Oh, how I wanted a '77 Monte Carlo......just a kid and couldn't afford it with a part-time high school job........The thing is, I still can't afford one today......
@@cinrambrad Welcome to the club! I was a couple of years out of high school, working full time. Went to look at cars with a friend. Found a new, black on black 77 Monte Carlo that was loaded with the 454. The salesman was willing to give me a good price because I had a 73 Impala to trade. I still regret not doing it.
Thank you once again for another great video. I enjoying seeing the American and Australian coupes. Many of them had great styling too. I liked the fact you covered the world and did the cars in this segment globally. I know that Dodge Magnum was used for NASCAR racing. It is interesting how some of the model names changed and progressed with him.
I love the information ℹ️ esp the length wheelbase and weight It puts things in perspective Heavier longer cars required larger engines which burn more fuel ⛽ Kinda like the SUVs of today Square blobs of metal with enormous appetite for fuel
My Dad had one of those Thunderbirds that you show in the video back in the late 70s. I thought it was a nice looking car, and some of our neighbors actually thought it was a Lincoln! Unfortunately Dad changed cars quite often back then, as he was getting cars from his employer, so I don't think we had the T-bird longer than a year, but it was one of the nicer looking cars we had at that time, IMO.
Sadly, if you wanted performance during this time you had to opt for the European imports. My how times had changed one decade removed from American muscle cars. Great video as always, HCG. Merry Christmas! 🎁 🎄
Merry Christmas. Performance was certainly not the strong point of these cars, or of the era, but when you were cruising along the freeway you didn't really care.
I miss the days when you could get actual interior colors other than gray, maybe tan, or that infection of dark grey and dog pile brown inserts (a combination that has never worked visually). I grew up in this era having been born in the early 60's and remember these beautiful luxury vehicles. Yes, they weren't fast. But no one has ever built cars this quiet and with smooth rides like these pieces of Detroit Iron. I was always amazed at how many versions of the Ford Torino and Chrysler mid-sized cars that both companies managed to make in the 1970's. I just love those down-sized T-Birds of that era. And what cannot be liked about those similar era Cutlass and Grand Prix models? Not a fan of the Buick or Chevrolet versions. And those two door Matado fastbacks were hideous from any angle. Looked too wide on too narrow a track and that hideous front and rear end. What a waste.
I have a soft spot for these cars, having owned a few and enjoyed every one. The Matador wasn't much to look at, but it did have an aero advantage in NASCAR.
some of these existed from the late 1950s or early 1960s Buick Century/Regal Ford Thunderbird/Lincoln Continental Cadillac Series 62 Eldorado/Deville Pontiac grand prix Parisienne Starchief Bonneville etc. oh and the Chevrolet Bel Air/Impala and later in the 60s Caprice which at one point had 6 body styles 2 door coupe /convertible Sedan Wagon and 4 door sedan/wagon although the convertible was only produced for 3 yrs in the early/mid 1970s and only a small number were produced around 23,000 over those 3 years when the Caprice itself sold 416,000 units in the US in those 3 yrs
Multiple body styles carried well into the 1980s, but is almost unheard of today. But in the late 70s a platform was used across brands and market segments, with multiple 2-door variations..
@@thehopelesscarguy I was only a young kid at the end of the 80s so I don' t remember some of those unless family members or friends drove one ex Buick Skylark had 2 door coupe 2 door sedan 2 door Wagon 4 door sedan 4 door wagon I remember that because my late maternal grandmother drove a v6 equipped Skylark limited 4 door sedan from 88-90 she traded it for a Toyota Camry DX on presidents day weekend 1990 she paid 9,300 due to trade in and presidents day incentives and her monthly payment was 193.75 per month
The writing was clearly on the wall for the US auto makers. You could buy a BMW633csi for the same or lower price than some of these barges. I know the decline of the big 3 is a complicated matter, but this lineup surely gave a hint of what was to come
The 460 powered Mark V, especially with the dual exhaust, did as well. The slow numbers the narrator gave seem to be quoted from a vintage test from I think Road and Track of a '79, with the 400 only available, detuned to 159 horsepower, and 2.47 rear end. A 1977-78 with a 460 had 208-210 horsepower with single exhaust, and the dual exhaust cars probably had another 20 horsepower, though it was never officially rated. A 460 powered Mark V with the optional dual exhaust and the optional 3.00 rear was not slow.
Most of those American cars were ugly and looked the same...jeez. Now I know where Ford got the design for the 80s ThunderBird...from the late 70s BMW...
You do not seem to understand that a coupe is ALWAYS a PERSONAL vehicle, AND it MAY BE EITHER SPORTY OR LUXURIOUS, OR neither, as most ugly pieces of crap you showed. NO serious person can say, with a straight face, that ANY of the US-made coupes here, EVEN the Caddy and the Lincoln, are TRUE Luxury coupes (and of course they are not sporty). I know the 77 Lincoln quite well, a wealthy but illiterate friend of mine had one, and he really babied it. I was AMAZED how TINY its interior was, it wass SHEER TORTURE when I had to sit in the back. The ONLY TRUE luxury coupe you showed was the ROLLS CORNICHE (and its Bentley twin you did not show). The Bristol was expensive and had a nice interior but the exterior was weird and ugly, as you can see.
“Personal luxury coupe” was an American industry-produced label for a specific market segment and was never meant nor viewed as connoting comparisons to ultra luxury vehicles such as Rolls or Bentley.
In the early post war era a "Personal Coupe" was used to describe a sports car that was too well equipped to be considered a "true" sports car. Such as the original Thunderbird. Much like the way "GT" is used in the same way today. Correct or not.
Great video! The personal luxury coupe is one of my favorite body styles of the 70's.
The OLDS CUTLASS was one of the BEST SELLING vehicles in the 70’s. Merry Christmas and Happy New year!
Yes it was. Merry Christmas and Happy New year!
Great video! The Monte Carlo and Eldorado were my dream cars of the 70’s. The Monte Carlo was the king of personal luxury cars!
Mine too. 72 Monte Carlo and 72 Eldorado. A couple of the most beautiful cars ever produced. I can't leave out the 69 to 72 Gran Prix.
Oh, how I wanted a '77 Monte Carlo......just a kid and couldn't afford it with a part-time high school job........The thing is, I still can't afford one today......
@@cinrambrad Welcome to the club! I was a couple of years out of high school, working full time. Went to look at cars with a friend. Found a new, black on black 77 Monte Carlo that was loaded with the 454. The salesman was willing to give me a good price because I had a 73 Impala to trade. I still regret not doing it.
@ I know what you mean, today a 77 Monte in excellent condition can cost upwards of $20,000
Thank you once again for another great video. I enjoying seeing the American and Australian coupes. Many of them had great styling too. I liked the fact you covered the world and did the cars in this segment globally. I know that Dodge Magnum was used for NASCAR racing. It is interesting how some of the model names changed and progressed with him.
Wonderful episode, full of interesting data and resplendent with the best eye candy on RUclips. Merry Christmas, HCG, and thanks for the lovely gift!
Merry Christmas, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Good old days >>>>
Before dechroming and black whels tookover !
And ugly grey paint that makes your car look like a Navy warship. :(
These american personal luxury coupes of late 70s was the last true american cars and interesting cars
Enjoyed seeing all the different personal luxury coupes I never about
I love the information ℹ️
esp the length wheelbase and weight
It puts things in perspective
Heavier longer cars required larger engines which burn more fuel ⛽
Kinda like the SUVs of today
Square blobs of metal with enormous appetite for
fuel
My Dad had one of those Thunderbirds that you show in the video back in the late 70s. I thought it was a nice looking car, and some of our neighbors actually thought it was a Lincoln! Unfortunately Dad changed cars quite often back then, as he was getting cars from his employer, so I don't think we had the T-bird longer than a year, but it was one of the nicer looking cars we had at that time, IMO.
I’d like a Cougar right about now
I understand.
LAN-cha. Great video.
Thanks.
my favorite style car. 74 Grand Prix FTW!
Sadly, if you wanted performance during this time you had to opt for the European imports. My how times had changed one decade removed from American muscle cars. Great video as always, HCG. Merry Christmas! 🎁 🎄
Merry Christmas. Performance was certainly not the strong point of these cars, or of the era, but when you were cruising along the freeway you didn't really care.
At the time we opted for the economy motors, now we want these with the 6.6.
I miss the days when you could get actual interior colors other than gray, maybe tan, or that infection of dark grey and dog pile brown inserts (a combination that has never worked visually). I grew up in this era having been born in the early 60's and remember these beautiful luxury vehicles. Yes, they weren't fast. But no one has ever built cars this quiet and with smooth rides like these pieces of Detroit Iron. I was always amazed at how many versions of the Ford Torino and Chrysler mid-sized cars that both companies managed to make in the 1970's. I just love those down-sized T-Birds of that era. And what cannot be liked about those similar era Cutlass and Grand Prix models? Not a fan of the Buick or Chevrolet versions. And those two door Matado fastbacks were hideous from any angle. Looked too wide on too narrow a track and that hideous front and rear end. What a waste.
I have a soft spot for these cars, having owned a few and enjoyed every one. The Matador wasn't much to look at, but it did have an aero advantage in NASCAR.
some of these existed from the late 1950s or early 1960s Buick Century/Regal Ford Thunderbird/Lincoln Continental Cadillac Series 62 Eldorado/Deville Pontiac grand prix Parisienne Starchief Bonneville etc. oh and the Chevrolet Bel Air/Impala and later in the 60s Caprice which at one point had 6 body styles 2 door coupe /convertible Sedan Wagon and 4 door sedan/wagon although the convertible was only produced for 3 yrs in the early/mid 1970s and only a small number were produced around 23,000 over those 3 years when the Caprice itself sold 416,000 units in the US in those 3 yrs
Multiple body styles carried well into the 1980s, but is almost unheard of today. But in the late 70s a platform was used across brands and market segments, with multiple 2-door variations..
@@thehopelesscarguy I was only a young kid at the end of the 80s so I don' t remember some of those unless family members or friends drove one ex Buick Skylark had 2 door coupe 2 door sedan 2 door Wagon 4 door sedan 4 door wagon I remember that because my late maternal grandmother drove a v6 equipped Skylark limited 4 door sedan from 88-90 she traded it for a Toyota Camry DX on presidents day weekend 1990 she paid 9,300 due to trade in and presidents day incentives and her monthly payment was 193.75 per month
Holy overhangs, Batman.
There was that.
The writing was clearly on the wall for the US auto makers. You could buy a BMW633csi for the same or lower price than some of these barges. I know the decline of the big 3 is a complicated matter, but this lineup surely gave a hint of what was to come
But this is where the money was at the time.
Pontiac Gran Prix and Oldsmobile Cutlass - the only ones to surpass 120 mph
The 460 powered Mark V, especially with the dual exhaust, did as well. The slow numbers the narrator gave seem to be quoted from a vintage test from I think Road and Track of a '79, with the 400 only available, detuned to 159 horsepower, and 2.47 rear end. A 1977-78 with a 460 had 208-210 horsepower with single exhaust, and the dual exhaust cars probably had another 20 horsepower, though it was never officially rated. A 460 powered Mark V with the optional dual exhaust and the optional 3.00 rear was not slow.
17 1/4 de MILHAS 😂😂😂
É ÓTIMO ESTAMOS NO BRASIL
FALE EM Km/h
Falem em QUILÔMETROS POR HORA
Most of those American cars were ugly and looked the same...jeez. Now I know where Ford got the design for the 80s ThunderBird...from the late 70s BMW...
You do not seem to understand that a coupe is ALWAYS a PERSONAL vehicle, AND it MAY BE EITHER SPORTY OR LUXURIOUS, OR neither, as most ugly pieces of crap you showed.
NO serious person can say, with a straight face, that ANY of the US-made coupes here, EVEN the Caddy and the Lincoln, are TRUE Luxury coupes (and of course they are not sporty).
I know the 77 Lincoln quite well, a wealthy but illiterate friend of mine had one, and he really babied it. I was AMAZED how TINY its interior was, it wass SHEER TORTURE when I had to sit in the back.
The ONLY TRUE luxury coupe you showed was the ROLLS CORNICHE (and its Bentley twin you did not show).
The Bristol was expensive and had a nice interior but the exterior was weird and ugly, as you can see.
“Personal luxury coupe” was an American industry-produced label for a specific market segment and was never meant nor viewed as connoting comparisons to ultra luxury vehicles such as Rolls or Bentley.
In the early post war era a "Personal Coupe" was used to describe a sports car that was too well equipped to be considered a "true" sports car. Such as the original Thunderbird. Much like the way "GT" is used in the same way today. Correct or not.
anastassio : I bet I'd be able to easily pick you out in a crowd! You would be the snooty uppity person that everyone was trying to walk away from.