The Worst Cars From the 1970s

1971 Ford Pinto

What can we say about the Pinto that hasn’t alreadybeen said? We’re going to make like Ford and ignore the fuel system issues that put this car in the middle of a literal firestorm since the list of problems on this car is longer than the ugly window Ford stuck on the hatchbacks. After just two months on the market, the Pinto faced its first of several recalls: they recalled 26,000 vehicles for sticky accelerator pedals. Another 220,000 cars were recalled less than six months later for an issue where a backfire in the carburetorcould ignite fuel vapors in the engine's air filter. And this is all before Ford faced any backlash or lawsuits from the fuel tank debacle. Oops, I guess I couldn’t ignore it forever - just like Ford.

Up next, another disappointment from the blue oval.

1974 Ford Mustang II

Probably the biggest disappointment of the decade in retrospect, the Mustang II was the result of Ford trying to maintain a pony car in the heat of oil embargos and new efficiency standards. Paring back the muscle car to an Econo-cruiser wasn’t the issue that most people have a qualm with, but rather the use of the Mustang name on a car that didn’t have the performance that the badge suggested. While it may have been the right car for the time, anyone looking to drive a classic pony car will be sorely disappointed in the performance of the II.

Initially only offering an inline 4 or a 2.8L V6, Ford finally gave in and brought back the V8 for ‘75 models to reclaim some of the Mustang's previous reputation as a performance car.