” Then in the early 70s, CAFE standards were enacted in the wake of the Arab oil embargo. It was a tough time for the auto industry. Certainly there were some very poor management decisions coupled with union apathy, kind of a perfect storm, that when considered holistically, would have made it surprising if the US auto industry had not produced the crappy cars it did at the time. “
The combination of tightening emissions plus crash safety plus CAFE was a real killer.
For emissions, the way they dealt with reducing oxides of nitrogen was drastically lowering compression ratios - which killed power and absolutely killed mileage. Then the first catalytic converters came in, which were very restrictive and killed power and mileage some more.
They were putting smaller engines in heavier cars (crash safety) for fuel economy and the idle settings were very lean for emissions, so they didn’t run well and got lousy gas mileage.
The japanese had little market penetration in North America until the oil shock. (unlike the UK where they were significant by the late 1960s). Japs had the same emissions and power issues. But they were able to put in larger engines (for them) into what has still very small, light cars and still get good mileage.
The japanese cars rusted just as bad (even in Vancouver BC). But their mechanical and electrical components were better, and that was the beginning of the japanese reputation for durability.
I am driving a Toyota Sequoia. Built like a tank. Manufactured in Kentucky. The plant at the time was non union. The UAW is targeting them so who knows how the quality will be affected. For now, I have a keeper.