My Car of the Year 1960-2019 (Part 2: The 1970s)

Welcome to this week's installment of the MCOTY series. This week, we're going to a time of both excess and marginality: the 1970s.

1970: Range Rover

Dane Wetton (Unsplash)

While honorable mentions deservedly go to the Toyota Celica and Citroen SM, the iconic Range Rover offroader takes the 1970 car of the year. The Rangie originally was a tough-as-nails offroader (heck, it could be hosed out), but it became a design icon, and nowadays is more of a status symbol and family hauler for the affluent.

1971: Alfa Sud

1971 has zero honorable mentions, in fact the Alfasud isn't even close to the Celica or SM. However, basically nothing was launched this year (bar Apollo 17, but it doesn't count). I've gone with the Alfa, which was Alfa's people's car. Close to one million were sold, and while it's not that well known it does squeak into this list.

1972: Lancia Stratos

Alessio Zaccaria (Unsplash)

1972 saw the introduction of iconic nameplates in the 5-Series, Civic and S-Class, and some other Honorable Mentions in the Alfa Romeo Alfetta and Renault 5, but another style icon will take the win. The Lancia Stratos is well known for it's rally exploits; it really launched the Lancia name across the WRC. However, it's most notable feature was it's looks, which are just beautiful.

1973: Volkswagen Passat

Charles01 (Wikipedia)

1973 was a bad year for cars, due to the Gulf fuel crisis. However, the Passat was a car for the times. The ultimate econobox, the first Passat now has a sort of rugged style to it. However, the cars it has spawned since are mind-numbingly dull, so don't expect to see the Passat name again.

1974: Lamborghini Countach and VW Golf

countachinfo.de (Wikipedia)

What is it with sharing results in years ending in '4'? And these two are even more disparate. The Countach is a mad supercar with a big V12 and brilliant style, as well as some impracticalities that include having to remove your head from the car to reverse. On the other hand, the Golf is ultimate transport for the masses but with a spark thrown in there too. And that spark was lit with the original GTi, also the original hot hatch.

Martin Katler (Unsplash)

1975: Porsche 930

Nick Night (Unsplash)

It had competition (in more way that one) from the Ferrari 308, but the second 911 took out the 1975 COTY. It was well known for being an object of desire, particularily the hot Turbo model which, in the 1980s, kept pace with two much newer cars in the Ferrari Testarossa and Lamborghini Countach 5000SV. Well, at least in terms of being a pin-up on kids' walls.

1976: Lotus Esprit

Markus Spiske

While the Honda Accord, Porsche 924 and Ford Fiesta were all unveiled in 1976, the Lotus Esprit is the best of the bunch in my opinion. The initial coming of the Esprit saw it's iconically wedgy shape mated to a 2.0L four-cylinder engine, and in at least one example, scuba fins. Later updates added options for turbos and V8s to be added. When the Esprit finally went out of production 26 years later, it was only because they actually ran out of gearboxes, which were borrowed from a Renault.

1977: BMW 7 Series (E23)

OSX (Wikipedia)

The 7 Series didn't have very much competition in 1977. The first ever of its kind, it was also the first BMW to feature climate control, on-board computer, ABS and airbags. It had five engine options, with all of those engines six-cylinders. Nearly 300,000 cars were built, with the car being replaced in 1986.

1978: Mazda RX7

1978 had some very good cars: Honda Prelude, BMW M1, Renault 18, Vauxhall Carlton, Subaru BRAT and Saab 900. But I'll choose the first generation of the iconic rotary, the Mazda RX7. The old Mazda was a very capable sports car, featuring either the 12A or the iconic 13B engine. Indeed, over 450000 had been made.

1979: Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen

Lowie Vanhoutte (Unsplash)

It came down to the Vauxhall Astra, Lancia Delta and G-Wagen. For obvious reasons, I didn't go for the Astra, while in a close decision I went for the Mercedes. It came in several bodystyles (convertible, cab chassis, wagon and panel van), as well as 4- and 6-cylinder petrol engines and an I5 diesel. It was well known for being the Popemobile in 1980. There were several examples built by Brabus or AMG, and these built the way for the modern G65 AMG.