The Sorry State of Affairs in Automobilia in the 1970s, 80s and 90s

[bugo]

Somehow I get the feeling McLaren wouldn't be involved with something like that today.

This is the Mercury Capri ASC McLaren. It was the only convertible Fox Capri ever built. They were rare when new and scarce today. It would be a lot cooler than a typical Mustang.

[Henry]

Somehow I get the feeling McLaren wouldn't be involved with something like that today.

This is the Mercury Capri ASC McLaren. It was the only convertible Fox Capri ever built. They were rare when new and scarce today. It would be a lot cooler than a typical Mustang.

I tend to agree with that statement, especially with the most telling clue being the blunt nose instead of the Mustang's slanted one. It is worth noting that the Fox body served as the Cougar's full circle moment, as it (and the Thunderbird) were built off the same platform as the pony cars, and the Cougar was originally twinned with the '67 Mustang before moving up to the T-bird's class in '74.

[Stephane Dumas]

Speaking of a lack or a safety, I'm always intrigued by Central American variants of cars.  Most of the newer lower tier cars I see in Mexico only have two air bags.  The prices usually are somewhere under $20,000 USD. 

South American cars are fascinating as well. One of the most interesting is the 1966-1981 Argentine IKA/Renault Torino. If you look closely at the roof, you will see that it was based on an American Rambler American with unique front and rear sheetmetal (The infamous AMC SC/Rambler used the same bodyshell). The European style dashboard was unique to the Torino.  IKA stood for "Industrias Kaiser Argentina". In 1970, IKA was purchased by Renault, and the Torino eventually got Renault badges. The Torino was available as a 2 door hardtop or a 4 door sedan. The engine is perhaps the most interesting part of the car. It used the Kaiser Tornado engine which was introduced in mid-1962 and was used in Jeeps in North America. This was an unusual design for the day, as it was an overhead cam inline six cylinder engine, when the vast majority of American sixes were either flathead or overhead valve engines. This engine made up to 248 horsepower in a Torino, which made for excellent performance.

Here is an IKA Torino.



Here is a Renault Torino. The Torino was one of the only front engine, rear wheel drive Renaults ever built.

Other cars from Argentina and Brazil who are worth to mention.
-Ford Falcon, the basic 1960 Falcon was built in Argentina until the early 1990s, here the changes they did for the Argentinian model year 1973.
1973 Ford Falcon Futura (Argentina) by Michael, sur Flickr

The 1965-66 Ford Galaxie body was made to Brazil until 1982 (or 1983 depending of the sources)
Ford Galaxie 500  1973 by eduardo lopes, sur Flickr

And there was a panel truck version of the Dodge D-100 Sweptline (1961-71) who was sold in Argentina unless it was done by a coachbuilder aftermarket. https://imcdb.org/vehicle.php?id=853263  While in North America, Dodge keep the old "Power Giant" generation Town Panel and Town Sedan built until 1966.

[Max Rockatansky]

One I've never heard of before, the AMC Cowboy concept:

[Henry]

One I've never heard of before, the AMC Cowboy concept:

Well, back then the El Camino was so popular that other automakers wanted to copy off of it.

Other cars from Argentina and Brazil who are worth to mention.
-Ford Falcon, the basic 1960 Falcon was built in Argentina until the early 1990s, here the changes they did for the Argentinian model year 1973.
1973 Ford Falcon Futura (Argentina) by Michael, sur Flickr

The 1965-66 Ford Galaxie body was made to Brazil until 1982 (or 1983 depending of the sources)
Ford Galaxie 500  1973 by eduardo lopes, sur Flickr

Must be the U.S. leftovers that were shipped to South America and revived for many years after their original versions were discontinued.

And a Falcon with quad square headlights? Those Argentinians must've gotten pretty creative with that, not to mention the Futura name predated the North American Fairmont by five years.

[Stephane Dumas]

And a Falcon with quad square headlights? Those Argentinians must've gotten pretty creative with that, not to mention the Futura name predated the North American Fairmont by five years.

And once used for a Lincoln show car in 1955 and if that car look familiar, it's because George Barris saved it from the car crusher and customized into the 1966 Batmobile.
1955 ... Lincoln Futura by James Vaughan, sur Flickr

[bugo]

Well, back then the El Camino was so popular that other automakers wanted to copy off of it.

The El Camino was introduced in 1959 as a reaction to the Ford Ranchero, which came out in 1957. So if anybody was copying, it was Chevrolet.

[bugo]

Those Argentinians must've gotten pretty creative with that, not to mention the Futura name predated the North American Fairmont by five years.

The Falcon Futura was introduced in 1962. so it predated the American Fairmont Futura by 16 years.