Top 10 Cars of the Past 50 Years: Try to Guess First

[cawimmer430]

This is design freedom:




This is a simple box drawn with the all the creativity of a straight-edged ruler:

Both of them are gorgeous. 

[Tave]

Liking a 1980 Eldorado is one thing. Claiming that the designer was free to take a lot of chances is something else. I don't find anything about the design to be daring or creative. At best it's simply clean and well-proportioned.

[hotrodalex]

After about 1972-74, designers had a lot less freedom. That's when the government started mandating more and more things (5-mph bumpers and other crash standards, emissions controls that choked the engines of any power, etc)

You need to look no further than the cars of the late 70s, early 80s to tell that the country wasn't doing so hot. Kinda just "blah".

[cawimmer430]

Liking a 1980 Eldorado is one thing. Claiming that the designer was free to take a lot of chances is something else. I don't find anything about the design to be daring or creative. At best it's simply clean and well-proportioned.

I'm not claiming the designers enjoyed a lot of freedom when they designed the 1980s Eldorado, but the design comes across as simple and yet very elegant. Most elegant and timeless designs are of a simple nature. It's clean and well-proportioned as you said and as a result quite elegant and classy. It looks like a luxury car.

After about 1972-74, designers had a lot less freedom. That's when the government started mandating more and more things (5-mph bumpers and other crash standards, emissions controls that choked the engines of any power, etc)

You need to look no further than the cars of the late 70s, early 80s to tell that the country wasn't doing so hot. Kinda just "blah".

I still like American cars from that era. Your cars from the '70s and '80s are cool and have such "character". Obviously you know them better than me and their weaknesses but as a foreigner only familiar with their design at best, I think they look cool. 

[shp4man]

Wimmer is beginning to remind me of a member of the old C+D forum,Taurus Troll. Anybody remember him? The dude had an almost religious reverence for the Ford Taurus. It was really entertaining sometimes.

He would post stuff like: "Yes, the Ferrari Testarossa was a great car, but unfortunately it's a distant second when compared to the Ford Taurus."

[cawimmer430]

He would post stuff like: "Yes, the Ferrari Testarossa was a great car, but unfortunately it's a distant second when compared to the Ford Taurus Plymouth Volare."

Fixed. 

[Atomic]

Fixed. 

you are a great sport for sure 

[Atomic]

Liking a 1980 Eldorado is one thing. Claiming that the designer was free to take a lot of chances is something else. I don't find anything about the design to be daring or creative. At best it's simply clean and well-proportioned.

tave, here are some great... and towards the end, not so great caddy eldorado's:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac_Eldorado

NOTE: could the following (quoted from the wikipedia website, above) be that start of those horrific cadillac (i.e., CTS, DTS, STS...) and lincoln names (i.e., MKS, MKT, MKX,  MKZ...)?! 

"The car was also sold under the badge Cadillac ETC (Eldorado Touring Coupe) and ESC (Eldorado Sport Coupe)..."

[cawimmer430]

you are a great sport for sure 

Seriously, I realize that the late '70s and '80s weren't the best of times for American cars, but there is no rule that says one cannot drool about the cool styling those cars had. 

[Atomic]

Seriously, I realize that the late '70s and '80s weren't the best of times for American cars, but there is no rule that says one cannot drool about the cool styling those cars had. 

the 1970s were awesome, imo. the 1980s were not the best of times. although, i think gm did a fantastic job with the task of downsizing the chevrolet caprice and others (not all). the caprice (i believe called caprice classic then) was a truly sharp and quite roomy a car -- available as a sedan, wagon and coupe.

[cawimmer430]

the 1970s were awesome, imo. the 1980s were not the best of times. although, i think gm did a fantastic job with the task of downsizing the chevrolet caprice and others (not all). the caprice (i believe called caprice classic then) was a truly sharp and quite roomy a car -- available as a sedan, wagon and coupe.

To me the 1980s Chevrolet Caprice and Ford LTD are the sexiest American cars of the period. I view them as "iconic" because of their stardom and appearance in so many cool movies from those days. Throw in the Dodge Diplomat in there to!

[Atomic]

To me the 1980s Chevrolet Caprice and Ford LTD are the sexiest American cars of the period. I view them as "iconic" because of their stardom and appearance in so many cool movies from those days. Throw in the Dodge Diplomat in there to!

our neighbors brought home a brand new chevrolet caprice classic estate. thinking it was a 1980. it was a "mint green" with a tan leather interior. i remember when they drove it home from the chevy dealership. it was probably the best looking wagon in history (from my perspective then), just behind some of the stately chrysler town & country wagons of the mid to late 70s.

[cawimmer430]

our neighbors brought home a brand new chevrolet caprice classic estate. thinking it was a 1980. it was a "mint green" with a tan leather interior. i remember when they drove it home from the chevy dealership. it was probably the best looking wagon in history (from my perspective then), just behind some of the stately chrysler town & country wagons of the mid to late 70s.

I can agree with that completely. 

When they show movies from the '80s here on TV, I may just watch it just to view the cars in the background. I'm that insane. 

[Atomic]

I can agree with that completely. 

When they show movies from the '80s here on TV, I may just watch it just to view the cars in the background. I'm that insane. 

charlie's angels (t.v. show) featured ford products. the character played by bosely often drove either a crown victoria wagon or the mercury grand marquis version. i was a fan of police and detective shows and loved the reruns of charlie's angels, and more "realistic" shows.

other shows and cars...

falcon crest featured a pretty fine classic mercedes-benz limo and always a souped up corvette, among others super nice cars. the show dallas, too... typically a fleet of mercedes-benz coupes. sedans and convertibles. towards the end of the series, the cadillac allante was actually introduced on the program, even showing J.R. pick the car up from a caddy dealership and touting "buy american". with the resurrection of the show, i wonder what the new generation will be driving. J.R., bobby and sue ellen, too. those three stars have signed contacts. many cast members will be new.

[cawimmer430]

charlie's angels (t.v. show) featured ford products. the character played by bosely often drove either a crown victoria wagon or the mercury grand marquis version. i was a fan of police and detective shows and loved the reruns of charlie's angels, and more "realistic" shows.

I used to watch Charlie's Angels just for the cars in the background. Never cared much for the girls. 

falcon crest featured a pretty fine classic mercedes-benz limo and always a souped up corvette, among others super nice cars. the show dallas, too... typically a fleet of mercedes-benz coupes. sedans and convertibles. towards the end of the series, the cadillac allante was actually introduced on the program, even showing J.R. pick the car up from a caddy dealership and touting "buy american". with the resurrection of the show, i wonder what the new generation will be driving. J.R., bobby and sue ellen, too. those three stars have signed contacts. many cast members will be new.

Today J.R. would be shown going to a Toyota dealership to buy an Avalon and then saying "Buy American!".

[Madman]

Wait, they're remaking Dallas?!?  Why? 

Anyway, I was lucky enough to catch an episode of "T.J. Hooker" on some cable channel this past week and noticed the police car Shatner and his partner were in kept changing between a Dodge Monaco and a Dodge St.Regis.  It was hilarious how the car changed with every new camera angle, all on the same trip!

I wish I had a car that could change it's appearance at a moment's notice!

The magically changing car plus the horribly dated 1980s hairstyles (The mousse and hairspray budget must have ran into the millions per season!) and Shatner's typically hammy acting made this the best piece of comedy I've seen in ages!

[Atomic]

^yes. dallas will be back. i think actors are getting mighty pissed that reality stars are cashing in on all of these brainless programs. not that "dallas" involves rocket science, but some might prefer it to "jersey shore", "american idol", "keeping up with the kardashians"... i think you got it 

[Byteme]

I'd rock both the '66 Impala SS, and the Galaxie 500: preferably in convertible form for both.

Both very nice cars for the time and they still look good today, IMHO.  In fact, there is something about the 1966 model year that I really like (maybe it's because that's when I got my license and I was very, very car crazy at the time).  1966 mid size and full size Pontiacs, Oldsmobile Toronado, Dodge Charger, Cadillac Coupe de Ville.  All very good looking cars.  

Number 1 didn't surprise me a bit.  Chevy sold about a million Impalas in 1965 (or was it 66?) alone.

[2o6]

Those designers had NO freedom. Imposing regulations from the government, AS WELL AS the fact that GM seemed to have cut that budget to smithereens, and one had to put a luxury car on a limited FWD platform.

[Soup DeVille]

Those designers had NO freedom. Imposing regulations from the government, AS WELL AS the fact that GM seemed to have cut that budget to smithereens, and one had to put a luxury car on a limited FWD platform.

If you're talking about that Toronado: you couldn't be more wrong.

[2o6]

If you're talking about that Toronado: you couldn't be more wrong.

No, I was talking about this:

[Soup DeVille]

No, I was talking about this:

Still, you're quite a bit in the wrong.

The Eldorado was FWD since '67, when that was meant not only as the top of the line, but when FWD was meant as a technological leap forward. It also weighed a good 1000 pounds more than the one you posted; which was always intended to be a FWD car; and moreover, it was a high-dollar option intended to be performance oriented (at least compared to the devilles and fleetwood broughams).



If you think the drivetrain was insufficient, it wasn't. In fact an earlier version of it was used to power GMC motorhomes.

[2o6]

I'm not talking about the drivetrain, or earlier (beautiful) Eldorados. I'm talking about the craptacular cost-cutting that GM did in the 80's.



That car is a result of budget cuts and horrible engineering.


Original FWD boats were considered the pinnacle of the GM lineup, and I love them.

[Soup DeVille]

All things considered, the 79-85s weren't bad cars. They retained much of what people wanted in them while meeting the demands of the times: and all cars suffered during this period, so I think they should be given a break. The next generation however...

[2o6]

Maybe I just live in bizarro world, but I really like those.



Shame that they suck so hard, though.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

 

All things considered, the 79-85s weren't bad cars. They retained much of what people wanted in them while meeting the demands of the times: and all cars suffered during this period, so I think they should be given a break. The next generation however...

[Atomic]

those gorgeous cars of the distant past, i.e., the cadillac eldorado, buick riviera and first generation toronados were magnificent coupes... and yes, ahead of their time. fwd was seen as revolutionary back then and thankfully, the toranado is still held in high regard for those old enough to remember those early years or can appreciate the past.

the cars in the 80s suffered considerably. cadillac thought for whatever reason that by downgrading the classic fins to "distract from the gas guzzling era" there would be a surge in sales for those desiring a fuel efficient luxury car. while the caddy seville looked sharp in its own way, many though it was shaped too much like a chevy nova.

[Byteme]

those gorgeous cars of the distant past, i.e., the cadillac eldorado, buick riviera and first generation toronados were magnificent coupes... and yes, ahead of their time. fwd was seen as revolutionary back then and thankfully, the toranado is still held in high regard for those old enough to remember those early years or can appreciate the past.

the cars in the 80s suffered considerably. cadillac thought for whatever reason that by downgrading the classic fins to "distract from the gas guzzling era" there would be a surge in sales for those desiring a fuel efficient luxury car. while the caddy seville looked sharp in its own way, many though it was shaped too much like a chevy nova.

IMO, domestic cars from about 1974 to about 1984 were the pits.  A combination of emissions requirements, safety standards, and high gas prices (for the time) all conspired to creats a generation of automobiles that did little well.  The world was downsizing and Detroit was slow to catch on.  That and Detroit's dedication to the "Big Car".  Sometime around 1977 Ford proudly declared itself still the "Home of the Whopper" in response to GM's downsizing efforts.   

[hotrodalex]

those gorgeous cars of the distant past, i.e., the cadillac eldorado, buick riviera and first generation toronados were magnificent coupes... and yes, ahead of their time. fwd was seen as revolutionary back then and thankfully, the toranado is still held in high regard for those old enough to remember those early years or can appreciate the past.

the cars in the 80s suffered considerably. cadillac thought for whatever reason that by downgrading the classic fins to "distract from the gas guzzling era" there would be a surge in sales for those desiring a fuel efficient luxury car. while the caddy seville looked sharp in its own way, many though it was shaped too much like a chevy nova.

Rivieras were actually RWD until 1979.

[Atomic]

Rivieras were actually RWD until 1979.

thanks, buddy! i wasn't certain. at one point in the 1970s, mid-to-late 70s i think, it looked like a blinged out lesabre. that model seemed rather short-lived. i loved the version with the supplemental taillights... more elaborate than today's mandatory "third brake light".