There's something about the rumble and the feel of an American V8, whether small-block or big-block, that's for sure. It's what I grew up on, being from Detroit, and it wasn't anything to cruise Telegraph Road on a Saturday night in your ride, just waiting for someone to challenge you, light-to-light. ;-)

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"Politics is just show business for ugly people."

That's funny, because I bought a junkyard 2012 Coyote engine out of one of those so that I can plop it down into the 1968 Ford Mustang fastback that's my next restomod project. I'm buying the cleaned-up full body from a place out in Arizona that specializes in that thing (that's so I can have the actual VIN and not go through the certification and registration process in Michigan for one of those Dynacorn bodies). Then it's all about restoring/modifying it, including cutting out the shock towers, going with a Mustang II IFS in front and modern rear suspension, the Coyote engine and a more modern interior, so that the spousal unit will drive it LOL!.

It's going to need beefing up in the subframe area (subframe connectors, etc.), because those Mustangs simply weren't designed to deal with that kind of horsepower and torque, at least initially. But it's still not a technically difficult mod to pull off, not with Ford Racing and all the parts they sell especially for this application (wiring harness, etc.). The trickiest part will be fitment of the engine, the electrical system and fuel system, and fitting the proper transmission set-up (you can't go with the contemporary transmission without a lot of cutting and welding to the tunnel and so forth.

That's the resto/mod project I'm keeping into my golden years. I was considering doing a Bullitt build, but that's been done to death, if you ask me. ;-)

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"Politics is just show business for ugly people."

That there would be my dream. Wow.

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It doesn't really matter what Phil is saying, the music of his voice is the appropriate soundtrack for a bicycle race. HTupolev

Hah, my first full on restoration was a 69 390 AMX.
you know you can drop a 390 crank and rods in the 343 to build an stroker.

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Jim
"In dog beers, I've only had one"
http://www.shakercolonial.com/
Creating custom made furnishing to your requirements

Grant.Reuter wrote:

Yeah... but then you're still driving a focus.

Tell that to Ken Block. Bet he gets laid whenever he wants.

Meh... he didn't get it done in one take...

...definitely meamt to be pink...

The tech available today is stunning. For a year (until it was rear-ended) I had a Volvo with a 2.0L engine with a turbo and a supercharger. It pushed 300 HP, and could get 36 MPG on the highway. Killer stereo.

The new Camaro is built on the same platform as the Cadillac ATS, which has fantastic handling. Reports on the new Mustang are that the handling is killer as well. That's the first Mustang since the fox body that looks good to me. I'll pick one or the other up used (gently I hope!) in another 2-3 years.

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If I don't, who will? -Me
It's like being bipolar in opinion is a requirement around here. -TripleThreat

"There's something about the rumble and the feel of an American V8, whether small-block or big-block, that's for sure."


In total agreement, but IMHO the best use of an American V8 was always implanted into a lighter more nimble British or European car. Then you had the best of two worlds. I've owned a couple of examples - 1966 Sunbeam Tiger and currently have a hotted up 1980 Triumph TR8. Ford Pantera's were also a great example with Italian style and and American V8. Always dreamed about owning an AC Cobra, but that will never happen. The original 60's American muscle cars always had the engine and went like stink in a straight line, but handled like trucks and had crappy brakes. Not the same with the new generation. My brother's 2012 Boss Mustang could compete in the handling department with any of the Euro high performance sedans and cost less. The new Corvette is an amazing car, albeit still a bit on the heavy side.

I, and my car, disagree that it's over-rated.

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I talk to myself because mine are the only answers I'll accept - George Carlin

Hahahaha! This was the 1994 Ford Probe GT that I bought new in December 1993 (Mossy Ford, San Diego, CA). In Wild Orchid: ;-)

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"Politics is just show business for ugly people."

My first car was a 974 Vega



I kinda hoped that it would grow up to be a Camaro

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

I liked those Vegas. Well-conceived, though poorly executed, cars, especially for the time in which they were born. And the Cosworth Vega fetches decent money used, to this day.

My first car was a '68 Olds Ninety-Eight with the biggest V8 they put in those cars back then. My dad -- who was an electrician at a GM plant at the time -- gave an assembly line worker $150 for it and then charged me $10 a week until he got his money back. That was good money in 1976. It ran really well, didn't have any rust and everything in it worked (it had all the toys, as they said back then). Plus, it could get up and go, too. I recall several instances when my buddies and I would get off work on a Friday, in the summer, and head up I-94 to Metro Beach, north of Detroit, doing more than 100 mph in it. On those old bias-ply tires and with no one wearing a seat belt. God looks out for drunks and fools, sir. ;-)

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"Politics is just show business for ugly people."

This time in car history is hard for me. I am not an American Iron buy by a long shot but I have a special deep burning hatred for the Corvette. UGH!!! However the new is so good and it makes me bristle to confess that storied waste of time has finally grown into what it was always meant to be. I don't want one but damn is that car good.

I thought of this thread yesterday. Driving home I saw this rig or a similar year in absolute mint condition. It looked like it just rolled off the showroom floor. It must have been rebuilt because it looked flawless. Fortunately I wasn't driving so as we passed it my face was pressed up to the window like a little kid starring.

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"I think I've cracked the code. double letters are cheaters except for perfect squares (a, d, i, p and y). So Leddy isn't a cheater... "

Agreed, there are more very good cars now than ever. Minivans today perform almost as well as muscle cars of the 60's... certainly small sedans or hatchbacks can be had that run circles around everything from that era. They are safer, more efficient, faster, brake better, last longer, almost everything is an improvement.

But they have gotten more computer controlled, less visceral and less analog. And all cars today have gotten huge (and fat).
2015 Mustang vs 1965 Mustang




Imports aren't immune either. Look at a modern 911 vs the one from the 60's:




It's cool to see that car manufacturers have figured out how to produce efficient AND high hp cars and that CAFE standards haven't brought us to all driving what ever the plural of Prius is.

Except for this Prius. I'd love to drive it.

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Suffer Well.

That's a great post. Couldn't agree more with your observations. :-)

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"Politics is just show business for ugly people."

That's a BEAUTIFUL ride! A mid-60s convertible was pure Americana and a perfect symbol of the car culture that held such powerful sway over millions of people back in the day. :-)

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"Politics is just show business for ugly people."