Introduced at the 2016 Geneva Auto Show, the Bugatti Chiron will race to 60 mph from a dead stop in a claimed 2.5 seconds. My 1985 Volkswagen Scirocco was, according to Road & Track magazine, good for 10.1 seconds in the same sprint. And while my car consumed four times the time to cover the same ground, I take some comfort in the fact that I paid $6600 for the car in 1988, comfortably less than the Chiron’s $2.6 million asking.
The 0-60 discussion isn’t as loud as it was 20 years ago. The most likely reason for this is that even the slowest of today’s new cars is up to the task of merging and passing. If you lived through the Eighties, you know that wasn’t always the case.
The “malaise” as it is commonly known—the automotive era of diminished power and generally lackluster performance—kicked in 1972. Blame more stringent emissions regulations and low-lead gas if you like, but everyone had to know performance lovers were living on borrowed time.
Presented here are the personal-luxury cars of 1972—as reported in Consumer Guide: Auto Test ‘72—complete with their Consumer Guide-observed 0-60 times. If you remember driving one of these hefty haulers, do tell us about it. There is nothing like these cars on the market today.
Ford Thunderbird: 11.8 Seconds
Weight: 4601
Axle Ratio: 2.75:1
Tested Engine: 212-horsepower 429-cubic-inch V8
Engine Cost: Standard, A 460-inch V8 was available for $76
Pontiac Grand Prix: 12.0 Seconds
Weight: 4330
Axle Ratio: 3.08:1
Tested Engine: 220-horsepower 455-cubic-inch V8
Engine Cost: $57, A 400-inch V8 was standard
Lincoln Mark IV: 12.1 Seconds
Weight: 4956
Axle Ratio: 2.80:1
Tested Engine: 212-horsepower 460-cubic-inch V8
Engine Cost: Standard
Cadillac Eldorado: 12.6 Seconds
Weight: 4840
Axle Ratio: 3:07:1
Tested Engine: 235-horsepower 500-cubic-inch V8
Engine Cost: Standard
Oldsmobile Toronado: 12.6 Seconds
Weight: 4660
Axle Ratio: 2.73:1
Tested Engine: 250-horsepower 455-cubic-inch V8
Engine Cost: Standard
Buick Riviera: 12.7 Seconds
Weight: 4497
Axle Ratio: 2.93:1
Tested Engine: 230-horsepower 455-cubic-inch V8
Engine Cost: Standard
Chevrolet Monte Carlo: 12.8 Seconds
Weight: 3496
Axle Ratio: 2.73:1
Tested Engine: 240-horsepower 402-cubic-inch V8
Engine Cost: $142, A 350-inch V8 was standard (a 454-inch V8 was also available for $261)
