Why so much hate for anything built after `71?

[torredcuda]

Lot`s of great rock music in the late `70`s IMO.

 

[torredcuda]

This seems to be it - "If I see a stock 73, I know what it could have been..... but never was." - even though the HP and other stuff is "correctable" it never was that way factory.

 

[chargervert]

I have a 73 Charger,it's a driver,the way to solve that cars horsepower issue would be a modern 392 Hemi,just like GM guys put LS engines in smog era Trans Am and Z/28 cars.

 

[33 IMP]

Part of it is "performance".
If you're comparing bread and butter transportation cars, not much wrong with post 71 cars, other than the really ugly bumpers. But from a performance standpoint, if you had, or wanted, a post 71 performance car, you knew you'd have to work it, tune it, buy performance parts that weren't there originally, just to get back to what was available showroom floor a couple years earlier.
And anything you could do to a (for example) low compression 340, could also be done by the other guy to HIS high compression 340.
How to learn to settle for second best.

 

[torredcuda]

My `72 Barracuda originally had a 318 but a `72 340 was installed prior to my buying it, it had factory a steel crank and 2.02 J heads. I rebuilt it with stock crank and rods, 9.4-1 pistons, kept the J heads with just some port work, aluminum intake and Holley carb. It runs low 13`s on hard BFG`s an set up for cornering which I don`t think is too bad for a low budget build, it would run heads in the 1/4 mile up to a well tuned stock `70 440-6 barrell `70 `cuda but since it`s not a `70 or `71 it gets little respect from some guys. Styling aside (which is personal taste) I don`t get it?

 

[torredcuda]

Part of it is "performance".
If you're comparing bread and butter transportation cars, not much wrong with post 71 cars, other than the really ugly bumpers. But from a performance standpoint, if you had, or wanted, a post 71 performance car, you knew you'd have to work it, tune it, buy performance parts that weren't there originally, just to get back to what was available showroom floor a couple years earlier.
And anything you could do to a (for example) low compression 340, could also be done by the other guy to HIS high compression 340.
How to learn to settle for second best.

Yes I get the `72 up engines needs more mods which means more money to go as fast but they already have better ignition than some, better brakes, better handling etc. so you save money there.

 

[padam]

I have a 73 Charger, and I think gen 3 Chargers are one of the best looking cars ever made. I love the earlier eras also, and respect the newer cars.

Having said that, I was at the Mopar show at Norwalk last year, watching the NSS and Nostalgia Hemi cars run. There was one 71 Charger running in the group of mostly mid 60’s cars. Although it was a great looking car, it looked like it came from a different planet, not just a different era.

 

[33 IMP]

My `72 Barracuda originally had a 318 but a `72 340 was installed prior to my buying it, it had factory a steel crank and 2.02 J heads. I rebuilt it with stock crank and rods, 9.4-1 pistons, kept the J heads with just some port work, aluminum intake and Holley carb. It runs low 13`s on hard BFG`s an set up for cornering which I don`t think is too bad for a low budget build, it would run heads in the 1/4 mile up to a well tuned stock `70 440-6 barrell `70 `cuda but since it`s not a `70 or `71 it gets little respect from some guys. Styling aside (which is personal taste) I don`t get it?

View attachment 2007760

It's performace perception. (Accent on "perception"! )
The 72 was considereal a major downgrade from a 71, justifiably, and that perception persists with guys old enough to remember.
To those young enough to not know the history, your car is a cool old car.
Your car might be capable of running rings around a 70 T/A or AAR.
Perception is, it's still not as cool. And I don't think that will ever change.
I like my 62 savoy, and it's okay fast, but if it hasn't got the maxwedge in it (like right now) it will never be as cool as a big block road runner!
See a crossram under the hood, "perception" changes!

 

[artr8]

I will always like the 71-74 b-bodies. I like the lines “or lack of”. My story started in 1981 when my sister bought a Satellite 2-door. It was the first motor I rebuilt. Sadly, she totaled it within a month. Years later, I bought one and turned it into what I wanted it to be.

In mid 80’s, my parents bought a 76 cordoba with a 440. We had a 1/8 mile asphalt driveway. At 16, was caught trying to get my best times down the driveway.

By the time I was able to buy, the 70 and before were getting pricey. Had to settle with Duster’s and one 77 Charger.

Still love the 60’s body lines and never speak negatively to those who have them.
If it’s yours and you love it, who am I to call your girl ugly.

 

[torredcuda]

It's performace perception. (Accent on "perception"! )
The 72 was considereal a major downgrade from a 71, justifiably, and that perception persists with guys old enough to remember.
To those young enough to not know the history, your car is a cool old car.
Your car might be capable of running rings around a 70 T/A or AAR.
Perception is, it's still not as cool. And I don't think that will ever change.
I like my 62 savoy, and it's okay fast, but if it hasn't got the maxwedge in it (like right now) it will never be as cool as a big block road runner!
See a crossram under the hood, "perception" changes!

I`m not old enough to remember, maybe that is why I don`t get it? I was 16 in `76 when I got my license so muscle cars were not new anymore. Not knowing that much about cars back then to me they were all cool whether a `68, 70, `73 or `75 and few were stock so how fast they were had nothing to do with what year they were built but how modified they were.

 

[33 IMP]

I like 71-up b-bodies too!
But the perception is, as a performance car.... they are second best
Artr8, love your car. Great color, perfect wheel choice!

 

[Runcharger]

They were okay, some were even nice like the Magnum. However I think it boiled down to the 71 and older were designed to please the customer no matter what. After 72 they were more designed and engineered to please the various govt. agencies that figured they knew what was best for us and they haven't kept their grubby hands out of it since.
I bought a new 75 Road Runner and it was a good car for a 75 but I bought a 67 GTX as soon as I found one and didn't buy another new car until an 1980 Cordoba, sold it after a year until my 2002 300M. I spent my money on new trucks instead, they got better since 71 instead of getting worse.

 

[33 IMP]

I`m not old enough to remember, maybe that is why I don`t get it? I was 16 in `76 when I got my license so muscle cars were not new anymore. Not knowing that much about cars back then to me they were all cool whether a `68, 70, `73 or `75 and few were stock so how fast they were had nothing to do with what year they were built but how modified they were.

I was old enough to consider buying a new (stripper) 71 RR, but I knew then that the average 68-70 would clean my clock.
I'm so ashamed of what I DID buy, I won't mention it here, lol.

 

[Runcharger]

I tried over the years to like them. I tried out one of the first 5.0 Mustangs (ugly), GLH Omni (almost cool), Buick Grand National (I was sold except looking at that dash when sitting in it).
When we were buying cool 60's cars for $1k and up why waste car payments on a new, ugly smogmobile.

 

[Under Pressure]

Ever notice that as the horsepower kept declining from 1979 to 1980 on “muscle cars”
The factory decals and stickers increased and got bigger

 

[gtx6970]

No hate from me

But I would love a nice 1978-79 Magnum GT , and Tee tops and red interior would be mandatory to make me even think about another car

 

[Dennis H]

We had to buy all that crap thru the late 70’s, AND Carter. Underpowered ugly yuk. No wonder we have fond memories of the 60’s. Motown, leaded gas. All good.

 

[1967coronet]

After 71.... I would take a 72 road runner, early 70s cudas , challengers, chargers , dusters. Darts .
I have no hate for them

 

[RR Fan Dan]

1974 RR owner here. I love the body style of the 73/74. I also love the Cordobas and Magnums. I think parts are the big issue. If parts were more readily available I think you would see more of the 70’s cars. I have a lot of respect for anybody who is restoring a 73 and up being as it’s a lot more challenging and expensive than restoring say a 68 which you can practically buy the whole car in parts. I also think the nicely restored/modified 73 and up cars are going to start to be worth more as less of them will be on the road in 10 years because they were crushed. At big car shows with lots of Mopars I usually flock to every other car before I look at the 68-72’s because those are a dime a dozen.

As far as disco goes. I hated it too when it first came out. Now I find myself singing along with the Bee Gees when I hear them come on. Must be a nostalgic thing.

 

[440 PHIXX]

For me… it’s 1970. 8^}