A lot can happen in the span of eight years. An industrious student can get through medical school, the United States can elect two presidents, and the television show Full House can run its full eight-season course.
But, unlike Full House—which arguably failed to improve over its 1987-1995 run—the auto industry managed to do something rather spectacular with the same amount of time from 1973 to 1981: improve the fuel economy of its worst gas guzzlers by almost 100 percent.
I remind you of our Worst Gas Guzzlers of 1973* post, which you can revisit here. The miles-per-gallon range of vehicles on that list spanned from 7.0 to 9.0 mpg—truly horrible stuff.
Skip forward to 1981. The fuel-economy range of the worst-performing vehicles mileage was 14.8 to 17 mpg—almost doubling the 1973 observed numbers.
Shared here are all ten of the thirstiest rides tested by Consumer Guide back in ’81. The asterisk in the title of this article is to denote that CG didn’t get around to testing every last 1981 vehicle out there—though we got close—so even less-efficient stuff may have gone unreported.
If you spent time with any of these vehicles, be sure to tell us what sort of fuel economy you observed.
12 Worst Gas Guzzlers of 1973*
Triumph TR8: 14.8 MPG
Body Style Tested: Convertible
Curb Weight: 2655 pounds
Engine: 3.5-liter V8
Horsepower: 148
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Axle Ratio: 3.08:1
Buick Riviera: 15.1 MPG
Body Style Tested: Coupe
Curb Weight: 3706 pounds
Engine: 5.0-liter V8
Horsepower: 140
Transmission: 3-speed automatic
Axle Ratio: 2.41:1
Mercedes-Benz 380SEL: 15.4 MPG
Body Style Tested: Sedan
Curb Weight: 3715 pounds
Engine: 3.8-liter V8
Horsepower: 155
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Axle Ratio: 2.47:1
Buick Regal: 16.0 MPG
Body Style Tested: Coupe
Curb Weight: 3353 pounds
Engine: 3.8-liter turbocharged V6
Horsepower: 170
Transmission: 3-speed automatic
Axle Ratio: 2.73:1
Camaro Z28: 16.5 MPG
Body Style Tested: Coupe
Curb Weight: 3600 pounds
Engine: 5.7-liter V8
Horsepower: 175
Transmission: 3-speed automatic
Axle Ratio: 3.08:1
5 Most-Fuel-Efficient Cars of All Time
Chevrolet Corvette: 16.5
Body Style Tested: Coupe
Curb Weight: 3334 pounds
Engine: 5.7-liter V8
Horsepower: 190
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Axle Ratio: 2.72:1
Volvo GLE: 16.5 MPG
Body Style Tested: Wagon
Curb Weight: 3245 pounds
Engine: 2.8-liter V6
Horsepower: 130
Transmission: 3-speed automatic
Axle Ratio: 3.54:1
Oldsmobile Toronado: 16.8 MPG
Body Style Tested: Coupe
Curb Weight: 3677 pounds
Engine: 5.0-liter V8
Horsepower: 140
Transmission: 3-speed automatic
Axle Ratio: 2.41:1
Lincoln Mark VI: 17.0 MPG
Body Style Tested: Coupe
Curb Weight: 4051 pounds
Engine: 5.0-liter V8
Horsepower: 130
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Axle Ratio: 3.08:1
AMC Eagle: 17.0 MPG
Body Style Tested: Sedan
Curb Weight: 3333 pounds
Engine: 4.2-liter six
Horsepower: 110
Transmission: 3-speed automatic
Axle Ratio: 2.73:1
