Which Decade Was the High Point for Car Culture

[brett]

I did not realize what crap the NA makers really produced until I drove a company car since the mid eighties. Everything from a basic sedan to so call luxury sedan to SUV's. Spouse purchased and drove imports during that same timeframe.

Absolute day and night difference between the products from day one between warranty work required following delivery, quality of finish, failures, including a very noticeable quality of the dealer servicing. Across two cities and multiple dealerships for both vehicles.

Much better now I guess. Have stuck with import labels.

I would say that the high point is today based on the great NA label SUV that my daughter has driven for three years.

 

[aja8888]

I did not realize what crap the NA makers really produced until I drove a company car since the mid eighties. Everything from a basic sedan to so call luxury sedan to SUV's. Spouse purchased and drove imports during that same timeframe.

Absolute day and night difference between the products from day one between warranty work required following delivery, quality of finish, failures, including a very noticeable quality of the dealer servicing. Across two cities and multiple dealerships for both vehicles.

Much better now I guess. Have stuck with import labels.

I would say that the high point is today based on the great NA label SUV that my daughter has driven for three years.

Many imports are built in the U.S. now. And some in Mexico.

 

[kingkarmann]

My usernameshould give away my passion.
I love cars and car culture.
My favorite is the VW Karmann Ghia.
I have had many starting in H.S. in the mid 70’s.
I now have two 1967 Karmann Ghia’s.
The 1960’s were the peak of form and function

 

[dheb]

So many fantastic cars in the 1960's - Jaguar E-Type, Austin Healey 3000, MG-A, Triumph TR4, Corvette Stingray, Pontiac GTO, Dodge Charger, Plymouth Barracuda, Camaro SS. The 1970's, especially after the Clean Air Act of 1970 and then the Oil Crisis of 1973 neutered the muscle cars, was a great letdown. And, in my opinion, it has been pretty dull ever since. Perhaps the worst of all was the 1980s; the Chrysler K-car was a crime against humanity.

Dull ever since? We live in an automotive golden age. The mid-engined Corvette C8 is a supercar for about $60k msrp. The whole C7 platform was great, too. The Dodge Viper (now discontinued, but still 'modern' by comparison to 60s cars). Dodge Charger & Challenger Hellcats putting out over 700 hp. 2021 Shelby GT500 Mustang puts out 760 hp and looks good, too. In contrast, the E-Type Jaguar looks like a gawky teenager going through puberty. (That said, my own personal favorite is the '71-3 big bodied Mustang fastback, so my taste is questionable at best.)

 

[eytonxav]

Dull ever since? We live in an automotive golden age. The mid-engined Corvette C8 is a supercar for about $60k msrp. The whole C7 platform was great, too. The Dodge Viper (now discontinued, but still 'modern' by comparison to 60s cars). Dodge Charger & Challenger Hellcats putting out over 700 hp. 2021 Shelby GT500 Mustang puts out 760 hp and looks good, too. In contrast, the E-Type Jaguar looks like a gawky teenager going through puberty. (That said, my own personal favorite is the '71-3 big bodied Mustang fastback, so my taste is questionable at best.)

Agreed, we have witnessed the renaissance of performance over the past 20-25 years unlike anything in prior decades given better engineering/technology. After the demise of the muscle cars in early 70s, I stayed away from all Detroit offerings until 1998 when the C5 Corvette came out with the LS1 engine which offered a significant bump in performance. Like many of my cars, it got further modified by Mallett and had a stroker motor and significant handling upgrades. It was prepped for One Lap of America competition.

 

[Dream Weaver]

Dull ever since? We live in an automotive golden age. The mid-engined Corvette C8 is a supercar for about $60k msrp. The whole C7 platform was great, too. The Dodge Viper (now discontinued, but still 'modern' by comparison to 60s cars). Dodge Charger & Challenger Hellcats putting out over 700 hp. 2021 Shelby GT500 Mustang puts out 760 hp and looks good, too. In contrast, the E-Type Jaguar looks like a gawky teenager going through puberty. (That said, my own personal favorite is the '71-3 big bodied Mustang fastback, so my taste is questionable at best.)

My favorite era also styling wise and I'm not a Mustang or even Ford man. Growing up I got to watch a '72 yellow/black Mach 1 fastback parked in the weeds (along with a few other "savable" muscle cars) return to the elements over the course of a few decades with a DONT ASK! NOT FOR SALE! sign on it.

 

[SD-455]

I voted for the '60's but would say specifically 1964 to 1974 for a few reasons. The big 3 in the US began to allow their highest horsepower engines to be put into their smaller cars in or around 1964 and that really upped the competition of the muscle car era thru the end of 1970. Then lower compression, smog equipment and and insurance costs started a slow decline thru 1974 until catalytic converters in 1975 put the last nail in it to me. Not saying there weren't or aren't great performance cars made after that time and now, but the best era for me was '64-'74

 

[ken830]

Considering you can pull out your super-computer-in-your-pocket and, in a few seconds and for 95% less money than a Nevera (only car with better performance), buy a Model S Plaid that does 0-60 in less than 2 seconds, pull low 9's in the 1/4 mile, is quiet, fuel-efficient, practical, and extremely safe.. I would say the high point for car culture is some time in the future -- until the new era of autonomous cars take over.

The fact that hyper-car-beating performance is attainable by the middle-class is just mind-blowing. I'm looking forward to the new Roadster.

 

[Koolau]

I'd be the first to admit that today's cars are (generally speaking) much better than cars of the 60's. But in terms of "car culture" it's difficult to think of current cars as much more than utilitarian. There is SOME excitement (and brand loyalty forming) around the e-cars. Performance of today's cars is almost insane by comparison to the '60s. Still, to me, cars are just cars for the most part. I miss how I felt about cars in the 60's. It may only because I "came of age" in the '60s. Still, there was some magic in the 1960's cars but YMMV.

 

[RobbieB]

Yeah, magic!

Felt my first boobies in my hand me down 1966 Ford Fairlane 500 -

 

[Gumby]

Yeah, magic!

Felt my first boobies in my hand me down 1966 Ford Fairlane 500 -

1972 Ford Econoline Van.

 

[Koolau]

I guess magic is what you make of it. I first made out in a 1960 Ford Falcon. What a car that was! It was one of the first "compact" cars and I could get 6 people in it with ease. YMMV

 

[eytonxav]

My first ride in a muscle car was in a 65 HiPo Mustang. The following linked article highlights Mustang performance from the 60 era cars to present day and while the classic bodies bring back fond memories there is no denying the outstanding performance of today vs yesteryear.
https://motor-junkie.com/rankings-ford-mustangs-by-their-0-60-times/2673/25/

 

[ArmchairMillionaire23]

Are we doing "my cars" now? From memory/in rough order:

Sunbeam Rapier sedan
Austin Healy 3000 3-carb roadster
Porsche 356B Normal
Porsche 911 Solex Carbs
Volvo 123GT
Shelby/AC 289 Cobra
Lotus Elan SE Coupe
Three or four Merkur Scorpio sedans
Miscellaneous 122, 222 and 6 cyl. Volvos
a couple of Suburbans
Tiga Formula Ford
Swift DB1 Formula Ford
Benz 300SEL 6.3
1966 Shelby GT350 bought and flipped for a few $K profit
1968 Shelby GT500KR Convert bought and flipped
Jensen Interceptor bought and flipped
Mazda RX-8
Soob WRX

Lots of fun!

Since we're listing vehicles, here's what I've owned so far. (In order from date of purchase)

1973 Plymouth Duster 225 cu. in. slant-6 / Auto
1977 Chevy Van 292 cu. in. I6 / Auto
1974 Plymouth Custom Suburban wagon 400 cu. in. V8 / Auto
1971 Olds 98 Regency 455 cu. in. V8 / Auto
1979 Pontiac Grand Prix 301 cu. in. V8 / Auto
1978 Pontiac Grand Prix no engine (parts car for above)
1978 Chevy Monza Spyder 305 cu. in. V8 / 4-speed manual
1980 Chevy Monza no engine (parts car for above)
1979 Olds Omega 260 cu. in. V8 / Auto
1975 AMC Hornet 232 cu. in. I6 / Auto
1967 Chevy C10 pickup 250 cu. in. I6 / 3-speed (column) manual
1968 Chevy C10 pickup 307 cu. in. V8 / Auto (parts truck for above)
1979 Chevy Suburban 350 cu. in. V8 / Auto
1984 Chevy S-10 Blazer 4X4 2.8L V6 / Auto
1991 Geo Metro 1.0L I3 / 5-speed manual
1985 Chevy K5 Blazer 4X4 305 cu. in. V8 / Auto
1995 Chevy S-10 pickup 2.2L I4 / 5-speed manual
1998 Chevy Monte Carlo Z34 3.8L V6 / Auto
1979 Chevy El Camino 200 cu. in. V6 / Auto (upgraded to a TPI 305V8/700R4)
2003 Chevy Tracker 2.0L I4 / 5-speed manual
1957 Chevy 3100 series pickup 235 cu. in. I6 / 4-speed manual
2003 GMC Envoy 4.2L I6 / Auto
2010 GMC Canyon pickup 2.9L I4 / 5-speed manual

I still have the Envoy, Canyon, and the El Camino.

 

[eytonxav]

One thing that was pretty good in the old cars is what you could do inside them: