Quality cars of that era would easily last that long mechanically, although they were often terrifically rust prone.
Think of MB and BMW cars of that time.
The Fords/Chevys/Buicks/Mercurys driven by the hoi polloi were in many ways mechanically more robust than are the cars of today, particularly the automatic transmissions.
They were let down by carburetors with poorly implemented early emissions controls, leaded fuel and weak points and coil ignition systems that required regular attention.
The motor oils of the time were also not up to much by current standards.
Most of these cars were also utterly lacking in any design or manufactured corrosion resistance and would make the known rusters of today appear to be exemplary in that respect.
Those engines designs that survived long enough to make the transition to unleaded fuel, PFI, electronic ignition and better oils proved to be as robust as anything out there.
Think of a typical modern car time-warped back to 1970. How well would it run and for how long on the fuels and oils then available?
Think of MB and BMW cars of that time.
The Fords/Chevys/Buicks/Mercurys driven by the hoi polloi were in many ways mechanically more robust than are the cars of today, particularly the automatic transmissions.
They were let down by carburetors with poorly implemented early emissions controls, leaded fuel and weak points and coil ignition systems that required regular attention.
The motor oils of the time were also not up to much by current standards.
Most of these cars were also utterly lacking in any design or manufactured corrosion resistance and would make the known rusters of today appear to be exemplary in that respect.
Those engines designs that survived long enough to make the transition to unleaded fuel, PFI, electronic ignition and better oils proved to be as robust as anything out there.
Think of a typical modern car time-warped back to 1970. How well would it run and for how long on the fuels and oils then available?