thereby becoming one of the founders of the nascent American class of cars "personal luxury coupe".
In 1964, the Riviera received only a cosmetic, subtle redesign, as the model was successful and sold well. In 1966, the production of the second generation Riviera began, which received a body from the Oldsmobile Toronado, but retained the classic layout. Now it was a big squat coupe with a sloping roof, no B-pillars, a front end with protruding front fenders, in fact, the body turned into a fastback.
In 1971, the 3rd generation Riviera was introduced (the car of this generation is in the museum). The model went back to its roots in a way, again getting the reverse sloped front end associated with the shark's nose, but the back end was in the "boattail" style popular in the early 1930s. A 7.4-liter engine with a capacity of approximately 250 hp was installed on the car. Unfortunately, the design of the model was not to the taste of the buyers and sales of this model fell. Therefore, in the next generation, they abandoned the "boat tail" ...
In 1963, Chevrolet introduced the second generation of the famous Corvette. The model was named Sting Ray (Elektriechsky Skat). Famous designers Larry Shinoda (creator of the Ford Mustang) and William Mitchell worked on the C2. Through their efforts, the model received independent double-lever suspensions on transverse springs (this scheme is still used on the Corvette!), a unique body style and the most powerful V8 engines of the Big Block family - first a 425-horsepower 6.5-liter, and then a 435-horsepower 7-liter volume , equipped with triple carburetors (Tri Power). The C2 was produced in coupe and convertible body styles. In total, 117,964 cars were produced.
In 1961, before the introduction of the C2 to the market, it was decided to stir up public interest in it with the Corvette Mako Shark concept, which later became no less famous than the original C2. And in 1963, the Grand Sport version was released, which in our time is the subject of hunting for collectors around the world. Built according to the secret project of Zora Arkus-Dantov, she never entered the racetracks of the whole world, but in America she gained honor and respect. Only 5 examples were built, powered by a V8 engine with four 377cc Weber carburetors. inches (6.2 l), developing 550 hp. With.
In the name of the third generation, the word Stingray began to be spelled together. But that's not the point. The main thing in this car is design! The third Corvette is based on the 1965 Mako Shark II concept. The look created by David Halls is simply gorgeous! Muscular punching, complex plastic sides - this car is still one of the most beautiful! By the way, when creating this very plastic, David Halls was inspired not by anything, but ... by a fitted Coca-Cola bottle (designed by Raymond Loewy, who also became famous as an automotive designer and interior design professional)!
The car had the same suspension as the C2, and the engines were the same at first. But in 1969, the newest Small Block with a volume of 5.7 liters (300 hp) appeared, and later - Big Block (7 liters, 390 hp). However, in 1972, engine data was now specified according to new standards, and the most powerful 7.4-liter engine began to develop “only” 270 hp. With. And with the introduction of new taxes on fuel, the huge multi-liter Big Blocks are a thing of the past. So now the Corvette could claim a maximum of 205 hp. With. "small block". Moreover, the version with a convertible body was removed from production ... But still, the C3 remained a very successful sports car, evidence of this is the production volume: as many as 542,861 C3 were produced, so this is the most popular Corvette. A special version of the Corvette ZL1 (specifically for racing) was also released. The motor of this version produced 430 hp. sec., but easily forced up to more than 600.
It is also worth noting that in 1978 the Corvette C3 was chosen as the Pace car for the Indianapolis 500.
And this is a later version of the C3, equipped with an L82 engine.
September 29, 1966 (1967 model year) saw the light of the first Chevrolet Camaro. It was a serious and quite competitive response from General Motors to the Mustang, which had been successfully produced by Ford for two years.
The word "Camaro" is a slang interpretation of the French "camarade" - friend, comrade. This origin of the name of the legendary car did not immediately become clear. In 1967, when asked about the origin of the word "Camaro", Chevrolet managers replied: "It's the name of a small, angry animal that eats mustangs."
By the release of a rival to such a popular car as the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet approached more than seriously. From the start of sales, the Camaro was delivered in two body styles (coupe and convertible) with four different types of engines and had about 80 factory options. At that time, the most powerful of the standard engines for the Camaro was a V-shaped eight with a working volume of 5.7 liters, which produced 255 hp.
The most popular option package was SS. Despite many exterior tweaks, including a hood scoop and a black grille with headlights hidden behind it, the most significant change in this package was the 325 hp engine, enlarged to 6.5 liters. (in later editions 375 hp).
In parallel with this, a package was also released under the code Z-28. Nobody advertised it, did not offer it, and it was not advertised to the general public in any way, but the Chevrolet Camaro model with the Z-28 index became the most famous for the entire existence of the brand. The only way to get such a modification was to order the base Camaro with the Z-28 option. At the same time, the buyer immediately lost the opportunity to choose the SS set, automatic transmission, air conditioning, cabriolet body. And whatever you say, the choice of air conditioning or transmission is quite important parameters.
Just 3 years after the debut of the Camaro, Chevrolet is introducing a second-generation model that will last 12 years.
Despite gloomy forecasts of a declining market and consumer interest, in the middle of the 1970 model year, Chevrolet introduces the second generation Camaro to the market. New European style design, the body is 5cm longer, the doors are 10cm longer, and the convertible is no longer available. The promised 7.4-liter engine was never built, and the volume of the 6.5-liter engine was increased by one hundred cubic meters, but according to the decision of the company's management, it is marked in the old way with the number 396 (engine size in cubic inches) as already well-established in the eyes buyers.
Over the next five years, engine power continued to decline, so in 1975 a 105-horsepower unit was even offered. But competitors did no better in 1977, for the first time in the history of the model, the number of Camaros sold exceeded Mustang sales. In 1978, the situation repeated itself. And in 1979, sales reached a record high - 282,571 cars.
The car presented in the museum has unfortunately lost its originality. The engine, chassis and interior are from the 4th generation Camaro (93-2002).
The Fleetwood Metal Body Company was founded on April 1, 1909 in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania. It was an independent coachbuilder until it was bought out by Fisher Body, a division of General Motors. The enterprise continued its activity until 1931, when all production facilities were transferred to Detroit.
Exclusive - this was just the word that attracted the rich. They purchased the engine, chassis and wheels from leading manufacturers and sent them to Fleetwood. Where the body and interior trim were created at the request of the customer. The customer met with the designer, who depicted the wishes of the client on paper. After that, work began on the implementation of the project. In the end, it was decided to release a car called Fleetwood. Cadillac Fleetwood has become one of the most popular cars from General Motors. The Fleetwood name has been around since 1927. In 1946, Cadillac created a special version of the 60 series called the Series 60 Special Fleetwood.
In 1985, all Fleetwood models (with the exception of the Fleetwood Brougham) were converted to a front-wheel drive C-platform. The Fleetwood Brougham continued to be rear wheel drive until 1986. In 1987, the rear-wheel drive Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham left the Fleetwood line and was simply called the Cadillac Brougham. Thus, the Fleetwood lineup was made up of only front-wheel drive versions. Only one engine option was offered this year - the V8 H.
We remind you that there is in the social. networks. Do you want to be aware of updates? Subscribe to our
The most noticeable features of this style were: an abundance of chrome parts in the body trim, panoramic windshields, huge wings-fins at the rear. By 1960, this flamboyant style had reached its highest point:
Already in the next year, 1961, the size of the fins decreased sharply, although the stopars were still mowed under rocket nozzles:
The architecture of the American car began to change before our eyes - its body turned into a huge flattened rectangle, the former streamlining and sophistication of lines began to gradually replace straightness and angularity.
On a Ford 62 years old, there was no trace of the fins left: 
Does this design remind you of anything? It was in 1962 that the first model of the body of the future GAZ-24 Volga car was created in the USSR, the refinement of which, as a result, dragged on beyond measure.
The graceful Imperial of 1962 still demonstrates many features of the continuity of the outgoing style: 
But the 1963 Buick is already quite similar to the classic American car that the whole world will see in countless films until the end of the 80s: 
In the early 60s, some of the old American car brands were still alive. Here, for example, the Studebaker model of 1963, only 3 years remain before the cessation of production of cars by this well-known company: 
In 1964, Imperial switched to a new style: 
And here is the symbol of the new design - the headlights protruding forward in a bracket-like manner on a 165 Pontiac: 
It is believed that this design made American cars ugly, but as they say, "there is no arguing about taste."
Pontiac-66: 
One of the last Studebakers of the 66th year looks completely un-American, something typically Italian: 
And this Studio of the final 66th looks like our Moskvich 408/412, isn't it? 
.
But in America in the 60s, "mammals" died out, and automobile "dinosaurs" remained alive :-)
Imperial-68 - it’s not the headlights that protrude on the “muzzle”, but just some kind of brackets - the fashion is this: 
The same crocodile in profile: 
And Pontiac of the same 68 years came up with his own "chip" - a ram should perform! 
In the 70s. American auto-dinosaurs will reach their evolutionary peak.
