New cars for 1977

[ProgRocker]

Something I have been pondering on. I always think of 1977 as the year when rather forward thinking designs were launched. The curvy 'coke bottle' designs were going out of style (like progressive rock music), only to be replaced by sharped edged ones (punk/new wave style?). The heavily facelifted Chrysler/Talbot Avenger was archaic by 1981!

A couple of the 'old guard' executive cars from the British Leyland stable were discontinued that year. The Rover P6 ceased production in March '77 while the the same happened to the Triumph 2000/2500 in July. As we know, both cars were phased out by the big Rover hatchback the previous year.  Devoid of any interior wood trim of previous Rovers. Smaller engine options for it appeared in November.

BMW launched the new 7 series that year (E23) and Ford launched the mark 2 Granada in August.

Lada introduced the Niva 4x4 that was a revelation and remained in production for over 4 decades. A very tough car that was easy for owners to repair.

And one of my favourite cars of all time: the Porsche 928. The car that couldn't kill off the classic 911. Unsure if sales officially begin in 1978 for that one. 

Has there been any more I haven't mentioned? I omitted any Japanese marques. I believe the Honda Acty commercial vehicle was introduced in '77.

1971 is perhaps another year where there were quite a few new models. British Leyland had quite a few model changes.

[Nullzwei]

1977 also saw the launch of the BMW e21, the first of the 3 series replacing the 02's. A much more modern design. You also had the mid 70's oil crises which spawned 'eco' base models such as the BMW 1502 and in europe the e21 315.

[Split_Pin]

1976 saw the launch of the Chrysler Alpine and the Leyland Princess. I'm also fairly sure that the MK4 Cortina was released around then.

The Ford Fiesta, Renault 14 were 2 more.

Apart from the Princess, a lot of designs had a similar front fascia. Big square lights and indicators with an overall a forward-sloping profile.

[MiniMinorMk3]

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta, the stumpy version of the Alfetta. I had a 2.0 in the mid 1980s. Great handling car, fragile gearbox, started to rust in odd places.

Matra Simca Ranchero, the first SUV?

Opel Rekord/Vauxhall Carlton

Peugeot 305, the last of the indestructible saloons?

[bunglebus]

All the best things started in 1977 😉

[Shite Ron]

I think the seventies were a very exciting time for cars hence I have several mk4 Cortina’s an early mk2 Granada, a series 1 Rover 2600 SD1 and an S reg Citroen 2400CX.  I often wonder if I had been the age I am now rather than 7 years old would I have found the cars so exciting or would I have had more interest in forties cars. If I had more space (and money) I would also have a Rolls Royce Camargue and Ferrari 400 amongst others. Definitely a great time for cars.

[UltraWomble]

Pug 305

Charlotte Rampling

Lada Niva

[Wibble]

3 hours ago, Shite Ron said:

I think the seventies were a very exciting time for cars hence I have several mk4 Cortina’s an early mk2 Granada, a series 1 Rover 2600 SD1 and an S reg Citroen 2400CX.  I often wonder if I had been the age I am now rather than 7 years old would I have found the cars so exciting or would I have had more interested in forties cars. If I had more space (and money) I would also have a Rolls Royce Camargue and Ferrari 400 amongst others. Definitely a great time for cars.

I was also 7 in ‘77 but now feel more like 77 than 7🙁

[grogee]

Can I cheat and mention the Fiesta? Officially 76 but RHD didn't come to UK until 77.

To Seventies Britain this would have seemed pretty space-age, what with its hatchback and front wheel drive. Most people were driving Sixties RWD puddings like the Minor.

Ford have always been good at copying and I think the Mk1 Golf had been benchmarked, even though it was larger. There weren't many small hatchbacks around back then. Fiat 127 maybe?

[bunglebus]

The two I always associate with 77 are MK1 Fiesta as above, and Rover SD1 - probably 76 but I'm a fan of both. Had five of one and none of the other...

[sheffcortinacentre]

10 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

1976 saw the launch of the Chrysler Alpine and the Leyland Princess. I'm also fairly sure that the MK4 Cortina was released around then.

The Ford Fiesta, Renault 14 were 2 more.

Apart from the Princess, a lot of designs had a similar front fascia. Big square lights and indicators with an overall a forward-sloping profile.

Cortina was sept 76 but the 2.3 V6 version was introduced in77

[Asimo]

12 hours ago, grogee said:

There weren't many small hatchbacks around back then.

R4, R5, R6, Fiat 127, Chevette, Polo, Peugeot 104, Civic etc… and new for ‘77, Mazda 323.

 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

12 hours ago, grogee said:

Can I cheat and mention the Fiesta? Officially 76 but RHD didn't come to UK until 77.

To Seventies Britain this would have seemed pretty space-age, what with its hatchback and front wheel drive. Most people were driving Sixties RWD puddings like the Minor.

Ford have always been good at copying and I think the Mk1 Golf had been benchmarked, even though it was larger. There weren't many small hatchbacks around back then. Fiat 127 maybe?

I've a soft spot for the mk1 Fez. Volkswagen were at least two years ahead of the game though launching the mk1 Golf in October 1974. Groundbreaking when you consider it was intended to replace the Beetle. 

[grogee]

1 hour ago, Dick Longbridge said:

I've a soft spot for the mk1 Fez. Volkswagen were at least two years ahead of the game though launching the mk1 Golf in October 1974. Groundbreaking when you consider it was intended to replace the Beetle. 

Me too, I love the first Fiesta.

The Golf was indeed a departure when you consider how long they'd persisted with rear-engined duds.

[quicksilver]

A fascinating topic as our Maxi was made in 1977. It was only an eight year old design but looks like something from an entirely different era with its dumpy 1960s styling and lashings of chrome trim compared with those sleek, boxy, black plastic clad machines pictured here. To think it was on sale at the same time as the 928, a car that still looks modern now, is astonishing and rather proves the OP's point that '77 saw a major leap forward.

[eddyramrod]

15 hours ago, grogee said:

Can I cheat and mention the Fiesta? Officially 76 but RHD didn't come to UK until 77.

To Seventies Britain this would have seemed pretty space-age, what with its hatchback and front wheel drive. Most people were driving Sixties RWD puddings like the Minor.

Ford have always been good at copying and I think the Mk1 Golf had been benchmarked, even though it was larger. There weren't many small hatchbacks around back then. Fiat 127 maybe?

Legend at the time suggested that Ford Europe had indeed bought a small fleet of Fiat 127s to use as test mules, because they regarded that model as the benchmark.  I started my driving lessons in 77 just as I left art college, and the Escorts and Minis I began with were replaced before my test by Fiestas.  Years later I had a 127 and could see exactly why Ford aimed at it.  I think they not only hit the target but exploded it.

[Nullzwei]

1978 saw the launch of the Fiat Ritmo / Strada. A throughly modern hatchback design for back then. Really wanted a 130tc or 105 tc back in the mid 90's when they were worth nowt. Fishnet recaros and a dash with lots of guages!

 

 

[adw1977]

On 24/01/2023 at 14:15, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Opel Rekord/Vauxhall Carlton

That's the 1982 facelift, the original Carlton looked like this:

[MrBiscuits]

5 hours ago, quicksilver said:

A fascinating topic as our Maxi was made in 1977. It was only an eight year old design but looks like something from an entirely different era with its dumpy 1960s styling and lashings of chrome trim compared with those sleek, boxy, black plastic clad machines pictured here. To think it was on sale at the same time as the 928, a car that still looks modern now, is astonishing and rather proves the OP's point that '77 saw a major leap forward.

Let's not forget that some of these new fangled motors were only just catching up with the Maxi technologically by the mid 70s.

A big car with hatchback, transverse fwd layout, 5 speed gearbox and all independent suspension really was forward thinking in 1969.

Totally agree they scored a massive own goal with the styling though.