Boats from the early 70's

[rangerman]

Since I have a 1974 16 foot Ranger, I often wonder what this boat had going for it in its time and what might of made it "ahead of its time". Boats from the early 70's were narrow and most didn't have a very big outboard on them. I recently read in the Bassmasters issue that they were called Teddy Roosevelts because they were "rough riders". But since Ranger has always been a top notch fiberglass boat manufacturer, I wonder if this one was rated as one of the best in the 70's because I know that Rangers are definitely rated one of the best nowadays. I know Bassmasters must of chose this boat for some reason since it was the boats used in the 1973 Bassmasters Classic. Some have said they didn't waver in the water like other boats back then and they had a better layout. And I think they were safer than other boats as far as U.S. Coast Guard Regulations...and improved the livewell? Anyone know what else made these boats better than the others? Or were they all about the same back then? Some say they are about the same nowadays but alot of professional anglers use Rangers.