I like the early 70's cars, some of the '80s were okay but smog shit and underpowered engines (compared to the 1960s-early 1970s) made them less exhilarating to drive. The '80s cars were too boxy looking for my taste. I never got too excited about cars unless they had a lot of HP or at least a good power to weight ratio. Generally speaking, I've been a truck guy since 1983.
I couldn't begin to list all the cars/trucks I've had in my life. At least 25 including the 5 I bought new. Currently have the 2007 GMC 2500HD Duramax Diesel 4wd crew cab fully loaded with about 130k miles, Edge Attitude tuner good for about 450HP down pipe, dual 4" MBRP exhaust (up to 24MPG in the summer - highway), 2009 Toyota Tacoma extended cab 4x4 TRD Off Road 6cyl 6speed bone stock for the moment (19MPG) 2006 Saturn Vue Red Line AWD hatch crossover (looks way more sporty than a plain Vue) with 6cyl 250HP Honda engine and auto trans. 0-60 in 6.7 sec, 21MPG. Not bad for a like-new looking shitbox (plastic fenders, door panels = no visible rust). For antiques I have a beautiful red/black 1972 Chevelle SS restomod with a new ZZ502 crate engine that is rated at 505HP on pump gas (~10MPG), cowl induction hood. I might have 500 miles on it since installing the engine 11 years ago. I also have a 1926 Model T open car Pick-Up about 90% restored that I haven't touched in a few years, lost interest.
I do most of my own work on them.
I liked the 73 Duster I had, but it was just a rotten piece of steel. The 225 Slant 6 is probably still going, but that recycled steel body was terrible. Torsion bars ripped out of the subframes because of rot, and literally, the back seat fell out because of rust in the body pan. It had 70,000 on it when I got rid of it. When I got it, it had 50,000 on it, still had the original spare.
The other 70s car, the 79 Aspen, it had a 318 with a TF904 transmission. That transmission was garbage and I tried a couple under it before it just got old and I had to get something that ran. The 318 in it wasn't terrible, even though it had that early computer system on it. Just smoked like a train when you started it, but it ran well enough.
The 86 I had was a piece of shit, but I have to admit, that garbage 90° V6 it had ran well, even if it had the power of no.
Old Dodge/Chryslers were unibody IIRC. They didn't fare well in rust belt areas. The 318 and slant 6 were some of their best utilitarian engines, last forever with regular maintenance.
I always had the hots for the '69-'70 Barracuda's. Gorgeous body design. I never owned a Dodge/Chrysler ... My best friend has a '71 Challenger with a 383 ... sweet ride but my Saturn Vue Red Line could probably take it 0-60.
It doesn't sound like you have had a lot of fun with your cars. I know what it was like back in my teens and early 20s. One car to get around in and every month something else broke ... and I was near broke. Then there was the rust and praying it would pass inspection each year. I guess that is why I embraced new vehicles once I could afford them. I had had my fill of driving on hopes and prayers.
I have fun with my two modern cars, they're standards but have the amenities of a modern vehicle. Last trip I took was jumping on US22 and winding though the hillsides of Ohio.
You are absolutely correct, the Chryslers didn't fare well at all, body wise. But the Slant that was in the one probably ended up on a tractor, that's what a lot of them in the area I grew up did when the car rotted away. Fortunately no inspection here, but I enjoy not having to fix something every day. The Focus gets it's regular maintenance and that's about it.
I'm a mopar man myself with a fleet of 'em. 70 bb duster , rams, jeeps, dodges, you name it.
I never had much problem with the engines, the transmissions were junk tho. The Slant 6 would get cold sitting at idle on a 90° day. Wonderful engine, stupid thing is probably still running somewhere.
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