The 1970s and 1980s were critical years for the British motor industry. A downward spiral in industrial relations led to crippling strikes; two major oil crises made thirsty older designs virtually unsaleable; and foreign manufacturers moved in with products that were affordable, reliable and available on demand. Yet, by and large, British family motorists carried on buying British as long as they could. The average Briton was broadly content with what the domestic motor industry produced (though he might have grumbled a bit), and it certainly produced an array of cars which entered the public consciousness as symbols of their times. Names like Marina, Maestro, Montego, Cortina, Escort, Granada, Cavalier and, above all, Mini live on in popular memory. Looking back, we remember these humble workhorses with more fondness than we might expect. James Taylor has been a motoring writer and historian for more than 30 years, and in this book he remembers this period with a mixture of affection and amusement, tempered with an honest appraisal of how good or bad these cars really were.

The story of 1970s cars, from the new subcompact class to the last of the truly big family cars. Nearly 1,900 photos and illustrations, most in full-color. Year-by-year overviews of major news and cultural events.

The 1970s saw some ground-breaking new metal in British showrooms - the Renault 5 established the new 'supermini' class, the Volkswagen Golf gave the average family car a hatchback and top quality, the Ford Capri made sporty cars available to everyone and, despite all of this, the Ford Cortina continued to rule the sales charts. Giles Chapman documents the whole turbulent decade in this fascinating and entertaining book through the cars that dominated our motoring lives

The 1970s were a decade of changing tastes and new directions in automobile design, with the advent of the economy-driven, compact family car and the development of the muscle car. The era is famous for great-value cars such as the Datsun 240Z as well as the powerful and extravagant Ford Mustang and Pontiac Firebird. Hot Cars of the '70s celebrates the best cars of the decade, providing a detailed look at more than sixty of the greatest and most stylish automobiles from around the world. All the great names are covered, including Aston Martin, BMW, Chevrolet, Citroen, Datsun, Dodge, Ford, Jaguar, Lotus, Pontiac, Porsche, and Triumph. Illustrated with specially commissioned photography, each car is examined from all angles in close-up detail. Specifications are provided for each machine, including performance statistics, engine type, transmission, special features, running gear, and dimensions. The book also takes a close look under the hood, examining the chassis and suspension as well as the design of the engine. Finally, the book tracks the production milestones of each car and marks refinements and developments in styling and performance. Packed with information and great photos, this volume is a must for all lovers of the classic and stylish machines of the 1970s. Book jacket.

Vauxhalls held a special place in the British motoring scene of the mid-twentieth century. Solid, reliable and respectable, they were carefully designed to meet the expectations of buyers and also to meet the global ambitions of General Motors in America, the company that owned the Vauxhall marque. The book covers just over two decades of Vauxhall history, between the late 1950s and the late 1970s, that saw Vauxhall producing a succession of fondly remembered models, including some genuine classics. This new book features the styling, engineering and specification changes introduced over the lifetime of the Victor, Cresta and Viva ranges, and their offshoots. It gives full technical specifications of each model and includes a special examination of engine development in this period. Finally, there is advice about buying each of these models.

The automobile has shaped nearly every aspect of modern American life. This text documents the story of the automotive industry, which, despite its power, is constantly struggling to assure its success.

This book describes American cars of the 1970s, such as the Chevrolet Camaro SS396, the Dodge Coronet Super Bee, the Ford Mustang Mach 1, the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser, the Pontiac Trans Am SD455, and others.