![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:00 • Filed to: What Would You Buy When, WWYBW | ![]() | ![]() |
Rules: The car has to be sold brand new in 1974.
For me the answer is the Alfa Romeo Montreal. The reason is very obvious.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:02 |
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I would import it too cuz fuck you Mercedes benz
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![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:05 |
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F250 Ranger
![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:09 |
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I’ll just leave this here.......
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Yes, it's a 73 in the brochure, I know.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:14 |
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Drove one and practically fell in love with the manual steering. I think about it once in a while...
And it turns out my dad had one before I was born.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:16 |
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Celica GT.
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I'd probably have gotten a 710 or an Elite...depending how much room I had.
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E9 3.0 CSi
Stupid Sexy E9
![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:18 |
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Or
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![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:20 |
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BMW 2.5CS
![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:21 |
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1974 Buick Riviera GS Stage 1. Add Max Trac, dual airbags, floor shift console, sunroof, and ABS options.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:21 |
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Make that Montreal red and you got a deal.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:22 |
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Duh and/or hello
![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:24 |
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Or, since it’s pre M-B law:
![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:27 |
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Montreal is a close second, but I’d go with the newly-released Countach, the LP400 “Periscopo”. As if it didn’t make enough of a statement now, imagine in 1974 when no one had ever seen one before. And the sound. Whatever else y’all pick, please keep them in the right lane.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:28 |
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Mercury Montego GT.
Could still be had with a big ass big block
Styling may be a bit odd but I’m sure I could wake up a mid 70’s 460 cubic inch in weekend. Yep. That’s 7.5L of Mercury Muscle.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:32 |
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either a Colt or a 914.
FUCK, if it was just a year earlier, I could’ve gotten an N600 :p
![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:32 |
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The Montreal is unbelievably beautiful. I’m dying to see one in-person. I’ll stick with the partially covered headlight theme and take a very strange baby Lamborghini (Jarama)
![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:33 |
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Of any car, available in any country? I’d go with a Dolomite Sprint, but if we’re limiting it to cars only sold in our home countries, I’d go with a Celica.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:33 |
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or
or
oooh, or
![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:34 |
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Staying within my “what I would likely be able to afford” and “without the benefit of hindsight” guidelines, I’m tempted to say “Maverick Grabber”, if only to give Ontop a seizure.
Although, I must say, the advertising, results of Popular Mechanics testing, and several other factors mean a Pacer wouldn’t be outside the realm of possibility.
The best looking LeMans SC, sadly had become uglified in ‘74. So, imagine that either of the above, when I tired of them, would be turned in for a Torino or Regal when the urge for a bigger car won out.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:34 |
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Plymouth Road Runner.
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Bleu.
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Dino
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Someone already wrote 911, but that would assume I was well to do in the 70s. Something more attainable would be the 240Z. At the time this could hang with the best of em! MSRP was around $3,500 which is around $20k in today’s money. NOT BAD!
![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:38 |
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Here’s another solid one.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:39 |
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Falcon XB coupe
/thread
I could actually make the Oppo Berlinetta Boxer joke here and have it be a valid answer, but I want one of these in a bad way.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 14:42 |
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Yes. In ‘74 you could still get the 2.7RS engine in the Euro-market Carrera.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 15:00 |
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Mehr Cedes.
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260z for 1974.
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Saab Sonett
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I’d get a last year’s model straggler on the lot for a discount! the 1970’s version of me is THRIFTY, I say, THRIFTY!
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There’s also the Capri (sold here as a Mercury)
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Mind you, you’d have to have had it taken apart and put together again properly.
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1974 Saab 99
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Boom.
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1974 BMW 2002tii. The only year of square-tail light tii’s, and the last year of the tii. In Inka Orange, of course.
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This is the car my grandmother bought new back in 1974. It ended up being my first car.
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Opel Commodore Coupe GS/E
Not a powerful as it might look, but from the period where Opel were cool.
Also, because racecar:
![]() 11/06/2015 at 15:44 |
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Oooh, didn’t think anyone else would pick the Commodore!
![]() 11/06/2015 at 15:46 |
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Was thinking about this, but I’d probably rather buy a 72 or 73 because of the bumpers on the 74... They are great cars though, I have a 70 142 now.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 15:46 |
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A Pacer would have been out of the realm of possibility in 1974. It didn't go on sale until 3/1/75.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 15:51 |
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I’ll take a SD-455/4-Speed Trans Am, please. Preferably in Admiralty Blue.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 15:52 |
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Ah. So the Maverick it is! ... which might get traded for a Pacer.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 15:52 |
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Yeah, the bumpers are huge. At least they are aluminum. Got any pics of your 142?
![]() 11/06/2015 at 15:55 |
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Why not a Hornet X 360 hatch? More practical, more powerful, and more James Bond.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 15:57 |
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I chose the Riv. My second choice is this.
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240z > 260z forever.
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Sure, I use every opportunity to show my car here!
![]() 11/06/2015 at 16:02 |
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Sweet. Man, I miss that car.
Are you in Norway? My grandmother I mentioned above was from Bergen.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 16:05 |
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It *is* a good choice, just not as hyped as the Pacer.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 16:09 |
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I can see that, the feeling taking this out of winter storage is about the best ever. And yes, I’m Norwegian, though from the Gjøvik in the eastern part of the country.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 16:13 |
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No, I meant instead of the Maverick
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According to one James Daniel May, “the blokiest bloke’s car ever built”.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 16:17 |
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It might come down to interior. Which, neither are that well sorted out, but the Maverick probably has a slight edge, LEVI’s option for some Hornets notwithstanding.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 16:29 |
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Norway has an east? (thinks of Norway as a western strip)
![]() 11/06/2015 at 16:33 |
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Yeah, it’s a bit wider in the southern part, Oslo is east, Bergen is west.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 16:34 |
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A true rwd sedan. I’d love me one exactly like above.
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Been to both, still have bad memories of the endless tunnels.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 16:43 |
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In the U.S. it’s nearly impossible to find 140s anymore. Back in the 90’s I could find them all over, but now they are very rare.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 16:48 |
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We found out it was shorter to drive through the mountains than over them. The old roads are still there though, for road enthusiasts (opponauts) and people frightened by tunnels.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 16:51 |
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They are quite common here, mostly due to being one of the best selling cars in the 70’s, but also durability and a huge amount of Volvo enthusiasts. Close to unlimited parts supply from Sweden also helps.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 16:58 |
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Probably a Trans Am. The SD455 kind.
(*Joe Biden edition is not a ‘74)
![]() 11/06/2015 at 17:00 |
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A bit obscure, but I would easily go for a Bitter CD
Just to be different.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 17:10 |
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XA Ford Falcon GT 351
![]() 11/06/2015 at 17:23 |
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That isn’ t a Benz?
![]() 11/06/2015 at 17:23 |
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Nice pick!
![]() 11/06/2015 at 17:24 |
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That would be a ball of fun
![]() 11/06/2015 at 17:24 |
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This will go up in value soon I bet
![]() 11/06/2015 at 17:25 |
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Leno called it a Japanese muscle car kinda fits
![]() 11/06/2015 at 17:26 |
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Very very sexy
![]() 11/06/2015 at 17:28 |
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I figured you would still pick a Cadillac
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I thought about going for a Countach but my favorite body style had yet to be released in 74
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For the 70’s the styling wasn’t that bad
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Very rare
![]() 11/06/2015 at 17:31 |
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Not a single bad choice on the list
![]() 11/06/2015 at 17:32 |
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Really the Maverick isn’t terrible. I have always liked the look.
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So pissed they didn’t sell this stateside
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Always build excellent cars
![]() 11/06/2015 at 17:33 |
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This things look awesome!
![]() 11/06/2015 at 17:33 |
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I wasn’t alive at the time, but I wish we’d had them too, so we could buy them now.
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The greenhouse in that car amazes me
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Interesting pick
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I didn’t know this came out in 74? Cool
![]() 11/06/2015 at 17:35 |
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That is an awesome ad
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That looks pretty freaking cool. How much power?
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Can’t go wrong there
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So beautiful
![]() 11/06/2015 at 17:37 |
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I don’t even know that that is
![]() 11/06/2015 at 17:47 |
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I can think of a whole list:
Lancia Stratos HF
Alpine A310 and A110
Saab 99 EMS and Sonett III
AMC Matador Coupe
Isuzu Bellett coupe
Misubishi Galant GTO
I’d probably end up with the Matador Coupe or Sonett III based off of what was available in the U.S.A. at the time and budget.
Here is a 1974 Bellet coupe for fun. I recently learned about the car thanks to LaLD
![]() 11/06/2015 at 18:19 |
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I love this color combo, right down to the flag. The wheels seems period correct; perhaps it should have some redlines, but those might only work with the stock steelies.
If it comes down to it, a BMW drivetrain swap might be considered. It’s not without precedent:
Perhaps an S54 out of an E46 M3 would be a good match.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 18:25 |
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I used to prefer the bewinged one from Cannonball Run, but the more I look the more I prefer this unmolested work of art.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 18:58 |
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Mercedes Benz is the reason the 25 year import law came to be in the 80’s. So if it was 1974 I would take advantage of this and import something since MB hadn't fucked up the laws yet
![]() 11/06/2015 at 19:27 |
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That is a big ass list
![]() 11/06/2015 at 19:28 |
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If I could find a never sold 1973 model P1800ES, I would take it. If not, then Saab Sonett.
![]() 11/06/2015 at 19:30 |
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That would be pretty damn awesome