MGB GT Sports : 1978

1978 MGB GT Sports

With the 1978 MGB GT Sports, you could reach a top speed of around 100 mph and cruise comfortably at over 90 mph, but with the fitted overdrive, it also meat the 1998cc engine got you 41.1 mpg.

This was a surprisingly spacious car, beautifully appointed with thick carpet everywhere, even in the luggage compartment and the contoured rake-adjusting front seats were covered in an attractive striped fabric.

The MG MGB GT had an impressive 9.6 cubic feet of flat, easily accessible loading space. This has been one of my favorite hatches for some time.

1978 MGB GT Sports

Renault Le-Car : 1979

1979 Renault Le-Car

The 1979 Renault Le-Car, which dominated its class in racing in 1977 had front wheel drive, rack and pinion steering, four wheel independent suspension and Michelin steel-belted radials as standard. It achieved 41 MPG highway and 26 MPG city.

1979 Renault Le-Car

Datsun 510 : 1978

1978 Datsun 510

The 1978 Datsun 510 hatchback was sporty and compact and had rare features like side-window defoggers. It was equipped with MacPherson strut front suspension for a nimble ride, a 5-speed stick for agile performance and achieved 35mpg on the highway and 25mpg in the city.

1978 Datsun 510

1978 Datsun 510 details

Toyota Startlet : 1978

1978 Toyota Startlet

This 1978 Toyota Startlet looks like most of the hatchbacks of the era. With the exception of the front end. It’s very similar to cars like the Volkswagen Rabbit, to name just one. (image source: John Lloyd)

1978 Toyota Startlet

1978 Toyota Startlet bumper, hatch and stick shift

 

Datsun Cherry 120A Coupe : 1973

1973 Datsun Cherry 120A Coupe

This 1973 Datsun Cherry 120A Coupe (hatchback) has got to have the best “car ass” ever. The rear vent (which I have to assume is fake) looks like the ones people now buy at the K-Mart auto parts section and stick them on their cars, often in triplicate. (image source: John Lloyd)

1973 Datsun Cherry 120A Coupe

Datsun Cherry Estate : 1973

1973 Datsun Cherry Estate

For as attractive as I find this 1973 Datsun Cherry Estate, there is nothing “estate” about it. It’s just a very cool hatch that looks very much like the original Honda Civics. (image source: John Lloyd)

1973 Datsun Cherry Estate

Datsun Cherry F-II : 1976

1976 Datsun Cherry F-II

Offcially, this 1976 Datsun Cherry F-II was called a coupe, but as you can clearly see, the rear opens like a hatch, which makes it a hatchback in my book. The 1977 Datsun Cherry FII Hatchback looked very different, but I like them both. (image source: John Lloyd)

1976 Datsun Cherry F-II

1976 Datsun Cherry F-II

 

Vauxhall Cavalier Sports 2000 Hatch : 1978

1978 Vauxhall Cavalier Sports 2000 Hatch

In 1978, a three-door hatchback known as the Vauxhall Cavalier Sports 2000 Hatch was added to the range. It sold for £3473.

1978 Vauxhall Cavalier Sports 2000 Hatch

Pontiac Astre : 1974

1974 Pontiac Astre Hatchback GT

The 1974 Astre Hatchback GT from Pontiac was their Canadian built small economy car (which was a Vega with Pontiac trim) available only in Canada from 1973 to 1974, but was then brought to the US in 1975. Its lightweight aluminum engine was easy on gas. The interior included Premier plaid cloth and vinyl trim on deep full-foam seats. It came in three models, the hatchback shown here, as well as a coupe and a Safari station-wagon.

1974 Pontiac Astre Hatchback GT

AMC Pacer DL : 1979

1979 AMC Pacer DL

The 1979 AMC Pacer DL was a package that included a more upscale edition of Pacer, and was available for the entire run of the car becoming the “base” model in 1978. This package was more “luxurious” including, originally, a “Navajo-design” seating fabric and a woodgrain instrument panel as well as a few interior features that were optional without it. The exterior received additional chrome accents, different wheelcovers, and identification badging. 1979-1980 saw a hood ornament and center chrome strip down the hood. (image source: eBay)

1979 AMC Pacer DL

1979 AMC Pacer DL

 

1979 AMC Pacer DL

 

1979 AMC Pacer DL interior

Datsun B210 Hatchback : 1976

1976 Datsun B210 Hatchback

The 1976 Datsun B210 Hatchback got 41 mpg highway and 29 city. It had a 1400cc high cam engine, matched to a durable 4-speed manual transmission, with an optional 3-speed automatic also available. It had standard fully reclining bucket seats and power assist front disc brakes.

1976 Datsun B210 Hatchback

1976 Datsun B210 Hatchback

 

AMC Hornet X Hatchback : 1976

1976 AMC Hornet X Hatchback

The 1976 V6 powered AMC Hornet X Hatchback came with slot-styled steel wheels, rally stripes, and sports steering wheel.

1976 AMC Hornet X Hatchback

Ford Mustang II Mach 1 hatchback : 1975

1975 Ford Mustang II Mach 1 hatchback

The 1975 Ford Mustang II Mach 1 hatchback, with it’s (code 2B) bright Red and racy styling said “driving fun starts here”. Ford promoted its 2.8 liter V6 as “authoritative”, and had a 4-speed manual to back it up.

1975 Ford Mustang II Mach 1 hatchback

Chevrolet Nova Hatchback : 1974

1974 Chevrolet Nova Hatchback

The 1974 Chevrolet Nova Hatchback (pictured here in front of a 1962 Chevy II Nova Sedan) boasted a new and improved hydraulic bumper system with the economy of a six-cylinder engine.

1974 Chevrolet Nova Hatchback

1974 Chevrolet Nova Hatchback

1974 Chevrolet Nova Hatchback