I had the perception that the Chrysler Corporation was the worst of the Big Three when it came to the quality and reliability of 1970s vehicles, yet I was surprised by some of the superlatives echoed by the editors of Consumer Guide. So, what did Consumer Guide think of the Ford Motor Company? Let’s start off with its namesake.
Certainly, Ford did not have the poor build reputation that the Chrysler Corporation had, but the most people feel the worst car of the decade is a Ford—the Pinto. Nonetheless, popular culture does not dictate build quality, reliability, or recalls, so how was the explosive subcompact through the years? LTD? Torino? Maverick and its Mercedes-esque cousin, the Granada? LTD II? What about the downsized cars on the Fox platform?
Let’s take a look. Please note the CG rating scale of 5 being Excellent and 1 being Poor.
Ford
“Stylists at Ford have had a free hand for years. That’s why most of the Ford … cars of the ‘70s are so thoroughly overdrawn. [Yet] dependability is Ford’s strongest feature.”
- Fairlane/Torino/LTD II: “The four-door Fairlane and early Torino models from 1969 through 1970 are far better transportation cars than the LTD II.” CG rating: 3-2-1
- Fairmont: “It has the boxy body lines that waste no space or sheet metal, thus providing `very good passenger space and fuel economy.” CG rating: 5
- Fiesta: “This thoroughly modern mini car offers more passenger and luggage room than any American-made subcompact and fuel economy of 38 miles per gallon.” CG rating: 5
- Granada: “Ford Motor Company has a lot of gall in comparing its Granada to the Mercedes-Benz 280. The Mercedes 280 is one of the best compact-size cars in the world; Granada is one of the worst.” CG rating: 2
- Galaxie/LTD: “Even if they do have a bit of a drinking problem, the full-size Fords are not bad cars … Frequency of repairs has been superior for the full-size Fords—except for the 1970, 1971, and 1972 models.” CG rating: 1-2
- Maverick: “Simple, dependable, economical—if those are the words you like to hear in considering an older-model used car, there is one more word for you: Maverick.” CG rating: 3-4
- Mustang/Mustang II: “In 1974, the fat, overstyled Mustang was put out to pasture in favor of a smaller yet equally flabby Mustang II.” CG rating: 2-1-2
- Pinto: “What you can expect from Pinto is low-cost maintenance and repairs, plus fairly good fuel economy. It offers outstanding dependability, and has a durable, tight body. But don’t expect refinement as well.” CG rating: 4
- Thunderbird: “The 1969 through 1972 T-Bird has the weight and poor fuel economy of a large car, with the internal dimensions of an intermediate and the trunk space of a compact . . . The 1972 through 1975 models are vastly improved over previous T-Birds.” CG rating: 1-2-3