You Are Transported Back To The 1970s... What Would You Miss Most?

[Fleet 500]

Let's say you are somehow transported back to the 1970s. Not forever, just for one month or so. I picked the 1970s because I am very familiar with that decade and because it was before a lot of items we are used to today did not exist or were not in common use by the general public.

Here is what I would miss most:

1. An obvious answer, the Internet/computers. For me, most useful are emails, reading and posting on forums and keeping in touch with family and friends both local and long distance. Online shopping (ebay, Amazon, etc) is not only time (and gas) saving but I've found some rare and hard-to-find books and magazines via the Internet.

2. This may surprise some, but my second choice is the basic VCR and (VHS) video tape. Because I still own and use a VCR and have hundreds of tapes which I still run from time to time. It's nice to be able to pop in a movie or TV shows I've recorded and I couldn't do that in the '70s. But I do remember articles saying that someday we will be able to tape programs off the TV and watch it whenever we want. Actually, I didn't really believe it then! :o I also own a DVD player but it's not used as much as the VCR.

3. The ATM machine. I use it regularly and it's great not having to wait for the bank to open to withdraw cash. I don't remember if ATM machines were common in the '70s. I don't think so but if they were, it would have been mainly in the late-'70s.

I am going to add what I would miss LEAST, too.

1. New/modern cars. "New" meaning 2000+ cars. Hey, what can I say; I like classic cars! I miss cars with chrome, whitewall tires, long overhang (front & rear), vinyl roofs and chrome bumpers. I miss when Mopar were not owned by another company. And I miss when Cadillacs were not "luxury sports sedans," but were true full-sized luxury 6-passenger (9-passenger for the Fleetwood Seventy-Five series) cars.

2. Cell phones. I have one because it's necessary but I don't use it much. The camera it has does come in handy at times, though.

3. The (over)development of my area. So much better when there were more open spaces and I could bike ride in places which back then were rolling hills and dirt trails which now have become shopping areas and churches.

[pimento]

I'd probably most miss not having been born. :p

Hard to really say fully, but I'd say I'd mostly miss my friends - in that most of my friends don't live in the same city as I do, and without the internet, there'd be no way to 'hang out' with them on the weekends.

[Fleet 500]

I'd probably most miss not having been born. :p

Hard to really say fully, but I'd say I'd mostly miss my friends - in that most of my friends don't live in the same city as I do, and without the internet, there'd be no way to 'hang out' with them on the weekends.
Yeah, good point. You would really be separated from friends. You could call them, but how long can you talk on the phone? And certainly not everyday.

[kingofthering]

Turbochargers that don't require two months advance notice before they kick in. :P

http://www.saab99turbo.com/images/saab-99-turbo-registry2.jpg

[NSXType-R]

Just to troll you- fuel injection. :p

[Mugen_Ferio]

Ill miss all the good things we have that have not been around in the 70s

[Cobrafan427]

1. Internet, just because i went a month and a half without it and i know what it's like, i felt totally disconnected from the world.

2. Cell phones because i HATE talking on the phone, it's much easier to txt what you wanna say and keep going with what you're doing instead of having to drop everything to have a conversation with someone

3. Video games, that's a tricky one bc i love to play sports and video games have made every one of my friends lazy bc that's what they do for entertainment so i'm forced to play video games too for my own entertainment. It doesn't help that open hockey is only once a week either

4. 80's hair metal and Rage Against The Machine. I consider the 70's as the worst decade of music ever although this decade has been pretty damn close so far, dub step makes me wanna go on a mass murdering spree

[thebrochureman]

Being alive, probably the people i know well the most.

[Fleet 500]

Just to troll you- fuel injection. :p
You could buy cars with fuel injection in the '70s. In fact, the Cadillac Seville (which was introduced in mid-1975) was available only with fuel injection.

[Fleet 500]

Turbochargers that don't require two months advance notice before they kick in. :P

2 months? Lol.
I would add turbochargers that actually made some power. (A late-'70s Saab with a "turbo" still took about 10.8 seconds to get to 60 mph from a dead stop.)

[Matra et Alpine]

nice one kingofthering ... and dont forget STILL doing it where it matters :)
http://www.saabhistory.com/wordpress286/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/saabrally.jpg

Miss from now ? Live high definition broadcasts of motorsport events from round the world

Miss from the 70's ? Being allowed to be in touching distance of cars in motorsport events all round the world

:)

[Kitdy]

I think I would like the experience of living in another time from now, and a break from modern technology would refreshing. I don't think I'd miss a lot if I was only there for a month. If I could go back with a few friends and enough 1970s cash to live in a hotel and feed myself and do things... That would be a riot.

The pros far outweigh the cons, so I can't even think what I'd miss most if it was only temporary.

[Fleet 500]

True, Kitdy, if only there for a limited time, the pros would outweigh the cons. I forgot to add another to my "would miss" list... digital cameras. I use mine a lot and it's great no having to have film developed and be able to immediately put the photos on the computer.

[NSXType-R]

You could buy cars with fuel injection in the '70s. In fact, the Cadillac Seville (which was introduced in mid-1975) was available only with fuel injection.

That's true. Mercedes had fuel injection even earlier with their 300SL, but for the post part cars weren't fuel injected.

I think I might look forward to a few things- I know it'd be a bit weird, but I think meeting my parents when they were young might be incredibly odd.

For one thing, my father had a Mazda RX-3.

Also, old Japanese cars would be very easily and cheaply purchased.

But for the most part, I don't think I'd enjoy it for very long. Life wasn't easy back then.

[NicFromLA]

My iPhone and everything about it.


Just to troll you- fuel injection. :p

You could drive a Mercedes.

[csl177]

Do we get to travel back to the '70s with a 2012 bank account? :cool:

I would not miss out and buy every dream ride and significant race car lusted for then, but waaaay outta reach now.

Avoiding disco would be just as hard as it was the first time around, but the collection would be worth a few years of discomfort.

[Kitdy]

The constraint is that it is a visit and that you are there only for a month or two.

I was talking about this to my friend and he agreed it would be awesome. Go back with some friends and party in 1970.

[Fleet 500]

Do we get to travel back to the '70s with a 2012 bank account? :cool:

I would not miss out and buy every dream ride and significant race car lusted for then, but waaaay outta reach now.

Avoiding disco would be just as hard as it was the first time around, but the collection would be worth a few years of discomfort.
I'm not sure about going back with a 2012 bank account. I'll have to think about that!

If so, I would buy a few Hemi Mopars, like a '71 Plymouth 'Cuda (only 11 were built/sold) and store them for about 25 years! Then sell it for a few million $.

Yes, avoiding disco would take some effort but it would be worth it in the long run.

[dog ear]

In order for this to be a true 70s trip, you have to rid yourself of all modern luxuries and conveniences, including your bank accounts.

You have to be specific and pic a year, or at least a time-frame. Things were not the same throughout the decade. Early seventies were way different than the later years. If you lived in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, there were definite limitations. So you must choose early, mid, or late 70s.

I would pick mid-seventies. (1974-1977)

First off, there were no Tim Horton Donut Shops on every corner. Not even in every city, or town like today. Laws were more liberal. You could actually drink and drive and not get into too much trouble. You would have to be very intoxicated. Chicks really dug the cars, and you should be wearing your hair long.

Disco sucked but then like now you could pick and choose your music. ATMs were extent but five ‘bills’ max was the norm. Most people did not use them anyway. They were deemed too complicated. Hemi anything was very expensive. So were Shelby Cobras and all other exotics, including the coveted Corvette.

If you were real astute, and I know that we all are, so I will let you in on a secret that nobody cashed in on until the late 80s. Search out a pristine 1970 Buick GS Stage 1 and drive in style. They were not sought after like other musclecars. They were not really noticeable unless you had the GSX, with the wild paint scheme. Nobody realized what they were and nobody thought of Buicks as being anything other than your dad’s automobile. Police never bothered you because they were not considered ‘heat scores.’ Mine was cheap. $650.00 and a quarter pound of the finest grass money could buy. Say less than a grand.

‘Bout the only real things I would miss going back would be my pension check and my current 1998 Buick GS. It gets better gas mileage than the 1970 ever could. My 70 actually had a few more luxury oriented conveniences than my 98, and the ‘98 is not as fast, or stylish.

If I could go back knowing what I know today, I would be reeling in money, have a full head of hair, and no health problems. My passenger seat would always be occupied because I know a sweet young lady that would love to share my company. I would not miss anything else. Friends? Who needs them when you go visit the seventies. For twenty-five bucks, you could cruise all night, have a few beers, and probably pick up a chick, and not get bothered by the cops doing so.

[Kitdy]

You bought your Buick with cash and a quarter pound? That is insane.

A quarter pound for around 300 bucks? That is hilarious.

[kingofthering]

http://www.trailerparkboys411.com/images/trailer_park_boys.jpg

Hey, it's probably not cheap driving up to Nova Scotia. :D

[Kitdy]

Wow, you know TPB? Props to you. One day, imma have to watch all of the episodes.

For the record, that is probably by far the best TV show Canada has ever produced, with the second best being... I got nothing.

EDIT: Kids in the Hall and SCTV.

We are a funny people.