Car guys look at the 1969-70 era as a mythical time for muscle cars because that’s when massive power peaked at Detroit thanks to big block engines and multiple carbs.
Those were cool times and cool cars, but let’s face it—your dad didn’t drive a hemi Superbird.
Your dad probably drove one of these five mild sedans because he was a family guy—not a street racer.
Jerry Sutherland
He may have chosen a 1970 Buick LeSabre Custom Sedan if he was looking for a bigger, slightly higher-end, four-door sedan to haul his Baby Boomer kids on vacations.
These Buicks would fit that bill because they were 220 inches long and rode on a 124-inch wheelbase. Dad would pop for the base Buick 350 cubic-inch with the two-barrel carb because again—he wasn’t a street racer, so every mile-per-gallon counted.
The Buick 350 (not to be confused with the famous Chevy 350 small-block V-8) pumped out 260 horsepower—enough for acceptable gas mileage and okay power. That would be enough car for dad in 1970. Years later, retired dad may have popped for a Vette, but 1970 dad would wear that Buick like a uniform in ’70.
The second possibility for 1970 dad would be a 1969 Rambler Ambassador four-door sedan.
Fewer 70s dads would buy a 1969 Rambler Ambassador, but those who did choose AMC for a family hauler would probably go for the 343 cubic-inch, 2-barrel, 235-horse Typhoon V-8.
AMC dad would pick the entry-level V-8 over the bigger 390-cubic inch V-8 for the same reason Buick dad picked the 350 over the 455 V-8—cost. Baby Boomer dads had a lot more to worry about in a recessionary year like 1970 than 0-60 times, so the smaller V-8 made sense on many levels.
The third possibility for a 1970 dad car would be a 1969 Plymouth Fury four-door sedan.
1970 dad would likely pick from the Fury I, II or III because those entry-level models were cheaper—that’s the same reason police agencies like low-end models.
They were big cars, so the slant-six was off the table—unless dad moonlighted as a car driver. 1970 dad would pick the reliable 318-cubic-inch, two-barrel 230-horse, LA engine.
That would be enough for the big Fury to keep up with freeway traffic and provide decent fuel mileage. Not exciting, but 1970 dad life wasn’t about excitement—it was about surviving.
The fourth choice for 1970 dad would be a 1969 Ford Custom 500 4-door sedan.
You’ve seen these cars as taxis or police cars in a hundred 70s era movies because they were built for pure function. Functional was the kind of thing 1970 dad was looking for because a ’69 Boss 429 Mustang was completely off the table.
1970 dad would opt for the 302 small-block—again for adequate power and decent mileage. Not a tire-smoker, but that wasn’t important thanks to the grim reality of 1970 mom.
The final possibility for 1970 dad was a 1970 Mercury Monterey Custom Sedan.
This is just enough car to make ’69 Ford Custom dad a little jealous because a Merc was a step up on a barebones Ford. 1970 Merc dad just had to avoid meeting 1970 Lincoln dad.
He’d pick the 390-cubic-inch, two-barrel, 265-horse stock V-8 so he’d be the king of the hill in 1970 with 5 more horsepower than ’70 Buick dad. You measured small victories in 1970 dad world.
None of these cars were rock stars but they did the job when asked—just like the ’70 dads who drove them.
Jerry Sutherland
By: Jerry Sutherland
Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.
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