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HudCo 
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Location: Plymouth Utah
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 Topic: early 70s compact cars big 4
Posted: 10 Apr 2024 at 10:05pm |
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sounds like the pinto might be the winner
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tadams(OH)
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Location: Jeromesville, O
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Posted: 10 Apr 2024 at 2:20pm |
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I had a 1963 Mercury Comet convertible, I was car washer at The local Ford garage, first job out of High School, I cleaned it up to go on the showroom floor and ended up buying, traded my 1953 Ford conveertible in on it. Run like a deer.
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DonBC
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Posted: 10 Apr 2024 at 12:24pm |
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My parents bought a Ford Falcon about the time I left home for university. I believe that it was the worst car they ever owned. Mechanically poor and cheep interior. For my summer surveying job we had a Dodge wagon with the slant 6. That engine seem indestructible. I convinced my parents to buy a Dodge with the slant six.
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Jack of all trades, master of none
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ACinSC
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Posted: 10 Apr 2024 at 7:54am |
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Might have been a Javelin Tracy? Thanks
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Codger
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Posted: 10 Apr 2024 at 6:43am |
[QUOTE=jaybmiller]hay, I drove a Pinto hatchback for a few years,fun little beastie. Always wanted to have the station wagon version, drop my spare 289/225 into it..sigh. also wanted to drop my '67 stang convertible onto a Wagoneer chassis ( surprisingly easy mate... ) dbl sigh... [/QUOTE
I had a 71 Pinto sedan w/1600 engine and it was a great little car. Drove that through high school a season. Also had a 71 hatchback that I liked a lot and it had the 2000cc, (122cu in) engine and ran like a striped ass ape for what it was. Wanted to V8 this one, (never did) before partially trading it for my B-61 Mack truck, (still have). Both four speed cars. Had a 73 Pinto "Squire" wagon with the fake wood grained sides for a while too, (growing family) but that had the 2300cc, (140cu in) engine and automatic transmission, air conditioning, power steering, and was rolling scrap iron. Left my wife stranded twice so I "OFFED" that sumbitch with little further thoughts.
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A career built on repairing and improving engineering design deficiencies, shortcomings, and failures over 50 years now.
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jaybmiller
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Posted: 10 Apr 2024 at 6:09am |
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hay, I drove a Pinto hatchback for a few years,fun little beastie. Always wanted to have the station wagon version, drop my spare 289/225 into it..sigh. also wanted to drop my '67 stang convertible onto a Wagoneer chassis ( surprisingly easy mate... ) dbl sigh...
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HudCo
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Posted: 09 Apr 2024 at 10:00pm |
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didnt realize their was that many models thats without the jeep line up . what one would hold up the best in a demo derby the gremlin the pinto or the vega , if the pinto dosnt explode and blow them all up
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Tracy Martin TN
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Posted: 09 Apr 2024 at 8:37pm |
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Was probably a Javelin!
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No greater gift than healthy grandkids!
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ACinSC
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Posted: 09 Apr 2024 at 8:42am |
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Wow! Thanks Steve. Might have been a matador but it doesn't look too ugly in the picture.
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 09 Apr 2024 at 8:11am |
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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ACinSC
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Posted: 09 Apr 2024 at 7:22am |
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Early to mid 70s a friend bought a new AMC car. Can't remember the model but it was ugly, kinda bulbous looking.
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Codger
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Posted: 09 Apr 2024 at 6:19am |
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I also had a Rebel but it wasn't anything special at all. Four door, automatic, w/290 AMC engine. Bought that one cheap as it was clean, but overheating. Thought it had head gasket problems, but in reality was a broken head bolt behind the power steering pump. Replaced only the bolt and the problem never came back. Sold that car to a young guy just getting a driver's license and never seen it again.
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A career built on repairing and improving engineering design deficiencies, shortcomings, and failures over 50 years now.
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HudCo
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Posted: 08 Apr 2024 at 10:27pm |
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very cool i have not seen a javilin for a long time or a rebel a gremlin with that engine in it would have to be like driving an old gasser or altered
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Codger
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Posted: 08 Apr 2024 at 9:12pm |
No, this was a Gremlin "X" we stuffed the 401 into. Three speed manual originally and it got a four speed. I want to say a 1972 car as it didn't have those grotesque front impact bumpers. Removed the engine from an Ambassador former police car and I want to say that was a 74. Good running engine for the time with a Comp Cams 268H and their lifters for a mild addition. Hard to keep tires on the back of that for some reason.
I had for a short time a 69 AMX w/390 AMC engine, and Borg-Warner T-10 transmission. It was a good strong engine too. No back seat as early true "AMX" Javelin cars were not offered with them.
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A career built on repairing and improving engineering design deficiencies, shortcomings, and failures over 50 years now.
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HudCo
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Posted: 08 Apr 2024 at 8:09pm |
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codger, may be a amx?
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Codger
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Posted: 08 Apr 2024 at 7:47pm |
 ACinSC wrote:
Little brother had a Gremlin with a small block in it. |
Installed a 401 AMC into one that originally had a 304 AMC and it was a real runner.
Edited by Codger - 08 Apr 2024 at 7:47pm
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A career built on repairing and improving engineering design deficiencies, shortcomings, and failures over 50 years now.
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Codger
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Posted: 08 Apr 2024 at 7:45pm |
HudCo wrote:
any one biuld a small block chevy vega |
Two of them both utilizing "Doug Thorley" kits and 9" Ford rears with aluminum carriers. I made the frame connectors, and ladder bars myself as they were needed.
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A career built on repairing and improving engineering design deficiencies, shortcomings, and failures over 50 years now.
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Dennis J OPKs
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Posted: 08 Apr 2024 at 7:22pm |
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I think the early Omni's & Horizon's were really VW's in disguise. They had some sort of arrangement with VW, looked like a Rabbit.
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ACinSC
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Posted: 08 Apr 2024 at 6:18pm |
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Little brother had a Gremlin with a small block in it.
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HudCo
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Posted: 08 Apr 2024 at 5:58pm |
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any one biuld a small block chevy vega
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DiyDave
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Posted: 08 Apr 2024 at 4:45pm |
Hadda 79 D-100 p/u with the slant six. Had alla the emissions BS kill the first engine. Next engine lasted another 60K, last one similar. Got good at motor R&R, last one took about 3 hrs... 
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WF owner
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Posted: 08 Apr 2024 at 9:47am |
Neighbor had a Gremlin and It sure had gremlins. When it was only about 3 or 4 years old, he gave it to another neighbor who used the body for a (dirt) sportsman race car.
Of all the compacts listed, none were much to brag about!
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alan-nj
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Posted: 08 Apr 2024 at 9:31am |
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Late 70's Chrysler came out with the Dodge Omni / Plymouth Horizon. First small car of their own that I can remember. Prior to that , it was the Dodge Dart / Plymouth Valiant with the virtually indestructible slant 6 225 engine. Had a 75 Dart. Loved it, engine lasted forever, car rusted out first. Had about 200,000 when I finally had to get rid of it around 84 or 85. Traded it for a Subaru Brat.
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If ignorance is bliss, than happy days are here again.
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Codger
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Posted: 07 Apr 2024 at 8:32pm |
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I had a 70 AAR barracuda for a while back in 76. Bought at Tremont Auto Auction and replaced the lt. 1/4 panel, tail lamp panel, rear face bar, straightened the trunk floor, and rt. 1/4 quarter. Then refinished the car back in it's original silver w/matte black hood. Nice car for the day, but too hard on gas to drive routinely.
Edited by Codger - 08 Apr 2024 at 7:49pm
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A career built on repairing and improving engineering design deficiencies, shortcomings, and failures over 50 years now.
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Tracy Martin TN
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Posted: 07 Apr 2024 at 8:18pm |
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Conway Twitty loved the Pacer. A guy next door to me once painted one for him. Said he was the nicest guy you could meet.
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No greater gift than healthy grandkids!
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plummerscarin
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Posted: 07 Apr 2024 at 7:40pm |
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My sister had a Gremmie. Decent car. Way better the the Dodge Omni she replaced it with. That POS left her stranded a few times. My aunt also had a Gremlin. A Levi model. Full denim interior. Has anyone seen the Hemi Gremie?
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Walker
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Posted: 07 Apr 2024 at 7:10pm |
I drove an old Gremi for years and for the money to buy and maintain it it was the less costly, most dependable and nicest driving car I ever had. Things like door and window controls were absolute junk but the drive train and engine were rock solid. You might get a spring or two stuck in your arse from the seat but by golly you'd get there. It even held up good rust wise .
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 07 Apr 2024 at 6:31pm |
not really a Compact... but always liked the look of this !!
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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Codger
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Posted: 07 Apr 2024 at 5:28pm |
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Challenger? That nameplate has been all over the spectrum with Dodge. Magnum is another that has.
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A career built on repairing and improving engineering design deficiencies, shortcomings, and failures over 50 years now.
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DiyDave
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Posted: 07 Apr 2024 at 5:06pm |
All of the big 3 have slept with imports... Dodge had Mitsubishi, Chevy had isuzu, ford had mazda...
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