The 1970s and 1980s were a weird time for the American auto industry, given that the government and public alike were growing fed up with the V8. While it represented power and excitement in the 1980s, events like the global oil crisis and the ever-growing concern over the ozone layer meant attitudes toward them soured in the 1970s. By the end of the decade, the vast majority of brands were transitioning towards smaller engines, threatening the very existence of the configuration.
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