Jacked up cars or street machines you guys drove in the '70s...

[Luc Janssens]

Was browsing facebook and noticed this open group called " '70s Street machines "

https://www.facebook.com/groups/456235534422504/

And I remembered the Mpc kits of the late '70s early '80s, of which many represented that kind of automotive customizing, today I don't see many of this type of kits on the shop shelves, so wonder if you guys are still ashamed of the '70s, or do you still dig these kits and wouldn't say no if this building style would be offered again with newly tooled models?

Thanks

Photo courtesy of John Gardoski

[blunc]

unfortunately, that link only works for persons that have been assimilated by the Faceborg.

but that IS a purdy 68 bird.

I had no idea that the Yanks were ashamed of the 70's style of hot-rodding, styles change/evolve due to advances in hardware and desire for better handling.

[Guest]

I grew up as a teen in the 70'sand loved 70's jacked up look. Not ashamed of it at all. When I do a musclecar as a street machine, that is how I do them, none of the donk or lowrider junk for me.

[dmk]

Actually yes. I have quite a few builds planned for cars in this genre. These were the cars that my older brothers and friends had when I was a kid. I've always liked these styles. (most not all).

Thanks for that link!

I love this Nova picture on that site. Reminds me of me as a kid. I always loved cars.

Edited October 13, 2013 by dmk

[pharoah]

OMG! That Firebird is very similar to the one I used to have. Vedaro green with a black vinyl roof. Mine wasn't that nice though.

[Shardik]

What's to be ashamed of? This was the pinnacle of street rodding for my generation...then the "gas crisis" came and I put the four banger back in my Vega.

[Scott Colmer]

That is a sweet firebird. The side pipes and rims make it perfect for the era.

That's when I was in high school, the best cars looks like that. It was a great time to be a young gear head. I had a one off - bugeye sprite - but ran with the Charger, Mustang, and Camaro crowd. After high school I bought a local owner 72 Grabber Maverick. Lots of fun. It was a small town so we all knew each other and there were even some local legends. Those were some great times.

Scott

Edited October 13, 2013 by Scott Colmer

[ToyLvr]

Although I grew up in that era, I never cared much for the "Jacked-Up" look.

Besides, it wouldn't work on my Corvairs...... ;-)

[Luc Janssens]

Although I grew up in that era, I never cared much for the "Jacked-Up" look.

Besides, it wouldn't work on my Corvairs...... ;-)

Photo credit, Six Pack (FB screen name)

Yeah...the engine up that high would be unsafe at any speed, heck even when parked LOL

Edited October 13, 2013 by Luc Janssens

[ToyLvr]

Photo credit, Six Pack (FB screen name)

Yeah...the engine up that high would be unsafe at any speed, heck even when parked LOL

Still safer than your European Citroen 2CV, Luc. LOL :-)

[MAGNUM4342]

I had cars with rake, but never "jacked up". I wanted my cars to get oil where they needed it.

[Mercman]

I drove various cars in the 70's starting with a 63 Ford Galaxie. It sat low, not jacked up. Next up was a 68 Ford. this I had the rear up and front down with big, and littles. Then I got me my meanest ride yet a 64 Olds 442. This mother would scream Again this one sat low, but was fast. Then marriage hit, and I was back in a 59 Ford. What can I say, had to get rid of the toys. When my son was born I had a 66 Mustang all jacked up though. Traded it for another 68 Galaxie 500, that I jacked also.

A friend of mine had a 69 Camaro all jacked up, and was always geting hassled by the cops because of it. Then there was the wide assortment on the strip on weeekends. One night a guy showed up with a Anglia, full blown gasser. We had everything from hot rods, to new muscle cars to daddy's car cruzin back then.

[slusher]

l was a kid but remember that era so well. love the duster...

[Eshaver]

Hey Blunc, here's de stuff from Faceless book . Me , I never got into jacking anything unless it had a flat tire . I drove vans an guess what, I still drive my ole STOCK 53 Ford Panel wiff a Flathead Mercury in it ..................

[bbowser]

We jacked them up to fit the big tires in the back, what is this "offset" you speak of? Not ashamed at all, we were all trying to be pro-stocks back then.

[Craig Irwin]

I started driving in 1970, and every car I owned was "jacked up" until I bought my first 'Vette. The 69 Camaro I'm restoring will sit high when it's done, all of these lowered muscle cars look WRONG to me. The sidepipes were never popular here, we called them Tennessee kickstands.

We were going for the Pro Stock look, and I still love the look

[Tom Geiger]

My Scamp from back in the day,,,

[Rob Hall]

I think that look had mostly died out by the time I was in high school in the mid to late 80s, but I like it...my older brother had a few cars in the '70s that he lifted the rear on and had big tires and Cragar SSes on--'75 Firebird Formula, '65 Mustang coupe, 74 Vega GT...and the '68 Camaro SS396 he had in the '80s was lifted... I've done or plan to build a few models that way.

Edited October 13, 2013 by Rob Hall

[Harry P.]

I had a '72 Nova SS 350 back in the late '70s... bronze/copper color with a black vinyl interior, bench seat, Hurst shifter with that bent chrome arm and the big white ball on top, jacked up with American mags... memories!

[martinfan5]

I had a jacked up car, I was changing the tire

[blunc]

It almost sounds like the europeans have a misconception about american car culture that happened 40 years ago. A lot of people were influnced by what showed up on TV and any local car shows and car magazines. Usually what showed up on TV and in magazines could be considered extreme or sensationalistic in order to sell magazines or increase TV/movie viewers.

But in most cases, anyone that wanted to go faster than the other guy needed more rubber on the ground and the quickest/cheapest way to do that was to raise the back of the vehicle enough so that wheel/tires that were not factory could be mounted without being shredded by the factory wheel openings. Back then it was about how fast you could go in a straight line (unless you were into autocross) and the "Win on sunday, sell on monday" attitude assumed by a few large car makers.

[Pat Minarick]

I remember everyone putting big block spring under the front of there cars in high school ( Mustangs ,Camaro,s and Chevelle's ),I had a 74 Road Runner with the rear spring hangers turned upside down ( lowers the car 2 to 4 inch's in the rear )and the torsion bar loosened up .I was always crushing my headers into the steering linkage, had to drive up the side roads and over speed bumps sideways so It wouldn't drag.

[Luc Janssens]

It almost sounds like the Europeans have a misconception about american car culture that happened 40 years ago. A lot of people were influnced by what showed up on TV and any local car shows and car magazines. Usually what showed up on TV and in magazines could be considered extreme or sensationalistic in order to sell magazines or increase TV/movie viewers.

Not really, I for instance like mild street machines like the Firebird in my initial post, it' just that most of the time when hearing about the '70s it's a decade best forgotten auto wise, I disagree and wanted to know how you guys feel about it all.

Thanks all for your replies, it's been fun read.

Luc

[Agent G]

First car was a '62 Catalina 421 SD. I left it level and box stock underneath.

Next was a '68 GS 350 Skylark. It rode so well I left also left it alone.

'76 Plymouth Road Runner after returning to the world. This was the 2dr Fury with decals making it a "muscle car". Slowest blanking car I ever had.

I mostly played with bikes and only tolerated cars back then.

G

[Rob Hall]

I was a kid in the '70s and still remember the jacked up rears on cars very well. You had to have Cragars, shackles, High Jacker air shocks, M50-15s and at least some Thrush mufflers or you weren't "in style". Around here, that style lasted well into the '80s.

My older brother had a '69 Torino GT. But, he didn't jack it up because he would have had to raise it so high because of the rear fenderwells. He was the only one I can remember in that time period that didn't have his car jacked up in the back. He did have the Cragar S/S wheels and Thrush mufflers though.

My older brother had a '68 Fairlane 500 fastback around 1981-82, he did jack it up a bit w/ air shocks, but the rear leaf springs ended up inside the trunk (rusted rear floor--Ohio car). Had rusty Cragar SSes on it (which came from the jacked up rusty '65 Mustang coupe he previously had--after it went up in flames).