I didn't "drag" the Brits into the mix, ridelugs did.

As to "more practical American car of the past known for it's reliability...", I can't think of any. The current (and very recent) American cars with their vastly improved build quality and reliability are a defensive response to the Japanese invasion that started in earnest in the early '70's. They showed the consumer he didn't have to be on a first name basis with the Service Manager.