American knock-offs you mentioned and the subtle, flowing ones of the volvo? They are different, even if you can see similar design cues. I'm honestly surprised you lump them together. Look at how the fenders flow into the headlight housing and how it's repeated for the turn signals. Follow the lines of the hood to the sculpted grill. The volvo is a thoughtfully designed car.



Now look at the Ford Pinto of the same year. Look at the same points on the front fascia I asked you to look at on the Volvo. It is very angular, with little flow. It employs a different design style.



Here's the Gremlin. Same exercise. I think the back glass on the Volvo was throwing you off. They are very different in the details of their design.