Not only was the car lighter with the engine over the back- there were two other reasons-
1st the wheels were VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY skinny- 165? 185- maybe?
2nd the steering wheel was oversized like something you'd use to steer a yacht.
My dad has a 1965 911, which we unearthed from a garage heap several years ago.
Pushing it through the driveway-under the no power of it's own- it steered like a hot knife through butter!
As time went on-
Cars got heavier,
Tires got wider
Steering wheels got smaller