Car of the Year award winners from the 1970 through 1979.
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The 1970 Ford Torino featured an all-new "coke bottle design" and would eventually replace the Ford Fairlane nameplate. Unlike the Mustang, which still retained the 428 CJ, the Torino featured Ford's new "385-Series" 429 Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet engines.
1971 marked GM's entry into the subcompact market specifically targeting imports. The Vega was available in two-door, hatchback, notchback and wagon models. All featured a 2.3L four cylinder engine with aluminum alloy block and cast cylinder heads.
1972 would mark the first year in which an import brand would take top honors for Car of the Year. The Citroën SM was noted for its exceptional braking, handling and performance attributes. Photo: SG2012.
The second generation Chevrolet Monte Carlo received rave reviews due to its updated European styling, crisp ride and handling. The public agreed snapping up almost 250,000 of them. The best of yet was to come for the Monte Carlo as 353,272 were sold in 1976.
Incredibly enough, 1974 would mark the first year that the Ford Mustang took top honors. The 1974-1978 Mustang II was far smaller than its predecessors, however it arrived at a time when fuel mileage was important. The 1974 Mustang sold extremely well as 296,041 were sold. The 1971 Mustang sold 149,678 units with the 1972 model selling 125,903 and the 1973 model selling 134,867 units.
Based on the 1971 Chevrolet Vega "Car of the Year," the Monza was developed to compete against Ford's new downsized Mustang. The 1975 Oldsmobile Starfire and Buick Skyhawk were both based on the Monza via badge engineering.
Starting with the 1976 model year, the Dodge Aspen replaced the legendary Dodge Dart. Available in a coupe, sedan or wagon the Aspen sold 189,900 units while the Volare sold 255,008 for a total of 414,008 sold. Even though it won the 1976 Car of the Year, it would disappear after the 1980 model year.
The newly designed Chevrolet Caprice was downsized for 1977 and featured weight reductions and improved chassis/suspension dynamics. Available in coupe, sedan and station wagon versions, the 1977 Caprice sold more than 660,000 units making it the #1 best selling car in the United States.
The 1978 Dodge Omni was the first domestically produced front wheel drive economy car sold in the U.S. to battle imports. Combined, both brands sold 188,383 units in 1978 and a total of 1,927,096 until they were both discontinued in 1990.
The 1979 Buick Riviera is the first Buick to use front wheel drive, the platform being used from the Oldsmobile Toronado and Cadillac Eldorado. Available engines includes two V6s - one being the 3.8L Turbo, an Oldsmobile 307, 350 and the 5.7L diesel. Sales of the 1979 Riviera totaled 52,181, which was more than double that of the 1978 model.
