For those of you who drove a Japanese import in the 60’s/70’s/early 80’s, did you get any heat from family/friends/coworkers/general public about your choice of car? How bad was it? What were some of the consequences and what was the most extreme example you’ve seen or heard of?
This question applies to americans as well as some western europeans, whose auto industries were also in decline with the exception of germany.
This discussion might also be a good predictor of what will await the first owners of chinese cars when they do arrive in north america.
In the late 70s, my mom purchased a brand new Honda CVCC (similar to a civic, different model). My grandfather had fought in WWII in the Pacific, and had some nasty memories from that time. My mom said he was upset and a bit hurt that she would buy a Japanese machine.
He also worked in the auto industry, and was very heavily invested in American cars.
Back in the day, I can see how it could be seen as betraying your country or your neighbors. Import cars literally were foreign, your dollars were sent overseas for the purchase. During a time of economic crisis, and your neighbors who worked for the automakers would lose their jobs, it’s easy to understand their resentment. They felt anyone buying a Japanese car was contributing to the decline of their industry.
This was also part of the reason Mitsubishi didn’t sell cars in the US under their own name, only under Dodge/Plymouth, until the early '80s