Good old fashioned American muscle car was at the height of its powers in the 1970s. A cornerstone for car enthusiasts around the world and, of course, an American institution, the muscle car has enthralled and enthralled gearheads everywhere everywhere, with his trademark combination of murderous, prodigious power and sublime style.
The genre took off in the 1970s as manufacturers built on their already brilliant work from the 1960s, honing their skills and creating some of the most iconic cars the world has ever seen.
Unfortunately, for every Plymouth Road Runner Superbird, there’s something that, perhaps, hasn’t come off right, and while many ’70s muscle cars have stood the test of time, some haven’t stood up so well. Sure, they can maintain a loyal fan base and soaring values, but take those rose-colored glasses off and you’re left with a less-than-spectacular classic car.
Maybe it had an iconic name, followed in the footsteps of a legendary car, or just didn’t have the performance to match its style, whatever the case, here are 10 muscle cars from the 70s that we’re overrated.
10 1974 Ford Torino: $12.5K
Perhaps the epitome of how muscle cars can go wrong, the ’74 Ford Torino sported some of the flashiest styling cues ever to grace a car in the class, with serious presence and unmatched coolness, but when it came to performance, the Torino had very little to offer.
Its impressive 7.5-litre V8 engine could only manage 255bhp at best, and while it looked nimble in its starring role in Starsky and Hutch, it turned out to be a case of Hollywood deception as the car was plagued by numb steering and weighed over 3,500 lbs.
9 1975 Chevrolet Corvette: $18.5K
While other manufacturers struck gold at the time, the mid-70s was a tough time for Chevrolet, and unfortunately, it really showed in their cars. The ’75 Corvette still has many of the flashy styling cues from the model’s late ’60s heyday, but it’s what was under the skin that’s missing.
Equipped with an engine that produced only 15 hp more than a 1954 model Corvette, the ’75 Corvette no longer had the muscle needed for its class and was a shadow of its former self.
8 1972 Plymouth Duster 340: $23,000
The Plymouth Duster became an instant bestseller when it was launched in 1970, and represented another success story for the brand which was doing well at the time, with the likes of the Hemi ’71 Cuda also in his stable. Unfortunately, things began to decline for both Plymouth and the Duster in 1972.
Affected by emissions regulations, the Duster was downsized for the ’72 model, and the 340 engine, once capable of 275bhp, was downsized to a much less impressive 245bhp. Additionally, some minor tweaks were made to the car’s styling, but overall little had changed on the Duster, making it somewhat mundane in the exciting world of 1970s muscle. Plymouth never recovered its mojo after its glory years in the late ’60s and early ’70s, and the ’72 Duster represents an unfortunate time for the manufacturer.
7 1973 Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna: $23,000
The Chevrolet Chevelle moniker is responsible for some of the most revered and iconic muscle cars of all time, with the 1970 SS coming close to the ’67 Mustang in terms of mainstream recognition and still adorning the bedroom walls of young gearheads from all over the world for this day. But the ’73 Chevelle Laguna marked the beginning of the end for the Chevelle name.
Given a new luxury focus, the Chevelle Laguna’s styling was radically changed from the old car, and its power was also reduced, in order to meet the aforementioned new emissions standards that hampered many manufacturers at the time . This third generation proved to be the final iteration of the Chevelle, with popularity declining due to the new direction it had taken, and production ending in 1977.
6 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra: $24,000
There have been many cars that have worn the coveted Mustang badge over the years, but none were as disappointing as the ’78 King Cobra. Don’t let the cool name and aggressive snake-based styling fool you, the Mustang II King Cobra was a Pinto in disguise, and only had an engine capable of a very meager 139 hp.
While you can’t blame Ford for rolling the dice on this one, the Mustang King Cobra represented a real low point for the Mustang name.
5 1974 Pontiac GTO: $25,000
The Pontiac GTO obviously belongs in the pantheon of muscle car royalty and is often credited as one of the cars that started the muscle car phenomenon, but as has been proven numerous times on this list, sometimes a name it can be bigger than a car, and while the ’64 GTO was the GOAT, the ’74 was just a bit of a goat.
’74 was another victim of the Malaise era and the car had 30bhp less than the previous year’s model, coming in at 200bhp. Sure, it was also a few hundred pounds lighter than the ’73, but that wasn’t enough to make up for the power loss, and the result was really tepid performance. Also, the ’74 had some minor styling tweaks, but these only served to make the car look a little less aggressive and a little goofy.
4 1975 Chevrolet Camaro Z28: $25,000
If you haven’t gathered yet, the mid-70s was a really rough time for Chevy, and the 1975 Camaro Z28 was another casualty of the era. A number of forces conspired against manufacturers during what came to be known as the “Malaise” era, including rising oil prices, insurance rates, and safety and emissions regulations, and, as a result , the ’75 Camaro Z28 was a completely worse car than the previous one. models
With shoddy fit and finish, oversized chrome bumpers, and only offering a paltry 155 hp, the ’75 Camaro Z28 was a true nadir in both Camaro and Chevy history.
3 1971-74 AMC Javelin – $27,000
At one point, as hard as it is to believe now, AMC was one of America’s biggest automakers, rivaling the big three of Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors, and it released some really great cars in the late of the 1960s and early 1970s. The first-generation AMC Javelin, launched in 1968, was the company’s first real horse car and won a lot of plaudits for its great design, so things looked promising when presented the second-generation car with an even meaner and more impressive look than the previous one. Unfortunately, this is where the car’s best qualities began and ended.
As the decade progressed, American Motors began to hit harder times and quality suffered. The Javelin was full of low-quality, scratchy plastics and just wasn’t the product it seemed.
2 1977 Pontiac Trans Am: $35,000
Released toward the end of the decade, the ’77 Trans Am was a revelation for Pontiac in a struggling market, with its throwback looks and undeniable presence. The car’s starring role in Smokey and the Bandit, released the same year, ensured strong contemporary and lasting appeal, but the ’77 Trans Am proved to be a car best watched, not driven.
Equipped with just 180 hp and weighing in at over 3,500 pounds, Pontiac’s malaise-era golden car was far from golden when it came to performance.
1 1971 Mercury Cougar – $36,000
The original Mercury Cougar was a runaway success when it was launched in 1967, proving to be a true rival to the biggest and best muscle cars of the late 1960s and exceeding its initial sales projections, accounting for nearly 40% of 1967 Lincoln sales. -Mercury brand. In fact, the Cougar was so successful that it won the Motor Trend Car Of The Year award that same year, the only Mercury-branded vehicle to do so.
In contrast, the second generation Cougar, launched in 1971, was a huge disappointment. Too big and focused more on luxury than performance, the ’71 was underpowered and had a muddy, boat-like ride. Consumers who had fallen so in love with the previous car were left scratching their heads as to why their beloved Cougar had been changed so much and sales plummeted.
