Muscle Car!

[KW]

This is just for fun for any ‘car guys’ out there.  I know I didn’t “tell the whole story” on a couple of these (weight/torque/brakes handling etc) but it’s just for FUN! And, I’m curious how many Muscle Car junkies we have here.   

[KW]

I'm a hard core Arrow man, but I've always wanted a LS6 Chevelle 

[OverdueBill]

I bought a 1970 SS chevelle new.  The 396 model.  It would fly and suck gas.  High test was 35 cents a gallon then.  The rear tires wore out in a month.  Wonder why?  It was bada$$ in the quarter mile.  Over a hundred, the dodges ate my lunch.  The 454 was much more incredible.

[R J]

MOPAR till 4377 freezes over, and I'll have the Valkyrie smile on my face  also.

We had a whole lot of MOPAR on the force in the CHP.    Then they came out with those Crown Vic's.   Shortly there after I retired.

Give me a good strong 440 hopefully with a 6 pak and I'll cruise till 4377 freezes over.

Put a whole bunch of miles on a Cuda with this set up in the Lake Tahoe area.

It made Donner pass from the East look like a small mole hill.     Only 1 car got away from me in a chase.    My good ole buddy up the road threw the damn spikes out in front of me.      I was chasing a Cuda and since mine was an unmarked B/W, all he saw was the Cuda, and it was too late.    The guy got apprehended just short of the Nevada line.

[wdvalk]

see my avatar

[fordmano]

Please look to your left and see my Screen name!

Had to go with what I know, Gran Torino wouldn't be my first choice but it was from the list you provided.

I have seen more than a handful of the standard 429 that dynoed at over 425HP when they were pulled out of the family station wagon and gone better part of 100k miles.

I built up a 429cobra jet not the super cobra jet and it put out well over 750HP and it knocked on the door of 900Lbs of torque and that was measured at the wheel mad a nice mud bogger short bed F100.

Although the Goat and the Chevelle are appealing also.

[Devl]

Well...I'm not a guy, but I voted...Chevelle LS6!  I'm a "car chick" & proud of it!!  My baby is on my Avatar! 

[scoot]

I've always walked to the beat of a different drummer. I'll take any old AMX, Rebel Machine. If it has Rambler or AMC in it's name I like it. This is my current ride. (not much muscle)

[SANDMAN5]

I voted for the Challenger cause it's the closest
one to a Hemi Cuda! Also, I would have voted for
a Shelby Mustang if it had been there.

[Wetrudgeon]

We have always lusted after a Corvette, so we vote for that.  With the reliability issues of the Corvettes of the 70's-80's, and the 454 in particular, we would probably push/tow it further than we would be able to drive it, but what a rush when it runs.

We trudge on.

[POPS 57]

I had 72 vett. and the wife had an 84 hurst olds. Kids had to go to school and the cars had to go  I have a 57 chev. conv. now all restored. And a 72 mustang fastback in the pole shed needs a little work to bring it back. Also a 50 chev. pickup that is right out of the pasture and needs everything.

[Jim_Orr]

I've wanted a 70 Challenger ever since the movie Vanishing Point came out in 1971!!!!!!   

[G-Man]

Big fan of Pontiac.  Used to sell them back in '89 - '90.  IMHO, Pontiac took what Chevy was doing and made them nicer, sportier, edgier.  The interiors were a notch above Chevy as well.

[RTaz]

had the 68 Olds...and 72 AMX...those were the days...

[f6john]

      I was a Mopar guy back in the day so I had to say Challenger. I really lusted after those when they were new. I remember 383 challengers could be bought for around 3 grand and the 440 6 pak RT's for a shade under 4 grand but they were out of my grasp. I was driving a 64 Barracuda with 273 and pushbutton torqueflight. Still have the car today though not in the best of condition.

     My vote for the baddest musclecar left off the list is the 68-69 Dodge Charger. I was 16 in 1968 and my dad, who had never owned a new car up to that point, bought a 1969 Dodge Charger. I was in heaven. My definition of baddest concerning cars of this era means the best combination of style, sound, performance and handling. That Charger might not compare well to the cars of today in every respect but it was hard to beat back then.

[Jess from VA]

Had a 396 SS Chevelle, and a '69 350/350 vette.  The vette was cooler, but the chevelle more usable/functional (and cheaper to work on).

[KW]

@ Devl; Sorry young lady! I didn’t mean to leave out ‘Car Chicks!’ The “Guy” term is universal and meant for both genders!! (and I'm sticking to that!)   

@fordmano; Almost ALL of those Muscle cars from the era were purposely unrated by the car companies, eh?  I’ve read a book a few years ago about John DeLorean and how they basically lied to Pontiac in order to get the GTO into production. Also, I believe the LS6 would produce 500+ hp directly “out of the box”, though it was 'only' rated at 450. It was the most HP put in to a production car from that entire era. Someone correct me if I’m wrong.

@scoot; My oldest brother had a 69 Javelin 390. I LOVED that car! I forgot about it when I was writing this poll or I would have included it. My bad. I should have put a ‘Tang’ on the list too!

@ RTaz; OH man. .  were they ever! HAHA! I remember paying 24 cants a gallon during a price war once! I could have included about a dozen other great cars and still leave some off! Even the old ‘grandma’ cars got up and ran! My dad’s different Pontiacs from the early/mid 60’s all pinged their speedometers all the way over to the right! We’d get out on I-94 and race to Ann Arbor from Jackson!  RJ mentioned the A-Body Mopars w/the 440’s in them. . . We had a local city cop who RACED his Cruiser on the streets. He pulled up to my brother once when he was sitting at a red lights in his 67 ‘built’ Camaro and told him if he didn’t race ‘all out’ to the next street light, he was getting a ticket for his loud pipes! True story! HAHA! Back in the day. . . .

[JimC]

I picked the GTO because I had a 70 with a 400,
But I would not hesitate to take any of the bunch
Jim

[Tx Bohemian]

I've always walked to the beat of a different drummer. I'll take any old AMX, Rebel Machine. If it has Rambler or AMC in it's name I like it. This is my current ride. (not much muscle)

Wow!

Does that bring back memories.  Flashbacks of Pintos and Vegas too.

[Varmintmist]

not on the list,

69 Vette with the 427 dual quads. In hugger orange with a black rag top.

[T.P.]

WHAT THE HELL !  No BOSS 429 

[Redline +]

If you want a real muscle car list, you need more Mopars! 

In the early to mid seventies I raced Max Wedge and Hemi powered Belvedere's 

Redline 

[Westernbiker]

Mine was a 1976 Pontiac Trans Am with a high output 455 with a 4 speed. That car could FLY! I bought it for $3000.00 I see they go for $21,000.00 to $49,000.00 now, man I wish I still had that car. From a rolling 40 mph second gear stomp on the peddle and HANG ON!!!! I believe it had a 140 MPH speedo and I burried it. Ran a 454 vette on the freeway down in Florida, we were doing about 60 The vette took off and I pulled the 4 speed down into 2nd and stomped on it, the TA burned the tires for about 30 feet and then it launched and the vette never caught us. WHAT A RIDE!

[Master Blaster]

The one I sold for 2000 bux back when. Who knew.  1967 Corvette 427, 4 speed, no power accessorys, even power steering, Fire engine red roadster with white top and interior, and white racing stripe on the hood scoop. At anything above 140 the bias ply tires would start comming apart.  Had a integral dial on the speedo that you could set to beep when you reached the desired speed.  10 MPG max, but at 17 cents or so per gallon who cared.  I still have the title, new owner didnt need it.  At one time they were selling at 100,000+ bux, think around 80 thou now.  However I had a 97 roadster that was much refined and light years ahead in the suspension department.  Used to set the cruise on it at 150 with the top down, air and radio blasting. was a hoot, but still lust for the one I gave away.

[big d]

fordmano and t.p. i like your way of thinkin. let us not forget the ultimate muscle car to come out of the 60's. the fastest production car built, the A C COBRA. i remember an article from the mid 80's that was to test the most dominant muscle cars to date. three of them were modified big blocks and the fourth ended up being a small block 289 ac cobra. needless to say,  it was the small block that won all 4 parts of the competition.  

[Kaiser]

Not in your list, but here's mine.

1969 Camaro with a 2000HP twin turbo 572 cu. in. Nelson Racing big block.

[PhredValk]

I just couldn't pass on the Goat. Also missing are the Super Stock Dodge (Little old lady from Pasadena) and the AMC Machine (1970 Rebel upgrade, "According the benchmark book on comparative muscle car statistics "How Fast Were They?" no muscle car of that era in dealer/factory stock history ever beat those times. (Steve Schultz, GaS Publishing, 1996) As of 1996, neither the fastest Viper nor the fastest Corvette of that year could yet beat it").
Fred.

[olddog1946]

Not in your list, but here's mine.

1969 Camaro with a 2000HP twin turbo 572 cu. in. Nelson Racing big block.

A perfect example of a current rendition of a classic super car....I would have voted for the 69 Yenko Camaro, 427, 4 spd, posi with A/C and only $3711 (which included plane fare to pick it up)

[R J]

I've always walked to the beat of a different drummer. I'll take any old AMX, Rebel Machine. If it has Rambler or AMC in it's name I like it. This is my current ride. (not much muscle)

Had one of these little fellers.     Had a 350 Chevy with Powerglide in it that we raced in B' Gas class.

On the tail gate, we had painted 'Half Pint'    That sucker would launch and you didn't have any idea which way it was going to head, left or right.

My middle son was racing a 58 Chevy Impala, and I was racing the 1/2 pint.   For some reason or another he took the 1/2 pint to staging and into the water box, when the tree went green he launched it and took out part of the guard rail.    That was the death of the 1/2 pint.     Engine ended up in the 58 Impala.

[Super Santa]

A favorite not yet mentioned is the 1987 Buick Grand National GNX. 

Production: Grand Nationals: 20,193
GNX: 547
Engines: Grand National: 3.8L V6 Turbo 245 bhp @ 4400 rpm, 355 ft-lb @ 2000 rpm.
GNX: 3.8L V6 Turbo 276 bhp @ 4400 rpm, 360 ft-lb @ 3000 rpm.
Performance: Grand National: 1/4 mile in 14.23 seconds @ 98 mph.
GNX: 0-60 in 5.5 seconds, 1/4 mile in 13.43 seconds @ 103 mph.

[2003 valk]

Hi Guys. Fairly new here just been ready for a while but could not resist this topic> 70 SS 454 for me. 500 hp out door a prev post is still probably a light numer. Would have been torn if 426 Hemi Superbird was on here also. Always been a GM guy but always looked at those Superbirds or Daytona Chargers when I was a kid.

John

[Challenger]

Had a 70 440 RT, sold it when I got married in 76. couldn't stand it and got this one in 83. 70 RT 383 rag Top

[f6john]

    While we're on the subject of cars I got an interesting call today from Todd O'Neill a product engineer for Holley Performance Products in Bowling Green Kentucky. He had seen my Impala SS on the Impala forum that I frequent and since I was pretty close to Bowling Green (70 miles) he wanted to know if I would be willing to loan them my car for a week or so to use in prototyping some new parts. Since Impala SS cars are kind of like Valkyries, made them for 3 years and now support for parts is dwindling, but has a strong following still today, I said OK! They get my car for a week and I get $250.00 in free stuff from Holley.

     I hope to make a few good contacts with them because I have a 67 Chevelle in the garage I'm wanting to perform a LS-3 engine conversion. Holley is getting big into all that stuff. They are having an all LS engine car fest at Beech Bend Dragway again this year. If you are a chevy guy and can make it you won't be disappointed.

[Jabba]

I want one of the NEW 6.4 liter Challengers.

GIVE me one now... and I'll NEVER sell it.
 

490 HP.  Traction control.  Nice new stuff like AC, and modern brakes.

Yeah BABY!

Jabba

[shortleg]

   Here is my old Potiac 62 Cat. Got it for 2000 bucks in 1969.
Only kept it about a year and a half. Big 421 with trips and four speed
          Shortleg[Dave]

[Jess from VA]

My first car.  Almost 60 HP.  Fun to drive. Really challenging at the drive in.   

[KW]

My wife's mom always wanted a Karmann Ghia . . .  She's 'went home' now, but I think my bride has the same car on her 'wish' list, but it falls behind the 68 Mustang she REALLY wants! Anyway, that's a cool little car you had there! 

[KW]

I wanted to ask everyone; did your hometown have an ‘area’ or particular street that you met on the weekend and dragged? We had a street named ‘Micourt’ (not sure about the spelling) in Jackson, Michigan. It was a HUGE factory complex with multiple buildings outside of town. The main ‘drag’ was big, wide and smooth for semi trucks. And it was LONG! We had both a ¼ and a ½ marked off. . .  There wasn’t a residential house within 5 miles and the local police departments only did a cursory drive-by once in a blue moon. As long as no one got too stupid or wrecked, we were left alone. I can’t imagine that happening today. I was just wondering where ‘you’re’ drag strip was?

BTW - My apologies to the Mopar gang for not including more of them. I always really like the 69 Road runner a lot! IMO – it was one of the coolest cars of the era. Where I grew up, muscle cars were everywhere, but honestly, I don’t think there was a single Hemi around. I was talking to my oldest brother a while ago about all his different cars. His 67 Camaro NEVER lost a street race. Car guys in our home town of my age or slightly older STILL remember his car. He commonly beat all of the ‘big name’ cars, but mentioned he never raced anything with a Hemi in it because there weren’t any around.  . .  They were just plain rare where we lived. That's why I didn't include one I guess.

[2003 valk]

67 Camaro I got the summer before my senior year in high school (in the picture to the left). Still got it but it did not look like that when I bought it It currently is running a 1970 454 with 13 to 1 compression on a mix of cam2 race fuel on the street and a auto gear 4 speed with 4:10s out back. Parents never liked the car but I could never sell it. Hoping it stays that way.

[Jess from VA]

Cruising Woodward Avenue in Detroit was a big deal for decades, starting after WWII. 

My older cousin took me out in his brand new Vette when I was 16, and later that evening, I had the opportunity to stand with my hands on the roof with my legs spread and get frisked for weapons  (actually that was the only time I ever got to experience that).  We both agreed my mom and dad never needed to hear about this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodward_Dream_Cruise
http://michpics.wordpress.com/2007/08/14/
http://www.amazon.com/Woodward-Avenue-Cruising-Legendary-Cartech/dp/193249491X
 

Us downriver Detroit folks cruised Telegraph Road.