Posted on 10/29/2011 7:56:00 AM PDT by Drew68
I agree. Aesthetically speaking, there is little sign of passion or excitement in most modern cars unless you are buying a premium car.
That honey is still one of the most beautiful cars ever made.
Speak for yourself.
My olds 88 was as solid as could be. It handled like a sports car, I could do 180’s in it with ease. It did have positraction which made a noise as long as I had the car but it never tore up.
When we got married my wife had a brand new Olds Cutlass with a 350. When we drove across country to my first job and our first home, every time we gassed up the old 65 with a 425 took considerably less gas.
When I sold it with over 200,000 miles, it was still not using oil. It ran like a muscle car which with 370 HP, I guess it was. It was about as good a car as it was possible to have.
Need to mount that on a F150 4X4 chasis with a lift kit.
Of course I would have to agree.
You don't even have to go back that far. In 1992, my father bought me a wedding present, a 1992 RS Camaro, last year of the Gen 3 body style.
Soon, with kids coming, and gas going up, the ol' Camaro wasn't cutting it anymore. Dad (now grandpa) wouldn't hear of us selling it outside the family, so he bought it from us. Over the years grandpa kept promising he was going to give the car to my oldest son when he turned 16. Lo and behold, grandpa kept his word, and last year my son got a '92 Camaro in fairly decent shape.
Every once in a while, the boy lets me drive it. Each time, invariably, I start off thinking "what a pile of crap". It has the ergos of a coffin. The driver's door sags and is hard to close, along with poor window sealing. The brakes require a hearty stomp to work. The on-center feel is vague and wandery. And, to the amazement of the boy, there are no cup holders.
Also invariably, by the end of the drive, I have a big smile on my face.
That reminds me a bit of the classic Fastback.
Year One will sell you a VIN tagged 1st gen Camaro chassis. Cost of building one with their parts is about $60k.
Good grandpa. Generous AND thrifty.
No, cars weren’t better then. Easier to work on, easier to customize.
A stock Corvette today can blow the doors off pure race cars from the 60s, easily.
Heck a V6 Mustang today can probably blow the doors off a V8 Mustang from the 60s. And that is in a straight line. Put them both on a road course and it wouldn’t even be close (those old cars handle like caca).
I had one and loved it. And I raced another in the SCCA A Sedan series with a Boss 302, so I had great memories— BUT......
Not so long ago a car dealer friend took me over to a fully restored 65 and we got into it.
My first reaction when the door slammed was ‘what a nice sound of solid metal construction.’
My second reaction was, ‘no one would buy this out-moded piece of crap today because you virtually sat on the floor with legs extended, no interior comforts or padding, etc.
It was a wonderful car for its time—but that time has passed—and our memories are better than the reality.
I love those. Now that my current Jeep (I need the four-wheel drive) is paid off, I am considering getting something like that (maybe just a regular GT).
I think we are in a new golden age of muscle cars.
Would very much like to see Jeep make a flex-fuel line.
(every model)
I've said that for at least twenty years. I'll split the inspiration reward with you which I fairly calculate GM should pay us at least 500 million each. I'm sure you'll agree they'd be more than glad to pay us that much for a great idea. (smirk)
I’m very impressed with the build quality on my Jeep (a 06). Haven’t had a single problem with it. Flex-fuel would be great.
‘65 Mustang GT w/289, 275hp: 0-60 7.5 sec, 15-20 mpg
‘11 Mustang V6 base: 0-60 5.1 sec, 19-29 mpg
I'm left handed and it never occurred to me play a left-handed guitar. It just felt natural to me to play it righty. I can't even get my head around the concept of playing it lefty. Weird.
You're in good company. Other lefties who play right-handed include Duane Allman, Ritchie Blackmore, Mike Bloomfield, Rik Emmett, Robert Fripp, Noel Gallagher, Danny Gatton, Duff McKagan, Mike Starr, Janick Gers, Tom Araya, Dave Lombardo, B.B. King, Gary Moore, Steve Morse, Joe Perry, Chris Rea and Paul Simon.
Holy cow, that is an impressive list. Maybe I’m not a freak after all.
Now that would be a sleeper
Yes it is the Shelby GT500. It was my retirement gift to myself and I paid cash for it. My nephew is hoping that I am leaving it to him in my will.
“Better” is highly subjective. I don’t care one bit if the new ones can “blow the doors off” the old cars. The old cars looked great, and had soul and character. The new ones are butt-ugly, dead chunks of metal (and way too much plastic).
I’m never buying a new car again, I know that much. But buying a new body and putting together my own? Yeah I might do that. Has anyone taken up manufacturing of the ‘68 Dodge Charger body yet??
That looks like a turd compared to the original, but hey, whatever floats your boat. At least that body is a step back in the right direction compared to the horrid, abysmal 80’s.
In 1980, one of my HS buddies' mom traded in her very nice '69 Caprice Coupe for a Citation.
Whoops.
Congrats! As far as your nephew goes, tell him you are planning to out live the car. :)
If they build it completely, it will have to adhere to 2012 safety and emission standards. As is, it only has to meet basically nothing.
I like old cars as well. I just am not under the delusion that they are better vehicles in any objective standard.
Everything you mention is subjective, and many points I agree with. A lot of the hideous parts of modern cars are a result of working around safety standards. There is no way my dad’s 1958 Austin-Healey 100-6 (for example) would pass 1974 standards, never mind 2011. But styling-wise it blows the doors off every modern car except maybe a few exotics. Lots of soul and character.
When I was a tennager in the 70’s I actually sent a letter to GM suggessting that they bring back the 1957 Chevy !
I knew I was hanging on to my old 429 69 LTD for good reason. Now if I can just talk Momma into it.
One area in which the old ones will probably be superior is longevity especially when run on dirt roads, no roads etc.
The newer ones are full of electronics and that is part of why they develop so much horsepower in small block engines. They also will run a lot of miles as long as these miles are put on quickly.
This is just a guess but I bet if one lives out in the country as I do, drives on dirt or mud roads and keeps the vehicle a long time, they will not stand up to it. The electronics will eventually fail, the complex braking systems will fail etc.
Only time will tell.
Ummm, in this case it's good. Wish FORD would put out the whole car - lots of us don't do backyard tinkering...
Ford can’t do it, because the vehicle doesn’t comply with US govt requirements of EPA, NHTSA, etc.
There ARE a number of folks who will build it for you such as:
http://www.brandnewmusclecar.com/home.html
Man, I dunno. That suspension looks a little cheesy to me.
Mine! '608
They will run a lot of miles, PERIOD!
......Not a good sign .....
Actually the move is brilliant. There are tons of old men retired and near retirement that will relish the good ol’ days and a new Mustang
Not a good example of old beauty ...
My heart rate just went up a couple of ticks, but then I repond quickly to fast moving, graceful things of beauty (as in horses and mechanical mustangs).
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