View Photos of the 1971 Small-Car Comparison Test
AMC Gremlin, Chevrolet Vega, Ford Pinto, Simca 1204, Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Super Beetle exterior and interior photos.
We gather six small cars from AMC, Ford, Chevy, Toyota, Simca and Volkswagen to assess the state of the small-car art, circa 1971.
Three domestics take on three foreign machines in the battle for most-OK 1971 small car.
At the drag strip, patience was a virtue. The Beetle needed 16.1 seconds to hit 60 mph.
Traction was not a problem.
There are a lot of ways to answer the small-car question.
Our group included front-engine, rear-drive; front-engine, front-drive; and rear-engine, rear-drive.
The Corolla liked to lift its inside rear wheel in corners.
The Simca's suspension was surprisingly supple.
Simca's 1204 is almost like a tiny station wagon.
The 1204 interior is very high quality by the standards of its class.
Voila! It's a wagon.
The Super Beetle is super only in comparison to other Beetles.
Strut suspension makes for more room in the front trunk.
A familiar view, since 1938.
The Corolla could corner harder if it used all four tires.
This is an agreeable small car, except on the highway.
At $1918, the Corolla was the lowest price car in the test.
Go fast and don't get rear-ended in the Pinto.
The Pinto was a clear disappointment to every member of the staff.
With 75 hp, the Pinto ran 0-60 in 15.1 seconds.
The Pinto seats are deep and upright, like a bathtub.
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