Kind of fun to look back at the supercars of our youth (for those of us who have been around awhile) and see how far the Mustang and cars in general have come.

Lamborghini Countach (LP500S, 1982-1985): 375 HP, 302 torque at 4500 RPM 0-60 in 5.6 seconds

Lamborghini Countach (5000QV, 1985-1988): 455 HP (420 HP in US version), 369 torque, 0-60 in 4.9 seconds

Source: http://www.autozine.org/countach/countach_6.htm

Ferrari Testarossa (1984-1991): 390 HP, 361 torque, 0-62 in 5.8 seconds; US price was $181,000 in 1989, including a $2,700 "gas-guzzler" tax.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrari_Testarossa

 

Yup! They don't make them like they used to.

 

Ahem...

For some of us our youth is a little further back...

 

And THOSE were exotic.

Get the HP numbers and prices of domestic "performance" cars from back then!

My '82 'vette has 200 HP and cost $23k. GM didn't even make the 'vette in '83 because of double-digit interest rates.

This is a GOOD time to be a car guy (or gal...). :-)

 

'87 Buick GNX. 0-60 4.7 and 1/4 mile 13.4

'89 Firefox GTA was equipped with a 5.7L engine rate at 328 BHP @ 4500 RPM and put 400 FT/LB of torque to the ground at 3500 RPM. The car also featured a 4.10 : 1 rear axle ratio and a ZF six-speed-manual transmission (not to be seen until the fourth generation Firebirds in regular production); there was also a Brembo racing-derived brake system installed to insure that all stops were well taken care of. The Firefox rated as follows:

0 - 60 mph: 5.2 seconds
1/4 Mile, Elapsed Time: 13.38 seconds @ 103.5 mph
Lateral Acceleration: 1.0 + g
Braking: 60 - 0: 131 feet (no ABS system)

 

^ and that's from a 3.8 v6 w/ a 4spd auto... one of the best cars ever!

 

Here's an interesting web page listing results from magazine tests:

http://www.cobranet.com/roadtest.htm

My current restoration project is a 1970 Mach 1, 428CJ, 4-speed. My car has a 3.50:1 rear gear. The closest thing on that page would be the 69 CJ Mustangs which were probably Drag Pack cars with 3.91 or 4.30 gears and they ran mid to high 13s.

 

Shouldn't this be in General vehicle disc. .

 

Look how far the Mustang has come in the fuel injected era.

1987-1992 5.0 HO - 225HP
1993 5.0 HO - 205HP
1993 5.0 Cobra - 235HP
1994-1995 5.0 HO - 215HP
1994-1995 5.0 Cobra - 240HP
1995 5.8 Cobra R - 300HP
1996-1997 4.6 2v - 215HP
1998 4.6 2v - 225HP
1996-1998 4.6 4v Cobra - 305HP
1999-2004 4.6 2v - 260HP
1999-2001 4.6 4v Cobra - 320HP
2000 5.4 4v Cobra R - 385HP
2001 4.6 2v Bullitt - 265HP
2003-2004 4.6 4v Mach 1 - 305HP
2003-2004 4.6 4v Cobra - 390HP
2005-2009 4.6 3v - 300HP
2007-2009 5.4 4v GT500 - 500HP
2008-2010 4.6 3v GT/Bullitt - 315HP
2010 5.4 4v GT500 - 540HP
2011 5.0 4v - 412HP
2011 5.4 4v GT500 - 550HP

 

Countach's and Testarossa's were piles of crap back then and still are. A lightly modified 5.0 would smoke one in the 1/4. Not on the top end of course.

 

86 5.0 had 200HP bro. E6 heads and ****tier intake.

 

Your right it should be 1987.

 

Moving to 'General Vehicle Discussion,' but will leave a link for a few days . . .

 

This is a great topic to be talking about.

The good thing about today is that a lot of the great names have returned such as the Camaro and Challenger. Though cars keep getting faster and faster, my only complaint is that many of these cars lack character. For example, look at the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. It's a good looking car that makes great power, but its design doesn't make it stand out from the massive amounts of 2 door sports cars.

I didn't grow up in the holy days of American Muscle, but the cars back in that era had so much presence. It was almost as if each had its own story. Nowadays, with the horsepower wars back on, manufacturers just make the fastest thing they can in order to sell. I for one would rather purchase a car that has history, presence, character, and that says something about me.

That is why I am a Mustang and American Muscle Car fanatic! Because at the end of the day, though the next guy may be faster than me, I just feel like my car has a story of its own to tell. And that to me is priceless!

 

So please tell us, what was like driving a Model T?

 

I wasn't around back then (I was born in '84), but I read somewhere that the reason why '83 Corvette was never offered to public is because Chevy was working on a brand new model which wasn't ready for 1983. They built like 50 or so prototypes and I think only 1 survived.

 

Right. The gap during the "cross-fire injection" years. My friend has an 84 and likes to keep it because it was the first yr back in production after the skip even though its finnicky to tune.
Wasn't because of high loan rates. (ahhh those wonderful 16% long term CD's!)

 

Nice link! There was another one that had them in order of fastest times but the site's been down for a few months now. Anybody know of another site like this? http://www.autofacts.ca/classics/fast.htm


And look at that dang Road Runner!
I remember when I was 13 my neighbor got back from Viet Nam and bought one. He'd come roaring up the street and my Dad would get pizzed and cuss him. LOL But he gave me a ride and WOW! Just throw you back in the seat a get a strong 2nd & 3rd gear scratch. That was waaay cool!

1969 Plymouth Roadrunner Hemi 426 425@5000 490@4000 13.32@107.7mph Rodder & Super Stk 5/69

The Road Runner's & GTO's were tough to beat back then. (I don't even want to look at those 12s Camaro numbers.) 1969 was the year! Plenty of muscle and cheap gas!

Interesting how Ford & Dodge pulled 11's in '64 (with just carbs & cams) and then the times crept up... as the cars got bigger and heavier. Even Iacocca comments in his autobiography how they made a mistake as the Mustang grew larger into early 70's.

 

Best thing about those 80's "American muscle" cars is forgetting them or laughing about them. Thank god for technological innovation and the march of time.

 

Now look how far we come (maybe in the wrong direction) in terms of vehicle weight. Most Ferrari's and exotics are over 4000lbs these days. Remember when a mustang was around 3000lbs or less?