With the Malaisetastic '80 Plymouth Fire Arrow that we saw yesterday on my mind, I got to thinking about the meaning of the Malaise Era, specifically about the American-built vehicles sold during that period. Not captive imports like the Fire Arrow or quasi-domestics like the Capri, but real Detroit (or Kenosha) machinery. And, yes, I know that Jimmy Carter never actually uttered the word "Malaise" in his so-called Crisis of Confidence speech in 1979; what started as a joke term for the cars of the 1973-1983 period has now hardwired itself into my brain). Then I realized that I've forgotten the quasi-tradition of having a Friday poll for the readers to vote on their favorite DOTS machine of the week, so I owe you some DOTS poll action. That means it's time to jump like the late-70s inflation rate to pick your favorite of Alameda's Malaisewagons!
Looking at these cars, I realize that I've been remiss in not photographing early-80s Detroit iron on Alameda's streets; we have a fair sampling of such cars, so I'll be paying more attention to them in the future. If everyone has a good time with this poll, I might do a Favorite Import DOTS Malaisemobile poll later on.
1973 Pontiac Grand Am
1973 Mercury Cougar
1973 Plymouth Scamp
1974 Ford Torino
1974 Ford Maverick
1974 Plymouth Satellite
1975 Pontiac Grand LeMans
1976 AMC Pacer X
1976 Buick Skyhawk
1976 Ford Mustang
1977 Lincoln Continental
1977 Plymouth Volare
1977 Ford Granada
1977 Oldsmobile Wagon
1977 Chevrolet Camaro
1978 Cadillac Eldorado
1978 Chevrolet Camaro
1978 Pontiac Trans Am