Uh, Willy, you need to brush up on your car chronology.
The Ford Pinto came out in '71, and if memory serves the Vega first hit the market the same year.
The Arab oil embargo and gas shortages didn't happen until late '73 after the Yom Kippur War.
I had a Pinto, a '73 wagon, which served me well at the time even though it was underpowered to the point of having to join the 18-wheelers when going uphill with a passenger or two.
Earlier, I'd test-driven a VW Bug but it had serious legroom problems. The dealer offered to move the seat back a few inches but then the steering wheel was on my kneecap. And then any backseat passengers would need to be small children or midgets.
Fuel economy is nice. Getting to where you're going without need of a chiropractic adjustment when you arrive is better.
Well your memory is certainly better than mine.
A quick search showed Pinto introduced in '70 and the Vega in '71.
Oh well, how can I be expected to remember that?
Heck, I was trying desperately to nurse the odometer of a '63 Falcon past 175K at the time. Pintos and Vegas cost waaaaaaay more than my budget would permit.
:-(