Things are VERY Different now...

[Instant Action]

I ran 12.80's with my '70 SS 396 (375 hp) Nova with slicks, headers, and a couple of other little tweaks. There were a number of modified cars in our area back then that were faster than that. I think the fastest car I ever ran on the street was a modified '69 L88 Camaro. It beat me by about 10 cars. I also had a friend who had a '70 SS 454 Chevelle that was wicked fast. I eventually sold my Nova to a high school buddy, who made all kinds of money street racing with it.

Ok, modified I get but the cars stock from the factories got nowhere near the 12’s. What’s nice today is we can get into the 11-12s stock with street tires and with the ac blasting!

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[DevilDog]

Ok, modified I get but the cars stock from the factories got nowhere near the 12’s. What’s nice today is we can get into the 11-12s stock with street tires and with the ac blasting!

I agree. Most of the stock muscle cars back then probably ran in the 14's or high 13's at best. Some were slower than that. A car that ran in the 13's back in the day was considered pretty fast.

 

[DeluxeStang]

Is that why Ford had 56 recalls last year? (most of all auto makers)

Good sir, back in the 60s, you had 5, 10 times as many defects as modern cars, and significantly shorter lifespans. Brands issue recalls today, most companies had an F U approach to business back in the 60s. You can't take that approach to business anymore.

 

[DeluxeStang]

The Shelby GT350 was rated at 306 gross hp, but in actuality its output in today's Net ratings would be something on the order of 250hp or less. Of course there is a big weight difference, on the order of around 400 lbs. between a 1966 GT350 and today's Ecoboost Mustang. So let's be generous and say the '66 GT350's 289 output is 260 NET HP (306 gross). Today's Ecoboost Mustang Ford says puts out 315 NET HP and weighs 3588, this according to Fords website. The weight of a '66 GT350 is reported to be 3158 lbs (C&D). So this gives the '66 Shelby GT350 a hp/weight ratio of 12.14. The 2024 Ecoboost would have a power to weight ratio of 11.4. Car & Driver tested a GT350H (although with a 3speed automatic) and got a 0-60 time of 6.6 seconds and a qtr mile time of 15.2 @ 93 mph out of the Shelby. All of us old guys know that C&D's acceleration numbers were about the best or better than you were ever going to see for any car they tested. C&D tested a 2024 Ecoboost and got a 0-60 time of 4.5 sec and a qtr mile in 13.2 @ 103 mph. a 2024 Ecoboost Mustang has a base price of $30,920. The '66 GT350 had a base price of $42,438 (dollar times.com/inflation) in today's dollars. So, just in my opinion (and take it for what you paid for it) outside of the nostalgia factor (again with rose colored glasses off) the 2024 Ecoboost gives you a lot more car, amenities and performance than the '66 GT350 for your 1966 dollars. I won't even go into it with a stock 2024 GT!
The old muscle cars are fun to look back on though in reality were pretty frightful to drive at speed, but we are living in performance car nirvana today and you couldn't pay me enough to have to drive one of those cars on a daily basis today.

Exactly, I'm so sick of this rose tinted glasses stuff. I could see some arguing older muscle cars having better designs, or being more thrilling to drive without all the modern safety features, I can't argue someone is wrong when it comes to their subjective opinion.

But man, old cars were just objectively not very good compared to modern cars. Modern cars are much faster, more reliable, obviously safer, significantly better handing. You can recognize that, I just wish other people could as well.

 

[Zig]

Exactly, I'm so sick of this rose tinted glasses stuff. I could see some arguing older muscle cars having better designs, or being more thrilling to drive without all the modern safety features, I can't argue someone is wrong when it comes to their subjective opinion.

But man, old cars were just objectively not very good compared to modern cars. Modern cars are much faster, more reliable, obviously safer, significantly better handing. You can recognize that, I just wish other people could as well.

Don’t lose sight of the relativity of the moment. Old cars compared to other old cars at the time. New cars compared to new cars in current time. Time travel is currently only possible in the mind and it has its inherent bias’

how did that old car compare to the ‘time’ it was in. How does the new [car] compare to the current. How much better is the improvement in consideration of the moment?

 

[jboogie1289]

Approximately 1,400 miles (finally got past that “Break-in period”) and can’t say that I’ve had one issue at all other than not being able to drive it enough!! I do shift work at a Chemical Plant and my commute is the Best. I get twisty bits and straightaways to let it eat some. Love it a lot!!

 

[young at heart]

Exactly, I'm so sick of this rose tinted glasses stuff. I could see some arguing older muscle cars having better designs, or being more thrilling to drive without all the modern safety features, I can't argue someone is wrong when it comes to their subjective opinion.

But man, old cars were just objectively not very good compared to modern cars. Modern cars are much faster, more reliable, obviously safer, significantly better handing. You can recognize that, I just wish other people could as well.

No need to argue, you’re exactly right. And although I was there and part of that old muscle car era, I’m glad you are right. For the time being anyway, today‘s cars are simply amazing!

But for lack of a better way of expressing it, ‘60s cars provided an experience so visceral that it can’t be quantified. You had to have been part of it to get it.

 

[DevilDog]

No need to argue, you’re exactly right. And although I was there and part of that old muscle car era, I’m glad you are right. For the time being anyway, today‘s cars are simply amazing!

But for lack of a better way of expressing it, ‘60s cars provided an experience so visceral that it can’t be quantified. You had to have been part of it to get it.

I couldn't agree more. Those were amazing times to those of us who were fortunate enough to live through them. I'm guessing in 50+ years some of the youngins on this forum will be saying the same thing about today's cars.

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