Review Flashback! Luxury Sedans of 1973 (Comparison Test)

All things are relative. While no one would expect any of the vehicles featured below to shine in terms of braking performance, the Editors of Consumer Guide called out the Chrysler Imperial for its dubious stopping ability. And that’s just one of the many insights buried in the test report below.

This comparison test appeared in the Consumer Guide: ’73 Auto Test magazine, which hit newsstands in June of that year. Featured below are:

Cadillac Sedan de Ville
Chrysler Imperial LeBaron
Lincoln Continental
Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL

Of these, the Mercedes is sort of the odd man out. The 300 SEL evaluated here was considerably smaller, lighter, and vastly more expensive than the other vehicles reviewed. That said, the Benz justified its staggering price with a first-place finish in the comparison, earning praise for its impressive ride and handling, among other things. It did not score well for power, however. Even though the 300 SEL boasted the most horsepower of the four cars tested, it provided the least amount of torque… and be it 1973 or 2021, Americans like their torque.

If you recall having spent time with one or more of these rolling tributes to vehicular indulgence, tell us about it. The place to leave comments is down below.

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