A big car makes a statement, and there’s no denying that. If you want the neighbors to look at you with envy every time you drive past, getting yourself a full-size sedan or saloon is one way to do so. Besides being status symbols, large or full-size cars offer abundant interior space, guaranteeing superior seating comfort. Oversized vehicles may also carry more than five passengers, e.g., 7-8 passengers.
Today’s large cars like the Chevrolet Impala, Chrysler 300, and Lincoln Town Car are nothing to be sniffed at, but it is also worth noting that the 1970s were prime years for large cars. This article explores just some of the big cars produced during that time.
1974-1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham
In its day, the 1974-1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham was considered one of the world’s most stylish and elegant sedans. Being a luxury sedan, it had lounge seating, a well-appointed interior trimmed with soft leather, rear seat reading lamps, automatic climate control, rear seat carpeted footrests, and a fully-padded Elk Grain vinyl roof. In terms of size, it stretched up to 233.7 inches in length and 79.8 inches in width, with a wheelbase of up to 133.0 inches. The 1974-1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham boasts an 8.2L 16-valve OHV V8 engine with 190 horsepower and 488 Nm of torque.
1972-1976 Lincoln Continental Mark IV
The Lincoln Continental Mark IV (1972-1976) is renowned for its long, majestic hood, flowing lines, hidden headlights, and distinctive “opera windows.” This large sedan is 228.1 inches long, 79.8 inches wide, and 53.5 inches high, weighing 5,264 pounds. It was designed as a luxury barge that provides a premium, ultra-comfortable driving experience. This car was fitted with 5-mph bumpers in the front and rear from 1973 to ‘74 for safety. Under the hood, the Lincoln Continental Mark IV features a 7.5-liter V8 engine with two valves per cylinder.
1971-1976 Oldsmobile 98
The Oldsmobile 98 is one of the brand’s longest-running nameplates (from 1941 to 1996). Considered Oldsmobile’s flagship full-size sedan, the 98 was the fanciest and best-appointed Oldsmobile large car. The biggest Oldsmobile 98s were the 1971-1976 models. They stretched up to 232.4 inches in length and 80 inches in width. Inside, this car offers leather-upholstered seats, wood-grain trim on the dashboard and doors, and a gauge cluster angled towards the driver. In terms of power, it features a 455 cubic inch V8 engine, producing 210 horsepower.
1971-1976 Buick Electra 225
The Buick Electra was a full-size luxury car produced between 1959 and 1990. It was available as a 2-door hardtop, 2-door convertible, 4-door hardtop, and 4-door sedan. The largest models were the Buick Electra 225 models, made between 1971 and 1976. With a 127-inch-long wheelbase, the vehicle is 233.3 inches long and 79.9 inches wide. The 1975 Buick Electra 225 got a stylish makeover that introduced twin square headlights and a similar square pattern for the rear headlights. Its seats feature a unique ‘grandma’s sofa’ floral pattern, with enough room for tall adults in both rows.
1974-1978 Chrysler New Yorker Brougham
The Chrysler New Yorker was manufactured between 1940 and 1996. Within that time, it also served as the brand’s flagship vehicle for some years. The 1974 – 1978 models were considered the largest and most stylish of the entire range, and the Brougham trim was at the top of the model hierarchy. The 1974 Chrysler New Yorker Brougham has hidden headlights, chrome bumpers, and large horizontal grilles. It is 232.7 inches long and 79.5 inches wide, with a wheelbase of 124 inches. The same model has a 50/50 vinyl split-bench front seat, allowing it to accommodate six passengers in considerable comfort.
1970-1978 Mercury Marquis
The Mercury Marquis is another land yacht that was all the rage in the ‘70s. It was produced between 1967 and 1986, but its second-generation 1970-1978 models are the largest. They are 229 inches long and 79.8 inches wide, with a wheelbase of 121 inches. Under the hood, these models feature a 7.0 L V8 or 7.5 L V8 engine with power output ranging from 200 to 365 hp, depending on the model year.
1971-1978 Cadillac Eldorado
The Cadillac Eldorado is a large luxury car produced between 1952 and 2002, positioned high on Cadillac’s model hierarchy. Sold as a 2-door convertible or 4-door hardtop sedan, the Eldorado was the first large luxury car of its time to adopt front-wheel drive in 1971. Thanks to its front-wheel drive drivetrain, the Eldorado had better handling than competing models. The 1971-1978 Cadillac Eldorado models are 224 inches long and 79.8 inches wide, with wheelbases of up to 126.3 inches.
1971-1976 Chevrolet Caprice Classic
The Chevrolet Caprice was in production between 1965 and 1996 and was Chevrolet’s top-of-the-line full-size car. It was available in 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan, and station wagon body styles. Its second-generation models (1971-1976) were the largest. Coupes and sedans have a 121.5-inch wheelbase and are up to 222.9 inches long. The station wagon models have a longer 125-inch wheelbase with shorter overhangs and a unique clamshell tailgate that folds out of view when open.
1971-1976 Cadillac De Ville
The fourth-generation Cadillac De Ville had one of the largest wheelbases of its era—130-inches. It offers an exceptionally roomy cabin with 64.3 inches of front shoulder room and 63.4 inches of rear shoulder room. To put this in perspective, the 2010 Toyota Camry offers 57.8 inches of front shoulder room and 56.9 inches of rear shoulder room. The 1971-1976 Cadillac De Ville models are 230.7 inches long and 79.8 inches wide.
1971-1985 Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala was built alongside the Chevrolet Caprice from its fourth generation, but it was positioned lower than the Caprice in the model hierarchy. The fifth-generation Chevy Impala models (1971–1976) look very much like the Caprice models of the time and are just as big (up to 222.9 inches in length) and share body panels, engines, and other parts. In 1977, Chevrolet downsized the Impala and Caprice as it adjusted to the 1973 oil crisis and new emission regulations. The 1977–1985 Impala is 212.1 inches long and 75.5 inches wide, with a wheelbase of 116 inches.
1979–1993 Chrysler Fifth Avenue
The Chrysler Fifth Avenue started as a premium trim level of the Chrysler New Yorker in 1979. The 1979 Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Avenue Edition has a Pentastar hood ornament, exclusive, two-tone Cream-on-Beige exterior paint, a Champagne-colored leather interior, and exclusive woodgrain dash trim. This model is 221.5 inches long and 77.1 inches wide. However, in 1982, the Chrysler Fifth Avenue was introduced as its own nameplate with a smaller body that measures 206.7 inches in length and 72.4 inches in width.
1971-1976 Buick LeSabre
The Buick LeSabre full-size car was produced between 1959 and 2005, but its largest iterations (the fourth-generation Buick LeSabre models) were produced between 1971 and 1976. These models are 221.9 inches long with a wheelbase of 124 inches and are available as 2-door convertibles, 2-door hardtops, 4-door sedans, or 4-door hardtops. For these models, General Motors introduced a flow-through ventilation system that draws air into the car with the help of the heater fan and forces it out through the car’s trunk lid vents.
Classic Cars with a Lot of Character
It is possible to get well-kept examples of all the above vehicles on the classic vehicle market, some at very reasonable prices. For example, you can get a 1979 Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Avenue for just over $11,000. In addition to being extraordinarily large, these cars have a lot of character and can make awesome daily drivers if well-maintained. What you need to watch out for is their thirsty engines.
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Mark Muhoro is a car enthusiast and writer who loves everything about automobiles. With over 11 years of experience in the automotive industry, Mark has become an expert in how cars work and what makes them special. He writes clear and interesting articles about cars for magazines and websites, making valuable contributions to renowned platforms like Vroom Magazine, Internet Brands, and Contentmotive.
