5th Mar 2016, 05:48
I was driving 2 pretty cool cars during the excessive 80s era. Thought my 450 SL 2 Top Roadster and Datsun 280ZX 2+2 white with dark glass T Tops were especially classy at the time. Guess it's a personal choice about what had class in that era. I couldn't find a domestic that really appealed to me then. Now we have 4.
10th Mar 2016, 22:43
You're SO right! Cars from, um, "today's era"(?) do not have nearly as much fake wood and plastic "chrome" trim in their interiors, and what little there is does not look anywhere as bogus as they did 30 years ago! Why, in some cars now the wood trim was once actually part of a tree -- can you believe it?
11th Mar 2016, 21:57
Gotta love today's interiors. Bluetooth, navigation screens, touch screens and many others to distract drivers from keeping their eyes on the road, and they cost a slew of money when they break.
Not to mention a whopping choice of 4 colors to choose from, leather with the texture of cardboard and headliners made of rubber... Enjoy!
12th Mar 2016, 06:05
I always found the 1973-1977 Pontiac Grand Prix to be attractive looking, and owned a '77 as a classic.
The '73 actually used real wood trim on the dash and door panels. Does that mean the '73 was classy and the '74-'77 wasn't?
12th Mar 2016, 17:25
Wood trim, genuine or fake, has nothing to do with my comment about looking classy. What I meant was the design of the dash, the speedometer, its chrome or chrome painted plastic surrounds, should I say. Its interior design in my opinion looks classy compared to Fords or GM, or even other Chryslers of the day. Even its (fake) wire wheel covers on white walls suited it, which IMO were the best wire wheel covers ever manufactured that almost looked like real wire wheels.
The overall design with the flat roof and upright wind shield, and not to mention the nice long hood and trunk, even though interior space was not great for its overall length, but that's what it's all about, its classy flaws.
13th Mar 2016, 06:21
I too like the '78 - '80 Grand Prix; I always referred those as the forgotten years, because that style only lasted for 3 years before a facelift. By the way, 1979 was still considered an "A" body; 1982 was the first year of the "G" body on the same platform. The "A" body was changed to the front wheel drive Chevy Celebrity style family of cars. Why GM did this, I don't know.
13th Mar 2016, 21:26
So, navigation screens and Bluetooth "distract drivers", do they?
Yeah, much better trying to read a road map while holding a cell phone and driving all at the same time, right?
13th Mar 2016, 22:52
Flat roof, now we're are getting somewhere ha ha. Everything built since the mid nineties I think anyway has had curved roofs that try to make all cars look like coupes.
I say bring back the traditional American car design with squareness and blade fenders that only an American car had the rights to employ, and put in a reasonable fuel efficient engine and we are onto a winner. Bring back the traditional American design car designers PLEASE.
13th Mar 2016, 23:59
Shouldn't be using a cell phone while driving either. If you have to read a map? Pull over to the side of the road.
14th Mar 2016, 13:48
Again, the G-body name was first used in 1982. Show me one of these limited editions from late '79 onward.
14th Mar 2016, 17:19
Way to completely miss the point, which was to rebut the allegation that built-in navigation and hands-free phone usage "distract drivers", by comparing them to the way things USED to be.
Yeah, everybody should pull off the road before trying to read (or fold) a road map, or use a cell phone, but realistically... ain't gonna happen!
14th Mar 2016, 17:46
One thing I liked about the Fifth Avenue and even more so in the Diplomat and Gran Fury duplicates, were its honest looking design It just said it all in its era. Hey I am a Chrysler Corp, old fashioned design and old fashioned underpinnings, would not do a bad turn to no one, + I am a dependable 5 litre iron V8 + I am definitely not materialistic, and unlike my fellow Americans or imports, I can more than handle myself, what with my Torqueflite Auto and leaf springs, I may like the beer, but I am totally indestructible.
Now to be honest, I had a Diplomat SE, and talking about neglecting it, I did just that, and I deem to be questioned about it on Judgment Day, but I know in my heart, for the times it was built in and for DRIVING AND SITTING IN IT, IN THESE MORE THAN TRYING TIMES, IT MAKES ME FEEL MORE HUMAN. Am I sad or what.
14th Mar 2016, 20:36
Whatever you say! My current car is a '96 domestic luxury model and has none of that, and if it did I would probably never use it. Next time just be a little more direct to the point, just like your statement that nobody would ever pull to the side of the road. I agree on that one.
14th Mar 2016, 23:34
Incorrect. They were G bodies prior to 1982 and switched to A bodies at that point. M bodies were not associated with this model.
15th Mar 2016, 12:01
Apples to oranges. G and A bodies are GM; M bodies are Chrysler. This all started because 6:05 decided to bring up a 1970s Pontiac in a thread about 1980's Chryslers, whatever.
15th Mar 2016, 13:38
OK the Buick Regal/Century, Olds Cutlass Supreme/Calais, Chevy Monte Carlo/Malibu, Pontiac Grans Prix/LeMans. These were all labeled "A" bodies from their downsize in 1978-1981. A lot of people will call these "G" bodies, but technically they are not. Then in 1982 - early 1988 the same platform was switched to the "G" body name, except the LeMans & Century, which were discontinued in rear drive form after '81 and the Malibu after '83. The "A" body platform switched to a totally new front drive car beginning in 1983 and included the Chevy Celebrity, Olds Ciera, Pontiac 6000, and Buick Century.
Look this info up and numerous sources will explain the same thing. Before this turns into another argument going around in circles of cars that don't exist such as a "G-body Buick Lucerne made from '79-'83 in very limited quantities" which somebody tried to claim on a different thread a while ago.
3rd Mar 2016, 17:19
If you define "classy" as plenty of fake wood and plastic chrome, then yes.
To be fair, none of the other domestic manufacturers from that era were much better though.