Tom, it depends partly on where you live (e.g- smog rules in CA exempt '71-73 cars) and partly on your personal preferences, as the later cars must conform to later smog check rules. There's nothing wrong with Euro cars, although many have rust problems from having zero rust protection built in, while most US cars seem to have been at least undercoated. Other than the gauge faces being 'Euro' and potentially the engine type, the late & early cars are very similar. A '79 might have a 351W rather than the 351C of the pre-L.
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