19th Dec 2012, 16:23
High gas prices destroyed the muscle car?
Wrong again, there was no way to maintain the performance of a muscle car with all the CAFE standards and emission laws getting tighter and tighter.
If gas mileage was the reason, then why were there tons of full-sized cars with enormous V8's still being produced for a very long time after 1972; the year the muscle car died.
19th Dec 2012, 22:13
It's not just about mileage. While modern cars are built pretty damn well, they probably won't be on the road in 33 years (much less 57). They weren't built for super-longevity. Plus, most people who can afford new cars usually just replace their still-strong running cars that are only a few years old with a brand new vehicle every 3-4 years anyways.
Coming from Connecticut, we have quite a few of these '70s behemoths and late-'60s muscle cars on the road. Despite the fact that we're big into the salt in the winters, the cars look incredible and are always rust free. Nobody talks about the so-called pollution from these vehicles as there are no state/private inspections on older vehicles (hell, the DMV doesn't even have to see the car to register it) around here. If you don't own a classic and have money, you drive a gas guzzling Mercedes/BMW/Bentley/SUV. Despite the huge numbers of inefficient vehicles, our air quality is fine and we have no environmental problems at all.
You're right about the people who take off the emissions equipment on the older cars. They're sacrificing whatever fuel efficiency they could have hoped to have had in favor of a slight boost in HP/torque figures. I mean, I don't care about the environment or anything, but from an economic standpoint, it's dumb. Thankfully, these big late-'70s Lincolns are relatively clean if well-maintained and not driven by a lead foot, or a ricer who thinks he's cool by ripping out all the original equipment and replacing it with those horrible, loud, crappy exhausts.
19th Dec 2012, 13:24
It's hard to read your comments at times. I am one of the ones that owned 60s and 70s muscle cars and classics in the 60's, 70s and beyond. Maybe you were not born yet to know what the period was. In those days, the least concern ever was about gas prices. Gas prices were not the issue; it was intense pressure from the insurance companies. Hit us square in the pocket and it was a killer for many. Also, we had a very unique situation that hit in 73-74 getting gas, and had odd and even days to buy fuel. It was the gas shortage, not the gas. People started trading in. I remember paying 36 cents a gallon, typically more than 32 cents, as I ran Super Shell or Sunoco 260, and added cans of 104 octane boost at times. You could fill at the airport as well for higher octane.
I live in a state with pretty strict emissions; maybe not as strict as California. I see many new cars fail, and yes they can stink with mods.
Your 1955, you say you love it, but never shared what it is that you love about it? You seem to inadvertently down it with discussions of crashes, no air bags, seat belts and odors. So what is it and why do you like it?
There are great new cars that address all of your concerns like the Mustangs, Challengers, or build a 55 with a new drivetrain, and add electronic ignition, fuel injection, disc brakes etc.
Most that own vintage or classics drive less than 2500 miles a year. How much emissions are you concerned with? Many of us have classic insurance and the exposure to danger is extremely limited vs your daily driver. And if you are so concerned about emissions, look at the tractor trailers and many large diesels exempt due to weight. Even today, owners of classics are not dwelling so hard on gas; it's the joy of taking them out. Many do not check the MPG at all. If you are so hung up on it, change the rear end ratio and put in a Tremec transmissions.
If your old car smells, maybe it hasn't been tuned up well, or had the oil changed regularly and is sludged. Then you will be smelling fumes.