> >> > >>>
> >>> squillage snipped-for-privacy@aba.et posted:
> >>>
> >>
> >>>> I liked the Celicas of that vintage too, but the rotary factor is
> >>>> awesome. The RX2 also had a more attractive cabin and interior. > >>>>
> >>>
> >>> My boss in California took me for a ride in his tricked-out
> >>> Celica. I think it
> >>> was a 1975. It was pretty good, I guess. My main problem with the
> >>> car was the
> >>> guy that was driving it. I liked my stock Mazda better. The guys > >>> at the shop
> >>> called it a Jap-mobile. With contempt, I must add.
> >>>
> >>> I also had a Mazda RX3 in Hawaii. It had an automatic
> >>> transmission that worked
> >>> great with the rotary engine. It was an outrageous lime green and
> >>> a tiny station
> >>> wagon. It's a wonderful car if you like whimsy and power. Who the
> >>> heck doesn't?
> >>>
> >> Japanese cars back in the early 70s were justifiably scorned. My
> >> father bought a Datsun 1200. My brother bought it off him and I
> >> ended up buying it from my brother. It was a fun little car to
> >> drive and got close to 50 mph, but after about 5 years the body
> >> was pretty much completely rotted away. At one point the cylinder
> >> head warped. One hot summer day I went out to run an errand and
> >> the back window was shattered. It had popped in the heat. A friend
> >> of mine had a Mazda with a Wankel engine. It was fast, but mainly
> >> because that engine was able to burn a lot of gas. It didn't
> >> handle well enough to match the power.
> > Um, you live in an area where there is a lot of snow and roads need
> > to be salted and the body of any car will certainly rust. Has
> > nothing to do with the car manufacturer being Japanese.
>
> Dave had plenty of Big Three cars to compare it to.
>
> "Early Japanese cars (especially from the 1970s and 1980s) rusted
> quickly because they lacked modern anti-corrosion treatments, were
> built with thinner and lower-grade steel to save weight, and were
> shipped with bare-metal interiors that trapped moisture when exposed
> to harsh winter climates."
>
GooGoo AI Overview
Yes, Japanese cars of the 1970s were exceptionally well-built for their time, featuring highly reliable engines and excellent standard equipment. While they were initially dismissed as cheap and rust-prone, models like the Toyota Corolla and Datsun 510 spearheaded a revolution in durability that permanently altered the global auto industry.
Key Strengths of 1970s Japanese Cars
Bulletproof Mechanics: Engines like Toyota's 20R were virtually indestructible. Many cars frequently surpassed high mileage with nothing more than routine maintenance.
Fuel Efficiency:
The 1973 and 1979 oil crises perfectly positioned Japanese automakers, as their vehicles offered superior fuel economy compared to heavy, gas-guzzling American V8s.
Generous Equipment:
Japanese manufacturers offered features like five-speed manual transmissions, AM/FM radios, and front disc brakes as standard, whereas domestic competitors charged heavily for these as options.