Old Cars V New

[cobrav8]

The closest I had to an old school "muscle car" was a 1965 Chev Impala with a 327 and powerglide. Pretty much stock, but it went pretty good, flogging most of the pollution controlled V8's of the era.

One thing that shocked me was the weight of new cars - They used to call them "yank tanks", but believe it or not, the BFII XR6T weighs about 50kg MORE than my Impala did!

I had a 65 Chev Caprice (the upmarket Impala) - 396 Big Block, and four door pillarless. That was a cool car. Agreed - I thought that was a tank- and it was, long, wide, but low and probably not much structure to them - just acres of metal. ALso - it had 4 wheel drum brakes - they were scary. It handled a lot better than I expected it to though.

That car was cool, fun to drive, but not the same in performance, handling or braking as the Falcon.

I have a Cobra replica now - piss all over the Falcon, even with lots of mods, as it is half the weight, and with a race 454 - very fast. But.... it is an animal, and no good in traffic, rain, going slow, fuel economy is hopeless.

Basically the Falcon is such a good car for being to go to work, tow, and have lots of power. Perfect for a road car. The Cobra is good just for fun.

[cobrav8]

Well being only 24, I Dont really remember any older beefy cars and especially don't remember being in them if I had. I'll have to wait my 25 years to say (Arh the good ol days of the 04 XR6T with 240kw.

I sit here wondering what am I going to compare it to if the standard kw has increased roughly by 150kw's since then.

Sadly - you will probably be sitting in a computer controlled electric or hyrogen powered device that acts like a train - where you get in and tell it where you want to go - and it takes you there at a safe controlled speed, does the driving for you.

[Dillz]

Back in the day that was alot of power, don't forget they didn't have all the luxuries we have today such as ABS, Airbags, 4 Wheels disc brakes, Driver and brake assist, traction control. I'll be damned if I'd do 150mph with drum brakes all round

[John K]

I had a 65 Chev Caprice (the upmarket Impala) - 396 Big Block, and four door pillarless. That was a cool car. Agreed - I thought that was a tank- and it was, long, wide, but low and probably not much structure to them - just acres of metal. ALso - it had 4 wheel drum brakes - they were scary. It handled a lot better than I expected it to though.

Back when I owned my Impala a guy called Peter Hopwood was racing a 64 Bel Air in Appendix J - he managed to get a full tilt 400ci sb in it and it went like a train - but he still had 4 x drums. Nasty, especially on small tracks like Amaroo - 2 laps and he was racing on zero brakes!

I remember pushing my Impala along the old Pacific Highway up to Gosford. The drums were diabolical - I'm sure you remember it - touching the brakes to settle the car into a corner and you had no idea which way it was going to pull. Keeping the drums properly adjusted was a necessity if you wanted to try cornering.

Moi - back in the old days!

I also has a Buick Riviera for a while with the legendary alloy cooling fins on the drums - it still stopped like sh@t. That car has a 401ci nailhead with bags of torque. Weighed 2,300kg. Once it was rolling, it was a unit!

I never got a ride in a beast like a Cobra - from what I heard they were frightening - like you say, perfect for a 1 hour weekend blast to clear your sinuses

Edited 10/06/08 12:14 AM by John K

[Rudiger]

I remember driving down to Geelong with my brother in his old VW beetle. Had an 1100 donk in it. Nearing the Avalon overpass the thing lunches itself. We had it towed to my cousins in Geelong. He work for FORD but he had this German mechanic mate who "Tinkered" with VeeDubs.

We left it there a week and came back to be told not to go over 60 k for a week and then give it stick.

On the way home all we could hear was this hissing noise coming from the back. We stopped and opened the "boot". 2 wopping big carbs sticking out like dogs b***s. Turns out this German "Mate" was a retired Porshe developement engineer that tinkered with VW like toys,. He chucked in a 1600 or 1800 (I dont remember) Combi van motor with 2 down draft carbs (dont know specs). The thing was as worked as they could be back then. God it flew...for a VW.

My point is that this thing went like the powers. It would have had little real power, but the points been made it had bugger all weight and NO comfort. Only an AM radio, the wipers didnt really work and I think it was even a 6 volt system.

Some goose in a Corona ran up our backside about 8 months later and totalled it. Shame.

[ferlauto87]

Well being only 24, I Dont really remember any older beefy cars and especially don't remember being in them if I had. I'll have to wait my 25 years to say (Arh the good ol days of the 04 XR6T with 240kw.

I sit here wondering what am I going to compare it to if the standard kw has increased roughly by 150kw's since then.

Mate im only 21, but I grew up with much older brothers who had old worked falcons and there mates had worked monoros etc, as for brakes and handling, I dont care, its part of the charm, I remember being about 12 or so, my brother took me for a ride in his XB falcon GS with a 700hp 460 big block, the noise, the power and the torque (lifts wheels with slicks), cant beat it, sorry :oohwoah:

[turbotom]

I love my turbo ute for the ease with which it performs...

effortless, reliable supercar power whilst also capable of carrying tools and hardware to job sites.

Always fires up on the first click of the key, and isn't bothered by hot weather. Can be driven sedately and return exceptional fuel economy on trips (10.2 l/100km) and yet put down 11's at the strip if desired. A truly exceptional and versatile daily driver.....

But on the weekends, this is what I hang out for.....

I love my ute, but it doesn't sound like this........

I've spent the last year getting it together with a new motor (383ci / 475hp) and trans (Tremec 5sp)

Hasn't quite got the power output of the ute (>300rwkw) but as the vette only weighs 1400kg the power to weight ratio is very similar

Old skool..... got to love it!

[turbotom]

hmmmmm..... video link didn't work for photobucket ????

And where's the EDIT button?

Gees, turn your back for a bit and everything on the forum has changed!

I love my ute, but it doesn't sound like this........

http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k112/68v...ent=383idle.flv

Old skool..... got to love it!

Edited 11/06/08 10:26 AM by turbotom

[cobrav8]

Back when I owned my Impala a guy called Peter Hopwood was racing a 64 Bel Air in Appendix J - he managed to get a full tilt 400ci sb in it and it went like a train - but he still had 4 x drums. Nasty, especially on small tracks like Amaroo - 2 laps and he was racing on zero brakes!

I remember pushing my Impala along the old Pacific Highway up to Gosford. The drums were diabolical - I'm sure you remember it - touching the brakes to settle the car into a corner and you had no idea which way it was going to pull. Keeping the drums properly adjusted was a necessity if you wanted to try cornering.

Moi - back in the old days!

I also has a Buick Riviera for a while with the legendary alloy cooling fins on the drums - it still stopped like sh@t. That car has a 401ci nailhead with bags of torque. Weighed 2,300kg. Once it was rolling, it was a unit!

I never got a ride in a beast like a Cobra - from what I heard they were frightening - like you say, perfect for a 1 hour weekend blast to clear your sinuses

cool mate - looks very similar to mine, I had a black vinyl roof - and twin bench seats.

I remember a 120 odd mile an hour squirt once - and noticed the traffic stopped ahead - my god I ended up with brown pants trying to stop - it slowed fine at first, then worse and worse. Stopped though (so did my heart I think).

I had to sell the beast to pay for a garage and a wedding.

[XR6Turbo22]

Perfect setup...