The best looking 4-door sedan of the 1970's? Opinions requested.

[Flashback]

There was no best looking just the least ugly. I have seen nothing to admire above. So if there is a best looking here it is

[PackardV8]

Agree, when the 5 MPH bumpers and emissions controls hit, there were ugly-no-power cars through the 1970s. I can't think of a '70s more-door I'd want to own or drive.

Agree, I love the Jaguar, but it's a 1960s design and a really small sedan for larger drivers.

Agree, I love some of the BayEmVay, but in the 1970s, they, like all others, were gutless.

Can anyone come up with a car designed in 1970 or later, but with a '70-'72 engine, before the manufacturers tried to meet emissions without spending the money for EFI?

jack vines

[studegary]

The only(!) 70's car design I like is no 4-door, but in the summer of -79 I drove one like this:

It was very quiet since it wasn't old enough yet & still had it's original exhaust system but when I was overtaking another car I thought "this aint so impressive" until the car started drifting sideways & then it GRIPPED!!! it's both rear wheels & I had to withdraw my right foot fast...
440 sixpack for sure had power enough for daily driving.
But as a 4-door..? Maby it's better than many others but... not for me.

I liked that body style (the two door). I had a 1972 Satellite Sebring that was my everyday car for years, a 1972 Satellite Sebring Plus and a 1972 Road Runner GTX (440 cid)[two page window sticker]. The picture appears to be a 1971, but the only difference to the 1972 (external) was the side lights. I do not like the full vinyl top on them. there is no natural "break" line. I liked the canopy top.

[studegary]

There was no best looking just the least ugly. I have seen nothing to admire above. So if there is a best looking here it is

I believe that four door was only built for 1970 and 1971. In the 1970s, my next door neighbor had one. It never "grew" on me.
The only Thunderbirds in our family were the 1963 that my sister bought new and the 1989 that I bought new, but of course they were both two doors.

[8E45E]

I believe that four door was only built for 1970 and 1971. In the 1970s, my next door neighbor had one. It never "grew" on me.

1967 was the first year for the four door Landau, as it was called. I owned one 40 years ago. Aside from some of the vacuum-assisted accessories acting up in cold weather, it was a good car.

Craig

[studegary]

1967 was the first year for the four door Landau, as it was called. I owned one 40 years ago. Aside from some of the vacuum-assisted accessories acting up in cold weather, it was a good car.

Craig

Thanks. Of course, you are correct. However, only the 1970-1971 looked like the one pictured. The four door Thunderbirds of 1967-1969 looked better, IMO. Then again, it is a 1960s design, not the 1970s (the topic of this thread).

[Milaca]

I didn't say the design of the car had to have been introduced in the 1970's, but I understand where you are coming from. How about a car built throughout the 1970's that was introduced in the 1950's? A Checker Marathon, of course! It is very ugly, but I like it for being odd.

[556063]

New Yorkers are a close second, but that rear Imperial sidelight just put a "Signature" on the Imperials:

[8E45E]

How about a car built throughout the 1970's that was introduced in the 1950's? A Checker Marathon, of course! It is very ugly, but I like it for being odd.

The Hindustan Ambassador has the Checker beat for longevity. It was based on a 1954 Morris Oxford Series III body, and production in India started in 1958, and continued all the way until 2014!!

https://indianauto.com/stories/hindu...istory-nid5155

Craig

[8E45E]

Can anyone come up with a car designed in 1970 or later, but with a '70-'72 engine, before the manufacturers tried to meet emissions without spending the money for EFI?

Yes, in Australia: https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/for...ane/zh-series/

That is where all of our 'good' Ford engine tooling went after they wouldn't pass emission laws here. And NO ugly 5-mph bumpers to disgrace their looks!

Craig

[waynedavey62]

Yes, in Australia: https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/for...ane/zh-series/

That is where all of our 'good' Ford engine tooling went after they wouldn't pass emission laws here. And NO ugly 5-mph bumpers to disgrace their looks!

Craig

Although Ford Australia offered the linked late 70's Fairlane's as either 302ci or 351ci Cleveland powered, the three in the link are all 302's. I remember being told that in the USA Ford never made the Cleveland V8 as a 302ci engine, is this correct.

[Milaca]

Although Ford Australia offered the linked late 70's Fairlane's as either 302ci or 351ci Cleveland powered, the three in the link are all 302's. I remember being told that in the USA Ford never made the Cleveland V8 as a 302ci engine, is this correct.

I believe you are correct. All of our 302 engines were a Windsor and the 351 engines were available as either a Windsor or a Cleveland.

[Topper2011]

[j.byrd]

waynedavey62 and Milaca, The 69 and 70 Boss 302 had Cleveland heads (and many other H.Duty features) stock from Ford, may have been called a Clevor or a Winland, ha !

[Hallabutt]

"Agree, I love the Jaguar, but it's a 1960s design and a really small sedan for larger drivers."

That's funny Jack because I'm 6'2" tall (at least I used to be) and I have always found the car to be the most comfortable of all my cars. Jaguar drivers have a slogan that characterizes the ownership and road-ability "space,grace and pace." It really speaks to the ownership experience. That does not however characterize the rear seat, in the early short wheel base car. That's why the four door car was lengthened during the seventies. Personally I just like the looks of the short WB cars. They just looks right to me.

Bill