While there was certainly room for improvement of quality, continued nosalgia for American cars of the '60s is evidence that Detroit wasn't that far off mark. Yeah, the Pinto and Vega were crap. But one must consider that they were hurriedly rushed into production in response to the Arab Oil Embargo more so than simple market preference for Japanese quality. True, having time to work out the production kinks in their product, Japanese fuel-sippers were better positioned to take advantage of the market shift dictated by OPEC, and it took American manufacturers some time to regain lost ground.
I'm not trying to be an apologist for the Pinto or Vega, even though they do have a bizarre cult following among the frugal minded. Just trying to keep the market of the '70s in perspective.