Home Cars 20 Forgotten ’70s Cars That Vanished Without a Trace
Cars

20 Forgotten ’70s Cars That Vanished Without a Trace

Jimmy adeel June 28, 2025

The 1970s was a transformative era for the automotive world, bursting with bold new ideas, striking designs, and daring experiments. Yet, not every car from this period became an icon. Many once-familiar models have quietly disappeared, their presence on the streets now just a distant memory.
In this article, we shine a spotlight on 20 of these forgotten ’70s cars—machines that once turned heads or promised innovation, but ultimately vanished without a trace. Let’s rediscover the lost legends that history nearly left behind.

1. AMC Matador Coupe

1
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The AMC Matador Coupe was American Motors Corporation’s daring entry into the competitive world of sporty coupes. Its dramatic, almost futuristic lines set it apart from the crowd, and it even earned respect on the NASCAR circuit.
However, despite its audacious styling, the Matador Coupe couldn’t match the popularity of rivals like the Ford Torino. Production numbers dwindled, and today it’s a true rarity—barely seen, even at dedicated classic car gatherings. [Source]

2. Ford Pinto Cruising Wagon

2
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The Ford Pinto Cruising Wagon was a striking blend of compact wagon practicality and bold, van-inspired graphics. Designed to attract young, style-minded drivers, it embodied the playful spirit of the 1970s custom van scene.
Unfortunately, safety concerns and shifting automotive trends meant its popularity was short-lived. Today, these quirky wagons have all but vanished, making them a rare treat for those who remember their unique flair. [Source]

3. Chevrolet Monza 2+2

3
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The Chevrolet Monza 2+2 arrived as GM’s answer to the growing demand for sporty, compact cars. With available V8 power, it promised excitement in a small, stylish frame, positioned as a step up from the Vega.
However, tightening emissions regulations and fierce competition from import brands like Toyota quickly dampened its appeal. The Monza 2+2 soon vanished from showrooms and memories alike, becoming a rarely spotted artifact of 1970s American ingenuity. [Source]

4. Plymouth Cricket

4
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The Plymouth Cricket was Chrysler’s attempt to break into the compact import market, rebadging the British Hillman Avenger for North American buyers. Hindered by mechanical issues and uninspiring performance, the Cricket failed to win over drivers.
Its brief production run and poor sales ensure that surviving examples are exceptionally scarce today, making the Cricket one of the most elusive cars of the 1970s. [Source]

5. Oldsmobile Omega

5
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The Oldsmobile Omega was introduced as part of GM’s X-body family, mirroring much of the Chevrolet Nova beneath its badge. However, the Omega’s conservative styling and lack of standout features kept it from making a lasting impression. Reliability concerns further dimmed its appeal, allowing competitors and even its own siblings to steal the spotlight. Today, encountering a pristine Omega is a rare event, with most having quietly slipped into obscurity. [Source]

6. Dodge Aspen R/T

6. Dodge Aspen R/T
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The Dodge Aspen R/T aimed to rekindle the muscle car flame for a new generation, but stricter emissions regulations and a host of quality issues—particularly rust and frequent recalls—held it back. Its performance never matched the legends of the previous decade, and buyers quickly lost interest. Today, the Aspen R/T is rarely seen, often overlooked even by muscle car fans, and lives on mostly as a forgotten footnote. [Source]

7. Renault Le Car

6
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The Renault Le Car, brought stateside by AMC, represented France’s response to rising fuel prices and the surge in demand for compact cars. Its distinctive styling and undeniable European flair set it apart, but American buyers were skeptical of its reliability and unfamiliar engineering.
Unfortunately, rust claimed the majority of Le Cars long ago, and today, these quirky hatchbacks are a rare sight, cherished mostly by dedicated enthusiasts. [Source]

8. Mercury Bobcat

8. Mercury Bobcat
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The Mercury Bobcat was a slightly upscale counterpart to the Ford Pinto, offering modest upgrades in comfort and trim. Despite these touches, the Bobcat couldn’t shed the Pinto’s infamous safety reputation, and buyers remained wary.
As Mercury stepped away from compact cars, the Bobcat quietly disappeared, leaving only a handful for modern collectors to track down. [Source]

9. Subaru GL Brat

7
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The Subaru GL Brat (Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter) was a truly unique fusion of car and pickup, targeting adventurous drivers who wanted something unconventional. Its most memorable feature was a pair of rear-facing jump seats in the truck bed—added mainly to circumvent import tariffs.
Despite its quirky charm and a devoted cult following abroad, the Brat faded from American roads, with most examples falling victim to rust and neglect. Spotting one today is a rare delight. [Source]

10. Buick Skyhawk

8
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The Buick Skyhawk shared its underpinnings with the Chevrolet Monza, boasting a V6 engine and a touch of sporty flair in its design. Yet, even with its sleek appearance, the Skyhawk struggled to resonate with buyers, quickly falling behind other, more established Buicks in the lineup.
As a result, the Skyhawk quietly slipped away, leaving behind only a few scattered survivors and a small chapter in Buick’s diverse legacy. [Source]

11. Mazda RX-3

9
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The Mazda RX-3 marked one of the brand’s earliest attempts to introduce Americans to the wonders of the rotary engine. Lightweight and lively, the RX-3 stood toe-to-toe with popular Datsun and Toyota compacts of the era.
However, the arrival of the RX-7 and the RX-3’s susceptibility to rust and mechanical quirks led to its swift disappearance. Today, surviving RX-3s are treasured by rotary engine enthusiasts and remain a seldom-seen gem. [Source]

12. Chevrolet Vega Panel Express

10
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The Chevrolet Vega Panel Express was Chevrolet’s compact solution for small business deliveries, competing directly with the Ford Pinto Panel. Its car-based utility and practical design had promise, but notorious rust problems and persistent engine woes doomed its longevity.
Very few Panel Express models survived the decades, with most succumbing to the elements. Today, this humble workhorse is all but forgotten, its once-common silhouette now a true rarity. [Source]

13. Dodge Colt GT

11
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The Dodge Colt GT was a sporty, economical import from Mitsubishi, rebadged to fit Dodge’s lineup. It offered affordable performance and sharp handling, quickly winning over drivers looking for value and fun behind the wheel.
However, as Honda and Toyota introduced stronger contenders, the Colt GT’s appeal diminished. Its presence on the roads gradually faded, and today, it’s nearly forgotten—an obscure chapter in Dodge’s history of compact cars. [Source]

14. Pontiac Astre

12
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The Pontiac Astre was largely a Chevrolet Vega underneath, inheriting all of its notorious reliability and rust problems. Pontiac tried to inject some excitement with sporty marketing and trim, but the Astre never truly distinguished itself.
Production ended quietly, and very few examples have survived the decades. Today, spotting an Astre is a rare event—even among dedicated Pontiac collectors. [Source]

15. Fiat 128

13
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The Fiat 128 was a groundbreaking import, introducing many Americans to the benefits of front-wheel drive and serving as inspiration for future compact cars. Its nimble handling and clever engineering stood out, but chronic rust problems and spotty maintenance support led to its early downfall in the U.S.
While the Fiat 128 enjoys a modest following in Europe, surviving examples in America are extremely scarce, often residing only in dedicated collectors’ hands. [Source]

16. Plymouth Arrow

16. Plymouth Arrow
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The Plymouth Arrow was essentially a Mitsubishi dressed in Plymouth badging, aimed at capturing buyers looking for sporty, affordable imports. Aggressive marketing campaigns and even a rally-inspired version couldn’t propel it to lasting success in the competitive U.S. market.
As the years passed, most Arrows faded away, leaving only a handful in the hands of enthusiasts or tucked away in forgotten garages. [Source]

17. Datsun F10

15
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The Datsun F10 represented a bold experiment for the brand, pairing unconventional wedge-shaped styling with front-wheel drive—an unusual combination at the time. While innovative, its looks proved too quirky for most American buyers, and the model never gained widespread acceptance.
Rust was another enemy, quickly thinning the herd. Today, the F10 is a rare sight, especially compared to more celebrated Datsuns like the 240Z. [Source]

18. Ford Maverick Grabber

16
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The Ford Maverick Grabber spiced up the basic Maverick formula with bold stripes, a hood scoop, and sportier intentions. Despite its flashy looks, it never quite reached the status of a true muscle car.
Most Grabbers were used up and later discarded, and locating a well-preserved example today is a genuine challenge—even for dedicated Ford fans. [Source]

19. AMC Gremlin X

17
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The AMC Gremlin X amped up the company’s quirky subcompact with sporty stripes and optional V8 power, injecting some attitude into its unconventional shape. While the Gremlin X was surprisingly popular during the ’70s, its offbeat looks and susceptibility to rust meant that many disappeared over time.
Surviving examples of the X model are now rare, standing as nostalgic curiosities for car fans seeking something truly unique from AMC’s adventurous lineup. [Source]

20. Chrysler Cordoba

18
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Immortalized by Ricardo Montalbán’s smooth ‘Corinthian leather’ commercials, the Chrysler Cordoba embodied personal luxury in the late ’70s. Its plush interior and ornate styling captured the era’s taste for comfort and flair. However, as fuel prices soared and buyers shifted toward efficiency and minimalism, the Cordoba’s appeal faded almost overnight.
Today, spotting a Cordoba is a rare treat, a rolling reminder of automotive extravagance now lost to time.

.article-content-img img { width: 100% }
Advertisement
Please wait 5 sec.