Unforgettable Television Sports Cars From The 1970s

In the seventies it seems that most shows were to an extent, known for the cars that the stars drove in them as well as the stars themselves. Some of the shows you will find listed here, the cars in the shows were even known to receive their own fan mail. The weekly hero of the action packed T.V. show was almost assuredly driving a fast and expensive sports car. Most people tend to think they used the same car in every episode but usually there was a whole team of identical cars that followed the stars through the series.

See how many of the following cars you can remember from the seventies:

1. Gran Torino on Starsky and Hutch.

This was everyone’s favorite Muscle Car it seemed, at least the most recognizable.
The paint job (red with that big, white stripe) and the style prompted Ford to add it to their line. Gran Torino enthusiasts still get together to show off their rides to this day!

2. Do you remember Dan Tanna and his 1957 Thunderbird from Vegas?

In this program Robert Urich played a cop in Las Vegas named Dan Tanna who just loved cruising around the strip in his T-Bird. It was a bright and shiny red and was actually two identical cars used that they switched back and forth when taping the show. The character started out with a corvette but ended up with his signature T-Bird instead

3. Who can forget that bumbling detective Columbo and his beat up, old Peugeot? Well it can be categorized as a sports car technically, but it sure didn’t look like one or act like one. But Columbo and his Peugeot was a match made in heaven with their unkempt appearance. Some folks in Ohio ended up with the car after the show was cancelled but they revived it for the Columbo movie in the 80’s.

4. The golden Firebird Espirit of Detective Rockford is another classic. James Garner played Detective Rockford and always seemed to be having financial troubles but he could always afford to drive around in his signature Firebird.

5. 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado from Mannix. Another one of those great detective shows. Joe Mannix was played by actor Mike Connors and it was a very customized vehicle indeed and one that most people remember. Mannix had secret compartments all over the Toronado and it was a little more high tech then many cars of its era. In later episodes Mannix had an array of cars at his disposal but the 1966 Toronado seem to make the most impact.

Each one of these cars is memorialized by film. If you asked anyone about the 70’s famous cars undoubtedly they would mention one or more of these cars. Of course there were a lot of others but these five seem to be the most likely to come up in a conversation about the era. After all they certainly did seem to steal the show right out from under the human stars.

Jackson Porter is a staff writer at Automobile Enthusiast and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including Environmental Central.

Where To Find Cheap Classic Cars

In a world where many people enjoy collecting old cars and turning them into masterpieces it’s evident that there must be some resources for finding these cars cheap. Now most places you’d ideally look will have prices much closer to market value, but when you’re buying a classic car to fix up you want to find the best possible deal out there. There are a few places where you can do this now and I’m going to list a couple of them for you.

The Internet

The internet has many websites available now to car enthusiasts looking to buy classic cars and to if you’re looking for a cheap classic car to fix up then online classifieds and online auctions are goldmines. Many people list their old vehicles there either because they don’t know the value or they just don’t want the vehicle anymore. Either way it’s perfect for you because you’ll be able to get the car you need for a reasonably cheap price. Many people often need fast cash so they will post their classic car onto an auction site in hopes of finding a buyer to relief financial stress. This is another reason why the internet has evolved the car collecting world and why more people are being able to get into the market for a lot cheaper now. Before when you could only visit the dealers or shops to buy classic cars you’d end up paying quite a bit, but when you have motivated sellers on the internet it’s a lot easier to strike a bargain.

You’ll notice that there are quite a few buyers online looking to scoop up all the best classic cars though so if you want to find a bargain then you’ll need to spend countless hours researching the sites looking for the right one. It’s worth the time and savings though and I only buy my cars on the internet now due to the deals that can be found. When there is a bigger market it’s a lot simpler to find cars and with more competition present many sellers feel they need to under price each other causing a monopoly of price deductions which helps the buyer.

Classic cars were once unreachable for the average car enthusiast, but now with modern technology the internet has brought a whole new marketplace to cars and it’s made it available to the average American looking to get into the classic car world. It’s a fast paced world where you can meet tons of new people and go to many great events, which is why so many people choose to collect classic cars. If you’re looking for a hobby then you don’t need to look much further then heading to an online car auction site to begin bidding on a classic car. There are quite affordable and the odd person will want an unbelievable price but you’ll notice that and just avoid bidding on it as nobody else will either, considering there are so many affordable classic cars on the sites.

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Luxury Cars Still Offer A Good Value

Sales of luxury car sales have suffered more than those of mid range and economy cars during this recession. No surprise there. People are spending less on everything, and luxury items are usually the first to get cut from the budget. Conspicuous consumption is out of style in these lean times. All businesses, including auto makers are looking at their product lines’ profitability out of necessity. They’re axing less profitable brands, like Pontiac and Saturn just to stay alive. Why aren’t they cutting their luxury car brands? Because luxury cars continue to offer value.

Luxury cars from BMW to Rolls Royce offer the latest and greatest safety features. Manufacturers of luxury cars invest the funds to research and design new safety features. Indeed, many of the safety features found in less expensive cars today, like anti-lock brakes and air bags were first introduced in luxury vehicles. The expense of developing these innovations raises the price of luxury cars, but as a result, they consistently have higher safety ratings than less expensive cars.

Luxury cars have more and better standard features. After all, buyers who are willing to pay for a luxury vehicle don’t want the stripped down model. Luxury car manufacturers also offer a wider variety of options. You can get heated leather seats, headrest mounted dvd players, in-dash cd players and surround sound Bose stereo systems that work with your iPod. You can get plush interiors including soft leather and real wood trim. Keyless entry and ignition, night vision displays and integrated child booster seats are some of the newer available options. Some cars offer a memory driver’s seat. By recognizing the key fob, seats, side mirrors and seat belt anchors are set to the preference of the driver.

Luxury car performance is almost always better than other cars. The manufacturers invest more in time and quality materials to make sure that their top of the line cars have superior handling and enhanced aesthetic value. Features like adaptive suspension can sense road conditions and vary the firmness of struts or shock absorbers for a more comfortable ride. It’s these kinds of things, that many drivers never even know about, that can make for a better driving experience.

Luxury automakers offer longer and more comprehensive warranties. Coupled with better reliability, it could be said that the luxury car owner pays more upfront to save on repairs later. Luxury car dealership service departments offer a first-class experience too. You’re more likely to enjoy a free wi-fi connection and gourmet coffee while waiting for your car. If it needs to stay in the shop for a while, you’re likely to get a comfortable loaner car.

Even in these difficult times, image and prestige are still important. Details like genuine wood, aluminum or carbon fiber trim make a difference. People who want their car to convey their status and exemplify their success will want to be seen in a luxury car. Even those who just want the very best available, and can afford it, will always gravitate toward the luxury car market.

Like the rest of the automobile industry, luxury carmakers are seeing tough times and lower sales volume. In the long term, though, luxury cars will survive and thrive because they offer real value to the consumer. Whether you’re looking for a top of the line sports car with excellent handling, a professional looking car with comfort and safety, or a combination of the two, you’ll always be able to find it.

Written by Coleen Bennett: Infiniti CA, Infiniti G35 Riverside and Costa Mesa Cadillac.

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