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Friday, March 4, 2016

The Working Girl's Car -- 1972

In the August 1972 issue of Motor Trend there was an interesting survey article interviewing ten Southern California working women and their attitudes concerning cars. The ten women represented a diverse mix in terms of their jobs, education, and origins (although not race, as they were all Caucasian).

Here is a list of the cars they owned:

1966 Chrysler New Yorker
1971 Ford Pinto
1962 Nova Super Sport
1959 Rolls Royce
1969 Fiat Spider
1964 Volkswagen 1300
1968 Pontiac Firebird
1970 Sunbeam Arrow
1968 Pontiac Catalina
1967 Jaguar XKE Coupe

One of the women was married, one apparently divorced with two children, the others single. Their occupations were as varied as their cars: Union 76 Racestopper; Medical Secretary;Actress; Piano Player; Magazine Editor Waitress; Hairdresser; Bank Teller; Stewardess; and Executive Secretary.

Questioned as to the cars they would LIKE to own, they answered as followed:

Mercedes-Benz 280 SEL
1972 Porsche Targa
1972 Porsche Targa
"I have it" -- 1959 Rolls Royce
1972 Porsche Targa
Greyhound Bus
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL
"Any Ferrari"
Maserati Ghibli
1972 Jaguar V-12

Overall, these women were sensitive to environmental issues and desirous of better mass transit.

How did their lives unfold?  What would be their "auto" biographies be like if we could hear from them in 2016?

If any of these women wish to reply to the post, I would love to read and publish their thoughts on automobiles and life some 45 years later!

Their names in 1972 :

Devon Blaine
Frances (Kiki) Fiorito
Joan Freeman
Harriet Gibson
Nancy Hardwick
Diane Knighton
Donna Major
Alice Thompson
Maud Tobiason
Marlene Tucker





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