Time warp 1974 poll.

Time Warp: 1974. Which car will you pick?

BMW 2002 tii

Is there really any other choice on that list? While I like the Capri (owned one) and the Sonnet, there's no way the other cars come close.

There could have been other choices. Like:

1974 Porsche 914 2.0 Limited Edition (Bumble Bee or Creamsicle)

1974 Fiat X1/9 - first year of production.

Alfa GTV 2.0 Fuel Injected

Fiat 124 Coupe CC

Datsun 260z

Mercury(Ford) Capri

Jensen Healey

Opel Manta

Lotus Europa Twin Cam

Mazda RX3

MGB

last year of the chrome bumper'd Fiat 124 Spiders

early '74 Datsun 260Z with the smaller chrome bumper, or slightly used '72 240Z ...

Yeah, the list wasn't good, the Tii is really the only choice on the list. The other cars aren't bad, just not anything that would make it a tough choice.

Pantera.

I really want to buck the trend and pick the Vega, but...

yeah... 2002tii...

Can I pick a 'left over' 1800ES? (more than a few were still on dealer lots in 1974).

I pulled that list after scanning through some 1974 issues of Car and Driver. It's by no means a complete list of all cool cars from 1974, but I like all the choices anyway. It depends what you're picking them for, too. The 2002 might be the winner as an investment, but a brand new example of any of these would be a very neat car to own here in the 21st century.

I'd take a clean RX-3 over a 2002tii today. Certainly, they're more rare.

I also like the semi-orphan Vega and Capri, but I couldn't honestly pick one to own. Maybe the list would be better if the 2002 weren't included.

GTV. Assuming I could afford it. Would be cool if the two I have were mine from new...

(our family actually got a '74 Vega, if you can belive it)

I graduated from high school in 1974. My pick would be a Pontiac Trans Am SD-455.

One of my friends bought one in '74, he still has it today. Only something like 25,000 miles on it, I think. It's worth a LOT more now than when it was new.

The Alfa GTV. But if I could go back one more year, I would buy my '73 TR6 new, too.

My neighbor has a '74 2002 (no, not a tii) that he bought new when he traded in his year or two old Capri for it. It's his daily driver. I voted for the 2002tii as well in the poll.

My mind spins with thoughts of what you could've bought on the used market in '74.

On that list I'd pick the Lotus Europa and the Jensen-Healey hands down.

There will always be an England. :-)

I think 1973 was the last year of real chrome bumpers on the Fiat 124 Spider. For the sake of investment, it would have to be the tii. I'm sure my old mechanic would enjoy the chance to co-own one with me (again). I'm sure I put at least one of his kids through college. I think using 1973 for this poll would have been better.

After some more thought I'd like a '74 BMW CS 3.0 please.

Coupefan wrote: I think using 1973 for this poll would have been better.

We'll set the dial for 1973 sometime soon. Send me your nominations for the 1973 time warp so I don't miss anybody's favorites...

In 1974 I was driving a 1972 Vega GT. I got it because editor John R. Bond of Road & track called it "The best-handling passenger car built in America." It did go around corners quite nicely, but that's all it did. It rusted, it was beyond noisy, the mechanics were dreadful, dealer service was laughable - it lasted two years until I found a really well kept Volvo 544 with a B20. But if I was going back and could buy new? A V6 Capri with a 4-speed would have suited my swashbuckling university lifestyle quite nicely.

I test drove a Vega GT at a dealership because it was Motor Trend's Car of the Year and I was in the market for something of that size and alleged sportiness. I think I went about three blocks and then took it back -- there just wasn't anything about it I liked. Now, a Cosworth Vega would no doubt have been more appealing (maybe).

I voted for the SAAB Sonett (note spelling, please), not because it's the best or most valuable car on the list, but because it's the funkiest

The list might've been even better without the BMW at all, leaving just a selection of "oddballs".

I still picked the RX-3, though

Luke wrote: The list might've been even better without the BMW at all, leaving just a selection of "oddballs".

Indeed. Then it would have been a toss-up between the Vega and the Saab.

Fresh out of my time machine in '74 I'd be looking for a Carrera RSR 3.0.

Hhmmm... the Triumph Stag is getting no love at all here. it was my pick though. I know they have their problems (it is vintage English after all), and though I've never been in one, I'm sure a well sorted Stag must be a hoot to drive. I quite like the look of them, too.

Bainford wrote: Hhmmm... the Triumph Stag is getting no love at all here. it was my pick though. I know they have their problems (it is vintage English after all), and though I've never been in one, I'm sure a well sorted Stag must be a hoot to drive. I quite like the look of them, too.

Back in the '80's I had a friend with a blue one. It never ran well with the original engine, so he swapped in a 327 with a kit I believe. It never ran right afterwards either. I was never very fond of it either way, as I had a TR-4 and TR-7 at the time, so I was a bit of Triumph snob I suppose. Being young at the time, I really thought of it as an older person car, like an SL Merc.

Now I'd probably have a more realistic approach to it, as I think they still look cool.

From the expanded list, I picked the GTV. But from the original list, I would go with the Stag. Maybe with a Rover 4.9!

In 1974 I graduated high school. I bought a new 1973 Capri V6 4 speed for $3600 after working countless hours. That car was a blast for years after that. Purely out of nostalgia, a few years back I bought another. Sold it. Regretted it. Bought another. Sold it. Regretted it. Bought another with a V8 in it. That was a monster. Sold it. Regretted it. Now I have two Capris projects sitting in my garage. Never underestimate the power of nostalgia. LOL

Well Done Glenn!