1980 quality cars?

Blmpkn

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2021
Threads
30
Messages
1,220
Reaction score
3,221
Location
Maine
Vehicle(s)
2010 ranger
Great point! Everyone knows for a fact that the " panther" platform cars were among the best fullsized cars in the world ( nearly every police car and taxi in North America)
The claim was that the car was at fault for being rear ended more than normal, it was not a question of build integrity.
Well, As a result of their service.....way too many squad cars get rear ended during traffic stops (even with their lights blaring) by morons playing with their.....Phones?
Taxis as well from picking up passengers curbside!
None of that was fault of the car.
The panthers would get rear ended and catch fire until ford started installing a plastic tank shield or something.
Sponsored

 

Progeny2021

Banned
Banned
First Name
Joe
Joined
Oct 20, 2021
Threads
24
Messages
1,211
Reaction score
2,678
Location
Charlotte, NC
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ranger Lariat Super Crew Cab
Occupation
Retired
Say what you will about the Chevette. Few knew of the special COPO program for the Chevette. If one knew the right people....order code was OI812....

f10909158addfca86d9a893fd72bcea9.jpeg
Found this - couldn't resist. Only if GM had the political will back in 1976.....
 

OrangeStreak

Well-Known Member
First Name
Paul
Joined
Aug 18, 2020
Threads
30
Messages
2,658
Reaction score
11,062
Location
Southwest
Vehicle(s)
2020 SCab STX 4X4 Towing Pkg. BFG K02's 265/70/17
Occupation
Retired. MTS degree. ANG veteran. 2nd Amendment supporter.

Progeny2021

Banned
Banned
First Name
Joe
Joined
Oct 20, 2021
Threads
24
Messages
1,211
Reaction score
2,678
Location
Charlotte, NC
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ranger Lariat Super Crew Cab
Occupation
Retired


Progeny2021

Banned
Banned
First Name
Joe
Joined
Oct 20, 2021
Threads
24
Messages
1,211
Reaction score
2,678
Location
Charlotte, NC
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ranger Lariat Super Crew Cab
Occupation
Retired

Rviator

Well-Known Member
First Name
Doug
Joined
Apr 30, 2019
Threads
20
Messages
447
Reaction score
868
Location
FLA
Vehicle(s)
A 2019 Ford Ranger of course, and a 2015 Yamaha YZF-R3
Occupation
retired aerospace engineer
Vehicle Showcase
1
The first new car I ever purchased was a special order 1980 Pontiac Firebird Turbo Formula. It's still my favorite, if only I still had it.
Firebird.jpeg
 

Progeny2021

Banned
Banned
First Name
Joe
Joined
Oct 20, 2021
Threads
24
Messages
1,211
Reaction score
2,678
Location
Charlotte, NC
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ranger Lariat Super Crew Cab
Occupation
Retired
The first new car I ever purchased was a special order 1980 Pontiac Firebird Turbo Formula. It's still my favorite, if only I still had it.
Firebird.jpeg
Could it be?!?! Platt Pontiac on Phillips Hwy in Jacksonville (after they moved to the previous North Florida Lincoln-Mercury location) had a similar 1981 Formula that I'm still in love with -- can't help but wonder what happened to this very beautiful car.

American 'automobile public' had become a 'low expectation' car consuming public by this time. I'm still a huge fan of the 1982 Corvette 'Special Edition'....

ebay145882156093595.jpeg
 

Rviator

Well-Known Member
First Name
Doug
Joined
Apr 30, 2019
Threads
20
Messages
447
Reaction score
868
Location
FLA
Vehicle(s)
A 2019 Ford Ranger of course, and a 2015 Yamaha YZF-R3
Occupation
retired aerospace engineer
Vehicle Showcase
1
Could it be?!?! Platt Pontiac on Phillips Hwy in Jacksonville (after they moved to the previous North Florida Lincoln-Mercury location) had a similar 1981 Formula that I'm still in love with -- can't help but wonder what happened to this very beautiful car.

American 'automobile public' had become a 'low expectation' car consuming public by this time. I'm still a huge fan of the 1982 Corvette 'Special Edition'....

ebay145882156093595.jpeg
Maybe they saw mine LOL.
I bought it in Wichita KS at a GMC/Pontiac/Mercedes dealership.
When I went to pick it up my salesman couldn't find it. We rode a golf cart all over the lots and finally spotted it. It was parked outside right in front of the Mercedes showroom!
I felt a lot better about spending so much money on it after that as it looked good next to the Benz's.
 

JohnnyO

Well-Known Member
First Name
Jon
Joined
Apr 8, 2021
Threads
21
Messages
1,514
Reaction score
4,429
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ranger STX 4x4
Occupation
Asst. Greenskeeper, Bushwood Country Club
70's and 80's cars weren't bad because of inflation, they were bad because they were bad.
I'm old and remember things, also I was a salesman at an Oldsmobile and Cadillac dealer from 1983-85.
American carmakers were fat and happy from not having any real competition since the end of WWII and also from 1973 onward crash protection and emissions standards ramped up a lot and the automakers had to devote a lot of resources to that and quality took a back seat.
Beginning around 1983 the build quality got better because Japan was eating their lunch.
I go to the Ford Nationals in Carlisle, PA most years and two years ago there was a 1982 Ford Escort in one of the buildings with 800 original miles on it. I looked it over pretty close and thought, "My God is this a piece of sh*t".
 

DakotaGuy

Well-Known Member
First Name
Tom
Joined
Mar 1, 2019
Threads
13
Messages
657
Reaction score
1,306
Location
Black Hills, SD
Vehicle(s)
2022 Ranger SuperCrew XLT Tremor
70's and 80's cars weren't bad because of inflation, they were bad because they were bad.
I'm old and remember things, also I was a salesman at an Oldsmobile and Cadillac dealer from 1983-85.
American carmakers were fat and happy from not having any real competition since the end of WWII and also from 1973 onward crash protection and emissions standards ramped up a lot and the automakers had to devote a lot of resources to that and quality took a back seat.
Beginning around 1983 the build quality got better because Japan was eating their lunch.
I go to the Ford Nationals in Carlisle, PA most years and two years ago there was a 1982 Ford Escort in one of the buildings with 800 original miles on it. I looked it over pretty close and thought, "My God is this a piece of sh*t".
Cadillac salesman between 83-85? How many poor souls did you put into a Cimarron? Just messing with ya, but that was as low as Caddy ever went.
 

Floyd

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2019
Threads
38
Messages
2,064
Reaction score
3,113
Location
illinois
Vehicle(s)
'19 Ranger SCab,'16 Connect,'95 MustangGT,'50 Ford
70's and 80's cars weren't bad because of inflation, they were bad because they were bad.
I'm old and remember things, also I was a salesman at an Oldsmobile and Cadillac dealer from 1983-85.
American carmakers were fat and happy from not having any real competition since the end of WWII and also from 1973 onward crash protection and emissions standards ramped up a lot and the automakers had to devote a lot of resources to that and quality took a back seat.
Beginning around 1983 the build quality got better because Japan was eating their lunch.
I go to the Ford Nationals in Carlisle, PA most years and two years ago there was a 1982 Ford Escort in one of the buildings with 800 original miles on it. I looked it over pretty close and thought, "My God is this a piece of sh*t".
I had the misfortune of owning one of those "superior" Japanese cars from the '70's.
A 1973 Datsun PL620 pickup, It came with the worst build quality available at the time , then proceeded to suffer more break downs in the eight months I owned it than all the vehicles I have owned since....COMBINED! they were so embarrassed by that POS that they stopped using the Datsun name soon afterward.
Our American made 1976 Ford Econoline was not only the best van in the world but shamed the best that the Japanese could build, both in fit and finish and in reliability.
 

JohnnyO

Well-Known Member
First Name
Jon
Joined
Apr 8, 2021
Threads
21
Messages
1,514
Reaction score
4,429
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ranger STX 4x4
Occupation
Asst. Greenskeeper, Bushwood Country Club
Cadillac salesman between 83-85? How many poor souls did you put into a Cimarron? Just messing with ya, but that was as low as Caddy ever went.
Only one as I recall. Actually they were nice driving cars for the time, very comfortable seats, but overpriced and underpowered. Not a big seller. Most customers wanted DeVilles and Fleetwoods.
Sponsored

 
 



Top