Dream Garage: Malaise Era Edition

"RT" (rt-p) 09/02/2016 at 16:20 • Filed to: Dream Garage

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Welcome again to another instalment of Dream Garage on Oppo. Tonight’s challenge takes us back to an era which time forgot.

Here are the rules:

You have a three vehicle garage...

All cars must be from model years 1973-1983 .

All cars must have sealed beams, bumpers, emissions tech etc which conform with US regulations of the time .

Anything more expensive than a base Corvette is banned .

And now it’s all up to you to choose, have fun~

AMC/Renauledge > RT 09/02/2016 at 16:20

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For commuting AND weekend fun:

1973-75 Buick-Opel Manta Rallye

For relaxed cruising with friends and more formal events that call for a bit of style and luxury:

1974 Buick Riviera GS Stage 1

For hauling things, for camping trips, and whenever you need extra space:

1974 AMC Ambassador Brougham wagon

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > RT 09/02/2016 at 16:21

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I’ll take three.

NostalgicCarLife > RT 09/02/2016 at 16:25

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All take all of those but the ford.

not for canada - australian in disguise > RT 09/02/2016 at 16:26

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Triumph Staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaag

Rover SD1

And to balance out the heinous unreliability of the two BLs, a Corolla wagon.

RT > AMC/Renauledge 09/02/2016 at 16:32

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Interesting, I never knew Buick sold the Opel Manta at their dealerships. The rebadged Opel thing has gone on for much longer than expected after all.

luvMeSome142 & some Lincoln! > RT 09/02/2016 at 16:32

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That’s easy! My first car was a gold ‘74 Volvo 142 GL. It had a black leather interior, but by the time I got it the seats had the consistency of stale Doritos.

Pictured above is not mine. I love those wheels on it.

RT > not for canada - australian in disguise 09/02/2016 at 16:33

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All of these cars are a lot prettier than I remembered, awesome job.

interstate366, now In The Industry > RT 09/02/2016 at 16:34

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1983 Prelude

1973 240Z (sorry if this isn’t actually a ‘73)

And a Ford Fairmont wagon with a stick.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > RT 09/02/2016 at 16:34

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For some true malaise, how about you turn the dream into a nightmare with a 1970s style BEV like this 1975 Sebring Vanguard Citicar:

Only $4000!

http://www.oldride.com/classic_cars/7…

RT > luvMeSome142 & some Lincoln! 09/02/2016 at 16:35

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I agree, I love those wheels.

Can’t go wrong with a Volvo.

RT > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 09/02/2016 at 16:36

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$4000 for a wedge of cheese?

I guess it’s been aged for 41 years.

RT > interstate366, now In The Industry 09/02/2016 at 16:38

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It all works for me, nice selection.

Interesting how every car you chose looks so different, despite being just 10 years apart.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > RT 09/02/2016 at 16:40

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Yup... and all that aging will making amazing to have I’m sure... LOL

And for added fun, that’s an older one with the batteries under the seats for that wonderful air freshening battery acid smell while driving.

The later ones had the batteries integrated into the bumpers.

Tristan > RT 09/02/2016 at 16:40

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Daily driver: ‘74 County Squire. Because I love them, but my wife will never allow one to be parked at our house. Something about it being ugly... she drives a RAV4... blech.

Fun car: Duster. Because it’s easy to make one fast.

And a dentside Supercab for doing truck things.

jimz > RT 09/02/2016 at 16:42

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1973 Cougar XR7 convertible. weekend droptop fun. My dad had one in this exact color except with a Saddle interior. Same wheelcovers even.

1976 Cadillac Sedan DeVille, for “black car” stuff like weddings, funerals, bar mitzvahs, etc. Nothing says “Malaise Era” more than a 500 cu. in. V8 with 190 horsepower.

‘78 Mustang II King Cobra, as a “performance car.” Not only is it a shameless wannabe Trans Am, talk about writing checks you can’t cash with your 132 horsepower 302 cu. in. V8. But so many have been discarded that these actually stand out now.

‘78 Dodge Li’l Red Express for trucky things. Emissions standards for trucks lagged behind those for cars by several years, so Chrysler outfitted this thing with a 360 4-bbl and a good cam, so it was no slouch. Oh, and it has to be a ‘78; they went to stacked rectangular headlamps in 1979 and man, fuck those things.

Bigjohn428 > RT 09/02/2016 at 16:45

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1981 Cutlass Supreme

My citroen won't start > RT 09/02/2016 at 16:45

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99 Turbo

Grey import federalized Rangie.

280C

RT > My citroen won't start 09/02/2016 at 16:48

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I would’ve chosen something very similar myself.

punkgoose17 > RT 09/02/2016 at 16:48

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Saab Sonett III

Saab 99 EMS

Saab 96

RT > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 09/02/2016 at 16:51

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Design choices like that definitely reminds me of this.

“You can’t improve on perfection.”

interstate366, now In The Industry > RT 09/02/2016 at 16:55

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Thanks. I’ve always liked the Z cars (and the Prelude, obviously), and when I was a kid and Fairmonts were still common I liked them, too.

RT > jimz 09/02/2016 at 16:55

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Finally someone chose a Li’l Red Express, I salute you!

While American cars were in trouble in this era, that didn’t stop them from being quite cool.

AMC/Renauledge > RT 09/02/2016 at 16:56

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It’s true. But Buick ended their association with Opel after ‘75 (it began in 1966). They kept using the name on their Isuzu-built import through ‘79. And you could argue that their J-body 1982-89 Skyhawk was a rebadged Opel. But it wasn’t until the 2011 Regal that the connection was officially made again.

RT > RT 09/02/2016 at 17:08

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Saab 900 Turbo.

Mazda REPU.

Alfa Romeo Spider S2.

RT > AMC/Renauledge 09/02/2016 at 17:12

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Yes, and you are 100% correct - it didn’t continue for long. I was just amused by the coincidence really (though it makes sense since both are GM brands).

mazda616 > RT 09/02/2016 at 17:25

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1983 Chevrolet Citation X-11. I might be a bit of a masochist with this. But, I love these.

1982 Toyota Camry. Something to drive when the Citation is broken.

1978 Mazda RX-7. Something tells me that Camry is going to be driven a lot.

AMC/Renauledge > RT 09/02/2016 at 17:31

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Right. That’s what I find so odd about people complaining about Buick rebadging Opels:

1) Buick and Opel have a history together.

2) They’re all the same designers and engineers in the same company. No one bags on Ford for selling some of their Euro stuff here.

3) As similar as stuff like the Encore, Verano, and Regal may look to their Opel cousins, the Buick and Opel versions are actually quite different from one another in significant ways.

4) It’s not like those cars are rebadged versions of vehicles we already get here.

Still, people find a way to complain.

RT > mazda616 09/02/2016 at 17:31

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You are a huge masochist, but I like your choices.

RT > AMC/Renauledge 09/02/2016 at 17:37

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Yep, I find it odd that people complain too. The quality has actually gone up if anything.

I guess people find it strange because Buick is famous for huge land-yachts, while Opel/Vauxhall are famous for the complete opposite. It’s all about image in the end.

Your points still stand though, how do these people explain Ford without sounding like a hypocrite?

AMC/Renauledge > RT 09/02/2016 at 18:05

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On second thought, I’m revising my answer on the commuter/fun car to the ‘73 Buick-Opel GT.

Tristan > mazda616 09/02/2016 at 18:11

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This is an instance where Camry is actually an acceptable answer. Good choices, though. I’ve always had a soft spot for the X-11. And the RX7... which makes me think: we should do one of these for “Cars with ‘X’ in their names”.

Tristan > RT 09/02/2016 at 18:14

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Panasports! I have them on my Miata.

Tristan > RT 09/02/2016 at 18:17

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I’m starting to realize that the malaise period might be one of my favorite eras for car designs. They’re utter crap, and often gaudy, awkward and ostentatious, but the they’re shameless about it.

RT > Tristan 09/02/2016 at 18:30

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The 70s in general is often overlooked, even though some of the best car designs originated from that era (though post fuel crisis it was mainly Euro and Japanese stuff).

But you’re completely spot on as far as the American market is concerned. Their cars were ridiculous and inefficient, yet really rather cool.

RT > Tristan 09/02/2016 at 18:31

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Thanks for telling me the name, I was wondering what they were called.

RT > AMC/Renauledge 09/02/2016 at 18:33

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Flip up headlights!

CaptDale - is secretly British > RT 09/02/2016 at 19:54

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1973 Datsun 240Z

1973 Dodge Power Wagon W100

1985 Shelby Charger

KerbalFreak > RT 09/02/2016 at 22:01

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1981 Mazda RX-7: The Mazda Wankel engine is my favorite engine of all time and all three generations of the RX-7 are some of my personal favorite cars, so this obviously had to make the list for me.

1980 Renault 5 Turbo: Let’s be honest, there’s nothing like owning a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive hatchback with a rally background that constantly tries to kill you, and it has the quirky, yet extremely lovable looks of most French cars of it’s time.

1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 with 4-barrel 351 Cleveland V8 engine: The 1973 ‘Stang was the last of the first generation Mustangs before it was replaced with the not-so-good Mustang II, and the Mach 1 with the 4-barrel 351 Cleveland produces a decent 266 HP, the most of any muscle car I could think of that was made from 1973-83. Most of all, it’s reliable, it’s powerful, and it looks absolutely amazing.

RT > KerbalFreak 09/03/2016 at 05:30

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Rotary, rally and muscle car?

This might be one of the best choices yet!

Amoore100 > RT 09/19/2016 at 23:19

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Three international RWD wagons.

RT > Amoore100 09/22/2016 at 06:27

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I was expecting a Mercedes-Benz or something instead of the Toyota to complete the euro-diesel-sealed-beams combo, but both work just as well. I love my classic Japanese cars, great choice.