Any gearheads with a muscle car/fast car? When my last daily driver wore out 2 years ago, I decided to purchase a vehicle that would actually hold it's value rather than depreciate. It took about 3 months to find one that had low miles and had not been butchered by some kid. It did not cost as much as some might think, got a great deal on it from a private party. No way was I buying another front wheel drive car, been there done that. I have come to despise working on front wheel drive vehicles, which limited my options of vehicles. I definitely did not need another 4x4 or pickup, got those covered. Some of you might be asking, what about fuel economy. Believe it or not but a 4 cylinder Ford Ranger of the same era only gets about 5-7 MPG better fuel mileage. If I keep my boot out of it, I'm getting 18-20 MPG. A few pictures of my daily driver muscle car. '94 Mustang Cobra with fuel injected 5.0L (302 c.i.) factory roller motor. It had a few modifications to the engine and suspension, most of which had already been installed by the previous owner.
I had a 65 coupe that I got in 66 with 289 in it ,kept it a long time .The son remembered it so often that he now has a 68 that he restored form the ground up. Been a very long time since I turned a wrench. Wouldn't mind having that 289 again though !!
Not exactly a gearhead but I've never been without a muscle car since I was 16. Within 3 months of getting a divorce, I had done 3 things: 1. Week 1 - replaced the retreads on my beloved 71 Duster for studded radials, added a cherry bomb muffler, and had the interior re-upholstered 2. Week 4 - got contact lenses 3. Month 3 - bought my '78 TransAm - still have it and love it like the day it I first roared out of the dealer with it - 6.6 liter, 400 hp, 4 speed, leather interior, and Blaupunkt sound system that plays Meatloaf like the roof will be blown off. Unfortunately, at around 8mpg Hi-Test (she prefers gulping leaded Amoco, if you please) can't afford to drive it too far from the garage. Has never spent a night outside. Here's my other baby - 1959 MGA, all original
I should have said I did 4 things - the very first was to stop asking permission~ and I never have since
Here is my Muscle Vehicle, hang'en out in it's Winter Garage.... My muscles are just smaller than others.... that's all......
Righthand did ya have to post that. 15 years ago I had a Smokey and the Bandit Trans am T-tops and all. It had a 400 Olds engine, it was slow on take off but I never took it to top speed but I know it will go over 120mph easily and safely. I miss that car I sold it to purchase the property I now live on. Growing up my dad had a Triumph Spitfire, we used to take it through the canyon roads in Ventura Co. Calfornia, nothing could beat it on tight roads not even corvetts. I have a 1990 Cadillac which I bought new and it has a 5.7L or the old style Chevy 350 with a 4 "barrell" throttle body that is stock. It is fast low end and never tried to top it out on high end as Im gettin old. I guess it could safely run 120+. It will run with any modern crownvic police interceptor. They make a supercharger that is not a hard install but I never worried about adding more power.
RightHand those are sweeeeet. I can not keep from drooling over both of your vehicles. I have a love for almost anything with horsepower, especially GM muscle. I have no doubt you can feel that 400 HP Trans AM pull hard when push the skinny pedal to the floor. The MGA is a nice classy English car for a classy lady. I bet you look good in it on a nice hot summer day. Thanks for sharing
I used to have a 75 mile commute to work and one summer morning, I was going in late, driving south down a deserted RT 15 when in my rear view, I caught sight of a red corvette coming up fast. We get side by side and I look over and see a woman driving. She smiled and waved, I smiled and waved, and we both buried the gas pedals. We flew down the old road at over 100 until I had to get off at my exit. I honked the horn, we waved again, both of us laughing like kids, and each went our own way at more adult speeds. That was one of the moments I like to remember - it never fails to bring a smile to my face
RH, you can have the MGA. I want my 56 AH LeMans back. Add 5 psi to the tires for sustained over 90 mph. Well, ---
Love the MG but, like every English car I have ever owned (there have been a couple MGA's) they require a lot of maintenance and seem to leak fluids from every connection. I've been able to do most of the maintenance myself but when it's had to go out for repairs - i.e. new gas tank - it eats up the dollars like a kid with a bowl of ice cream
I owned a Triumph TR 250 and you are being kind with your "they require a lot of maintenance and seem to leak fluids from every connection" comment. It was a fun but very high maintenance vehicle and in 1970 parts were not available without a long drive.
I so want to make a comment on this statement Those TBI GM 350's are a pretty decent motors, I had almost 200K on my pickup before I sent it to the graveyard. When Tracy and I started dating we both had Chevy pickups, I had a LWB 3/4 ton and she had a SWB 1/2 ton. Sold my '89 K5 Blazer a couple years ago that had the same engine but it was starting to knock in the bottom end.
The TBI 350 catches an undeserved bad rap. Sure they aren't a powerhouse but the Vortec's can't even compare with the low end grunt of a TBI 350. Having one paired to a 5 speed makes quick work of trailering when pulling off from a stop. Not to mention they stand up to neglect far better than the engines that have followed. Now if only the 10 bolt rear wasn't such a turd.
Once upon a time... 66 Mustang..289 57 Ford Fairlane 500...312 bored .040 86 300 ZX 81 Corvette..350 Now i just AARP around in a Jeep and F-150..both 4X4...
72 Chevelle Hevy chevy clone,Stroker 350 now 383 with Hyd roller cam .535in intake .545in ex. 9.8 /1 hyper pistons,6.0in rods. Hughes T350 with a 3200 stall hughes converter Edelbrock EFI and 373 rear, The wiring and interior are next.The engine dynos at 460/460. I have been working on this thing for 10 years.