Although many people view them as unnecessary and expensive cars, luxury cars have continued to sell globally and have grown into a strong sector of the automotive industry. Every new model year brings with it the newest from luxury automakers, and some of them aren’t afraid to go into the 5 and 6 figure price tag territory.
You would think luxury cars have no place in the turbulent times of the 1970s when most automakers were scrambling to make ends meet during the recession and increasingly restrictive regulations, but it seemed that for every economy model that made its way to the dealerships, there was a dressed up luxury version right after it. It could be interpreted as an attempt for automakers to make up for the lack of performance of their cars, but the influx of luxury models did contribute a lot to the industry. Let’s take a look at 15 forgotten American luxury cars from the 1970s.
15. Chevrolet Monte Carlo
hagerty.com
The Monte Carlo was introduced by Chevrolet as a personal luxury coupe in 1970. It was built on a modified Chevelle platform, and it boasted a luxurious interior next to its V8 engine that delivered a satisfactory performance. It also came with a muscle version, the SS 454, and is known for its affordability.
14. Ford Mustang Grande
via montereytouringvehicles.com
A lot of muscle car enthusiasts today blame the Grande for the end of the muscle car era. It was first introduced in 1969 and was a surprise due to its dependance on comfort and luxury in place of Mustang performance. It was very popular, though, and made a shift towards luxury models in the market.
13. Mercury Cougar
en.wikipedia.org
The third generation Cougar, introduced in 1974, was a lot of steps away from the performance-oriented Cougars before it. Although Mercury tried to market the Cougar as a muscle car, it was no longer based on the Mustang, and had a heavier chassis that led to significantly low acceleration times.
12. Stutz Blackhawk
en.wikipedia.org
New York banker James O'Donnell succeeded in reviving the classic American brand Stutz. The 1971 Blackhawk was built on a Pontiac Grand Prix chassis and had a 455 V8 engine, and O’Donnell’s focus on marketing made it one of the most popular and in-demand luxury models, despite the fact that it was expensive.
11. Pontiac Grand Ville
en.wikipedia.org
The 1971 Pontiac Grand Ville marked Pontiac’s entry into the luxury car segment. The Pontiac Bonneville was already a popular car with good sales, but Pontiac took the Bonneville platform and turned it into the more upscale Grand Ville that also came with a standard 400 V8 engine and an optional 455.
10. Lincoln Continental
commons.wikimedia.org
Between 1961 and 1969, the Lincoln Continental was a very popular car with above average sales. In 1970, however, Lincoln presented a more luxurious and comfortable Continental that was also equipped with a 460 V8 engine. Although its power got lower over the decade due to emissions restriction, the Continental continued to sell well.
9. Buick Riviera
en.wikipedia.org
Although it was in production for only three years, the 1971 Buick Riviera was a classic trendsetter due to introducing the boat tail design. Between 1971 to 1973, the Riviera was a huge hit as a personal luxury coupe, and although Rivieras stayed in production until 1997, the 71-73 generation remains superior.
8. Ford Thunderbird
via CarGurus
The sixth generation Thunderbird, produced from 1972 to 1976 holds a special place in the luxury coupe segment. This generation was the heaviest Thunderbird ever with over 5,000 pounds, and it lacked speed with a 200 horsepower V8, but it still offered some of the best luxury and comfort features of the 1970s.
7. Cadillac Seville
via performanceautogallery.com
Cadillac put out some huge cars between 1970 and 1975, but it was finally in 1975 that they realized the market was looking for smaller luxury cars like the Mercedes W116 S Class. So they came up with the 1975 Seville, which was perfectly sized and packed satisfactory power that brought Cadillac back into competition.
6. Cadillac Eldorado
via Hemmings
There are many things that make the 1976 Cadillac Eldorado a significant car. It was the last Cadillac to run on the 500 CID V8 engine, and was also one of the last Cadillacs with a convertible top for a long time due to tightening safety laws in the 1970s.
5. Ford LTD
en.wikipedia.org
The Ford LTD came as a sedan, wagon, or two-door coupe, and Ford was marketing it as an affordable luxury sedan. It was a success with buyers because it offered a lot of luxury features at an affordable cost. Its standard engine was a 351 V8 but it had 400 and 460 V8s as options.
4. Lincoln Continental Mark V Coupe
en.wikipedia.org
Another successful Lincoln luxury model is the Mark V Coupe. Introduced in 1977, the Mark V had the signature Lincoln long hood and big grille, and it came with a standard 400 V8 with an optional 460 V8. Although it wasn’t the fastest, the Mark V had comfort and looks, which contributed to its popularity.
3. Jeep Wagoneer Limited
blog.jeep.com
Everyone knows the iconic Jeep Wagoneer, but Jeep decided to take it in a more luxurious direction in 1978 with the introduction of the Wagoneer Limited. This Wagoneer had a lot of the signature luxury style features which made it a successful competitor with a stable demand despite the expensive price.
2. Mercury Bobcat Wagon
via Flickr
Produced between 1947 and 1980, the Mercury Bobcat was based on the Ford Pinto but was much more successful. The Bobcat was not considered a luxury car, but a version of it, the Bobcat Wagon, made the cut due to its long list of luxury features and compact dimensions.
1. Oldsmobile Toronado
via Flickr
The 1979 Oldsmobile Toronado was mechanically identical to the Cadillac Eldorado but stood unique with its luxury features, exterior, and driving experience. The Toronado had stable performance with better driving dynamics thanks to its 350 V8 engine. It was also a highly luxurious and comfortable car. It was also a good looking car.
