When you hear the number 8 1/2, there’s a decent chance your mind turns to a film by that name, directed by Italian surrealist Federico Fellini. Released in 1963, 8 1/2 is the story of a movie director who is slowly losing his grip on reality. Fellini’s fantasy-like treatment of the lead character’s confusion led to popular use of the term Felliniesque, used to describe a situation that seems unreal.
Especially Felliniesque, at least to this author, is the 8.5 observed mpg delivered by four of the vehicles on the list below. The real madness kicks in when you realize that four vehicles tested by Consumer Guide in 1973 actually returned less than 8.5 mpg, and none of the thirstiest 12 vehicles tested managed to hit 10 mpg.
Granted, 1973 was a terrible year for the auto industry when it came to engine performance. Automakers were struggling to keep power numbers in an acceptable range while dealing with new emissions standards and low-lead gasoline.
All of the fuel-economy numbers reported below are taken from Consumer Guide’s ’73 Auto Test magazine. Near as we can tell, reported fuel-economy numbers included a balance of city and highway driving, as well as performance testing.
That asterisk in the title denotes that Consumer Guide did not test every drivetrain variation of every vehicle available–so, a few even-thirstier vehicles may have escaped notice.
If your experience with any of these vehicles involved consuming more–or less–fuel than we’re showing here, tell us about it.
Lincoln Continental: 7.0 MPG
Curb Weight: 5282 pounds
Engine: 460-cubic-inch V8
Horsepower: 212
Axle Ratio: 2.75:1
Lincoln Continental Mark IV: 7.5 MPG
Curb Weight: 5134 pounds
Engine: 460-cubic-inch V8
Horsepower: 212
Axle Ratio: 2.75:1
Cadillac Sedan DeVille: 7.5 MPG
Curb Weight: 5026 pounds
Engine: 472-cubic-inch V8
Horsepower: 220
Axle Ratio: 2.93:1
Cadillac Eldorado: 8.0 MPG
Curb Weight: 5012 pounds
Engine: 500-cubic-inch V8
Horsepower: 235
Axle Ratio: 3.07:1
Ford LTD: 8.5 MPG
Curb Weight: 4178 pounds
Engine: 429-cubic-inch V8
Horsepower: 212
Axle Ratio: 2.75:1
Pontiac Grand Prix: 8.5 MPG
Curb Weight: 4188 pounds
Engine: 455-cubic-inch V8
Horsepower: 250
Axle Ratio: 2.75:1
Ford Thunderbird: 8.5 MPG
Curb Weight: 4797 pounds
Engine: 429-cubic-inch V8
Horsepower: 212
Axle Ratio: 2.75:1
Oldsmobile Toronado: 8.5 MPG
Curb Weight: 4841 pounds
Engine: 455-cubic-inch V8
Horsepower: 250
Axle Ratio: 2.73:1
Chevrolet Caprice: 9.0 MPG
Curb Weight: 4271 pounds
Engine: 454-cubic-inch V8
Horsepower: 245
Axle Ratio: 2.73:1
Imperial LeBaron: 9.0 MPG
Curb Weight: 4909 pounds
Engine: 440-cubic-inch V8
Horsepower: 215
Axle Ratio: 3.23:1
Chevrolet Monte Carlo: 9.0 MPG
Curb Weight: 3883 pounds
Engine: 454-cubic-inch V8
Horsepower: 245
Axle Ratio: 2.73:1
Buick Riviera: 9.0 MPG
Curb Weight: 5111 pounds
Engine: 455-cubic-inch V8
Horsepower: 260
Axle Ratio: 2.93:1
0-60 Challenge: The Sporty Compacts of 1973
