What car would you buy in 1978

"JR1" (type35bugatti) 02/03/2016 at 10:52 • Filed to: wwybw, what would you buy when

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Rules: The car had to be sold brand new in 1978

I am going to pick the obvious choice. A 78 Trans Am. Unlike the classic black and gold though I have always had a thing for the blue car. T-Tops, manual, and a good ol’ 6.6 liter V8 pumping out a rather sad 220hp. Nevertheless it is an automotive icon.

What would you buy Oppo?

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Logansteno: Bought a VW? > JR1 02/03/2016 at 10:58

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My car’s 4-cylinder grand pappy.

Needs more diving board bumpers but w/e.

davedave1111 > JR1 02/03/2016 at 10:58

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Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > JR1 02/03/2016 at 10:59

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You’ve seen my post history lately, right?

AutoSavant > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:00

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Lots of torque in that 400 though. 320 ft .lbs. A lot of guys swapped the smogger heads for pre-smog era heads to take the compression from 7.6 to 9.0. Significantly boosted those figures into the 300+ hp and 400+ ft lbs of torque.

Berang > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:00

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RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:02

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Williamsburg Edition.

Stapleface > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:04

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Ugh, what an awful year. Smack dab in the middle of the Malaise Era.

I’ll go with the Civic for this one.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:04

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Both the Mark and the Thunderbird were available in Diamond Jubilee editions that year as well, but the Town Car is my preference.

AutoSavant > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:06

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Since you picked my first choice, I’ll choose a 1978 Maserati Merak.

Future next gen S2000 owner > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:06

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1979 Vette

dogisbadob > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:06

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78 is the best year for the TA. It has the awesome front end and the bigger Fisher T-tops, The 77 had smaller T-tops, and the 79-81 front end is fugly.

78 is when the best generation Dodge Challenger debuted.

Don’t forget about the Regal and LeSabre turbo sport coupes! I also like the Custom Cruiser diesel. So many cool cars from that year!

Does the 79 Prelude count? They debuted as 79's, but were probably available in 78.

Gone > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:07

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Similar:
Blue T/A w/flaming chicken
6.6L/4spd
WS6
Hardtop
A/C
Cruise
PW
Camel or blue interior
Can’t do the t-tops

X37.9XXS > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:08

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Simple

daender > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:08

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Skyline, naturally, or 280Z.

dailydoseofmindlessness > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:09

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1978 Mini Van or Mini 95.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:11

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Opel Ascona B.

mazda616 > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:14

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1978 was the first year of the RX-7!

Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:17

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Because by 1978, only Mazda held on to the magnificent rotary engine

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:19

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Had one, would have another.

(insert pic of Subaru BRAT here, because Kinja is being an asshole)

Your boy, BJR > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:25

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I can't decide if I want a wraparound rear window Toronado or a t-top El Dorado.

vondon302 > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:27

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77 cutlass 442. Yeah I know its not a 78 but I bet you could still find em new in early 78. The 78 cutlass is just fugly.

Cherry_man1 > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:28

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1978 KIng Cobra would be my pick.

or a 1978 911 Turbo

KnowsAboutCars > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:29

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The 1978 only Dodge Aspen Super Coupe.

camaroboy68ss > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:30

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I’d buy the collector car everyone thought was going to be worth a fortune 30 years later- the 78 Corvette Pace Car L-82! So many people bought these and put them in storage that you can still find brand new ones with 0 miles on them today!

Noah - Now with more boost. > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:31

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My answer to this question will remain consistent between 1976-1989.

Birddog > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:31

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Nova Rally RPO Z26 with the LM1 350, MM4 manual gearbox and F41 suspension.

Your boy, BJR > Cherry_man1 02/03/2016 at 11:32

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Nice pinto.

Your boy, BJR > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:37

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Scratch that, I want the IROC before the IROC: the Z28

CaptDale - is secretly British > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:38

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1978 Trans Am “Bandit”

or a 280Z

I Will Always Be The Honey Badger > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:45

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I’m going to bend the rules a bit with a light truck. 1978 Dodge Lil Red Express. Police 360, dual stacks, woodgrain train, and a 10-gallon hat worth of attitude.

Dean Beyer > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:47

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EngineerWithTools > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:49

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You’ve made my day.

I learned to drive - and drive stick - in this car. It was my dad’s. The turned sorta-aluminum dash...the leaking t-tops (and compromised rigidity)...the eternal hood, complete with screaming chicken...sliding 6" up the vinyl seat every time I pushed in the clutch (and I’m not small)...the wheels that defied cleaning...holding up the transmission with a rope through the shifter hole while dad worked on something (I can still hear him snicker “is it getting heavy yet?”

By any, ok every, measure except style and sound, it’s an awful car, but I wouldn’t trade the memories for anything.

(Side note: The engine can be powerful and entertaining with some work. Except for the Pontiac water pump, which sucks ad infinitum. In my case, that engine lives on in a 1986 TA...)

My bird IS the word > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:51

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Since you already said a t/a, I’ll add the last Datsun 280z.

The horsepower on the late 70s trans ams engines were under rated. Take it from someone who owns one.

EngineerWithTools > dogisbadob 02/03/2016 at 11:52

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1000X on the 79-81 front end. Such a small change -tweaked the contour of the bumper plastic - but it absolutely ruined the car.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > JR1 02/03/2016 at 11:57

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In manual

shop-teacher > JR1 02/03/2016 at 12:13

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I would actually pick the exact same blue Trans-Am. My elementary school gym teacher had one, although his was the uglier ‘79-81 front end. I always wanted it.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > JR1 02/03/2016 at 12:14

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Escort RS2000

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Your boy, BJR 02/03/2016 at 12:19

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It’s the best Pinto. Other than the Cruising Wagon.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Your boy, BJR 02/03/2016 at 12:20

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If they’d actually successfully gotten the power T-tops to work on that Toronado, it would have been a quality experience.

Plays records incorrectly > JR1 02/03/2016 at 12:21

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Assuming 1978 gas prices/availability...

Rock Bottom > JR1 02/03/2016 at 12:49

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Dealer’s pick:

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > JR1 02/03/2016 at 12:55

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450SEL 6.9. Other cars of the time are a bit faster, or a bit more luxurious, or a bit safer (not). But there’s nothing does all three better.

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > JR1 02/03/2016 at 12:56

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Because 425.....

JR1 > Your boy, BJR 02/03/2016 at 13:18

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Going to have to pick Cadillac here

JR1 > X37.9XXS 02/03/2016 at 13:18

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The widow maker

JR1 > dogisbadob 02/03/2016 at 13:19

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Best Challenger???? And yes the Prelude counts

JR1 > Stapleface 02/03/2016 at 13:19

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That is what makes it more fun you have to be creative with your pick.

JR1 > Berang 02/03/2016 at 13:20

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Le awesome

JR1 > daender 02/03/2016 at 13:20

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Japan was cranking out some cool stuff

JR1 > I Will Always Be The Honey Badger 02/03/2016 at 13:20

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No rules are bent. Trucks are totally allowed

JR1 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 02/03/2016 at 13:20

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Probably still nimble and loads of fun.

JR1 > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction 02/03/2016 at 13:21

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Surprised they put a Vette, Nissan, and MG in a Mazda ad

JR1 > Noah - Now with more boost. 02/03/2016 at 13:21

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That is a great answer

JR1 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/03/2016 at 13:21

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Love the V12 can’t get past reliability or styling

JR1 > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 02/03/2016 at 13:22

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Yes! Even bigger than the Capri (but only just)

JR1 > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem 02/03/2016 at 13:22

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That is a cool looking car!

JR1 > davedave1111 02/03/2016 at 13:22

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Ugliest Aston ever but still cool

JR1 > camaroboy68ss 02/03/2016 at 13:22

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I almost picked the Vette just because I like the graphics

JR1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 02/03/2016 at 13:23

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A big Merc is always a good pick

JR1 > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 02/03/2016 at 13:23

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This is certainly the rarer car today

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > JR1 02/03/2016 at 13:24

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which is why, in all my laziness, I usually pick them

JR1 > vondon302 02/03/2016 at 13:24

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I will allow for a slight bending of the rules

JR1 > Birddog 02/03/2016 at 13:24

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Good pick I have always liked late Novas

JR1 > Your boy, BJR 02/03/2016 at 13:24

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You were doing better with the first two picks

JR1 > KnowsAboutCars 02/03/2016 at 13:24

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Sweet looking car.

JR1 > dailydoseofmindlessness 02/03/2016 at 13:25

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Hahaha that is awesome

JR1 > V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! 02/03/2016 at 13:25

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I do miss the era of obscenely large engines

JR1 > Future next gen S2000 owner 02/03/2016 at 13:25

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Why a 79 over a 78? Are they different?

JR1 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 02/03/2016 at 13:26

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Can’t go wrong with that.

JR1 > shop-teacher 02/03/2016 at 13:26

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They are just so damn cool. And you have something a little different than the other guy at a car show with a 78

JR1 > AutoSavant 02/03/2016 at 13:27

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I didn’t realize that. Very impressive

JR1 > Dean Beyer 02/03/2016 at 13:27

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One of the best looking Ferraris

JR1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 02/03/2016 at 13:27

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Your 100 year garage needs more variety

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > JR1 02/03/2016 at 13:28

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6", all but one inch of it in the bumper enlargement. A ‘72 is only an inch longer and barely off being as wide or tall. I think the Capri’s cabin is bigger.I actually first caught the barge flu from one of these in periwinkle blue that was perfect. Sort of a *GNHWGHK* and the next thing I knew my brain was short-circuited.

vondon302 > JR1 02/03/2016 at 13:34

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Thanks plus I might change my vote to that nova rally. That’s sweet.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > JR1 02/03/2016 at 13:36

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The smog cheater, the Dodge Lil Red Express. The fastest thing on the road in 1978. There was a loophole in the emissions regulations the 1978 Dodge Lil’ Red Express Truck’s did not have catalytic converters, what the Lil’ Red Express did have was a special High Performance 360 C.I. 4-barrel small block engine code (EH1) which was a modified version of the 360 police engine (E58) producing 225 net horsepower @ 3800 RPM.

El Rivinado > JR1 02/03/2016 at 13:38

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Cadillac Eldorado, because why not go full pimp when the decade comes to a close? Would go nicely with a Lincoln Mark V as well.

Future next gen S2000 owner > JR1 02/03/2016 at 13:44

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Probably not. But I like to have the latest and greatest.

davedave1111 > JR1 02/03/2016 at 13:44

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It’s beautiful. Have you ever seen one in person?

camaroboy68ss > JR1 02/03/2016 at 13:54

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That's what the 70s were all about since performance tanked, the big three decided to decal up the cars too look fast, the big cobra on fords, the screaming chicken, the tri tone stripes on the Z28 all to make up for the loss of horsepower

shop-teacher > JR1 02/03/2016 at 14:04

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Indeed. Although I would still drive around blasting “East Bound and Down.” You have to. It’s state law.

JR1 > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 02/03/2016 at 14:08

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It wouldn’t surprise me if the Capri had the biggest cabin of any Lincoln

JR1 > davedave1111 02/03/2016 at 14:09

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I have not. They are just so rare!

davedave1111 > JR1 02/03/2016 at 14:14

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There’s just something about them you can’t get from photos, IMO. Having the grille at mid-calf height is a definite oddity, but somehow it all works when you’re looking down on it.

touring the brook - now with ZHP! > JR1 02/03/2016 at 19:37

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Dean Beyer > JR1 02/03/2016 at 20:13

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I know I said the Ferrari 308GTB before but I think I’d really rather have a 928.

JR1 > Dean Beyer 02/03/2016 at 21:03

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That is an interesting swap. Almost a down grade

pip bip - choose Corrour > JR1 02/04/2016 at 05:46

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Holden Ute.

Dean Beyer > JR1 02/04/2016 at 12:41

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I think the Porsche, while slightly slower, is a nicer car. I love and want them both but if forced to choose I’m going with the Porsche. And also just look at that space pod.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > I Will Always Be The Honey Badger 02/05/2016 at 10:41

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and the only truck on which stacks are acceptable

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Dean Beyer 02/05/2016 at 10:45

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Came from Factory with mustache and Tigers hat.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > JR1 02/05/2016 at 11:56

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1978 Porsche ‘930' 911 Turbo 3.3; because yes, I absolutely, positively want to out-accelerate every other stock-market yuppie on my way to the yacht club

RT > JR1 06/08/2016 at 13:35

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One-off 1978 Lamborghini Espada Fæna. Because four-door Lambo.

If that’s too cheaty, I’ll go for a Porsche 911 Turbo Widowmaker or 928.

JR1 > RT 06/08/2016 at 19:33

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Not too cheaty that is a damn good answer