Buzz
The 1970s was a decade marked by significant changes and challenges, particularly for the American automotive industry. Faced with rising fuel prices, stricter government emissions and safety regulations, and the influx of fuel-efficient foreign cars, U.S. automakers struggled to keep pace. Despite efforts to produce smaller, fuel-efficient models like the AMC Gremlin and Ford Pinto, the industry largely failed in this area. Instead, most cars rolling off American assembly lines during this time remained large, with a shift from high-performance engines to more luxurious features. As the decade went on, even mid-range vehicles began adopting luxury features, with the 1970s seeing the rise of pseudo-luxury cars. These cars were often characterized by underpowered engines burdened with emissions systems, plush velour interiors, and garish chrome-on-plastic details. Let’s take a look at some of the most outlandish features found in American luxury cars of the 1970s, ranked from those that had some merit to those that were utterly unnecessary. While not all of these features were exclusive to the 1970s, they were particularly widespread during this period.
10. Spare Tire Humps
Spare tire humps, much like other features on this list, were an attempt to emulate the custom-bodied cars of the early 20th century. The original Lincoln Continental featured a covered spare tire, which was both a functional and visually appealing design element. This feature was carried over to many Continental models over the years, even when the spare tire was no longer needed. However, as time went on, the spare tire hump began to look increasingly awkward and out of place on modern luxury cars. That said, some vehicles, like the Continental Mark III, were able to pull off the look in a tasteful manner, which is why this feature ranks at number 10 on the list.
9. Opera Windows
People who lived through the 1970s likely remember the widespread popularity of two-door 'personal' luxury cars. These luxury coupes were commonly designed with small, fixed rear passenger windows, separated from the front windows by a thick B-pillar. The purpose of these windows was to provide rear passengers with a sense of privacy—or, for some, a feeling of being cramped—while enhancing the car's luxurious appearance. Even more affordable models, like the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, featured small rear windows that had a formal, almost carriage-like look. While these windows could seem somewhat tacky, they did serve a purpose (and some models actually looked good), which is why they earn the number 9 spot.
8. Pillow-topped Seats
Who wouldn’t love pillow-topped seats for those long, tiresome road trips? While today’s luxury cars often feature firm, modestly padded bucket seats, back in the 1970s, designers went all out to prioritize ultimate comfort for your backside. Vehicles like the Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz were equipped with thick, button-tufted pillow-topped seats, essentially adding pillows on top of extra padding underneath. It was as close as you could get to driving a couch down the highway. Of course, in today's world, these plush seats seem a bit elderly at best and downright gaudy at worst.
7. Cut Pile Carpeting
Anyone who has driven a large car from the 1970s can attest to the luxurious carpeting these vehicles often featured. Some carpets resembled shaggy rugs straight out of a designer’s living room, or perhaps something you'd expect to find in a quirky motel room. With such plush carpeting, it was almost impossible not to kick off your shoes and kick back. While these carpets may seem gaudy now, particularly in typical '70s hues, they were undeniably cozy. If you can look past the bold designs, they’re quite fantastic.
6. Fancy Trim Designations
Today, higher-end versions of car models are often distinguished by simple alphanumeric codes, such as Volvo’s S80 'T6' or Cadillac’s CTS 'V' series. This doesn’t sound particularly luxurious, does it? However, forty years ago, luxury was all about the name. One of the most iconic terms used for upscale trim packages was 'Brougham.' Many car manufacturers of the time proudly displayed the Brougham badge on the premium versions of their models, signaling their upscale features and higher price tags. Even the boxy Ford Granada came in a luxury 'Ghia' version—yes, 'Ghia,' like the famous Italian design firm. But it was General Motors that really embraced this trend, introducing trim levels like the Monte Carlo 'Landau,' Ninety Eight 'Regency,' Seville 'Elegante,' and my personal favorite, the Sixty Special 'Brougham d’Elegance.'
5. Opera Lamps
Opera lamps were small, decorative lights mounted on the exterior B-pillar of cars, and they became wildly popular on domestic luxury cars in the '70s and even the '80s. While these lights certainly added visual appeal, their practical use was minimal. The idea was to give the car a more formal, limousine-like appearance—similar to that of a fancy carriage (a theme that pops up frequently). Designers didn’t skimp on the details either, as opera lamps evolved from simple lens-and-bulb setups to more sophisticated electro-luminescent designs. Looking back, however, these lights feel both tacky and unnecessary—just another set of bulbs that likely required frequent replacement.
4. Royal-looking Crests
It seems that royal-looking crests aren’t reserved only for those with actual titles. They were also used to embellish businesses, military groups, or, in this case, car models. Consider the Buick Century Regal or the Chrysler New Yorker Brougham, each adorned with its own regal, though now somewhat kitschy, crest. Even more affordable cars wore such fancy crests. In a similar fashion, automobile designers frequently partnered with famous fashion designers to create upscale versions of certain models. This led to the creation of special editions like the Continental Mark IV Cartier Edition or Seville Gucci, both sporting their respective designer logos here and there.
3. Chromed Plastic
While chrome plating can look fantastic when applied properly (think classic 1950s designs), it can easily veer into the realm of tacky. This is especially true when it's layered on plastic, a material that had a tendency to peel off over time, often just when the car was nearing its payoff. Even automakers were aware of this flaw, with Chrysler promoting the chromed zinc grills on their '70s Imperial and New Yorker models, proudly noting they weren’t just simple chromed plastic like the ones on contemporary Cadillacs. There's something about tapping a piece of chromed plastic that screams 'cheap.' Interestingly, automakers still use chromed plastic, though it no longer flakes quite as badly as it did back then.
2. Faux Wood Appliqué
Luxury cars have long featured wooden dashboards, often crafted from finely polished burl with a beautiful lacquer finish. Naturally, this comes at a higher cost and adds a bit of weight (though that wasn't much of an issue for a 5,000 lb. car). By the 1970s, faux wood had taken off, making its way onto everything from clock radios to 35mm cameras. At some point, an automotive designer (or perhaps their boss) thought it would be a good idea to replace real wood with a stick-on version. It worked well for 'woodie' station wagons and dashboards, or so they thought. Unfortunately, these faux wood finishes didn't hold up, often fading and peeling under the sun.
1. Fender Vents
Fender vents were originally inspired by the custom-bodied luxury cars of the early 1900s. For example, large V-12 Cadillacs from that era featured cowl flaps resembling those on aircraft. Decades later, designers at brands like Buick, Lincoln, and Chrysler decided to carry on this tradition with their own versions—fender vents or ports. While these vents often had little to no functional purpose, they became a common feature. Iconic models like the Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Avenue, Lincoln Continental Mark V, and Buick Electra 225 all sported these 'gills' (Buicks were already famous for their 'VentiPorts'). Faux fender vents are still a part of modern cars, much to the dismay of car enthusiasts.
