6 Discontinued Cars From The '70s That Should Still Be On Sale Today

Key Points:

• The 1970s marked a golden age of American motoring characterized by large, powerful cars with big V8 engines and extravagant designs, which ended due to the oil crises and a shift toward practicality, leading to smaller engines and muted colors.
• The Plymouth Superbird, a homologation car based on the Road Runner, featured a distinctive "beep-beep" horn licensed from Warner Brothers and a powerful 426 Hemi V8 engine; it dominated NASCAR in 1970 before restrictions curtailed its dominance.
• The General Motors K5 Blazer, launched in 1969 to compete with Ford and International Harvester, offered powerful V8 engines, 4WD options, and a design inspired by small pickups, eventually replaced by the Chevrolet Tahoe in the mid-1990s.
• The International Harvester Scout II, introduced in 1971, was a rugged, square-bodied SUV that competed with the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco, featuring a 345 ci V8 engine and a design reflecting its agricultural company heritage.
• Iconic 1970s American muscle and luxury cars included the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am with a high-output 455 ci V8, the Chevrolet El Camino SS combining muscle car power with pickup utility, and the massive Cadillac Eldorado, known for its 500 ci V8 and status as a symbol of excess.