forgotton cars
The inherent problem with 1972 & later cars was the ever-changing pollution control devices ; year-to-year and 49 state vs. California variations spelled doom for the 'Gas Crunch Refugees' .
Electronically-controlled carburetters ??? May as well build a diesel-powered mousetrap !!
My parents bought a 1976 Mercury Monarch in March 1976 (at 6 years of age , I vividly recall the transaction :D ) . 351 W / C5 / unknown gear . Silver with cranberry 'leather' interior and a silver opera vinyl top .
That stupid "Variable Venturi" Autolite 2Bbl was a piece-of-**** which constantly vapour locked ; the C5 trans was weak ; and the worst part : Steering Coupler broke within 5 years (what do you mean it's out of warranty ??) , and Ford didn't produce service replacements !!!
When I first started scrounging self-serve junk yards in c.1986 , I'd see front wheel drive **** boxes from the early 80's already lining the yard !! It's almost like the poor bastard whom bought that new Citation sent in the last payment and then immediately called the junk yard !!
So , for years , no one ever thought that their '72 & newer cars would be worth the dust that the car was gathering because it wouldn't pass Cali's intrusive bi-annual smog check probe , and the parts were discontinued or too expensive to buy:mumum:.
Go Green ! I can't wait to see Volts , Prius , Leaf and other **** box "hybrids" in the yards when their owners find out how much those damned batteries are to replace :thebirdm:
