When velour was king: 10 American ‘70s luxury car classics
Just when the straight world thought it knew everything it needed to know about being gay, along comes another bombshell: Gays are crazy about cars. Not just new ones, mind you, but big, chrome covered glitzmobiles with an urgent need for fuel and a hankering for wide open parking spaces. Indeed, gay car clubs, such as Great Autos of Yesteryear and the Lambda Car Club, have thousands of members, many of whom have become the sole guardians of the flamboyant ‘70s luxury cars ignored by mainstream collectors. There’s even a website, Gaywheels.com, specifically dedicated to serving the gay and lesbian automotive community. The website promotes car companies that offer domestic partner benefits, and provides reviews, news and biographies of gay and lesbian members working in the automotive field.
Unlike today’s clones err, cars, 1970s’ luxury automobiles were big, flamboyant, opulent, distinctive and unapologetically American. Shunned today by many who grew up in the disco decade, these big beauties have found a new generation of adoring admirers both here, and, strangely enough, overseas. From extraordinary size to exceptional uses of color and fabric, these 10 luxury classics are destined to take their place in American collectible car lore.
Cocoa Efficient is a contributor to Gaywheels.com, the gay-friendly automotive resource. If her staff bio is to be believed, she divides her time between automotive writing and developing several super-strong hair spray patents.
