Nothing changed my car life more than the first time I saw a 1967- 68 Mercury Cougar XR-7. Those hideaways and sequenchel taillights have led to a lifelong affair with Mercury cars that still lives in me today.
I would argue that Gordon M. Buehrig's 1937 Cord 812 was a milestone automobile, that introduced many design innovations that are still used on cars today. It was called the "baby Duesenburg", but the only thing it shared was a Lycoming engine. It had front wheel drive, pre-select semi-automatic transmission, was an "intermediate" sized vehicle that seated four comfortably, and was a design tour de force.
Much appreciated! I have a friend who has had the same Beetle since 1967. He just had it converted to electric. The beauty of design of the latter 50's and 1960's evoke many memories and a wish that someday I will enjoy one of these classics to share with others. Another great video!
Nice list, however, you missed the 1949 Ford Deluxe which was the first American car that had all four fenders flush mounted with the car's cabin. Within a few years, all cars manufactured had a similar design.
Quite enjoyable my friend, as one who has owned 90 vehicles over the years I find your UA-cam channel my favorite, always something fun to look forward to going down memory lane!
He's a right shyster in my mind. The way that he handled AMC was disgraceful. The knob wouldn't even consider selling the parts stash to the AMC club (which did exist at the time), he just scrapped the whole lot.
Bring back Lincoln 4 door convertible sedan. Lincoln Continental only came with 2 body styles and both are 4 doors, one is the open model (convertible) and the other is a closed model (conventional sedan) from 1961 to 1967. For 1968, Lincoln finally came out with the 2 door hardtop coupe, which replaced the ailing 4 door convertible sedan. Also for the first time since 1960 Lincoln Continental did offered 2 door hardtop for 1968. Many Lincoln buyers thought they wonder why it took so long to revived the popular body style. I don't think that Lincoln will not bring back 4 door convertible, nor a regular 4 door sedan, and Lincoln will only offer SUV.
Interesting note about the '76 Honda Accord CVCC -- its engine was so efficient that it passed EPA emissions regulations *without* an EGR valve or a catalytic converter! Since catalytic converters consist of platinum and other very expensive precious metals, this enabled Honda to save a *ton* of money on manufacturing costs, which meant they were actually less expensive than other Japanese-made cars at the time. That definitely helped them boost sales. Later, of course, as emissions regulations became even more stringent, they did have to install catalytic converters -- but that didn't happen until the mid 1980s. By then, they were well-established in the States.
Interesting fact #2 Honda's now have the richest catylitic converters out of any gas engine out they have tons of pgms and are worth more than all other gasoline engine converters
Yes, you bet....and I think the 1951 Chrysler with the first 331 Hemi really started the horsepower craze....that was SO far advanced compared to other V8 offerings.
@@tomjones2121 you made yourself look like an idiot,idiot. There is no car made that can compete with a v8. Not to mention porch did build a v8 lol. Mustang cobra jet goes 0 to 60 in 1.52 seconds. Look silly now dont you
@@bettycriscoe1460 poor betty who can't spell porshe calls me an idiot, LOL, ps. Buick turned in the fastest lap ever at indy in a 4 cyl...... the fact that you don't understand gear ratio says everything about you , go sit down .2cyl motorcycles with 200HP beat the fastest cars..
No 1953 Studebaker coupe (Champion/Commander)? That was THE CAR that convinced the American public that tall and boxy wasn't necessarily the best way to make a car. It was the Forward Look four years before the fact and it STILL gets no respect. Studebakers in general seem to be the Rodney Dangerfield of collector cars, but come on!
I nearly got in a fist fight for telling an F-Car aficionado that Ferrari had never built a car as *IMPORTANT* as the Model T or even the VW Beetle. The cork sniffer lost his mind.
You could have REALLY got him going with Car and Driver’s 1964 article “GTO vs. GTO”! 😁 That one article generated soooo much hate mail that it prompted the magazine to start composing very smart Alec and irreverent comments. That was their hallmark for many years, although looking at the mag in recent years, they’ve become rather PC. 😌 Needless to say, the Ferrari folks were none to pleased!
@@plastiksurgeon9129 Car And Driver hasn't been the same since they quit printing LJK Setright's bonkers op/ed pieces and really hasn't been right since Davis and Lindamood departed and Yates died.
A great honorable mention to this list would be the Nash Rambler/Rambler American, the original successful American compact. In its Nash Rambler form, it inspired the Hudson Jet and Kaiser Henry J. In its later Rambler American form, practically inspired every American compact of the late 50s and 60s, which were the basis of the vast majority of muscle/pony cars.
I agree with this list completely. I still own my 58 Beetle almost 20 years later. You will find one in many high school parking lots to this day. Iconic
Surprised the Jeep CJ, WWII Willy’s Jeep or Jeep Cherokee didn’t make the list. Needed a sport utility wagon to go along with the mini van. Also maybe the Datsun 240Z or 1957 Chevy?
What, no Pacer!!?? The AMC Pacer introduced a bizarreness to the American car market that carried on in such memorable masterpieces as the Pontiac Aztek.
Arguably, it could be said that the 1953 Studebaker Starliner was the first two door “personal car”. Compared to its four door brethren, that car was VERY sporty and could seat four quite comfortably. Studebaker was a small company though, so they never quite got the recognition as much as the big three have. Of course like everything else in the ‘50’s, the Studes got a bit more bizarre looking with more chrome, bigger fins, and increased size. Great video......I enjoyed it! 👍
The milestone car, the 1953 studebaker starlite coupe designed by Raymond Lowey set the standard for sleek automotive design for decades in this country. Even today the design looks remarkably fresh.
I think the Corvair should have been included. Not for the crazy engineering of a giant size Volkswagen, but for the fact that it gave Ralph Nader the opportunity to force the automakers to make cars safer, which may imply that the Corvair was unsafe, but that was proven not to be the case in 1972 when Frank Winchell defended the Corvair for GM, when the car was on trial
You meant bizarre, depending on the color of car,that Continental looks great,,but knowing that the car ( with exemption of doors,trunk and. Hood) was an entire body
I agree with every car presented in this video. The possible exception may be the 1964 Pontiac GTO. I think that Duesenberg was responsible for the first performance car built in this country. The GTO was probably the first though to be aimed directly at the youth market. All in all, this video was done very well. I also subscribed because of that.
Your commentary is interesting. Every car available in the United States was or is available today in Canada. We have had a few models of our own that have been exclusive to Canada made by GM and Ford divisions. Most Canadian cars have been similar to US models with a different name, engine choices and trim. Studebaker continued to make cars in Canada for a couple of years after the US plant closed. All this said the market, for the most part is very similar in both countries.
Henry Ford was smart enough to know that paying your employees a good wage made them better workers, more loyal and also made them customers. Why modern business owners don't realize this is beyond ignorant
Weird list 1) Ford Model T 2) Ford Model A 3) 1932 Ford 4) 1937 Cord 5) 1937 Chrysler Airflow 6) 1949 Cadillac 7) 1953 Chevy Corvette 8) 1955 Chevy 9) 1955 Ford Thunderbird 10) 1960 Ford Falcon 11) 1961 Lincoln Continental 12) 1963 Buick Riviera 13) 1964 Ford Mustang 14) 1966 Oldsmobile Toranado 15) 1984 Dodge Minivan 16) 1986 Ford Taurus 17) 1991 Ford Explorer
I was privileged, in 1964 to see the 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang prototype which was on display at the 1964 New York Worlds Fair where I also saw G.M.'s Futurama.
Thanks for making this great video! I remember alot of these! I just turned 60. I have 2 wonderful old cars. My parents bought a 1958 Cadillac in 1960, I was a year old. Thanks to much pleading by me in the late 60s , my mom didn't trade the car off and kept it for me. She signed it over to me in 1980. I obviously grew up with this car, it's in great shape, and I drive it every week. My 2nd is a 1968 Mustang I bought while in high school. 289, factory AC, power steering, automatic. Its bone stock, in beautiful condition. Drive it regularly. Fortunately, Both are lifelong southern California cars, so I have no rust or corrosion issues to deal with. I have great fun taking them to local car shows, and they make alot of people smile! My dad had a 66 olds Toronado, man he loved that car. Me to, he traded that for a 72 Eldorado . Nice car also. My aunt had a brand new 65 impala coupe, white with blue interior. Awesome car. Makes one wonder, will ANY of today's cars be on the road in 50/60 years.....I'd like to think so.
Fiat 128: First cogged rubber timing belt. Fiat 500: the model T of Italy. Jaguar EType: first sports car with IRS, twincam, discs all round. Oooh, gimme that 58 T Bird!
1886 Benz Motorwagen - First motorized vehicle. 1888 Flocken Elektrowagen - First electric car 1908 Ford Model T - Car for the masses, not just the wealthy & modern day assembly line. 1934 Chrysler Airflow - First aerodynamic design among many other features. 1934 Citroën Traction Avant - First hatchback, front-wheel drive, 4-wheel independent suspension, use of a crash resistant, uni-body 1940 Oldsmobile - First automatic transmission 1946 Willys Jeep station wagon - First FWD SUV 1949 Volkswagen Type 2 - First minivan 1955 Citroën DS - First mass produced car with power assisted disc brakes and self leveling suspension.
@Real Dudes Party Nude Dude, calm down. The Citroën DS was voted the most influential car design of the 20th century by a panel of car designers from Ferrari, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, SEAT, Cadillac, and Rolls-Royce in 2017. I'd personally love to own one too, just as how I would love to own a 1953 Studebaker coupe. By the way, my current driver is a 1962 Studebaker GT Hawk. Yeehaw!
Good vid,the only thing I question is the VW Beetle was easy to work on. My dad was a maintenance supervisor for 32 yrs,and always cursed when he had to work on his VWs
HA! l had a Corvair Monza that was only worked on by the little guy with the smallest hands at the shop. Other guys with bigger hands couldn't get into some areas.
Great video! However, you forgot some key cars. How about the 1955 Chrysler C300? It started the horsepower race and muscle car era. How about the 1957 Rambler Rebel? A pocket rocket for the masses. Very few stock sedan cars could beat it. The future potential was an open book, but George Romney put the quash on it. It was years later before another Rambler performance sedan would rumble down the road.
Just wondering, did the Jeep Cherokee XJ come just short of making this list? it was a smaller suv designed in the gas crisis years and led the way for the cross-over craze we have now. it was supposed to be replaced in the early nineties by the next generation cherokee, but it was selling so well they renamed the next gen the "grand cherokee" and the xj continued to be sold until 2001. love that car to bits
@mtndewman1022 I don't know automotive history past '72 very much, but I would say the Cherokee must be up there indeed. I do know the earlier & larger Wagoneers do get some mention in the automotive literature I have as being rather influential.
Love your channel! Future vids I'd like to see... the Datsun/Nissan Z series, the K-car and Daytona Turbo cars, and the twin turbo craze of the early 90's.
They should have listed the 1949 oldsmobile rocket 88. It was the first midsized two door car that had a ohv v8 which was the largest and most powerful engine oldsmobile had at the time. It predated the GTO by some 15 years. Pontiac simply rediscovered the formula oldsmobile created with the rocket 88.
Great video! One could only imagine what Detroit could have been like if they didn’t slam the door in the face of Dr. Deming, sending him straight to Japan. Where they adopted his lessons and passed Detroit as the world leader in auto manufacturing. Pay attention or pay cash America!
I could've swore Old Memories had more than 80k subscribers,tjis is a top notch informative documentary about automobile's,I have learn a whole lot,thanks and continue bringing us more interesting content
The significance of the Model T isn't the car. Its the production methods. So knock it out. The 61 Lincoln didn't define the look of luxury cars for the next 30 years. The Cadillac and Imperial were bigger with lots of bright trim. The Lincoln was enlarged partway through this body run and its replacement adopted what Cadillac and Imperial were doing with size and trim. The original Corvette didn't prove Americans were ready for sports cars. Some would argue it took a while for it to BECOME a sports car. The squarebird might be given credit for starting the higher priced personal luxury 2 door but none of the cars, it, the Riviera, the Toronado, sold in signficant numbers due to their price. Quoting sales stats for the POPULARLY PRICED 77 T Bird shows how long Ford missed where the real personal two door sales were. Even CHRYSLER beat them to that market!!!
Your videos are always outstandingly researched and well narrated. I jump at the chance to watch each now one when you release it. May I suggest the topic of a video covering Mr. Iacocca's life and his automotive contributions, since he's recently left us.
Again, I can not believe you do not mention the Oldsmobile Toronado. This car had technology no other car of the time had and it and later in 1967, the Cadillac Eldorado were the only front wheel drive cars in the USA. They were reliable and would set a trend in FWD that is pretty much the norm today. The other has to be the Datsun 240Z and the Z car in general. This marked the first affordable true sports car and let the world know that Japan could build something other then boxy little econoboxes. The Z car is still made to this day and a stretched version in the form of the G35, G37 and Q60 Infiniti are quite popular today as well. These two cars are probably among the most innovative milestones out there. Funny you did not mention either.
The 1948 Hudson step down design was, first of all the first true clean break with all the left over pre WW2 designs. Second, the design was the first American car to integrate the front end, frame and body into a single integrated functional design. With the introduction of the iconic Hornet in '51 a racing legend was born. Just look at the 49 Mercury and even the shoe box '49 to '51 fords as influenced in a very watered down version. Far lower center of gravity vity, far closer CG to center of compression meant it could corner 20 mph + faster than any other American car. Frame extending above the doors for safety. Body WELDED to the frame , sway bars front and back. Dual hydrallic/mechanical breaks, twin carbs, and with a great broad , flat high torque. And fast? Hey just ask any NASCAR fan during that era....NO question, the Post war Hudsons caused a seismic shift and nothing was ever really the same......
I worked at Chrysler when we converted over to build minivans in 1985 . We couldn't build enough of them with 2 shifts working 6 days a week. That's not counting the Canadian plant doing the same thing. Chrysler made millions off that platform.
Edit- There were many cars way cheaper than the model T that came out before it, Oldsmobile made cars 1/4 the price of Ford, the only reason people bought fords is because they have like two more horse power Edit 2- Oldsmobile used the assembly line before Ford Edit 3- The Mustang never had a modern appearance, (besides the fox body and 90’s Mustangs) the Mustang always had a classic, old look to it, even when it came out
ChipCool Agreed. The Corvair actually handled well and had a genuinely modern look. The Mustang precisely hit the typical moron‘s style target on a more reliable Falcon platform.
Absolutely. Its something you're born with I think. My mom told me she knew I was going to be a car nut when I was just 4 , because everytime she parked our 58 caddy in the garage, I ran to the front of the car and stuck my nose in the grill to smell the hot engine smell. It still smells the same 61 years later. she said when I started washing the car at 6 years old , she new I had it bad..lol . New cars just dont have that great under the hood old car smell. Dont get me wrong, I love my new cars too. Lol.
@@johnfranklin5277 Here's the thing, though. I was not originally a car guy. I just stumbled into the hobby after a friend of mine gave me rides in a fire engine red 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk. III. I would argue, therefore, that it is possible for people born without car passion to develop it and become true-blue members of the communities.
Here's an interesting fact for everyone: Elwood Engel designed the 1961 Lincoln Continental.. He was then hired by Chrysler, and designed the 1964 Imperial as well. Both cars are extremely similar in design, due to Elwood's desire to make his "newest" creation look like his previous.
The 1961-67 Lincoln Continental only with 4 door sedan in 2 body styles, one is a closed model as of conventional sedan, and the open model as of convertible sedan. Now Lincoln Continental only came with 4 door sedan, but the 4 door convertible sedan did not make it to the market, along with rear doors are suicide type. For 1966 Lincoln Continental, it add a 2 door hardtop for the first time since 1960. It sell to 15,806 buyers, and proven much popular then a convertible sedan by almost 6 times the volume.
The Tri Five Chevys still remain the most popular Classic cars on the road today , and are the most restored, and still running no other car comes close
The Taurus was being designed in the late 70s early 80s and it was ahead of its time!. Came out in fall 1985 and was the 3rd car in Fords new lineup with the "Jellybean styling" as Ford put it along with the 83 Thunderbird and Tempo in which it got a lot of its looks from. Later even till today most of the new Ford vehicles still carry this styling. Ford was always revolutionary and innovative in design and it shows.
@@sreilly Don't forget about the 82 T/A, which had the lowest drag co-efficient of all American cars, ever, and might still today, tho I haven't kept up with them.
Dodge Caravan a very fine vehicle in many ways and was, happily, not programmed to lock up the steering completely when suddenly stalling out on Rte 218.
The Explorer of course is still around with its bigger brother the Expedition. America's law enforcement agencies love the Explorer for its handling and reliability.
Another car I'd add is the 1961 Chevy Nova. The Nova was a very popular car through its lifespan and showed that many Americans wanted a smaller coupe or sedan with enough interior room and a trunk big enough to still carry a reasonable amount. The Beetle was what eventually led to the hatchback market.
Pretty fly for a WiFi nope, I got it on right arm. So then when I pretend to go drive stick because I’m a car boy and don’t have a license let alone a learners permit I can see it. You know, because I want to race sports cars when I am older. I’m somewhere in my early teens.
I would add the Ford Explorer for popularizing SUVs, which are the backbone of the U.S. auto market today. There's no denying it, although I certainly have TRIED HARD ENOUGH! >:-(
The first small, fuel efficient car sold in the US, was a Crosley. In fact, Crosley built the first sports car, with 4 wheel disc brakes, and termed the first SUV, all before the first VW set "foot" on US soil.
Totally forgot the 1933 Chrysler Airflow and DeSoto Airstream. First wind tunnel designed car. Balanced weight distribution, higher safety and performance numbers. And you forgot this one!
Omission of SUV and pickup trucks seems unacceptable. These along with minivans are true American vehicle forms and what saved American auto industry in the 80s and changed America landscape nowadays. Because the Japanese never understood these segments and was too late to the game, giving the US precious breathing room.
@@elcabezon5487 umm, the I think you have that backward. The Mazda's were based off Ford platforms. Ford's Ranger came out in 83 and it wasn't until 94 (one year after Ford released the second generation Ranger) before Ford built the B series truck for Mazda on the Ranger platform. The Explorer came 9 years earlier than the Tribute, which actually wasn't a rebadged explorer, but a rebadged Escape. The Mazda Navajo which was based on the 1st gen Explorer came out at about the same time but only lasted a couple model years.
@Real Dudes Party Nude but the Explorer was the original platform. Mazda used Ford's platform, not the other way around. The Tribute isn't even related to the Explorer. It's a rebadged Escape.
You obviously don’t know much about automobile history. Without Cadillac’s invention of standard parts in 1908, ford could not produced the model t. Without the Cadillac self starter in 1912, women would have not been able to drive. There is not enough room on this program to list all the inventions Cadillac has contributed to the automobile.
I have a 1980 Chevy Monza Spider. I bought it New. It has a 400 C.I.D. engine in it. It has 692,000 Miles on it. It still runs like a Clock. It is the car that changed My life forever.
When the Model T was introduced, the % of the populace that could buy a car went up dramatically. But car ownership were still not within the reach of the average Joe.
I was too young to make note of it, but I've always wondered if the convertible tops on VW Beetles were manual or automatic in the 1960s/70s models! I only had one my neighbors across the street had and I seem to recall theirs broke at some point!
Inexpensive, fuel efficient, reliable, easy to repair & able to carry 4 people - these used to be sacrosanct, automotive characteristics for cars bought by the working class. What has happen to these values ?
@@JTA1961 Hey Joel, I hear you about "the market", but have no way to contain it. I honestly think their is a place in this auto market for a new vehicle, with fewer features, rock solid quality and guaranteed buy-back provisions, when the time comes to trade up. Cars that cost upwards of 7 years to pay-off and which also have zero useful value at the end of that cycle, are a transportation liability. There has to be a better way. Today, IF India or China ever get in here, the gig will be up. I regret this.
KazzzRock, It might have been streamlined and aerodynamic, but it was very unattractive and would never compete against the best looking cars ever. (1932 to 1035) All US car styling during these years were incredible.
Fantastic! May I suggest you do video on the 1969 Mercury Marauder X-100. I’ve been a longtime car guy, but only just recently discovered this odd, but alluring rare beast. It’s best described as Luxury meets Muscle.
My dad had one of those so I have to disagree with you. His was best described as a gas guzzling death trap. It was fun to drive unless it was raining or snowing or there were other cars on the road.
Painfully and Sadly, I read a notice that a Chrysler Factory of the Pacifica (Extremely Beautiful and Functional latest model), has suspended production because of the lack of demand due to the failures of the 9-speed transmission. A pity.
Nothing changed my car life more than the first time I saw a 1967- 68 Mercury Cougar XR-7. Those hideaways and sequenchel taillights have led to a lifelong affair with Mercury cars that still lives in me today.
I would argue that Gordon M. Buehrig's 1937 Cord 812 was a milestone automobile, that introduced many design innovations that are still used on cars today. It was called the "baby Duesenburg", but the only thing it shared was a Lycoming engine. It had front wheel drive, pre-select semi-automatic transmission, was an "intermediate" sized vehicle that seated four comfortably, and was a design tour de force.
Ford Taurus should be included - aerodynamic design which reduces drag and a radical changed from the box type. It became the best seller.
Much appreciated! I have a friend who has had the same Beetle since 1967. He just had it converted to electric. The beauty of design of the latter 50's and 1960's evoke many memories and a wish that someday I will enjoy one of these classics to share with others. Another great video!
Nice list, however, you missed the 1949 Ford Deluxe which was the first American car that had all four fenders flush mounted with the car's cabin. Within a few years, all cars manufactured had a similar design.
Actually the ‘47 Kaiser/Frazer line up beat Ford as did ‘48 Hudsons and Packards.
@@johnmcdonald9655 My mistake. Thank you John for the information.
Quite enjoyable my friend, as one who has owned 90 vehicles over the years I find your UA-cam channel my favorite, always something fun to look forward to going down memory lane!
Lee iacocca was an automotive genius ! 🇺🇸
He's a right shyster in my mind. The way that he handled AMC was disgraceful. The knob wouldn't even consider selling the parts stash to the AMC club (which did exist at the time), he just scrapped the whole lot.
Marketing genius for sure.
Got that right!!!
Bring back Lincoln 4 door convertible sedan. Lincoln Continental only came with 2 body styles and both are 4 doors, one is the open model (convertible) and the other is a closed model (conventional sedan) from 1961 to 1967. For 1968, Lincoln finally came out with the 2 door hardtop coupe, which replaced the ailing 4 door convertible sedan. Also for the first time since 1960 Lincoln Continental did offered 2 door hardtop for 1968. Many Lincoln buyers thought they wonder why it took so long to revived the popular body style. I don't think that Lincoln will not bring back 4 door convertible, nor a regular 4 door sedan, and Lincoln will only offer SUV.
Very good video,funny how times change.Keep up the good work this is my favourite UA-cam channel,very well researched...Two Thumbs Up.!!!
Interesting note about the '76 Honda Accord CVCC -- its engine was so efficient that it passed EPA emissions regulations *without* an EGR valve or a catalytic converter! Since catalytic converters consist of platinum and other very expensive precious metals, this enabled Honda to save a *ton* of money on manufacturing costs, which meant they were actually less expensive than other Japanese-made cars at the time. That definitely helped them boost sales. Later, of course, as emissions regulations became even more stringent, they did have to install catalytic converters -- but that didn't happen until the mid 1980s. By then, they were well-established in the States.
LMacNeill AMC also had no cat on 1976 6 cylinders. (1975 did). I believe Subaru also passed the regs without one.
Interesting fact #2 Honda's now have the richest catylitic converters out of any gas engine out they have tons of pgms and are worth more than all other gasoline engine converters
The 1932 Ford was very important too. First affordable v8 car.
Yes, you bet....and I think the 1951 Chrysler with the first 331 Hemi really started the horsepower craze....that was SO far advanced compared to other V8 offerings.
v8 engine never changed anything , except fuel consumption
Porsche never built a V8 go figure , yet , no american car built can keep up with one LOL
@@tomjones2121 you made yourself look like an idiot,idiot. There is no car made that can compete with a v8. Not to mention porch did build a v8 lol. Mustang cobra jet goes 0 to 60 in 1.52 seconds. Look silly now dont you
@@bettycriscoe1460 poor betty who can't spell porshe calls me an idiot, LOL, ps. Buick turned in the fastest lap ever at indy in a 4 cyl...... the fact that you don't understand gear ratio says everything about you , go sit down .2cyl motorcycles with 200HP beat the fastest cars..
No 1953 Studebaker coupe (Champion/Commander)? That was THE CAR that convinced the American public that tall and boxy wasn't necessarily the best way to make a car. It was the Forward Look four years before the fact and it STILL gets no respect. Studebakers in general seem to be the Rodney Dangerfield of collector cars, but come on!
I nearly got in a fist fight for telling an F-Car aficionado that Ferrari had never built a car as *IMPORTANT* as the Model T or even the VW Beetle. The cork sniffer lost his mind.
😅😅😅😅
You could have REALLY got him going with Car and Driver’s 1964 article “GTO vs. GTO”! 😁
That one article generated soooo much hate mail that it prompted the magazine to start composing very smart Alec and irreverent comments. That was their hallmark for many years, although looking at the mag in recent years, they’ve become rather PC. 😌
Needless to say, the Ferrari folks were none to pleased!
@@plastiksurgeon9129 Car And Driver hasn't been the same since they quit printing LJK Setright's bonkers op/ed pieces and really hasn't been right since Davis and Lindamood departed and Yates died.
@@catjudo1
Brock Yates, the Cannonball Run, in real life and the movie, what a classic.
Wow,just Leve them as ignorant
A great honorable mention to this list would be the Nash Rambler/Rambler American, the original successful American compact. In its Nash Rambler form, it inspired the Hudson Jet and Kaiser Henry J. In its later Rambler American form, practically inspired every American compact of the late 50s and 60s, which were the basis of the vast majority of muscle/pony cars.
I’ve become quite fond of that intro music.
I agree with this list completely. I still own my 58 Beetle almost 20 years later. You will find one in many high school parking lots to this day. Iconic
Surprised the Jeep CJ, WWII Willy’s Jeep or Jeep Cherokee didn’t make the list. Needed a sport utility wagon to go along with the mini van. Also maybe the Datsun 240Z or 1957 Chevy?
This is a truly great video. Informative and to the point. Love your style sir. Now I need to find an '84 Caravan. With wood-tone paneling of course.
What, no Pacer!!?? The AMC Pacer introduced a bizarreness to the American car market that carried on in such memorable masterpieces as the Pontiac Aztek.
Edsel also comes to mind. Maybe if they do a most memorable freaks & flops video these cars will be included.
Arguably, it could be said that the 1953 Studebaker Starliner was the first two door “personal car”. Compared to its four door brethren, that car was VERY sporty and could seat four quite comfortably.
Studebaker was a small company though, so they never quite got the recognition as much as the big three have. Of course like everything else in the ‘50’s, the Studes got a bit more bizarre looking with more chrome, bigger fins, and increased size.
Great video......I enjoyed it! 👍
I would add the 1947 Studebaker, the first post war model and the 1963 Avanti. Why do they always forget about them ?
The milestone car, the 1953 studebaker starlite coupe designed by Raymond Lowey set the standard for sleek automotive design for decades in this country. Even today the design looks remarkably fresh.
Made right here in South Bend, Indiana. The forgotten rust belt city. I’ll never leave my hometown till the day I die.
I think the Corvair should have been included. Not for the crazy engineering of a giant size Volkswagen, but for the fact that it gave Ralph Nader the opportunity to force the automakers to make cars safer, which may imply that the Corvair was unsafe, but that was proven not to be the case in 1972 when Frank Winchell defended the Corvair for GM, when the car was on trial
The 1961-63 Lincoln's were revolutionary in their styling considering how bazaar their predecessor looked.
You meant bizarre, depending on the color of car,that Continental looks great,,but knowing that the car ( with exemption of doors,trunk and. Hood) was an entire body
I agree with every car presented in this video. The possible exception may be the 1964 Pontiac GTO. I think that Duesenberg was responsible for the first performance car built in this country. The GTO was probably the first though to be aimed directly at the youth market. All in all, this video was done very well. I also subscribed because of that.
Your commentary is interesting. Every car available in the United States was or is available today in Canada. We have had a few models of our own that have been exclusive to Canada made by GM and Ford divisions. Most Canadian cars have been similar to US models with a different name, engine choices and trim. Studebaker continued to make cars in Canada for a couple of years after the US plant closed. All this said the market, for the most part is very similar in both countries.
Henry Ford was smart enough to know that paying your employees a good wage made them better workers, more loyal and also made them customers. Why modern business owners don't realize this is beyond ignorant
Good work, hard to argue with the selections.
Weird list
1) Ford Model T
2) Ford Model A
3) 1932 Ford
4) 1937 Cord
5) 1937 Chrysler Airflow
6) 1949 Cadillac
7) 1953 Chevy Corvette
8) 1955 Chevy
9) 1955 Ford Thunderbird
10) 1960 Ford Falcon
11) 1961 Lincoln Continental
12) 1963 Buick Riviera
13) 1964 Ford Mustang
14) 1966 Oldsmobile Toranado
15) 1984 Dodge Minivan
16) 1986 Ford Taurus
17) 1991 Ford Explorer
Well done keep them comming
I was privileged, in 1964 to see the 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang prototype which was on display at the 1964 New York Worlds Fair where I also saw G.M.'s Futurama.
Nice. My Dad went to the 1939 W.F.
Thanks for making this great video! I remember alot of these! I just turned 60. I have 2 wonderful old cars. My parents bought a 1958 Cadillac in 1960, I was a year old. Thanks to much pleading by me in the late 60s , my mom didn't trade the car off and kept it for me. She signed it over to me in 1980. I obviously grew up with this car, it's in great shape, and I drive it every week. My 2nd is a 1968 Mustang I bought while in high school. 289, factory AC, power steering, automatic. Its bone stock, in beautiful condition. Drive it regularly. Fortunately, Both are lifelong southern California cars, so I have no rust or corrosion issues to deal with. I have great fun taking them to local car shows, and they make alot of people smile! My dad had a 66 olds Toronado, man he loved that car. Me to, he traded that for a 72 Eldorado . Nice car also. My aunt had a brand new 65 impala coupe, white with blue interior. Awesome car. Makes one wonder, will ANY of today's cars be on the road in 50/60 years.....I'd like to think so.
Fiat 128: First cogged rubber timing belt. Fiat 500: the model T of Italy.
Jaguar EType: first sports car with IRS, twincam, discs all round.
Oooh, gimme that 58 T Bird!
Ummmm, the Healey roadster with a V8 debuted two years before the junkvette, meaning it was the very first American sports car ever produced....
1886 Benz Motorwagen - First motorized vehicle.
1888 Flocken Elektrowagen - First electric car
1908 Ford Model T - Car for the masses, not just the wealthy & modern day assembly line.
1934 Chrysler Airflow - First aerodynamic design among many other features.
1934 Citroën Traction Avant - First hatchback, front-wheel drive, 4-wheel independent suspension, use of a crash resistant, uni-body
1940 Oldsmobile - First automatic transmission
1946 Willys Jeep station wagon - First FWD SUV
1949 Volkswagen Type 2 - First minivan
1955 Citroën DS - First mass produced car with power assisted disc brakes and self leveling suspension.
@Real Dudes Party Nude Dude, calm down. The Citroën DS was voted the most influential car design of the 20th century by a panel of car designers from Ferrari, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, SEAT, Cadillac, and Rolls-Royce in 2017. I'd personally love to own one too, just as how I would love to own a 1953 Studebaker coupe. By the way, my current driver is a 1962 Studebaker GT Hawk. Yeehaw!
This is one of the best automotive channels on UA-cam. I haven't seen an episode that has disappointed me
Good vid,the only thing I question is the VW Beetle was easy to work on.
My dad was a maintenance supervisor for 32 yrs,and always cursed when he had to work on his VWs
HA! l had a Corvair Monza that was only worked on by the little guy with the smallest hands at the shop. Other guys with bigger hands couldn't get into some areas.
Great video! However, you forgot some key cars. How about the 1955 Chrysler C300? It started the horsepower race and muscle car era. How about the 1957 Rambler Rebel? A pocket rocket for the masses. Very few stock sedan cars could beat it. The future potential was an open book, but George Romney put the quash on it. It was years later before another Rambler performance sedan would rumble down the road.
Just wondering, did the Jeep Cherokee XJ come just short of making this list? it was a smaller suv designed in the gas crisis years and led the way for the cross-over craze we have now. it was supposed to be replaced in the early nineties by the next generation cherokee, but it was selling so well they renamed the next gen the "grand cherokee" and the xj continued to be sold until 2001. love that car to bits
Love my XJ and lots of people have them in these parts. The CJ or Wrangler could also be on the list.
@mtndewman1022 I don't know automotive history past '72 very much, but I would say the Cherokee must be up there indeed. I do know the earlier & larger Wagoneers do get some mention in the automotive literature I have as being rather influential.
Love your channel! Future vids I'd like to see... the Datsun/Nissan Z series, the K-car and Daytona Turbo cars, and the twin turbo craze of the early 90's.
Love your videos. Proud owner of a 67 GTO here.
They should have listed the 1949 oldsmobile rocket 88. It was the first midsized two door car that had a ohv v8 which was the largest and most powerful engine oldsmobile had at the time. It predated the GTO by some 15 years. Pontiac simply rediscovered the formula oldsmobile created with the rocket 88.
Why did a 1984 Dodge Caravan bring a smile to my face? We never owned one.
The Caravan/Town &Country/Voyager minivans were the cars that saved Chrysler Corp. ( with a little help from the K cars ).
What about Duesenberg who had in the early 20's 4 valves per cylinder...
I used to tow 5 Honda CVCC a day back to the dealer when they were new.. Nashville Tenn. Bill Tricket Olds/Honda.
Great video! One could only imagine what Detroit could have been like if they didn’t slam the door in the face of Dr. Deming, sending him straight to Japan. Where they adopted his lessons and passed Detroit as the world leader in auto manufacturing. Pay attention or pay cash America!
It's easier to watch at 1.5x playback speed
Probably quicker too.
But regular speed is just fine for me.
Why rush it?
@@jqzIII Preference
My god, you're right!
zian z so you can save time for that 77 Country Squire wagon video
Nah. 1.25 sounds more natural
I could've swore Old Memories had more than 80k subscribers,tjis is a top notch informative documentary about automobile's,I have learn a whole lot,thanks and continue bringing us more interesting content
The significance of the Model T isn't the car. Its the production methods. So knock it out.
The 61 Lincoln didn't define the look of luxury cars for the next 30 years. The Cadillac and Imperial were bigger with lots of bright trim. The Lincoln was enlarged partway through this body run and its replacement adopted what Cadillac and Imperial were doing with size and trim.
The original Corvette didn't prove Americans were ready for sports cars. Some would argue it took a while for it to BECOME a sports car.
The squarebird might be given credit for starting the higher priced personal luxury 2 door but none of the cars, it, the Riviera, the Toronado, sold in signficant numbers due to their price. Quoting sales stats for the POPULARLY PRICED 77 T Bird shows how long Ford missed where the real personal two door sales were. Even CHRYSLER beat them to that market!!!
Your videos are always outstandingly researched and well narrated. I jump at the chance to watch each now one when you release it. May I suggest the topic of a video covering Mr. Iacocca's life and his automotive contributions, since he's recently left us.
Again, I can not believe you do not mention the Oldsmobile Toronado.
This car had technology no other car of the time had and it
and later in 1967, the Cadillac Eldorado were the only front wheel
drive cars in the USA. They were reliable and would set a trend in FWD
that is pretty much the norm today. The other has to be the Datsun
240Z and the Z car in general. This marked the first affordable true sports
car and let the world know that Japan could build something other then
boxy little econoboxes. The Z car is still made to this day and a
stretched version in the form of the G35, G37 and Q60 Infiniti
are quite popular today as well.
These two cars are probably among the most innovative milestones out there.
Funny you did not mention either.
The 1948 Hudson step down design was, first of all the first true clean break with all the left over pre WW2 designs. Second, the design was the first American car to integrate the front end, frame and body into a single integrated functional design. With the introduction of the iconic Hornet in '51 a racing legend was born. Just look at the 49 Mercury and even the shoe box '49 to '51 fords as influenced in a very watered down version. Far lower center of gravity vity, far closer CG to center of compression meant it could corner 20 mph + faster than any other American car. Frame extending above the doors for safety. Body WELDED to the frame , sway bars front and back. Dual hydrallic/mechanical breaks, twin carbs, and with a great broad , flat high torque. And fast? Hey just ask any NASCAR fan during that era....NO question, the Post war Hudsons caused a seismic shift and nothing was ever really the same......
Awesome historical review.
Oh yes, i remember those good old days 1960 and on
I worked at Chrysler when we converted over to build minivans in 1985 . We couldn't build enough of them with 2 shifts working 6 days a week. That's not counting the Canadian plant doing the same thing. Chrysler made millions off that platform.
First minivan was the 1949 VW Type 2 Hippie bus
Was it the Chrysler plant in Belvidere, IL?
@@scoobycarr5558 St. Louis assembly plant 2.
@@kurtzimmerman1637 Okeedokee thanks for the info
Edit-
There were many cars way cheaper than the model T that came out before it, Oldsmobile made cars 1/4 the price of Ford, the only reason people bought fords is because they have like two more horse power
Edit 2- Oldsmobile used the assembly line before Ford
Edit 3- The Mustang never had a modern appearance, (besides the fox body and 90’s Mustangs) the Mustang always had a classic, old look to it, even when it came out
ChipCool Agreed. The Corvair actually handled well and had a genuinely modern look. The Mustang precisely hit the typical moron‘s style target on a more reliable Falcon platform.
Beautiful. Can't help but feel sorry for people without car passion.
Absolutely. Its something you're born with I think. My mom told me she knew I was going to be a car nut when I was just 4 , because everytime she parked our 58 caddy in the garage, I ran to the front of the car and stuck my nose in the grill to smell the hot engine smell. It still smells the same 61 years later. she said when I started washing the car at 6 years old , she new I had it bad..lol . New cars just dont have that great under the hood old car smell. Dont get me wrong, I love my new cars too. Lol.
@@johnfranklin5277 Here's the thing, though. I was not originally a car guy. I just stumbled into the hobby after a friend of mine gave me rides in a fire engine red 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk. III. I would argue, therefore, that it is possible for people born without car passion to develop it and become true-blue members of the communities.
Very awesome list I can't really think of another car model to include maybe the chev Camaro and Pontiac Firebird/Trans am?
Here's an interesting fact for everyone: Elwood Engel designed the 1961 Lincoln Continental.. He was then hired by Chrysler, and designed the 1964 Imperial as well. Both cars are extremely similar in design, due to Elwood's desire to make his "newest" creation look like his previous.
The 1961-67 Lincoln Continental only with 4 door sedan in 2 body styles, one is a closed model as of conventional sedan, and the open model as of convertible sedan. Now Lincoln Continental only came with 4 door sedan, but the 4 door convertible sedan did not make it to the market, along with rear doors are suicide type. For 1966 Lincoln Continental, it add a 2 door hardtop for the first time since 1960. It sell to 15,806 buyers, and proven much popular then a convertible sedan by almost 6 times the volume.
Nicely done . Isn’t that just like America to pave the way for Automotive greatness. And change the way the world drives .
The Tri Five Chevys still remain the most popular Classic cars on the road today , and are the most restored, and still running no other car comes close
@@edwardalamo2507 That's inherently boring though. Why would I want to drive what is the most popular? What is the appeal in that?
Great show as always Hand keep up the good work.
Good video, Mopar and Chairman Lee a the top, great, for ever, legacy US cars, well done, bravissimo!!!
They didn't put any manufacturer at the top. But if they did, you might notice that Ford products had about half of the list.
Ford introduced modern aerodynamic styling in 1986 with the Taurus.
Mike Forest Actually, it was the 1983 Ford Thunderbird that introduced modern aerodynamic styling. Hence, it’s nickname ‘The Aerobird’
The Taurus was being designed in the late 70s early 80s and it was ahead of its time!. Came out in fall 1985 and was the 3rd car in Fords new lineup with the "Jellybean styling" as Ford put it along with the 83 Thunderbird and Tempo in which it got a lot of its looks from. Later even till today most of the new Ford vehicles still carry this styling. Ford was always revolutionary and innovative in design and it shows.
@@sreilly Don't forget about the 82 T/A, which had the lowest drag co-efficient of all American cars, ever, and might still today, tho I haven't kept up with them.
@Real Dudes Party Nude
The mercury sable was more elegant.
taurus sho is one ugly sleeper!
Dodge Caravan a very fine vehicle in many ways and was, happily, not programmed to lock up the steering completely when suddenly stalling out on Rte 218.
The XJ Jeep Cherokee and the original Ford Explorer started the current SUV craze.
The Explorer of course is still around with its bigger brother the Expedition. America's law enforcement agencies love the Explorer for its handling and reliability.
And today most look like over inflated eggs called SUV’s
Aren't most of those things pathetically ugly if not weird looking.
SUV's are a scam to make guys think they look macho in a station wagon.
“....ticky-tacky, shiny metal boxes”
Another car I'd add is the 1961 Chevy Nova. The Nova was a very popular car through its lifespan and showed that many Americans wanted a smaller coupe or sedan with enough interior room and a trunk big enough to still carry a reasonable amount. The Beetle was what eventually led to the hatchback market.
Today I just got a Pontiac Trans Am (bird decal) henna tattoo and it looks so amazing!
Pretty fly for a WiFi nope, I got it on right arm. So then when I pretend to go drive stick because I’m a car boy and don’t have a license let alone a learners permit I can see it. You know, because I want to race sports cars when I am older. I’m somewhere in my early teens.
Cool Car's 😀
What about the 1986 Ford Taurus- it ushered in the age of aerodynamics into the mainstream auto market.
I would add the Ford Explorer for popularizing SUVs, which are the backbone of the U.S. auto market today. There's no denying it, although I certainly have TRIED HARD ENOUGH! >:-(
Enjoyed the early 60's examples 👍🚗🏡
The first small, fuel efficient car sold in the US, was a Crosley. In fact, Crosley built the first sports car, with 4 wheel disc brakes, and termed the first SUV, all before the first VW set "foot" on US soil.
Totally forgot the 1933 Chrysler Airflow and DeSoto Airstream. First wind tunnel designed car. Balanced weight distribution, higher safety and performance numbers. And you forgot this one!
Omission of SUV and pickup trucks seems unacceptable. These along with minivans are true American vehicle forms and what saved American auto industry in the 80s and changed America landscape nowadays. Because the Japanese never understood these segments and was too late to the game, giving the US precious breathing room.
Excellent list. As SUVs now dominate both the American and global markets, I’ll add the 1991 Ford Explorer
Wow, I was surprised two cars I own ended up being on this list, one being a 1964 lemans (aka GTO)
Brian Harrison ..I had a ‘66 Lemans !. Loved that car !!!
*That was a gutsy video!*
Not that is was bad, NOT AT ALL! But choosing 10 cars that changed America, man that is such a difficult task!
TX!
Anyone notice that those first Chrysler Corporation minivans had 3 DOORS plus hatch.
No door on driver side for second row passengers.
good information
Great video, but you should have also included the Ford Explorer.
I don't see the Explorer as original,it was based from a Mazda Tribute and the Ford Ranger as a Mazda. B2000
@@elcabezon5487 umm, the I think you have that backward. The Mazda's were based off Ford platforms. Ford's Ranger came out in 83 and it wasn't until 94 (one year after Ford released the second generation Ranger) before Ford built the B series truck for Mazda on the Ranger platform. The Explorer came 9 years earlier than the Tribute, which actually wasn't a rebadged explorer, but a rebadged Escape. The Mazda Navajo which was based on the 1st gen Explorer came out at about the same time but only lasted a couple model years.
@Real Dudes Party Nude but the Explorer was the original platform. Mazda used Ford's platform, not the other way around. The Tribute isn't even related to the Explorer. It's a rebadged Escape.
You obviously don’t know much about automobile history. Without Cadillac’s invention of standard parts in 1908, ford could not produced the model t. Without the Cadillac self starter in 1912, women would have not been able to drive. There is not enough room on this program to list all the inventions Cadillac has contributed to the automobile.
I just gotta ask... what is the opening jingle - I like it... :)
Thanks for the reply - GREAT channel here... ! @Real Dudes Party Nude
Great video
TRI. 5,s RULE CHEVY'S LINE UP. THE FIRST SMALL BLOCKS.
I have a 1980 Chevy Monza Spider. I bought it New. It has a 400 C.I.D. engine in it. It has 692,000 Miles on it. It still runs like a Clock. It is the car that changed My life forever.
When the Model T was introduced, the % of the populace that could buy a car went up dramatically. But car ownership were still not within the reach of the average Joe.
I would suggest getting a better, non monotone voiceover... besides that, great video!
I was too young to make note of it, but I've always wondered if the convertible tops on VW Beetles were manual or automatic in the 1960s/70s models! I only had one my neighbors across the street had and I seem to recall theirs broke at some point!
Awesome!
1984-90 Dodge Caravan-Plymouth Voyager is a certain classic with prices on a sharp uptrend.
Can't argue with any of these.
Inexpensive, fuel efficient, reliable, easy to repair & able to carry 4 people - these used to be sacrosanct, automotive characteristics for cars bought by the working class. What has happen to these values ?
Stockholders quarterly profit concerns = planned obsolescence hence + is now a -
@@JTA1961 Hey Joel, I hear you about "the market", but have no way to contain it. I honestly think their is a place in this auto market for a new vehicle, with fewer features, rock solid quality and guaranteed buy-back provisions, when the time comes to trade up. Cars that cost upwards of 7 years to pay-off and which also have zero useful value at the end of that cycle, are a transportation liability. There has to be a better way. Today, IF India or China ever get in here, the gig will be up. I regret this.
No 1934 Chrysler Airflow?
The first streamlined, aerodynamic car ever produced - decades ahead of its time.
JazzzRockFuzion but it did not change lives because it was a sales flop. It did change Chrysler to not be innovative again
KazzzRock, It might have been streamlined and aerodynamic, but it was very unattractive and would never compete against the best looking cars ever. (1932 to 1035) All US car styling during these years were incredible.
Trivia question: What does the "CVCC" stand for in the Honda Civic CVCC?
Lord Apophis Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion
Fantastic! May I suggest you do video on the 1969 Mercury Marauder X-100. I’ve been a longtime car guy, but only just recently discovered this odd, but alluring rare beast. It’s best described as Luxury meets Muscle.
My dad had one of those so I have to disagree with you. His was best described as a gas guzzling death trap. It was fun to drive unless it was raining or snowing or there were other cars on the road.
Good list I like the 68 - 82 Chevrolet Corvette stingrays they are wicked
Great stuff
Quality content 👍
Painfully and Sadly, I read a notice that a Chrysler Factory of the Pacifica (Extremely Beautiful and Functional latest model), has suspended production because of the lack of demand due to the failures of the 9-speed transmission. A pity.
The 58-60 Thunderbird gets slept on big time. 350 hp, 2 doors 4 seats, about 3700 lbs and a Ford 9 inch. Kind of a proto muscle car
@Real Dudes Party Nude I would also elect the Studebaker Silver and Golden Hawk to that 1958 beauty pageant.