|THE DEN|
The 70’s are considered to be a golden age for cars as major brands established themselves during that time and some cars launched during that time were so good that they are being sold even today. With tons of upgrades and after many facelifts of course. Let’s dive into the 70’s and see which are the Top 5 Cars that left the most impact on the market and the industry.
Lamborghini Countach
The Lamborghini Countach is a sports car with a rear mid- engine and rear-wheel drive that was made by the Italian automaker Lamborghini between 1974 and 1990. The Italian design firm Bertone, which invented and made popular the acutely angled "Italian Wedge" shape, created this as one of its numerous unique designs.
The 1970 Lancia Stratos Zero concept car served as the first example of the look to the general public. At the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, the Countach prototype made its debut as the Lamborghini LP500 concept. In 2021, the Sián-based, limited- production hybrid-electric variant known as the Countach LPI 800-4 was introduced, reusing the "Countach" brand.
There is no denying that this vehicle belongs to a bad lad. People with common sense back off a few paces when you emerge from the cockpit and place two feet on the surface of the planet. At the time of its introduction, the Lamborghini Countach had that effect on individuals. It is unquestionably a beautiful car that attracts attention.
However, styling was just part of the tale. The throbbing heart of a monster, a 3929cc twelve-cylinder engine delivering over 370bhp, pounded beneath that angular, lairy exterior. Only 158 examples of the Countach's original LP400 iteration, which debuted in 1974, were built. The LP500S was introduced in 1982. Although the engine was changed for a more potent 4.8- litre engine, the bodywork stayed the same.
It only takes 5.4 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph, and it completes the quarter-mile in 13.5 seconds at a speed of 107 mph. You might be led to believe that the Countach is a perfectly acceptable technique to obfuscate the surroundings by all of this measured discourse of measured performance, which is obviously not the case. Nothing about this car makes sense. The doors open upward in the shape of a paper cutter rather than gull wings. Over a ledge that is broader than most transmission tunnels, you slip in.
Surprisingly, the tall can fit in the cockpit. The column telescopes and tilts far enough for the long of leg to go well back from their operation, while the seat travels somewhat rearward. The left front wheel is a major issue since it encroaches on the footroom, which is common of mid-engined vehicles. As you move along, you stretch your right leg all the way to the accelerator while pulling back your left leg.
Jaguar XJS
From 1975 through 1996, British automaker Jaguar Cars produced and sold the Jaguar XJ-S (later known as the XJS), a luxury grand tourer available in coupé, fixed-profile, and full convertible bodystyles. A total of 1,15,413 units were produced in three different versions over a period of 20 years and 7 months. We can all agree that because this car was produced for more than 20 years, it had an impact on a whole generation.
Probably the first images that come to mind when you think of a classic Jaguar are models like the E-Type and the magnificent D-Type. But the great grand tourer, the Jaguar XJS, is one Jaguar legend that is frequently disregarded. Jaguar of that era undoubtedly had an air of being a "Old man," and the XJS was an effort to rectify that.
On the road, the XJS had more than enough presence, interior refinement, and power to spare, but a thirsty V12 engine with nightmare reliability has turned it into a classic only the courageous can afford. Because of its historical proximity to the E-type, it is currently accumulating.
Following Malcolm Sayer's passing in 1970, the internal Jaguar design team, led by Doug Thorpe, finished the project's design and development, which had started in the late 1960s under the code name Project XJ27. Jaguar offered a manual or automatic transmission with its V12 engine, but the manual was quickly discontinued since there were too many manual transmissions leftover from the V12 E Type manufacture.
At the time, V12-powered production cars were rare; Italian luxury sports car manufacturers Lamborghini and Ferrari built such versions. The XJ-characteristics S's were competitive with those of the two Italian vehicles; it could reach 97 km/h (60 mph) in 7.6 seconds (automatic models) and could reach a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph).
The automobile had a tonne of luxurious, spacious, and useful amenities to offer, and the interiors were typical of Jaguars from the era. Inside and exterior, the car was just stunning. The XJS, a complete land yacht, changed the game for Jaguar and contributed to the company's market dominance.
Pontiac Firebird
From the 1967 to 2002 model years, Pontiac built and produced the Firebird, an American vehicle. It was unveiled on February 23, 1967, five months after GM's Chevrolet division's platform-sharing Camaro, as a pony car intended to compete with the Ford Mustang.
The General Motors Firebird concept cars from the 1950s and early 1960s were also known by this moniker. Around the world, mythical Firebirds can be found in various civilizations. A prophetic glowing bird from a faraway region is described in Slavic tradition; it is both beautiful and dangerous, and is both a blessing and a sign of doom for its captor. It's possible to interpret the decal on the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am as a Native American emblem.
The 1967 Firebird debuted with five different engine options, each of which was marketed as a distinct model: Basic sprint 6- cylinder engines with 165 or 215 horsepower and popular V8 options: Along with the powerful 400cid V8 from the GTO, the Firebird 326 and 326 HO have 250 to 285 horsepower.
There are many black cushions and two bucket seats inside. With the exception of a few fractures in the dashboard and door cards' plastic, the cabin area has otherwise held up well over time.
The Trans Am of the mid-1980s was more compact and useful than the Camaro and shared nearly all of its engine options. The Corvette 350cid V8 with 225 horsepower and an automated transmission might be offered for the 1987 T/A.
The Firebird was completely developed to offer superior aerodynamics to any GM vehicle to date. With four-cylinder engines and effective 2.5 litre inline sixes, they placated an environmentally conscious American market in two door liftbacks and convertibles.
Dodge Challenger
The Dodge Challenger is the brand name for three separate generations of cars made by the American automaker Dodge, two of which were pony cars. However, Dodge first advertised a "value variant" of the full-sized Coronet Silver Challenger under the Challenger brand in 1959.
The Dodge Challenger from 1970 is a legendary muscle vehicle. The Dodge Challenger was designed as a response to the Mustang and Camaro pony cars. They got it right. This automobile is tough-looking and commands attention with its sculpted exterior. Additionally, this imposing Challenger surely packs a punch thanks to the availability of the famed Hemi V8 engines.
The Trans-America Championship saw some racing success for the Challenger as well. The first Dodge Challenger was late to the pony car party and did not sell nearly as well as Dodge had intended, despite the favourable press. In addition, the first- generation Challenger's lifespan would be cut to just four years due to impending pollution laws. Only 165,437 early Challengers were produced in total.
When the 1970 Challenger was first introduced, Dodge provided an unusual variety of customization options. A high- performance Road/Track model and a base model of the Challenger were also offered. The Special Edition (SE) coupe, the two-door convertible, and the hardtop coupe were available as body types.
Challengers came standard with a Slant-6 engine. The 318 V8 with a 2-barrel carburetor served as the base engine for both R/T and SE versions. The 340 V8, 383 V8, famous 440 Magnum V8, and storied 426 Hemi engines were available as options. The 440 Hemi had a sizable engine with combustion chambers that were wedge-shaped, but it only had 335 horsepower and a rather low compression ratio.
The Dodge Hemi engine looks best in the 1970 Dodge Challenger, the ideal midsize vehicle. Although it is encouraging to see the Challenger garnering more attention every year, it is terrible that the last of the first-generation models are so pricey and steadily appreciating in value.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
The British grand tourer known as the Aston Martin V8 Vantage is a more powerful version of the Aston Martin V8. Because of its 170 mph (270 km/h) top speed, it was lauded at its 1977 unveiling as "Britain's First Supercar."
Although it used the same engine as the Lagonda, for greater output, it employed high-performance camshafts, a higher compression ratio, larger inlet valves, and larger carburettors installed on redesigned manifolds. The Ferrari Daytona had the fastest straight-line performance of the day, reaching 60 mph (97 km/h) in 5.3 seconds, a tenth of a second faster than the competition.
After appearing in the James Bond series in "The living daylights," it became one of the most well-known Aston Martins of the 1970s and was a supercar of its day, even though Aston Martin regarded it as a GT. The fact that it was a Bond car immediately made it famous and iconic, but this car had so many other advantages that Aston Martin hasn't abandoned its name.
Its fastback design and dimensions earned it the moniker "British Muscle Car." Inside, wood and leather were combined, and the instrument cluster included chromed metal accents that served as engagement rings. The 2+2 seating resembled a cabin with 2 seats. A element of the car's appeal was the low driving position and the floor-mounted gearstick.
When it was first released, the 5.3-liter engine under the hood produced 394 horsepower. After 1986, the engine had further upgrades, reaching 403 horsepower. Early vehicles had a 5- speed manual transmission, but later models had a 6-speed manual.
Between 1986 and 1989, a convertible variant of the Vantage Volante was also made. Prior to that time, six cars with mechanically comparable designs had been produced per special request. The production model had a front spoiler that was even deeper than the one on the Vantage, bigger wheel arches, and longer side skirts. The normal Volante lacked a rear spoiler, but the Vantage Volante did. 166 Vantage Volantes in total were produced; the final one left the factory in December 1989.
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