What can I say that I didn’t already in my gush-tastic CC of the 1970 Camaro? No new American car has quite swept me off my feet since the day I opened a magazine and saw my first ever picture of it. Wow! I sure didn’t see that coming. Unlike the neo-Camaro, which forced us to sit through some two years of (unsuccessful) cock-teasing, the all-new 1970 Camaro just appeared one day, sent down from Motorama heaven. And without any real styling precedence; a total departure from the ’69 Camaro. And of course, it wasn’t just a looker either…
The 1970 Camaro pulled a fast on on its competitors. The 1971 Mustang, the product of Bunky Knudsen’s GM think, was totally out of its league stylistically, despite its “Elinor” appeal. And the poor Barracuda and Challenger; they tried to be a bigger and more cartoonish 1969 Camaro. No wonder all of them were soon gone, and the Camaro (and Firebird) then had the original pony-car field to themselves. That segment ended up not being such a dead end in the seventies after all.
The Camaro was fairly cheap, and from the lowliest six to the thunderous Z28, offered a degree of handling and all-round balance that was unprecedented in that decade. It wasn’t perfect, but what American car in the seventies was? Perhaps it should be CCOTD (CC Of The Decade).
I’m so sick of hearing about the 1970 Camaro I refuse to nominate it. There I said it. Were there any new FULL SIZE sedans in 1970? I’m always far more interested in that segment anyway.
Well, all the Big 3 full sizers were carry over, and Impala SS was killed off previous year.
I’d nominate Chevy Monte Carlo!
Fine then I nominate the Firebird, simply because it became the Smokey and the Bandit car.
Dan, if you have to stick with full-size sedans, it’s nearly impossible to beat any GM save Cadillac in 1970. A ’70 Caprice with an F41 sway bar package was the bees knees of full-sizers that year, as far as I’m concerned.
ChryCo still had its torsion bars but the ride became softer than earlier – at the expense of handling. Plus these cars were rusting on the showroom floor – I saw it.
Forget Ford…their full-sizers lost the formula in ’69 and from there it was all downhill until they downsized to the Panther platform in 1979. GM still had one more year of greatness before falling off the cliff from 1971-76.
The ’70 Monte Carlo is a personal favorite but let’s be honest…it was a stretched Chevelle, Good thing Chevelle was at the top of its game in those days, it made a great foundation.
There wasn’t much new in 1970…but I will ALWAYS remember sitting in my 8th grade class at Princess Margaret Senior Elementary school in Niagara Falls, Ontario (I lived in Canada for two very impressionable years), February copy of Motor Trend open to a 2 page ad of the all-new Camaro RS and ’70 ‘Vette.
One reason I complain so loudly about GM’s Deadly Sins is that the company knew how to build an outstanding, well balanced car, and much of the 1970 line is proof. But the ’70 Camaro/Firebird stand atop the stack. A car so well-designed it could be credibly sold a decade later?
Paul is right. I’m in!
Of course our dear friend JPCavanaugh will agree on your objection PrincipalDan…
Based on sales success and price, ($1995!) I nominate the 1970 Ford Maverick, the car that broke the 1965 Mustang’s first year sales record, and held it until the 1986 Taurus.
The Maverick was highly successful . . . yet it was a dreadful car (I had one). The new-for-1970 AMC Hornet offered more for the money (e.g., in terms of roominess and features) but didn’t sell very well until 1973.
Unlike the Maverick, the Hornet had a brand-new platform. The “fuselage” design was advanced enough that AMC was able to use it through 1987. That’s an exceptionally long run for an American platform.
Meanwhile, the lowly Valiant Duster almost single-handedly saved Chrysler through the first half of the 1970s. That’s hilariously ironic given how much money the company dumped into all manner of whiz-bang sporty coupes and big cars.
ChryCo lost a ton of $ on the E bodies, introduced when insurance rates skyrocketed for muscle cars. Young buyers went to new Dusters/Novas, or used 60’s mid sizers, of which there were plenty to pick.
Also, Mopar’s Fuselage big cars never caught on, exepct for fleets. Big car buyers in 1970 wanted luxury and not sportiness anymore. So, they were restyled for the 1974 Model Year, just in time for the 1st Gas Crisis!
Dr.Lemming wasn’t referring to Mopar “fuselage” fullsize cars, he was talking about the AMC Hornet.
Interesting to note in Mexico then the Maverick in its first year was sold as “Falcon Maverick” south of the border just like the Duster was sold as “Valiant Duster” in its first year here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifhp97/5337890163/
Plymouth Superbird. Yeah, I know the Daytona was out a year before it, but come on, it had the road runner stickers on it!
+1 on the Camaro. An inherently beautiful and significant car, little changed for 12 model years (mostly for good reason) and really the first American car to balance handling, ride and cost in a uniquely American way, that is now globally ubiquitous.
Agreed. Definitely the best looking car of the decade (even as they slowly botched the styling as the years went on). And living proof that a truly beautiful car doesn’t need passenger side windows. And is probably better off without them.
I’ll have to agree too. I had a 1980 Firebird Formula – same basic body – that was still a great-looking car in the late 1980’s when I owned it.
Plymouth Duster, which used the same basic formula as the original Mustang. Duster was a heavily reskinned Valiant with sporty looks, only available in a 2-door, and with a variety of engine options from slant-6 and Mopar smallblocks. Depending on how it was optioned, the Duster could be a reliable commuter or budget muscle car. The Duster was so successful that Dodge division demanded their own version of it.
Duster used the same front clip and body lines as the Valiant, and was not a “heavy reskin”. It was like the ’65 Valiant Barracuda, just a sportier rear end treatment. In fact, the first year it was called ‘Valiant Duster’. The Dart Swinger also had different rear end added to basic bodyshell, and sold as a new model.
But Duster had a solid image, enough to just be called plain Duster from 1971-76. And name returned on later Plymouths.
True, the Duster used the same front clip as the Valiant, which necessitated using some of the same body lines to integrate the fenders, but the entire body was different from the firewall on back, including the glass which is a significant expense. The original Barracuda was quite obviously a Valiant with a fastback and big back window.
Does anyone really care that, for 1970 only, the Duster was technically called a “Valiant Duster”? I don’t see the significance. Obviously it was popular enough that Plymouth thought the Duster name could stand on its own merits after 1970.
I love the 67-69 model camaros but I think this car represents one of the few lucid moments the general had during a big time frame.
The 1970 Chevrolet Impala. The best of the big cars. A famous rapper had a huge car collection with a myriad of types of cars. He said this was his favorite to drive.
\By the way, 1970 was the best year for cars
Then they sent it downunder and GMH rebodied it with 4doors, Voila the 71 HQ Holden best seller ever for them, Shame about the severe understeer from the front mounted steering box aside from that a good car
So why again was the retro-Camaro not based on this year? This is still the best Camaro ever. (Maybe the next-generation retro-Camaro will be based on this model, instead of just dying off like most retro cars once they lose their novelty.)
Without a doubt, the 1970 Camaro is the choice for 1970. The Z/28 models especially, with the wonderful LT-1 350. Good performance, good handling, beautiful styling, probably the best overall American performance car from this era. This is my all-time favourite Camaro for styling, and it is a much better overall car than the 67-69 Camaros. I always found it strange that today the 67-69, especially the 1969, Camaros are so much more popular when the 1970 Camaro was so much better in every way. I too like the 1970 Firebird, but I prefer the 1970 Camaro.
This car was so good, it was the only pony car (along with its twin Firebird) that survived the dreaded mid-1970’s (let’s be honest, the 1974-78 Mustang wasn’t really the same formula). It was this car and the Firebird that caused Ford to bring back a real Mustang for 1979.
I think that the 1970 Chevelle SS454 deserves an honourable mention. The earlier Chevelle Super Sports were okay, but never had a great overall package. The performance of the SS396 Chevelles was never earth shattering and they handled poorly in the early years. For 1970 Chevrolet finally refined the car enough that it had excellent handling, decent braking and of course a monster 450 gross hp power plant. In fact in a 1970 C/D test, The Chevelle out cornered the Boss 302 Mustang on the Lime Rock 1.53 Mile road course. Not bad considering the Chevelle was heavier, had poorer weight distribution, used tiny F70-14 tires (Mustang had F60-15), and was much larger car. The Chevelle ended up having a lap time closer to the 289 Cobra than the 302 Mustang; not bad considering the Cobra was slightly quicker through the 1/4 mile than the Chevelle. Lap times were as follows: Cobra 1:06:95, Chevelle 1:08:00, Mustang 1:11:20.
I think a lot of the reason the early Camaros are more popular now is the fact that this generation ran for so long, there are so many of the same basic car and thus much more common. The fact that the 70’s Camaros are seen as the “Mullet man’s car” doesn’t help it’s current popularity either.
True enough I suppose. I even remember not too long ago I used to refer to the 77-81 Camaro’s as hillbilly hotrods. But, I always like the 70-73 style, Camaro and Firebird.
There can be a case made for every GM intermediate muscle car here. Knock out styling in each make. Tasteful tape graphics backed up by the General’s greatest high compresson V-8 engines. The 70 Chevelle SS is the high point of the series, an unforgettable look. One of the most unique hood air intakes ever, the Cowl Induction hood.
There’s a famous Chevelle ad from the day that had the Super Sport tied down and staked as if it were an out of control fighting bull trying to break loose. WIth the LS-6 454, that ad wasn’t too far off.
The 1970 Chevelle LS-6, was and is an amazing car. There is a reason it commands the prices it does today. I agree, even the other 70 A-bodies were pretty good too. I always really liked the 1970 Buick GSX. A very strong performer and decent all round performer. Sure the stripes were a bit over the top, but I like them, it represents the era.
I’m not sure if I’ve missed something in the series, but with each year so far, has an actual “winner” been picked? Or are you going to do that at the very end after going over every year? Or maybe we won’t even go there, since no one could ever agree anyway. That said, I think Camaro is a good contender for ’70!
Car snobs look down on Gen 2 F bodies, from the ‘trailer park’ image and the overexposure of late 70’s Trans Ams.
But, I think is a good nominee, since it outlived original Pony Car, and revived the segment that Ford went back to drawing board for the Fox Stang. Which led to later EFI aftermarket, yadda, yadda, yadda.
Dodge Challenger SE RT please
As much as I want to join PrincipalDan in shouting down the F car, I must reluctantly acknowledge that this was both a very good car and a very significant one.
The 1970 Duster was also very important (the Camaro was not as important to the survival of GM as the Duster was to Chrysler) but I do not see as much lasting significance there.
The Monte Carlo was also highly significant in cracking open the personal luxury market (which had previously been available at much higher prices).
Thinking it over, however, I must grudgingly give the devil its due and cast my vote for the 70 Camaro.
Remember, PrincipalDan did nominate the same new car, just as the Firebird instead.
I still love the 2nd-gen Camaro from its first 2-3 years. But with each passing year after that, the car became a cartoon, a caricature of itself, and lost all of its charm.
Like the 280Z?
Worse.
T/A Challenger in panther pink please.The Camaro does look good though
The only brand-new piece from 1970 that could fight with the F-body’s star power is the incredible Citroën SM, a car of staggering brilliance even if if it was a maintenance nightmare. I’d choose it over the Camaro for CCOTY. The AMC Hornet and the Citroën GS (hydropneumatic suspension for the masses!) were also new for 1970, but just don’t have the swagger of the Camaro or SM.
Was the SM new for 70? I always though it was like a 1971-72 car.
I goofed. It went into production in 1970 for the 1971 model year. Can I get a mulligan and pick the Datsun 240Z as CCOTY for ushering in the invasion of Japanese sports cars?
My vote? 1970 Monte Carlo. A real segment-buster.
That car, along with the Gran Prix had to have the l-o-n-g-e-s-t hoods in the industry! Couple that with the 24″ deep wash-tub fan shroud under that hood, and the motor looked to be almost tucked under the cowl! I fancied using a cherry picker to hover over the engine to change the plugs!
I do recall some comment about the dashboard being one huge piece of fiberglas, but can’t confirm that, but I read it somewhere. 43 years ago is a long time, even though I recall lots of stuff!
The 1970 Camaro? I remember almost crying over what? … you guessed it…no back seat quarter glass! Yes. I REALLY did feel that way. At that age, I all but WORSHIPPED pillarless hardtops. I’ve since made peace with that issue…
A year or so later, I saw a new Camaro on base parked next to my avatar, and it was beautiful! This car was a base, stripper version. Probably had a 250 in it. It was that (to me) beautiful metallic brown with a lighter interior. No console, just the PRNDL sticking out of the hump. The interior was so simple, uncluttered and clean, I couldn’t take my eyes off it. I studied that car avery time I had an extra minute or two – which was often! I wanted one…
Yes, I suppose the Camaro was a game-changer, and I came to love them later.
The 70 MC dash was the same as the Chevelle SS with a burled wood insert instead of the SS black. It was a rather large chunk of plastic that ran the full width of the interior rather than fiberglass.
Given that the MC was a rather siginificant car in its own right, one that I definately like as I owned a ’70 and a ’72 (and a ’78 Camaro too), I think the ‘70.5 Camaro is, hands down, the most significant COTY
Am i the only one who noticed the early Cavalier in front of the Camaro?
Just saw that Cavalier–thanks for pointing it out. Ironically (or maybe not), the Cavalier is a lot more unusual to see now than a Camaro of any year! It’s on my list of curbside cars and I’ve yet to find one.
I’ve yet to find an 82 or 83 model without the quad headlights. I found one in a junkyard, only one I’ve seen in a LONG time. Hopefully a hatchback shows up too. yet to see one too.
One of my friends gave me an ’83 Cavalier wagon at one point. He spent a lot of time and money restoring it and it was flawless inside and out – really sweet gunmetal gray (factory) color with a black interior. Even though it had been babied and was his father’s since new, who is one of the best mechanics I ever met and a maintenance fanatic, it ended up throwing a rod around 160k miles.
I had an ’89 Cavalier at the time that looked like hell but had a fresh 2.0 I had just rebuilt the upper half of, originally I wanted to swap that over. Then I decided why bother with the crappy OHV four when I can go get a sweet OHC Turbo out of the junkyard for pennies? So I got one of those and set it up on an engine stand. Then I said why bolt this sweet turbo powerplant to a crappy 3-speed auto when I can go get a 5-speed to match up to it? Then my mom said “get this bullshit out of my driveway” since I had two other cars at the time too (I was 18!) and that was the end of my Cavalier owning experience.
Mine was the last ’82/’83 Cavalier I saw with this style front end – that was 13 years ago! Kinda wish I had kept it and ditched the other cars I had at the time…
Since Motor Trend had gotten into the bad habit of naming a COTY that should have won the previous year, I’m sticking with either the Continental Mark III or Grand Prix for 1970.
For an actual brand-new 1970 model, I’d go with the Plymouth Duster. Frankly, if MT had chosen something else for 1969 other than a Chrysler product (Road Runner), the Duster might have been a shoo-in for 1970.
Regardless, the Camaro would still be a better choice than the car MT actually chose for 1970 – Ford Torino.
Oh, man, I forgot.
1970 AMC Gremlin!
Please see my 1976. Photo taken in 1978. I was much younger then… ;-]
Would love to know the reason for the rubber gloves….and the suitcase. Think there is an interesting story?
Ha ha! The gloves were leather work gloves. We were in the process of moving into our house and I was unloading lots of stuff and didn’t want to risk hurting myself!
Look inside the car – it’s packed to the roof! Only room for me.
I still wear gloves like those when working around the house, because if I don’t…well, there always seems to be a little piece of me in or on everything I do!
A co-winner for 1970…..the Camaro and FIrebird, especially in Trans Am form. I still remember those pictures in the car mags upon it’s debut and the impression it made upon me. Unforgettable styling on both, with great powertrains to boot. In modern day dashboard design, has the Firebird Trans Am ever been beaten? Engine turned metal, all gauges in front of the driver in a style that rivaled the greatest from GM, in particular the mid-year Corvette. The clock cleverly placed in the tachometer. Not to mention one of the greatest steering wheels ever to grace an American car! The American international racing colors of white with blue striping. Add the Kamm rear spoiler, side air extractors and rear side spats, it really was a magnificent design when you look back on those times.
I realize a lot of folks here probably abhor the spats, spoilers and screaming chickens, but take into context the impact the T/A and Z28 made in 1970……not the later Disco Duck, mullet wearing good ole boys who gave these cars a bad name. The Pininfarina inspired look was ground breaking. The long life of this design reinforces just how perfect Mitchell and the boys got this one. Who could have predicted this 1970 model when we were all used to the 67-69 chunky blocked coupes? While the stylists at Mopar took that design to a pleasing look on the Cuda and Challenger, GM zig/zagged with the 70 restyle/remake. I’ll take one of each, from the ground breaking 70 all the way up to the rubber bumpered Z and Banshee inspired 81 T/A!
No thanks.
If the Camaro was so great, then why did the Mustang outlive it? GM discontinued the Camaro for several years and only brought it back AFTER the retro-Mustang took off.
I think the inherent goodness of the 70.5 Camaro/Firebird design speaks for itself. As for comparison, are you refering to the 69/70 Mustang design or the 71/73 Flat Roof design or the 74/78 Mustang II or the 79 Fox body Mustang? Mustang design during the 2nd Gen F bodies reign was a study in one trying to find an identity. The only thing in common was the nameplate, Mustang, and some suspenson and engine components underneath….
It outlived it thanks to short sighted GM management who tried to sell the SSR as a viable replacement for the outgoing overweight and over wrought Camaro model. I even believe they tried to do the same with the Monte Carlo SS after the SSR fell flat. And I still think they missed the mark with the cartoonish looking nod to 1969 in the current model. All the more making the Mitchell 70.5 design all the more groundbreaking!
This has nothing to do with the context of the post, 1970 CCOTY.
Camaro wasn’t killed off for another 30+ years. The Mustang was killed off in 1974, and brought back in 79.
I’d say the Mustang returned to its roots in 1974 as a sporty looking car based on Ford’s smallest car. In addition to returning to its conceptual roots it brought back a number of the styling cues from the original that had disappeared when it lost it’s way in 1970 and more so 1971.
Of course the MII also won where it mattered, in the hearts of the public, and by hearts I mean wallets as the MII sold way better than it’s immediate predecessors and the competition.
I never thought I’d hear or read anything positive about the Mustang II …. but I can’t really argue with this. And yes I’ve driven a few.
They sold a ton of those little horses. Some Mustang people never like to hear that.
Tell me really that the Monza and Sunbird weren’t Camaro and Firebird II’s?
And the Towne Coupe was the Camaro II Brougham. Landau top only available after 4/76, and only available in Nutmeg Brown Firemist. See dealer for more information.
But not available in California after 9pm.
What does that have to do with anything? You’re talking about something that took place 32 years after this car came out. We’re talking about 1970.
Not bad, But I much prefer the Formula 400 or Trans Am Firebird. They were sleek and sexy in an American/Italian inspired way.
Only problem, they were both 70 1/2, well maybe 1/4, not ready for Prime Time. It didn’t exist in January 1 1970. You can’t rewrite history or change time. Also, they were horrible rust buckets (rear qtrs. and back window especially)……..even in CA and TX.
The Torino won MT COTY (not that MT meant anything then or now) with a much broader range: Squire Wagons to 429SCJ Cobras. 4 door HT Broughams to 250 I sedans. And a convertible, something the Camaro lost.
Others may be more significant but I sure like the Monte Carlo.
Mustang. 1970 was the first styling execution that moved almost completely away from the major details that established the traditional “Mustang look”. From the new front end arrangement to the complete absence of the C side sculpting, including the deletion of the 1969’s quarter trim/scoops on all models except Shelby(carryovers from 69 afterall) the only real identifiers left were the name, shape and 3 tier taillights. This set the precedent for virtually every Mustang to follow(excluding the “70s retro” Mustang II) until the 2005 models debuted. Could the Fox have succeeded as much as it did if it weren’t this early break in character from 70-73?
Ok, so I have to change my vote to how I really feel…I didn’t want to be profiled by others but here it goes…I don’t want the 70 Challenger..
I vote 70 Firebird Trans Am
Yes I’m biased, no I don’t care if its a hick car…Lucerne blue with white interior please…
Have to go with both GM F Cars though the Camaro does have a distinct styling advantage with the split bumper RS being one of the most beautiful affordable cars ever produced.
in 1970 there were so many amazing cars coming from Detroit I can’t really choose…the ’70 1/2 Camaro it’s a very, very beautiful car and they made it for such a long run that it surely deserves lots of praise (even if the ’74 and ’78 redesigns were horrendous, imho) but my choice goes for a much more humble, unexciting but nevertheless hugely influential set of wheels, I’m talking about the Fiat 128, aka the grandmother of every compact, medium sized (in europe) family sedan !
Oh yeah, the Fiat 128, so influential, even the great Enzo Ferrari had one as a daily driver for a time.
I’m not really sure but I think the Fiat 128 went on sale as a 1969 model in most of Europe, but if not I’m with you. I nominated it for “honorable mention” in the 1969 article. Really cool car and one of my favorite Fiats of all time, Kevin Martin did a memorable COAL:Anti-Brougham on the one he owned, but there hasn’t been an actual 128 CC yet… gotta be at least one of these hanging out in Eugene.
The Fiat 128 was COTY in Europe for 1970, and well deserved. I saw one here a few years back, just before I started shooting old cars. None since. But that’s not a good predictor of the future.
Lots of choices here: Duster, Challenger/Barracuda, Torino/Montego/Fairlane/1970½ Falcon, 2nd-gen Camaro/Firebird, Monte Carlo.
Also, others mentionned the Datsun 240Z, but we could also check an eye on the European Ford Capri, sold by Lincoln-Mercury dealers in North America, who replicated the Mustang formula for Europe.
Wheels magazine had chosen the Renault 12 as Car of the year in Australia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_12 The R12 got a longer afterlife as the Dacia 1310 who was even offered as a pick-up version until 2006 and a derived version originally planned to be sold as a Willys model in Brazil was sold as the Ford Corcel when Ford acquired Willys do Brasil in the late 1960s.
Oh, yeah, if the 240Z had been built by a domestic manufacturer, it would have been named COTY without a doubt.
The ’70 1/2 “Camarobird” was a great design, a boon to GM and ponycar fans for years to come, and certainly worthy of CCOTY, but I have to mention the 240Z, as it’s my favorite vintage Japanese car. I even did a Mini CC on a 1/18 scale version: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/miniature-curbside-classic-1970-datsun-240z-by-road-signature/
Here’s a shot of my scale version. What a beauty!
My vote for is for the 1970 Porsche 914. I love the 2nd gen Camaro but it didn’t change the market or influence further product trends as much as the 914 did.
The 914 and Datsun Z pretty much created the affordable, reliable sports car segment and dominated it until the segment petered out around 1977. I would argue that had there been no 914 we wouldn’t have seen a Fiero, MR2/S or Boxster. The son of 914, the Boxster, kicked off another sports car revival that again included Nissan, this time with the 350Z.
As for lust factor as a classic car 43 years later, I think most of us would rather spend a nice weekend in a 914 than the equivalent Camaro. There’s a 1.7L on BaT that has been bid up to $9.300 with a day left. For a 1.7L! Nice car.
Now I suppose you could view the 2nd gen Camaro as a “segment of one” car and say… it’s hard to top that!
My nomination for CCOTY would be the 1970 Datsun 240Z…it was an enormous success
and signified that the Japanese were becoming an automotive force to be reconed with.
Few people worship the 2nd-F car more than me (the later ones did not have BOTCHED styling thank you) but I’ve got to go with suzulight.
Over 578,000 Mavericks sold in the 1970 model year which is pretty incredible. I’ve known a few folks that drove them during the seventies and they all said basically the same thing: “I hated it but it just would not die”.
1970 is a tough call. Unlike the previous couple of years there actually were some cars that would have some influence in the next decade. 240Z, Duster, F-body, they all have thier points. But I’m gonna have to go with a vehicle I don’t have much respect for, namely the Mopar E-bodies. “Cuda or Challenger, this car did more to sink Chrysler than even the Deadly Sin Aspen/Volare. Rarely has a manufacturer gotten it so wrong, and done themselves so much harm. Vast sums were spent on a cheesy copy of Chevy’s copycat Camaro, just in time to see the ponycar segment implode. Those funds would soon be badly needed, and because they were not there Chrysler’s already marginal competitive position was hopeless by ’75 or so. They were fast, they were good looking and they were junk. So for ’70, I say they were COTY. Just not in good way.
There are a number of compelling choices for 1970, including the Datsun 240Z, the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, and the Ford Capri.
The Z put Japanese automakers on the sports car map for the first time, issued a savage beating to a lot of British and German rivals, and acquired a real competition pedigree. The Z had its flaws, but what sports car of this era didn’t?
The Monte Carlo finally gave Chevrolet dealers a Thunderbird-style personal car and actually went Ford one better (rare for Chevy in that era) by going for a much lower price bracket. The Monte was also a major step in the birth of the “Brougham Era” that for better or worse dominated Detroit in the ’70s.
The Capri was Europe’s answer to the Mustang. If it didn’t have quite the same impact as the Mustang, being divided among different markets and cultures, it nonetheless had a comparable effect: the mass-market specialty car. V6 Capris had a decent competition pedigree, as well, and were as close as most British and Europe buyers ever got to an American-style muscle car. About a quarter of all Capris were sold here, but it wasn’t nearly as big a deal as it was across the pond, particularly in the U.K.
The Camaro had enduring styling (which did look best in its original iteration), but I’d put it down around fourth.
I’m fascinated by how little attention the Firebird has received in this thread relative to the Camaro. I think the Firebird had the more iconic design. The front end was just lovely, and the rear had a strong hint of the legendary DeTomaso Mangusto. The best American design of the 1970s?
When the most recent-generation Camaro came out I was a little surprised that it was most closely patterned on the 1969, which to my eyes was the least memorable of the early Camaros. Why not the 1970 instead?
It took me a while to come up with a theory: The 1970 doesn’t translate well. The front end has been copied so much that has become banal. The side treatment was too space inefficient to work with a contemporary design. And the back end was too long and tapered to work on the platform GM selected (which, frankly was too long and wide for a real Camaro).
All of that said, I wouldn’t call the 1970 Camaro and Firebird unparalleled classics because they were too big as well. The Ford Capri was more indicative of the industry’s long-term direction.
Ate makes a good point, though: The Z was pivotal in changing the balance of power between Europe and Japan when it came to sports cars. That’s why the Z would be my vote for CCOTY.
The second-generation F-bodies also suffered badly from the cost-cutting that afflicted a lot of contemporary GM cars. A friend of mine had owned a ’69 Camaro, but while he liked the looks of the second-gen cars, he says he was turned off by the cheap and flimsy feel (despite the fact that the F-bodies were really quite heavy).
The Firebird Formula and Trans Am were probably the better-handling cars of the lot — even some British critics were impressed. In terms of looks, I don’t know. The trick is this: The unadorned basic and Esprit Firebirds look a little vacant, especially from the rear; the Trans Am aero kit sets off the body shape better, but is awfully busy. I think the Camaro Z/28, with the ducktail rear spoiler, pulls it off better.
For better or worse I gravitate toward soft curves. Thus I’d take an XKE over a Stingray of the same vintage.
The later-model Firebirds had taillights with more presence, but I do appreciate the Mangusto-like cleanness of the 1970-73. The lower-level Firebirds could use beefier tires and road wheels. Hubcaps and a vinal roof just don’t become this design, which is somewhat unusual for an American car in the 1970s.
Back in the day, I was a huge fan of the outrageous 1969 1/2 Dodge Charger Daytona and the 1970 Plymouth RoadRunner SuperBird. In the fall of 1969, when the Dodge Challenger first appeared, I definitely liked it better than the GM and Ford pony cars. The Challenger seemed just-right for me. Lots of great colors: B-5 blue, Plum Crazy, Hemi Orange, GoMango, Top Banana, and more. To this day, I still have vivid memories of checking out the new cars with my Dad. And then the Challenger T/A with the 340-6 pack engine. Really liked the 1969 and the 1970 Charger, too.
Yet, in retrospect, I’ll give it to the 1970 1/2 Chevy Camaro. It has a seemingly classic great style that has endured(for the 1970-73 models). I’d very much like to have one resto-modded: basically fully restored but with a few minor tasteful modifications and a later day 5.7L and manual transmission.
And, I’ll give honorable mention to the Datsun 240–Z, Chevy Monte Carlo, Plymouth Duster, and perhaps a few others. Theres a lot of cars I liked in 1969 and 1970 and still do. Such as the AMC Javelin and AMX.
I’ll nominate the 1970 Cyclone Spoiler, if for no other reason I had a model of one when I was a kid. They were pretty outrageous at the time! They were slippery, NASCAR proved they were more aerodynamic than the Cobra “sportsroof”. And with the new 429SCJ there was plenty of power.
Even though they have extreme mullet appeal, the 2nd generation F-Body cars have always been my favorite and the 1970 (whatever, 70.5) Camaro was the best of them all, a real beauty. They did go a little sour later on but I even like some of those. I can dig the Firebird up until ’79 and even the Cross-Fire Injection Z28’s with their colorful decals.
Regardless, how could 1970 be anything but the Datsun 240Z?! This was a landmark automobile, something like halfway between a Z28 and an MGB GT. It set the template for the Japanese sports cars of the next 25 years and led to the demise of cars like the MGB and TR-6 – which made up a huge percentage of British sales in the US. The performance was outstanding, the look was timeless and the price was right. I’m sure for many people, this was their first introduction to Japanese cars and you couldn’t ask for a better first impression.