The 10Best of 1970
C/D has existed since 1955, but we didn’t start awarding 10Best laurels until 1983. So we
got to thinking: Could we create a 10Best list from 50 years ago? We set a price cap of about
$4500 (in 1970 dollars), which knocks out legends like the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, the
Lamborghini Miura, and the Porsche 911, leaving the 10Best of 1970. —7\U[=RN_YRf5bZN[
Alfa Romeo
1750 GTV
Base: $4446 Engine: DOHC 8-valve
1.8-liter inline-4, 132 hp; 5-speed manual
Performance: 60 mph: 9.9 sec,
1/4-Mile: 17.4 sec @ 79 mph
“Once warmed up... 1750s
are among the easiest cars in
the world to drive smoothly.”
—C/D, October 1969
BMW 2002
Base: $3194 Engine: SOHC 8-valve
2.0-liter inline-4, 113 hp; 4-speed manual
Performance: 60 mph: 9.6 sec,
1/4-Mile: 17.1 sec @ 79 mph
“A kind of Bavarian Road
Runner without the humorous
overlay.” —C/D, March 1970
Chevrolet Blazer
Base: $3051 Engine: pushrod 16-valve
5.7-liter V-8, 255 hp; 3-speed automatic
Performance (C/D est): 60 mph: 11.5
sec, 1/4-Mile: 18.5 sec
“So far, your friendly C/D Snow
Extraction Service [a.k.a. the
Blazer] has removed 14 cars
from various states of
immobility.”
—C/D, April 1970
Chevrolet Chevelle
SS454
Base: $3575 Engine: pushrod 7.4-liter
V-8, 450 hp; 3-speed automatic
Performance: 60 mph: 5.4 sec,
1/4-Mile: 13.8 sec @ 104 mph
“It has striking performance
that you’d never suspect in
traffic. When it came to getting
around corners, the Chevelle
proved to be quite agile in
[Sam] Posey’s hands.”
—C/D, February 1970Datsun 240Z
Base: $3526 Engine: SOHC 12-valve
2.4-liter inline-6, 151 hp; 4-speed manual
Performance: 60 mph: 7.8 sec,
1/4-Mile: 16.1 sec @ 87 mph
“The steering effort is
moderate; the shifting motions
are light and acceptably
precise; and the driving
position is excellent.”
—C/D, June 1970Datsun PL510
Base: $2035 Engine: SOHC 8-valve
1.6-liter inline-4, 96 hp; 4-speed manual
Performance: 60 mph: 14.3 sec,
1/4-Mile: 19.5 sec @ 69 mph
“Engineering refinements such
as the overhead-cam engine
and independent rear suspen-
sion aren’t used on many cars
that claim to be sports cars, let
alone budget sedans.”
—C/D, April 1968Dodge Charger
Base: $4359 Engine: pushrod 7.0-liter
V-8, 425 hp; 3-speed automatic
Performance: 60 mph: 4.8 sec,
1/4-Mile: 13.5 sec @ 105 mph
“The Hemi propelled the
Charger through the quarter-
mile traps at just over 105 mph,
covering the distance in
13.5 seconds—not bad for a
434 6-pound test weight.”
—C/D, November 1967Ford Mustang
Boss 302
Base: $3720 Engine: pushrod
16-valve 4.9-liter V-8, 290 hp;
4-speed manual
Performance: 60 mph: 6.5 sec,
1/4-Mile: 14.9 sec @ 93 mph
“The Boss 302 is the
best-handling Ford ever to
come out of Dearborn and
may just be the new
standard by which every-
thing from Detroit must be
judged.” —C/D, June 1969Mazda RX-2
coupe
Base: $2799 Engine: 1.1-liter
two-rotor Wankel, 120 hp; 4-speed
manual
Performance: 60 mph: 9.5 sec,
1/4-Mile: 17.1 sec @ 81 mph
“Its long suit is power. Just
stand on the gas and pull
the lever when the needle
points to 7000 rpm.”
—C/D, December 1971Pontiac Firebird
Trans Am
Base: $4305 Engine: pushrod
16-valve 6.6-liter V-8, 345 hp;
4-speed manual
Performance: 60 mph: 5.7 sec,
1/4-Mile: 14.1 sec @ 103 mph
“Although the Trans Am
handles like a racing car, it
doesn’t ride like one.”
—C/D, June 1970
All base prices correspond
to the 1970 model year.