My V-8 dreams....nope.

[kaisen]

You can get the same driving fun, with better handling and braking (and working a/c, etc) with a early to mid nineties Camaro, Firebird, GTO, Corvette, Mustang, etc. And they are CHEAP. You can get a 'beater' LS1 powered F-body for $6K that is in much better shape than a $15K 69 Chevelle. Just a counterpoint.

[kmhemi]

Quote:
My first car was a '67 GTO, 400 4 speed. Second was a '66 Sport Fury, 383 automatic. Then a '67 R/T, 440 automatic. Then a '68 Road Runner, 440 4 speed. Last of the line was a '69 Super Bee, 383 4 speed.


I bet the 68 with the the 440 4 speed was a blast to drive. I had a 72 challenger 440 4 speed. I should have kept it. My 70 Challenger (still have it) is a 426 4 speed. with dual 4 barrel carbs (Stock) its fun to drive but the 440 was alot more street friendly in my opinion due to the single carburetor and small hydraulic cam.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I have had this notion that I need to try out some kind of 'Muscle' car. I guess a 68-9 Chevelle would be my favorite.

But it just seems that you have to spend an insane amount of money to get a half decent car that would actually be fun to drive. A 350/350 clone is typically $15k at least (drifting into Carrera country....), and if you want anything really clean, or you want a big block, the skys the limit on the price. A 350? ZZZZzzzzz....when your pulling 4000lbs of American steel around, it ain't so peppy.

It just doesn't seem worth it. Most of the 'muscle cars' I have driven....I would take an SC over these cars any day of the week. If I'm all wrong about this, then set me straight.

Anyone out there have some American Muscle? Do you enjoy it as much as your P-car?

You don't have to spend that kind of money. Just buy something like a Pontiac Tempest with a crate motor.

This is the pic of the one i had, you could get it for under 10k probably:


It ran a low 12 quarter mile with a ZZ4 355 Crate motor, race prepped turbo 400 trans and 12 bolt posi rear(3.73 gears IIRC)

[kaisen]

Another consideration is the Olds Cutlass with the 455. They are several thousand cheaper but have a very similar body style. You can buy nice drivers for under $10K

[m21sniper]

You can get a really nice Buick T-Type turbo for under $10k as well.

[Jim Bremner]

I drove this car on a few of the T.R.E. New Years day runs even in the corners I didn't have too many cars pull on me.

At one of the stops a 930 owner said that he couldn't belive how quickly I would close in on him.



I Also had a 1966 Ford Fairlane GT that would pull like a freight train.

I had it over a 140 mph with 4 bicycles on the roof and 3 friends inside.

I broke a ton of parts with that car. U Joints, an output shaft from a toploader! sheared the shocks off of the rear axle doing drag launchs.

[kaisen]

Jim, that's a beautiful car and a labor of love!

[Eric 951]

Here's my American muscle--69 Chevy C-20 Longhorn that has been in the family since 80. My father gifted it to me a few weeks back after having a frame-off done. I have driven it a few times since then--mostly to local cruises and man it is a blast--when that 396 gets rumbling and the four barrel opens up there is nothing else like it--awesome torque but it gets squirrly above 70 MPH. Daily driveability would be troublesome--as it drives like a 40-year old truck--huge steering wheel--four wheel drum brakes--the motor almost overpowers them when you first put it in "drive". It is a whole different animal...in a good way--lots of thumbs-up and smiles.

[Monza_dh]

I love '70's muscle cars, Yenko Z28, Shelby Mustangs, SS Big Block Chevelle's, Hemi Cuda's etc. etc., most all out of reach for the common man.

I also love cheap muscle or the "other" muscle cars that sometimes can be had for less. Here are a few:

[pwd72s]

Nice to know that some here appreciate muscle. Celebrate it while you can...

Gotta confess, today's muscle isn't so bad either...

[Deschodt]

I had the same kind of V8 moment recently, but about a newer car, say a 2006 Z06... I mean, 505 hp for $40K, it kinda felt like a "now or never" thing in light or gas prices, hybrids, ethanol etc...

The more I researched, the more scared I got... I thought the Z was to the C6 what the GT3 is to the 911. Nope.... The engine will experience oil starvation on left turns lasting more than 4 secs at high G, the CV boots will melt, brakes will overheat, and the suspension needs improving. Then there's the seats... And mods to the oil system will void the warranty... Oh well... no free lunch !

[dd74]

Thing is, with CAFE standards increasing - what - 5% each year, and Obama standing firmly behind that, it makes me wonder if V8s themselves will be relics of automobilia gone by, and those cars with a V8 instant collectors' items.

Even this could be a collectors' item:


I'd hate to see it. There's nothing like a V8.

[pwd72s]

To repeat what I said in other threads...Obama's speech on Cafe standards, combined with the takeover of Chrysler and GM, were BIG factors in my decison to buy a Bullitt Mustang now.

(edit) It accelerates like my old tri-power goat, corners better than my old '72 911S, and gets better mileage than either. What's not to like?

[Oh Haha]

Have you thought about getting some goodies for the Bullitt?
Short shifter, Flowmasters?

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Oh Haha

Have you thought about getting some goodies for the Bullitt?
Short shifter, Flowmasters?

I drove a 'Stang GT with a hurst short shifter...there is such a thing as too short. I prefer the stock shifter. Stock, the throw is short....hell of a lot shorter than a 915 with a "short shifter". Flowmasters? On the Bullitt only, an H pipe is added, special low restriction mufflers...all tuned at the factory to sound like the movie car. It really does have a nice rumble, and that cool rapp when letting off on the gas. You do get some goodies, performance wise, with the Bullitt package. Track Pack suspension, cold air intake, and more...

[jyl]

Originally Posted by dd74

Thing is, with CAFE standards increasing - what - 5% each year, and Obama standing firmly behind that, it makes me wonder if V8s themselves will be relics of automobilia gone by, and those cars with a V8 instant collectors' items.

Even this could be a collectors' item:


I'd hate to see it. There's nothing like a V8.

I think what will happen is that V8s will be used in high-perf specialty models like Mustang, Vette, Camaro, Charger, etc. And still in big P/U and the biggest SUVs trucks meant for heavy loads. So that car in the pic is not going to be a collector's item, not for many decades anyway.

But we'll see fewer V8s in the run-of-the-mill mom-mobiles. Does every soccer mom really need a 320HP 5.3L V8 in her Chevy Tahoe just to carry the kids around? I didn't say we'll see "none". If Soccer Mom really wants that 320HP V8, she'll still be able get it, but it will cost her more.

[songhoh]

Here's mine. I love old muscle cars not for the cars only but for the era, the style, the image.

[gtc]

Does a Sunbeam Tiger count as American muscle?

[Heel n Toe]

HardDrive, check around some of the speed shops in town and find out about car shows in your area and go to a few... talk to people... you never know what you will find.

Somebody there might be tired of messing around with their project car and would turn it loose for a reasonable price so you could get your V-8 freak on.

Could you see yourself in this... out terrorizing children and animals?

[onewhippedpuppy]

As suggested by Monza and others, there are a bunch of nice muscle cars you can get into for the $10-15k range. Not for a heap, but for a good condition restored or survivor car. I'm not talking about a Shelby GT350 or a SS396, but there are a lot of good clones out there. Unless you have aspirations of Barret Jackson, does it really matter that your Camaro didn't leave the factory as an SS?