and the glow plugs, and the glow plug controller, and the radio, and the lights, and the gauge cluster, and the injection pump cutoff solenoid…
When I was a kid growing up in SoCal my parents bought a new 1965 Oldsmobile. It definitely had zero computers. In 1969 they bought another new Olds, this time a top of the line Cutlass.
It definitely had some electronic trimming logic connected to the carburetor. I’m about 90% sure it had a “smog pump” (EGR pump) too. Whether the electrical feedback controllers for that stuff rise to the level of a “computer” depends on the OP’s definition of a “computer”.
Their next new car was a 1973 Cadillac. That thing was a nightmare of wires & hoses and pumps and such. Definitely had some sort of electronics (not electrics) controlling all the components.
I cut my teeth wrenching on these cars as I inherited each in turn once I was driving. These were California model cars in the era when California pollution regs were about 5 years ahead of the so-called 49-state regs.
My bottom line:
You *may *have been able to buy a new 1973 49-state Caddy with no electronic engine manager. But definitely not in CA. And even back in 1969 a computerless car in CA was iffy.
A “smog pump” on a '69 is very likely to just be an air pump which fed fresh air into the exhaust manifolds to help burn off (oxidize) any leftover hydrocarbons and CO.
I think my 1985 Honda Civic Hatchback was as simple as they get - it even had a manual choke. It had electronic ignition (i.e. replaced points with a bunch of transistors and capacitors) but still used a carburetor and distributor - same electronics, but routed to different spark plug each time. I recall the dealer saying something about how cheap and simple it was built.
By 1991 model, they had electronic fuel injection which made for a more fuel efficient and peppier ride. That would qualify as a computer, monitoring things like engine and outside temperature, engine speed, accelerator pedal, etc. to calculate the correct amount of fuel to use.
Points and condenser work OK, they are good for maybe 10,000 miles without any attention if they are setup right. When these cars were daily drivers they needed a “tuneup” at least once a year. Fuel injection, and electronic ignition, did a lot to make starting a car in cold weather less sketchy. Back then everyone carried jumper cables practically. Today not so much.
A big problem today with folks in the vintage crowd is finding reliable condensers (capacitors), for some reason these are difficult to manufacture at the voltage rating and capacitance in a small enough package, at least at a certain price point. They are almost universally bad right out of the box. As they were strictly a mechanical system, the distributor itself has to be in good shape for points to work properly. Any sideplay from high mileage would make setting the points an exercise in futility. Small electronic modules have been made for years to replace the points and condenser inside the distributor, these work well and also aren’t bothered by excessive wear the way mechanical points are. Points manufactured today too are pretty much junk for the most part, but there are still a lot of them around available as new old stock and much preferred if using points.
Last vehicle I had with a mechanical ignition was a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Blue Streak points are still available, and were always pretty highly regarded in the motorcycle world.
Harley big twins used the same points as Chevy six-cylinder cars, so they were easy to find.
My initial thought was the Yugo but even it had fuel injection by 1988.
According to Wikipedia
Last cars with carburetors (There may have some computer controls although)
One of these would be the most likely candidate
1990 (General public) : Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser, Buick Estate Wagon, Cadillac Brougham, Honda Prelude (Base Model), Subaru Justy
1991 (Police) : Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor with the 5.8 L (351 cu in) V8 engine.
1991 (SUV) : Jeep Grand Wagoneer with the AMC 360 cu in (5.9 L) V8 engine.[11]
1993 Mazda B2200 (Light Truck)
1994 (Light truck) : Isuzu[12]
To get a car registered these days you need electronic stability in most countries which is a bigger stumbling block than EFI.
Early Suzuki Samurai sold in the US were probably without an computer, by the nineties they switched over the EFI.
The Nissian Patrol was another in the eighties vehicle although never sold in the US despite being up there with Toyota Jeep and Toyota Land Cruiser as a real player in the 4WD market .