1. AMC Hornet
   Honda Prelude
2. Toyota Tercel
   Nissan Vanette

The AMC Hornet SC/360 drove onto the automotive scene in 1971. The Hornet's V-8 engine generated 285 horsepower with a four-speed transmission. AMC only produced 784 Hornets. James Bond was seen at the wheel of an AMC Hornet at least once.

1. Buick Skyhawk
   Bond Bug
2. Nissan 200SX
   Reliant Kitten

Automotive manufacturer Reliant debuted the Bond Bug at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire. Although the three-wheeled vehicle looked cool in the '70s, it didn't handle too well; the rear-end chronically slipped to the left.

1. Nissan Pulsar
   Chrysler Valiant
2. Citroen GS
   Holden Commodore

The Citroen GS was awarded European Car of the Year. The car carried state-of-the-art pneumohydraulic suspension technology with front-wheel drive. Fun fact: Citroen manufactured its first sports car in 1922 and called it "Caddy."

1. Suzuki Alto
   Datsun Bluebird
2. Range Rover
   Lancia Delta

The Range Rover gripped roads well in the '70s with its all-wheel traction. The vehicle was launched with a 3.5-liter V-8 engine and was perfectly suited for formidable off-road performance. Land Rover priced the Range at about $4,790 (the then equivalent of 2,000 British pounds) at its debut.

1. Pontiac Phoenix
   Bristol Type 603
2. Volvo 300 Series
   Chevrolet Monte Carlo

The Monte Carlo was a long front/short rear automotive first for Chevrolet, as the vehicle had the longest hood of any vehicle produced by the manufacturer. Additionally, the Monte Carlo had signature vertical taillights.

1. Nissan Violet
   Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna
2. De Tomaso Pantera
   SEAT 132

Hall Pantera of Paramount, California, introduced a 1973 version of the De Tomasa Pantera fitted with a Ford V-8 engine that generated up to 350 horsepower. The Pantera accelerated from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than 6 seconds.

1. Bandini 1000 V
   Nissan Cherry
2. Ford Falcon
   Triumph 1500

The Ford Falcon boasted a V-8 powertrain engine. Ford Motor Company manufactured the Falcon between 1960 and 1970. Ford intended for it to be a family car, as it was designed with extra storage and was spacious enough for six passengers.

1. Honda N360
   BMW 5 Series
2. Peugeot 104
   Fiat 126

After Honda debuted the N360 in 1967, it was the best-selling car in Japan for the first three years. The front-wheel-drive minicar was the first mass-produced passenger vehicle from the Japanese label.

1. Austin Allegro
   Pontiac Grand Am
2. Ligier JS2
   Reliant Robin

The Ligier JS2 model launched the start of the French automotive company, which manufactured the vehicle between 1971 and 1977. The Ligier JS2 was a mid-engine breed powered by a 2.7-liter engine.

1. Alfa Romeo Sprint
   Stimson Scorcher
2. Ferrari 400
   Opel Manta

Opel executives have claimed that models like the Manta and the Opel GT cornered the small-racer German market. The Mantra was an affordable performance car with a 2-liter 16-valve DOHC 4 cylinder engine.

1. BMW M1
   Plymouth Duster
2. Nissan Pulsar
   Ruf SCR

Plymouth confidently branded its Duster model with a cartoon-looking dust cloud. The compact gas-guzzler carried a V-8 engine and seated five passengers comfortably. Plymouth sold 175,000 Duster models in 1970.

1. AMC Pacer
   Triumph Stag
2. Bristol 412
   Mazda 121

British automotive manufacturer Triumph produced the Stag between 1971 and 1973. The stag was nice to look at, but the 3.0-liter overhead-cam V-8 engine was reportedly flawed. Critics insisted that a displacement upgrade from 2.5 to 3.0 liters was the major misstep.

1. Buick Regal
   Mitsubishi Lancer
2. Alfa Romeo Caimano
   Ferrari GT4

Alfa Romeo commissioned Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign to engineer the Alfa Romeo Caimano for the 1971 Turin Motor Show. Giugiaro crafted the chassis based on the Alpha Romeo Alfasud, which he also designed.

1. Datsun 210
   Ferrari 365 GTC/4
2. Toyota Starlet
   Honda Civic

Nicknamed "Daytona," the Ferrari 365 GTC/4 boasted a futuristic design and a sturdy 4.4-liter V-12 engine. The GTC/4 carried power steering and oleo-pneumatic leveling suspension technology.

1. Toyota Carina
   Buick Estate
2. Chevrolet Vega
   Mazda RX-3 Savanna

Mazda sold the RX-3 Savanna in the United States from 1971 to 1978. The small 2,100-pound RX-3 race car with a rotary engine had a reputation for winning several international competitions.

1. Audi 80
   Ford Falcon
2. Triumph Stag
   Hillman Avenger

Only six years after Audi debuted the 80 B1 series model in 1972, the company had sold 1 million units. The vehicle was outfitted with OHC engines and self-leveling steering roll radius.

1. Jensen Healey
   Toyota Celica
2. Dodge Ram van
   Pontiac Grand Safari

British car importer Kjell Qvale manufactured the Jensen-Healy roadster after buying a stake in Jensen Motors company in the early 1970s. Qvale was born in Trondheim, Norway, in 1919 and immigrated to the United States in 1929.

1. Stimson Mini Bug
   Subaru Leone
2. Lancia Stratos
   Fiat 127

The Lancia Stratos HF Zero marvel hailed as the best work of Italian design firm Stile Bertone in 1970. The firm engineered the high-performance, lightweight concept car with a roof made of tensile steel.

1. Lancia Beta
   Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna
2. Audi 80
   Pangra

Chevrolet manufactured the Laguna from 1973 to 1976. For the 1974 model year, the Laguna lost considerable horsepower as a result of smog and unleaded gasoline stipulations. The rear-wheel drive model is the sibling of the modern Chevrolet Malibu.

1. Triumph Dolomite
   Maserati Khamsin
2. Iso Varedo
   Daewoo Royale

The Maserati Khamsin coupe was manufactured from 1974 to 1981. The sports car was engineered when Citroen owned Maserati. It was made to compete with the Ferrari Daytona. The Khamsin achieved zero to 60 miles per hour in 6 seconds.

1. Pontiac Grand Am
   Panther J72
2. Subaru Rex
   Austin Allegro

Starting with the 1973 model year, Pontiac had promoted the Grand Am title. The car was nearly 18 feet long and carried an engine that consumers could upgrade. The standard engine was a V-8 that generated 170 horsepower.

1. Matra Bagheera
   Volkswagen Passat
2. Ferrari GT4
   Opel Kadett C

Following the success of its Beetle line, Volkswagen introduced several products in the 1970s, including the Passat in 1973. The company immediately released variants of the Passat: the Scirocco in '74 and the Golf GTI in '76.

1. Bricklin SV-1
   Citicar
2. Panther FF
   Pontiac Astre

Malcolm Bricklin left Suburu in 1972; he was also instrumental in aiding the start of Yugo of America. His SV-1 1974 car creation featured gull-wing doors, as well as a 360-cubic-inch V-8 engine. Though a cool-looking classic, the car was plagued with an assortment of cosmetic and engineering issues.

1. Daihatsu Taft
   Citicar
2. Holden One Tonner
   Toyota Corolla

Bob Beaumont, a former car dealer, was responsible for engineering this electric car, which was quite a task in the '70s. Released in 1974, the Citicar could only tolerate short trips. Beaumont's company, Sebring-Vanguard, went bankrupt in 1977.

1. Buick Skylark
   Rolls-Royce Camargue
2. Jeep Cherokee
   Dodge Aspen

American Motors released the Cherokee as a sportier version of other cars in its segment. Almost immediately, the car developed a cult-like following in spite of the many problems it reportedly gave buyers, including a faulty transmission.

1. Maserati Quattroporte Mark II
   Pontiac Phoenix
2. Rover SD1
   Skoda 120

Pietro Frua crafted the first Maserati Quattroporte in 1963. The 1974 Mark II translation was the first front-wheel-drive car made by the company. The Quattroporte Mark II featured a three-liter V-6 engine.

1. Premier Padmini
   Ford Fiesta
2. Toyota Cressida
   Honda Accord

The Fiat-based Premier Padmini enjoyed major prominence in India, as many were converted to black-and-yellow taxis. Both loved and hated for its modest speed, the car's production ceased in 2000.

1. Fiat Fiorino
   Buick Skyhawk
2. Chrysler LeBaron
   Suzuki Cervo

Chevrolet ran production of the hatchback Skyhawk from 1975 to 1980. The Buick Skyhawk was the rear-wheel-drive version of the Chevrolet Monza. The first batch of Buick Skyhawks carried 3.8-liter V-6 engines.

1. Dodge Diplomat
   Volkswagen Derby
2. Toyota Chaser
   Chrysler Cordoba

Chrysler sold 150,105 units of the Cordoba during its first run in 1975. Overall, the model was the car company's most popular full-size edition. When production of the design ceased in 1983, Chrysler had sold more than 757,000 units.

1. Lincoln Versailles
   Panther 6
2. Ferrari 308 GTB
   Chrysler Sigma

The Ferrari 308 GTB was mostly a Fiat concept. Enzo Ferrari sold the passenger division of the brand to Fiat in 1969. The '75 308 GTB was made with a fiberglass body that most customers didn't care for, so the company switched to a steel frame.

1. AMC Spirit
   Hyundai Pony
2. Nissan Vanette
   Triumph TR8

Hyundai introduced the "Pony" model in Italy at the 1974 Turin International Motor Fair. The Korean automotive company was launched in December 1967 in collaboration with Ford UK.

1. Suzuki Alto
   Lotus Eclat
2. Datsun Bluebird
   Volkswagen Jetta

Production for the Eclat, which was based on the Lotus Elite II, occurred between 1975 and 1982. The Lotus Eclat was valued at $11,050. The 522 edition carried amenities such as a cassette player and air conditioning.

1. Mitsubishi Mirage
   Plymouth Gran Fury
2. AMC Concord
   Nissan Pulsar

The rear-wheel-drive Plymouth Gran Fury was built from the mid-'70s to 1989. The car's attributes included power steering, automatic transmission, a radio, whitewall tires and a vinyl roof.

1. Fiat Ritmo
   Porsche 911 Turbo Carrera
2. Ruf SCR
   Vector W2

The whale-tailed Porsche 911 Turbo Carrera was the roadster version of Porsche's race car lot. The '76-model-year car carried a Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection system and a 3.0-liter turbocharged engine.

1. Dodge Omni
   Ford Fiesta
2. Suzuki Cervo
   Ford LTD II

The Ford Fiesta sold well in Europe as well as in Asia. The last year that Ford sold a Fiesta in the United States was 1981. The company reintroduced the car in the U.S. market in 2010.

1. Monteverdi Safari
   BMW 6 Series
2. Mitsubishi Galant Lambda
   Holden HX

Mitsubishi unveiled the company's "MM" symbol the same year it produced the Galant Lambda. The re-introduced 1978 Dodge Challenger was a rebadged version of the Galant Lambda.

1. AMC Pacer
   Lada Niva
2. Bristol 412
   Gurgel Itaipu

The 4x4 Lada Niva was first manufactured in 1977. The off-roader is arguably Russia's most celebrated car. The vehicle's simplicity and low price are reasons it continues to sell well in spite of its age.

1. Holden Gemini
   Matra-Simca Rancho
2. Volkswagen Polo
   Jensen GT

The French Matra-Simca Rancho was unveiled in 1977 as one of the first crossover vehicles in its class. Lada Niva and AMC Eagle are predecessors, but the Soviet Maskovitch 410 is possibly the first of the crossover automotive segment.

1. Honda Accord
   Toyota Unser
2. Lancia Gamma
   Pontiac Phoenix

The Toyota Unser began as a generic utility vehicle when it was first introduced in 1976. A much-more evolved 21st-century Unser model boasts a power-assisted rack and pinion steering system.

1. Dodge Charger
   Aston Martin V8 Vantage
2. Chrysler Sunbeam
   Volvo 262C

Dodge ceased making the first-edition Chargers in 1978, one year before the car was first featured on "The Dukes of Hazzard" television show. Bo and Luke Duke's Charger was a 1969 model.