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The killer on small cars getting better mpg was that most trips were too short for mpg gains to really be seen. Not that folks didn't . . but a well-tuned decent full-size American car was close enough. And generally a lot more reliable (and easier to fix; overall economy being more important than just mpg). This changed by the mid-1980's as so many Americans had volunteered to be the beta testers for the Japs. I wouldn't have considered an econo car until then (and didn't) as they also were lousy on the highway. A 1985 Accord is what I'd consider the first pre-EFI econo car worthy of purchasing new (good enough to be a road car, reliable enough to be a commuter, and well-made so that it wasn't junk in seven years).
I also had an I6-200 Ford. No A/C, auto and black vinyl. In a '71 Maverick. In Texas . Not a day goes by that I miss it.
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