Cars, Gas Crisis, EPA & the 1970s: What's it mean?

self ^ | August 17, 2005 | self

[nicollo]

re. GungHo

Thanks for the info and link!

[Freedom4US]

Part of the problem - depending on how far you want to go back - the U.S. didn't have all our manufacturing capacity blown to smithereens during the war as did Japan and Germany. Anyway, by the 1970's our factories were outmoded and relatively inefficient. Too, EPA and smog devices were mandated, along with higher MPG requirements, first starting in the early 60's with the EGR valve - routing a portion of blow-back gases from the crankcase back through the carburetor and the engine to be burned. It got a lot worse later on - "detuned" lean-burning engines. Quality control was very poor on some models as well, no doubt about it. Too, the steel wasn't very good during those years either - though the imports would at least keep running, though the body was gone.

[operation clinton cleanup]

And don't forget...

In 1973, the federal government mandated the 55-mph speed limit at the behest of President Nixon, who proposed it as a way to conserve fuel during the Arab oil embargo. States, which had always set the speed limits on their highways, suddenly found they had lost their authority.

[nicollo]

...first starting in the early 60's with the EGR valve

Was this government mandated?

[nicollo]

Ah, yes, the 55... thanks!

[nicollo]

Yes, we'll disagree on this. I don't believe that protection could have solved the problems of the 1970s. On the contrary, as with a highly-protected economy such as Brazil's, it would have made things far worse.

I'll be glad to listen to you, though, so please don't hold back.

Speaking of Brazil: what say you of its reaction to the 1970s in the alcohol fuel conversion?

[operation clinton cleanup]

The 55mph speed limits would save enough people from traffic accidents to = the population of Grinell Iowa, If I remember the PSA correctly.

[LS]

Well, of course, the "large" car in the 1980s---which caught everyone (including the Japanese) by surprise---was the minivan and the revival of the pickup.

[operation clinton cleanup]

Clean air act and EPA played big role in direction of developement also.

The U.S. car market was at the time undergoing dramatic change due to increased environmental concern. Along with a shift from leaded to unleaded gasoline, carmakers began designing models with fuel systems that did not accommodate leaded gasoline.

http://world.honda.com/history/challenge/1972announcingthecivic/text07/

[operation clinton cleanup]

Clean air act and EPA played big role in direction of developement also.

The U.S. car market was at the time undergoing dramatic change due to increased environmental concern. Along with a shift from leaded to unleaded gasoline, carmakers began designing models with fuel systems that did not accommodate leaded gasoline.

http://world.honda.com/history/challenge/1972announcingthecivic/text07/

[nicollo]

Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts!

[LisaFab]

Alas, no photos!