Silly american cars

TheCooler · 10-24-2003, 01:29 PM

I got into an arguement today with this kid about his '70 El camino SS (almost stock). He told me he would beat me on a road course track or an auto x. I laughed. I tried to explain to him about suspention and handeling and all he could say back was how fast his car could get to the turns. Lets just hope he has good brakes. Then he began to say how crappy all forgein cars were. What a joke. Anyways I was the bigger man and walked away.

Come one you guys know I would destroy him at an autox.

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

Depends on who is the better driver...... Plenty of Vett's win auto-x's all of the time. Granted it's not a 70's El Camino, but none the less "American."

Dark Skies · 10-24-2003, 02:35 PM

And who has the most nerve.

thamlin000 · thamlin000's Garage

I saw a modified 80s El Camino rip a stock 944 (and many other sports cars) to pieces at the last auto-x. He also posted better times than my 260Z and two other Zs out there.

Driver, Driver, Driver.

Roger Hall · 10-24-2003, 08:14 PM

I guy in my high school had a Ranchero. It was like 400+ ci I can't remember exactly. It would shred tires in first and when it shifted to second the a$$ end would kick out like two feet. It was hard to handle in a stright line let alone an auto cross. I guess its all in what you are looking for.

andnew · 10-24-2003, 08:40 PM

Do you realize that Caminos of that era were nearly 500 Lbs lighter than a Vette and had an easier to adjust center of gravity, because of the bed.

I wouldn't play with a built one on the track. (Because it might crush my poor little N/A Pcar)

The neck snapping acceleration and surprising cornering, (when correctly done with modern brakes) of a 400hp small block in one of this era is seriously impressive.

I am still surprised they haven't reintroduced El Camino's for the current truck racing circuits.

I predict someone will do another EC style within 3 years. (Wild Ass Beer Guess) It is Friday you know! Yes I am home and not driving :-)

ronin · 10-25-2003, 03:02 AM

I'll take him on. with that lighter rear end I know hell push like a sumb!tch in the corners. like you said, getting to the turns is one thing, but braking through them effectively is quite another

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

Well, just because American cars are rubbish in general doesn't mean that you can automatically chock up a win for yourself; there are some anomalies out there, such as the 1980s IROC ("Italian Retard Out Cruising," according to Adam Sandler) Camaros that actually handle rather well. I have an old ROAD & TRACK where they put a Camaro IROC up against a 944 for the title of "best-handling car in the world." The Porsche won by a mile, but the Camaro could still say that it was the "2nd best-handling car in the world!"

Despite these rare quality American cars, I do have to admit that most that I have driven have been complete crap. Vague steering, eventual braking, floaty suspension... I can't imagine why anyone would want to drive, say, a Buick BY CHOICE.

ronin · 10-25-2003, 11:44 AM

I had an IROC back in the day, and yes, it's definitely a guilty pleasure

quick story: back in 86 after I bought the car, the weef and I were traveling back up to Seattle from Texas on our honeymoon on 101. we stopped in Healdsburgh for some refreshments and while we were sitting in the car on the side of the road, a slew of about 15 or 20 Ferraris followed by a Jaguar passed us by. I said oboyoboyoboy, (which caused the wife to immediately say "oh *****!!") threw my stuff down and picked up the chase. even though they were in a large group, those guys didn't hold anything back and proceeded to storm northwards through the twisties. I followed to the best of my (young and naive) abilities with speeds approaching into the 90s and beyond. (not a bad clip for that stretch of highwy back in those days) I would have to say that the IROC impressed me enough by the fact that I was able to keep up with them to the point where passing them would have exceeded my own juvenile lack of experience. after about 20 mins or so, the weef said that it was high time we slowed down, so reluctantly I did but not before having had a chance to have a little dolce vita with machinery that most other cars would not have been able to touch

good times

rbt944 · 10-25-2003, 01:06 PM

And here I am trying to convince my friend to turn his 1968 Camaro in to a track car instead of a drag racer. Maybe it's just my fantasy but i would really like to see a 60's muscle car be set up with great handling, and me behind the wheel

ronin · 10-25-2003, 01:16 PM

the car was an 1986!! I say again, one niner ait six!! how copy?? over

scheistermeiste · 10-26-2003, 12:30 PM

my mom and dad got divorced over this subject.... my dad auto-xed a 85 IROCZ camaro. he still owns the car and im going to get it one day. the suppension is COMPLETELY redone and it comes with nice big ol flat slicks. and not to mention a 95 shot of the good ol giggle juice.... hmmmmmm... oh and yes he has beaten pcars on the track.

TheCooler · 10-26-2003, 06:06 PM

Yes, but i was talking about an almost fully stock elki. Im sure if it was upgraded for a track it could tool all over me.

ronin · 10-26-2003, 06:09 PM

yep, stock wouldn't be too much of a threat

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

ronin, good story, but honestly it doesn't impress me too much. Many of the mid-80s Ferraris were overpriced crap that couldn't handle to save their lives. Cars like the Mondial were jokes (0-60 in 9 sec. for more money than a 911 Carrera!), and the Testarossa, although fast, could be beaten by a Golf GTI around a track due to poor handling. The 308s were decent, although a Mustang for 1/3 the price was almost as fast. It was about this time that Ferrari's overpriced reputation (and not to mention the fact that Porsche was selling much better cars for much less money) was briging them down, and they came out with the F40 followed by a slew of quality cars that continues today.

Do you happen to remember what Ferrari models you were following? I would have loved to see that...

Just think: if you had the 951 back then, you probably would have embarrassed every single one of those overpriced Italian sculptures!

Brando · Brando's Garage

End any argument like that easily:

"You and me, this track. Bring your pink and $4,000."

ronin · 10-27-2003, 07:36 PM

CeeJay. one thing to remember though, just because it was in '86 doesn't mean all the cars were current

I don't remember the exact makeup of the group but there were NO Mondials or Testarossas. I did see severeal 308s and what I was sure was a 288GTO (would have been brand new back then) there were also several Dinos and a Daytona or two. (spyders) I could have sworn that one of the cars was a 206SP but they're so rare that the chances to see one are astronomical. too bad I don't remember all. that would have been cool. I would have loved to have a 951 back then but the price was way too high for me at the time. now that I have one, these incidents just don't happen anymore

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

yeah, i kinda figured you would have encountered a few classics, but I felt the need to go on an anti-ferrari rant, so i did

probably the best (and least known) of the early 80s/late 70s ferraris was the 512BB. mighty fine lookin' car too

ronin · 10-27-2003, 09:46 PM

yep, most people had the tendency to mistake it for a 328

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

it's kinda weird that the Ferrari everyone thinks about when you bring up early 80s Ferraris is the 308, especially since the BB was a superior car. I blame MAGNUM P.I. and NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VACATION.

Still, nothing wrong with the 308. I drove one a while back... it wasn't bad, but the clutch was like kicking an anvil. Didn't feel too much faster than my 944, either. I feel confident that a stock 944 would slaughter a 308 around a track (especially since it can lap just as quickly as a 911SC).