We just love hatchbacks.
The 1972 Chevrolet Vega Panel was basically a delivery vehicle hatchback. It was a way to save on initial cost, maintenance, gasoline (it got 25 MPG) and insurance. It was slightly over 14 feet long and had a turning radius of 33 feet.
1972 Chevrolet Vega Panel
1972 Chevrolet Vega Panel
In 1976, The Mercury Capri II Ghia was Car & Driver’s “Super Coupe Of The Year” choice (even though it was a hatchback). It was styled by Ghia of Italy and was beautifully practical. With the rear seats folded down, there is over 22-cubic feet of storage. The “Decor” option featured individually folding rear seats, and had standard features such as deep and comfortable front bucket seats, color-keyed carpeting throughout and full instrumentation. It had a 4-speed manual transmission, rack-and-pinion steering, MacPherson strut front suspension, solid state ignition, power disc front disc brakes and steel belted radial ply tires.The 2.3 liter overhead cam engine averaged 18 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway. You could get an optional 2.8 liter V6, Select-Shift automatic transmission, air conditioning, power steering and unique sunroof that tilts to allow outside air to circulate, electric rear window defroster and washer/wiper and vinyl luggage cover.
1976 Mercury Capri II Ghia
1976 Mercury Capri II Ghia
The Gremlin was promoted as a sporty, fun-to-drive car, but the 1978 AMC Gremlin GT was a snappy new version that was a bit more racy looking. From the color keyed and pinstriped front air dam right back to the pinstriped fender flares. It had GT spoke-styled wheels with trim rings, DR 70×14 outline white-letter steel belted radial tires, front sway bar, GT body side stripe, body-color bumper guards and nerfing strips, dual black mirrors and much more, all standard. It had plenty of indoor sportiness too, with standard features like a brushed aluminum instrument panel with rally instrumentaion and tachometer, soft-feel vinyl bucket seats, sport steering wheel and extra quiet insulation, to name just a few.
1978 AMC Gremlin GT
The Chevrolet Chevette was introduced in September 1975 and manufactured from 1976-1987. This 1981 Chevette hatchback is just one of 433,000 produced that year, which included the EST (Electronic Spark Timing) option, a one year only feature. Low-end torque and fuel economy was also improved with the addition of a new engine cylinder head design and achieved around 29 MPG. (image source: John Lloyd)
1981 Chevrolet Chevette
Here is a quick look at some beautiful Volkswagen MK1 Golfs shot by Josh Holdsworth. We especially like the gold wheels.
Volkswagen MK-1 Golf
vw mk1 golf from Josh Holdsworth on Vimeo.
The 1976 Pontiac Astre Estate was a small 3-door hatch in the form of a baby wagon with an overall length of just 177.6 inches and a wheelbase of 97 inches.
1976 Pontiac Astre Estate
This version of the Kadett started in 1973 and was produced until 1979, but the 1975 Opel Kadett City (based on the Chevette) didn’t appear until August of that year. (image source: John Lloyd)
1975 Opel Kadett City
If you like the looks of the 1979 Vauxhall Chevette Black Magic then you’ll really like how it goes because lurking under the bonnet is a 2279cc single cam engine coupled to a close-ratio five speed Gertrag gearbox, similar to that in the Chevette 2300HS.
The single cam engine is standard production form delivered 118 BHP and had achieved a string of of victories at championship levels in its more powerful rally version. Inside, the level of luxury was promoted as “decadent” with front seats that were contoured in real leather, the dashboard was styled in real wood and the carpet was so thick that “your feet disapear”. The stereo/radio was said to put home systems to shame with individually tunable speakers in the doors. It was probably the most luxurious small car on the road at the time. (image source: John Lloyd)
1979 Vauxhall Chevette Black Magic
1979 Vauxhall Chevette Black Magic
1979 Vauxhall Chevette Black Magic interior
The 1979 Volvo 66 3-door estate was introduced in August 1975, almost exactly a year after Volvo bought DAF, and was almost an exact duplicate of the DAF 66 with the exception of new seat featuring headrests, a safety steering wheel, doors with side impact bars, a “park” mode, and a few other features. It was produced (in conjunction with a saloon version) from 1975 to 1980 and its peak HP was 57PS. (image source: John Lloyd)
1979 Volvo 66 3-door estate
Another example of badge engineering is this 1978 Simca Horizon GL, which was produced by Chrysler Europe and sold as Simca, Dodge, Plymouth and Talbot. (image source: John Lloyd)
1978 Simca Horizon GL
The 1978 Simca Horizon LS was produced from 1978 and 1986. It came in varied version, but more importantly, since it was produced by Chrysler Europe, it massively re-badged as Simca, Dodge, Plymouth and Talbot. (image source: John Lloyd)
1978 Simca Horizon LS
A 1974 Honda Civic is a rare bird these days, but to see one with what Honda called “Vinyl Roof Decor” is almost unheard of. This vehicle has and assortment of exclusive accessories only available thru a dealership. Two different styles of the Vinyl Roof Decor where available. A full vinyl roof with decorative moving (shown below) or a vinyl halo for a simple rooftop accent. Both were constructed of heavy duty cloth-backed vinyl. It also includes a rear window defroster controlled from the dashboard, Special decal stripping available in black or white, for that racy look, body side moulding made of vinyl mounted on extruded aluminum, a chrome plated luggage rack permanently affixed to the roof and Mag-Style wheels constructed of heat treated aluminum for extra strength. (image source: John Lloyd)
1974 Honda Civic
The Lada Taiga, which was also known as the Niva and Sport (just to name a few) was sold in Austria and built by Soviet/Russian automaker AvtoVAZ. It is still in production today. (image source: John Lloyd)
1977 Lada Taiga
1977 Lada Taiga
Taiga logo
The 1974 Chevrolet Vega GT Hatchback wasn’t too different than the previous year. Just a few trim and interior changes.
1974 Chevrolet Vega GT Hatchback
There seems to be a “circle” theme implemented into the front-wheel drive Fiat Ritmo, from the cool round door handles to the the round headlights, all the way down to the round-tipped bars on the wheels. It was launched in 1978 and styled by Bertone of Italy. This 65 CL had a 1.3 Liter engine that produced 64 bhp.
1978 Fiat Ritmo