16th Jul 2014, 10:48

I totally agree with you there, GM started to slip by 71, even the difference between a 71 to a 70 Deville is noticeable in quality. The vinyl tops and exterior trim was also pretty cheap feeling on the 71-73 Devilles, as GM used pot metal that easily could bend, instead of stainless steel that was used in the 60's.

I remember when driving my 72 Cad, and a dark red Lincoln Mark V parked directly in front of my Caddy at a shopping mall where I live (to show me up perhaps). To my surprise and heartache, the Lincoln completely outclassed the Cad, and it had so much more presence than my Sedan Deville. The Mark V's super long hood, blocky and stately appearance with all the chrome, made the Caddy look wimpy. I loved the Mark V's ever since that moment.

Lincoln knew they were never going to catch up to Cadillac in sales, so their lower sales volume actually help them to build better cars that were more carefully put together and made Lincolns more exclusive to own. GM had more plants, and manpower than Ford, and had gotten way too big by then. Generous union pay outs hit GM's bottom line and sorta forced them to cut cost, which affected their vehicle quality.

Not sure where Cadillac's were built, but Lincolns from 1958-80's where all built at the Wixom plant, and nowhere else. So quality control was really good, and Lincoln didn't share many parts with Ford vehicles until the later 70's and 80's. I'm a GM guy, and personally never really have like Fords until I owned Lincolns. So from experience, Lincolns from the 60's-70's do feel more unique and special compared to a Cadillac, plus they have more character. They are great cars, people just didn't realize what they had back then, and how these older classics are so much better than what is being produced today in Detroit when it comes to size and magnificent styling. Ah the good ole days.