Air conditioners from the 60's better than now?

I finished reading a book on big Detroit cars of yesteryear and the writer mentioned the Harrison AC systems from the 60's and 70's being better, I think those used the R-12 refrigerant. I remember riding in my Dad's 1968 Chevrolet Impala when it was new, and boy, that AC really put out the cold air!

My 1997 Olds LSS and my 2000 Lincoln are very marginal concerning the cold output, they use the R-134 refrigerant. Were the old R-12 systems from the 60's that much better than the more recent cars?

R-12 is more efficient than R-134A.

Can we use R-12 refrigerant to replace the R-134A? I mean it should help. Not a technical guy but a friend of mine even used refrigerator refrigerant. I guess that's also R-134A....

I'll answer only because you dug this thread up. R-12 was only about 10-20% more efficient than R-134. But with design changes like larger, semi-parallel condenser coils as opposed to the older serpentine coils and compressors that cycle on and off metered by fixed orifice tubes as opposed to variable expansion valves and typically constant running compressors today's R-134a systems are more efficient overall as far as cost to manufacture and fuel economy. In 2 perfectly operating systems, one of each, you'd really be hard pressed to tell the difference in cooling.
Did you know that R-134a was developed way back in 1936? Only 5 years after R-12 was introduced.
But hang on to your R-134a. I hear there's talk of replacing it also. Maybe R-744 !

I am not sure if digging the thread up was a good idea but I needed to know :). Thank you for the clarification. My cooling system works just fine but you know human nature.... always looking for better option. 1936.... mmmm pretty old huh?