What if all the manufacturers hadn't just gave up on performance in 1973-74?...

I mentioned in the last post how the Pontiac Trans-Am became the best-selling car of the late '70s-partly because it was a great car and partly because it was the only game in town. We owe Pontiac-a great debt-if it weren't for the T/A's phenomenal popularity-we wouldn't have had 5.0 Mustangs and Buick Grand Nationals in the '80's or Impala SS's and Ford Lightnings in the '90's. And we wouldn't have 400 hp Mustangs, Camaros and Challengers now. That aside-the other automakers screwed up big time.  Here's some examples. # 1. Olds 442. The Cutlass was the best selling American car in the '70's. However-after 1972 the "W30" 455 was dropped, and the "442" became an "Apperance and Handling package." In other words-you could buy a Cutlass with badass graphics and big tires-that had a 350 2 bbl V8 that wheezed out 150 hp. The sad thing is-the "W30" 455 which could compete with the LS6 454 and Pontiac 455HO could have continued unchanged through 1974 and with minor changes-like Pontiac did with the L78 400-could have rocked on until 1979. Think a 455, 4-speed or TH400 backed 442 would have sold? Is a pig made out of pork?  # 2. Big block Challenger / 'Cudas. For some insane reason, after '71 the biggest engine you could get in a "Cuda or Challenger was a 340 or 360. Since GM kept the F-bodies the same from 70-81-Chrysler could have done the same with the E-bodies if they didn't drop them in '74. And the 400 and 440s were EPA certified in the big cars until '78. Think a 440, 4-speed Challenger could have competed with a Trans-Am?  Yeah!!!!   # 3. Javelin AMX. Same thing-they quit production in 1974. They could have continued on until 1979 easily. The 360 and 401 engines were EPA certified in Jeep Waggoneers and AMC Ambassadors. A 401 Javelin could have competed with a T/A.  # 4. Ford Mustang. Instead of going to the Pinto based Mustang II in 1974-Ford could have kept the '71-73 bodystyle that could accomodate a 429 / 460-and the 460 was certified in T-Birds and Lincolns until '78. Think a 460 Mustang could compete with a 400 or 455 T/A?  Duh!!!!   But everyone just gave in to the bean counters. Thank god Pontiac didn't. Otherwise-like I said-we wouldn't have the great performance cars that we do now.  All Hail Herb Adams and Dennis Mecham and everyone else that promoted T/A's in the '70's. Mastermind