Happy 4th Of July! Here's Some Very Interesting Muscle Car Facts!

"Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve) 07/04/2014 at 13:28 • Filed to: muscle cars

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Happy Fourth of July to everybody! I decided to post something in tune with the American pride everyone must be feeling on the other side of the border. Have some very intriguing Muscle Car Facts from the cars that started the breed, enjoy!

1. The 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona was always known for its wickedly massive rear spoiler. But was this absolutely large spoiler for abusively high downforce? No! In fact, the spoiler was so tall because it had to give space for the trunk lid to fully open and close without obstruction. This was a NASCAR regulation at the time.

2. The 1976 Pontiac Firebird was famous for its T-Tops roof arrangement, and the closest way to a topless Firebird. The first iterations of this design were done by a company called Hurst, called the Hurst Hatch though they had a leaking issue. This made Pontiac design and build T-Tops of their own and started putting them in the cars midway through 1978. So, in that year some FireBirds had the Hurst Hatch and some Pontiac's own, and they are recognisable by the Hursts being smaller than Pontiac made Tops.

3. The 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge featured in a commercial where a rock band called "Paul Revere and the Raiders" sang a song about the GTO in a lakebed. This was considered to be one of the first ever Rock Music Videos

4. What does the words "GTO" mean?

They mean "Gran Turismo Omologato" and yes it was named after the famous Ferrari 250 GTO. The words in Italian mean "Homologated for Grand Touring" which was the case of the GTO Ferraris.

5. The 1964 Pontiac GTO was compared with the Ferrari 250 GTO by Car and Driver in the 1964 issue. Pontiac realised that the GTO car was going to be compared with Italian exotics, so they cheated gave the GTO a bit of help and replaced the production 389 engine with a 421 cid "Ringer" GTO. The results were surprising, as the Car and Driver mentioned it had made an honorable battle against the prancing horse.

6. In 1969 AMC released a package for their cars called the "Big Bad AMX Pack". This rather optimistically sounding package was actually 3 color choices for the bumpers. Yes, only the bumpers. The colours were: Big Bad Green (Green), Big Bad Orange (Orange), or Big Bad Blue (Yes, Blue).

7. The name "Judge" for the Ponitac GTO was inspired by a skit from the "Laugh In" TV show. The man in charge watched and liked the show quite a bit.

8. Dodge called their line of muscle cars: "The Scatpack" in 1968. Plymouth called them the "Rapid Transit System"

9. Chryslers 426 HEMI engine was called the "Elephant" due to its gargantuan size.

10. 1973 was the last year that the Dodge Charger used Flip Out Headlights. Sadly.

11. How many 1973 4-Speed 340 Barracudas did Plymouth make? Only 1,718, which makes them today extremely valuable and a collectors item.

12. In 1968, Plymouth had a stripped out Road Runner muscle car that lacked some of the equipment of the normal version to improve performance. Dodge needed a competitor, or at least something to compare, so they introduced the SuperBee. The SuperBee sold well, but was always in the Plymouth's shadow. Today, we see the Charger and Challenger SRT's with less equipment than the normal SRT's, following tradition of their ancestors.

13. There were 2 1966 427 Shelby Cobras that Carol Shelby Tweaked and Modified uniquely to any other 427 Cobra. He installed Twin Paxton Superchargers. One was given to Comedian Bill Cosby, and the other one was kept by Caroll himself.

14. The 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 used Mercury Cougar Tail-lamps, whilst the 1968 model used tail lamps form the 1966 Ford Thunderbird.

15. There is no production 1983 Chevy Corvette, just concepts. Why? Chevy had to change the car due to tighter emissions regulations, and other sources say it was because of glitches the car had. Every prototype was destroyed but 1, and it is at the National Corvette Museum.

16. The Aluminium 427 V8 engine from the 1969 ZL-1 Chevy Camaro is a racing engine that was developed to be used in the Can Am racing series. This Camaro though has no ZL-1 emblems outside, so it looks like any other Camaro of the time.

17. When Buick finished production of the astounding GNX, Pontiac was there to give the Turbo V6;s a new home. The 1989 20th Anniversary Trans Am. Pontiac underrated the engine at just 250HP, but true GM enthusiasts know the potential of the engine in that Trans Am.

Hope you liked learning about cars that pretty much define America!

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vicente Esteve 07/04/2014 at 13:31

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WHY YOU NO INTO MUSTANG?? :(

You be messing with me. :P

youshiftem > Vicente Esteve 07/04/2014 at 13:35

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Did Pontiac Boo their own transmission? Thats amazing.

dogisbadob > Vicente Esteve 07/04/2014 at 13:44

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2a. The Camaro was never available with the Hurst T-tops, as they weren't available on the Z28 until 78. I guess they waited until the switch to Fisher to offer them on the Camaro.

Blondude > Vicente Esteve 07/04/2014 at 14:03

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I feel special for already knowing a couple of these.

Axial > Vicente Esteve 07/04/2014 at 14:38

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According to an interview in the Corvette 50th Anniversary book, the reason there is no 1983 Corvette is because there were some issues with development and, while it was technically doable for 1983, it was simply easier to reclassify the car as a MY1984 because it wouldn't have been worth it to release as MY1983 and then immediately have to start retooling for MY1984 regulations. MY1984 was an extra long model year for Corvette as a result, overlapping with the last leg of everybody else's MY1983.

Vicente Esteve > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/04/2014 at 14:45

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What? Haha, I love the Mustang, always have! 1st Choice of Mucscle car 100% (Inherited the Love from my dad!)

Vicente Esteve > youshiftem 07/04/2014 at 14:46

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Hahaha! Didn't notice that, its like someone from Jalopnik did the Ad!

Vicente Esteve > dogisbadob 07/04/2014 at 14:47

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Yeah, I would imagine a LOT of people got really angry with the Hurst Hatch leaking.

Vicente Esteve > Blondude 07/04/2014 at 14:47

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You are special for knowing these!

Vicente Esteve > Axial 07/04/2014 at 14:49

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Wow, thats pretty interesting. I dont know if this Corvette survived the sinkhole. If it didnt, then the 1983 Corvette was NEVER destined to exist.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vicente Esteve 07/04/2014 at 14:50

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I meant I was looking for a Mustang fun fact. :P

I inherited it from my dad too. It's the only 'Murican car we can agree on liking.(He wants a '69-70 Boss 302 or Mach 1)

Vicente Esteve > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/04/2014 at 14:59

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Check this out:

I was a SERIOUS Ford fan before Volkswagen came along. I also have a metal poster of the Ford GT and the F-150 Generations!

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vicente Esteve 07/04/2014 at 15:00

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Mmmmmm gimmie dat Mach 1 pls.

Vicente Esteve > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/04/2014 at 15:03

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Here you go

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vicente Esteve 07/04/2014 at 15:11

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Mmmmmm sound barrier destruction. :L

dogisbadob > Vicente Esteve 07/04/2014 at 16:03

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Oh yeah, leaky T-tops suck. And as a bonus, the Fishers are much bigger, like you said in the OP :)

Vicente Esteve > dogisbadob 07/04/2014 at 16:14

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Sunroofs for me are a MUST

uctfandre > Vicente Esteve 07/04/2014 at 16:34

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It survived. It was one of the first ones they hustled out of the museum when the hole opened.

monkeymouth > Vicente Esteve 07/04/2014 at 16:38

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How can you give the Ferrari definition of GTO without giving the tongue-in-cheek Pontiac definition - "Gas, Tires and Oil" (because it burned so much of each)

Vicente Esteve > uctfandre 07/04/2014 at 16:40

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Thats good to know

Vicente Esteve > monkeymouth 07/04/2014 at 16:41

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Haha, its a good one!

claramag, Mustaco Master > Vicente Esteve 07/04/2014 at 17:59

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God I hope this graphic style comes back in my lifetime

Vicente Esteve > claramag, Mustaco Master 07/04/2014 at 18:00

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I dont think it should. Only if Pontiac does a comeback, which I would love

claramag, Mustaco Master > Vicente Esteve 07/04/2014 at 18:07

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*sigh* someday buddy...someday

Vicente Esteve > claramag, Mustaco Master 07/04/2014 at 18:26

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It cant come any sooner!

PS9 > Vicente Esteve 07/04/2014 at 20:13

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#16 Unfair amount of highway passings with no warning.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Vicente Esteve 07/04/2014 at 22:37

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Great post man. Thanks for including AMC.

 > Vicente Esteve 07/04/2014 at 22:51

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Vicente Esteve > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 07/04/2014 at 22:52

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I knew youd like it! Thanks!

Vicente Esteve >  07/04/2014 at 22:52

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Ah yeah!

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Vicente Esteve 07/04/2014 at 23:36

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I am a huge muscle car guy. Too bad it is impossible to justifying buying one because of the horrid MPG.

Vicente Esteve > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 07/04/2014 at 23:41

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Mustangs can get 30MPG in V6. And I would be so happy to have one.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Vicente Esteve 07/04/2014 at 23:43

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I love the stangs I am not a Camaro guy (hated by Wisconsinites because of it) I also love the Challenger. I would love a ecoboost stang.

Vicente Esteve > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 07/04/2014 at 23:47

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I also hate the Camaro due to their following. But the Challenger and 'Stang, oh yeah

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Vicente Esteve 07/04/2014 at 23:51

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I almost bought a challenger once. I am now begging for a guy I know to sell me his Datsun. Stangs, I never really tried to buy one. I can never find the right one for me.

Vicente Esteve > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 07/04/2014 at 23:54

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Oh man, I hope you get the Datsun!

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Vicente Esteve 07/04/2014 at 23:58

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It will take some begging it has been in his family since new. BUT he never drives it and his son doesn't want it, says it is orange and rusty.

Vicente Esteve > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 07/05/2014 at 00:00

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Family owned cars are just the best!

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Vicente Esteve 07/05/2014 at 00:06

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I know. he owns so many old cars. (Mainly muscle cars) They are all in an old shed. And he doesn't beat on them. so they are all in good shape.

Vicente Esteve > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 07/05/2014 at 00:07

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GO FOR IT

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Vicente Esteve 07/05/2014 at 00:08

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I am trying. Every year a bunch of people go to the fair I am going to talk to him about it after he has 4 beers.

Vicente Esteve > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 07/05/2014 at 00:13

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Haha good plan

f86sabre > Vicente Esteve 07/05/2014 at 10:16

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Bill Cosby talking about his special Cobra. As always, pretty damn funny.

Hifrequency > monkeymouth 07/06/2014 at 01:43

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All of the above keeps drifters from racing endurance with the big boys, I can't even imagine their rubber bills :)

John Norris (AngryDrifter) > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 10:31

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Guess what I saw today? #6

Vicente Esteve > John Norris (AngryDrifter) 07/06/2014 at 10:43

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That's so cool!!

TheSmokingTire > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 13:27

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The ad for the Judge shits on the automatic option!

Vicente Esteve > TheSmokingTire 07/06/2014 at 13:30

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I know! If only auto makers did the same efforts to stray away people from Automatics today as they did in the 70s and 80s

dmcspeedy > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 13:32

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That's some nasty HDR.

TheSmokingTire > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 13:33

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The GTO ad copy as a whole is just incredible. That guy should get a Pulitzer for that.

Vicente Esteve > dmcspeedy 07/06/2014 at 13:34

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Yeah. But its the only photo I could find with new and old trio of muscle cars

GTS > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 13:34

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This is absolutely the greatest ad copy ever. Making fun of anyone who orders an automatic judge! HA!

GTS > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 13:34

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That's a '68 charger, not a '69.

cluelessk > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 13:35

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The Daytona wing was actually a fair bit more effective when shorter.

Vicente Esteve > TheSmokingTire 07/06/2014 at 13:35

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I should make a poster out of it. Orange frame of course.

Vicente Esteve > GTS 07/06/2014 at 13:36

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If only they made the same today

Vicente Esteve > GTS 07/06/2014 at 13:43

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How can you tell?

dmcspeedy > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 13:45

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Fair enough. I'm kind of an HDR Nazi :)

Vicente Esteve > cluelessk 07/06/2014 at 13:47

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Id guess so , but it would be much less interesting

Fenderaddict2 > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 13:51

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Good post, but where's my favourite Muscle car brand, Mercury?

CALUSA > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 13:53

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In fact, the spoiler was so tall because it had to give space for the trunk lid to fully open and close without obstruction

Huh, how is this not possible with a small spoiler?

tobythesandwich > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 13:53

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Because we all need more Pontiac G3s and G5s.

Let it stay dead. Let's remember the good times. You either die a brand with a well regarded history, or live long enough to be remembered for peddling 20 years of shit.

tobythesandwich > Axial 07/06/2014 at 13:56

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Exactly. It's a misconception it failed emissions standards. In fact, it was still skirting away from the gas guzzler tax imposed. And always has (sans the high performance ZR1s, Callaways, etc).

And it wasn't like it didn't come out for a full year over that. They just ran a slightly longer MY82 production than expected. That's all.

It also is why they got the foam pad on the passenger side of the dash. They were expecting a law to be passed in 1984 that required such a safety feature.

Doctor-G-and-the-wagen > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 14:07

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This woman looks kinda pissed.

Vicente Esteve > Fenderaddict2 07/06/2014 at 14:10

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In the taillights of the 67 Mustang!

Vicente Esteve > CALUSA 07/06/2014 at 14:12

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The trunk lid must have been extremely long, therefore it is taller when opened, hence the tall spoiler

Vicente Esteve > tobythesandwich 07/06/2014 at 14:15

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They were just staring to build proper cars, it should've gotten another chance.

Vicente Esteve > Doctor-G-and-the-wagen 07/06/2014 at 14:16

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Scatpack face

Timmy > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 14:17

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Cool facts about these cars. Though you should have looked for a pic of a '73 Barracuda though I also prefer the 71' you posted. ;)

Wild Weasel > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 14:21

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Before VW came along?? Hot damn! How old are you???

Serious Gord > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 14:24

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Knew most of these things already.

A couple of things in addition:

The car and driver comparison was largely fudged to make the Pontiac look good - they admitted as much in an article they published 25 years after the original. essentially it was a very good publicity stunt.

Bill Cosby actually incorporated his driving of the special cobra into his comedy routine - it's recorded on vinyl somewhere...

tobythesandwich > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 14:29

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A barely changed Holden isn't a proper car. They weren't just starting to build proper cars. Outside of the niche products like the Solstice and G8, there really was nothing that made Pontiac worth bothering with. The solstice is a roadster. So there's limited potential there. And the G8 was subpar. I know it's looked upon fondly here on Jalopnik. But it wasn't much better than the comparable Charger. And the current SS is miles ahead better than the G8.

I liked it. But it was hardly what Pontiac needed to try and stay alive.

nmalinoski > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 14:32

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You got some #9 in my #11.

ab124 > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 14:36

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WTF?! lol comes standard with possessed model?

Peter Lemongello > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 14:36

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Omologato Mr. Roboto!

GTS > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 14:43

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The 4 round taillights instead light bar of the 1969's.

ForCountry > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 07/06/2014 at 14:44

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Except the 21 MPG my 2005 Mustang GT gets. Just horrid, bolt ons, catback, lowered, nothing very serious. Just a few more mpg than factory. It's hard not to stand on it, I have no idea what my mpg is at full tilt, 0 probably

christiseveryscreenametaken > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 14:48

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Am I the only one that chuckles every time I read/hear the phrase "Scat Pack"? Like a six pack of poo.

neihousejose > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 14:55

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Which Mustang is that?

CALUSA > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 15:10

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Hmm allright

Mindy C. Dolan > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 15:16

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In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you > youshiftem 07/06/2014 at 15:23

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Was EVERYONE on acid, if so what a fun and groovy time MAN.

Axial > tobythesandwich 07/06/2014 at 15:26

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Yup yup.

An interesting note about the ZR-1 is that the reason the LT5 was developed was because GM wanted a high-performance car that was also good on gas. Put another way, they wanted a car that could be civil or naughty when appropriate. The LT5 puts out 130 more horses than the L98, and it does so while getting nigh identical fuel economy. That's pretty awesome.

It seems the more Z06 and ZR1 have all but dropped focus on that aspect of the car. They still make good fuel economy for their class, but nothing amazing.

tobythesandwich > Axial 07/06/2014 at 15:33

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I thought the LT5's got poorer fuel economy. It's been so long since I've driven one. Even then, it wasn't like I was going to try and milk the gas mileage out of it lol.

But a quick look at the C6... it's actually not that far off. The "base" is 16/26, Z06 is 15/24, and ZR1 is 14/20.

That's still pretty damned impressive I think. Only a slight decrease the further up you go in performance. And these are all in Manual transmissions of course.

Spoonar > f86sabre 07/06/2014 at 15:41

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Dual everything!

timlange3 > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 15:52

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Just before I got my license, we had two, TWO, 1969 Pontiac GTO Judges at the same time. One was orange, the other a forest green. Both had four speed Hurst manuals and 400 cid engines. Mom mainly drove when I was able to go along, she had a heavy foot and rarely was under 80 mph (speed limit 70 mph) on the interstates. I never understood why they were sold just as I got my permit! :-) We then got a 69 LeMans with a 350 and automatic, it was no slouch!

BahamaTodd > tobythesandwich 07/06/2014 at 15:55

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Pontiac was going to be GM's RWD performance brand. The G6 was going to be on Alpha, and the Holden Coupe 60 Monaro concept probably would have seen the light of day if also sold as the GTO.

Prophet of hoon > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 16:14

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Uh no, it was called the Elephant due to it's weight. It outweighed the competition by 150-200 lbs (depending on the competition). Add to that, it wasn't really the hemi-heads that made them so popular for drag racing, it was their immense weight - because that meant more internal strength, so when you quadrupled the hp of the stock motor, it didn't break apart into tiny, shiny pieces.

Prophet of hoon > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 16:15

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Most awesome car, ever - but it's not a muscle car for two reasons:

1) no back seat

2) not produced by an American manufacturer.

Prophet of hoon > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 16:15

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the cynic in me says they had to reduce the rattles enough so you can hear the stereo.

Prophet of hoon > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 07/06/2014 at 16:17

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... and your wife won't let you wear pants after she forced you into your minivan (it's hard to get out of a musclecar in a skirt)?

ToastedTires > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 07/06/2014 at 16:20

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my stage 3 roush made 625 hp (on cool days) and 24mpg (on hot days).Using the fun pedal could empty the 15.8 gallon tank in about 16 miles though...

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Prophet of hoon 07/06/2014 at 16:24

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I am single.

jacknifetoaswan > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 16:40

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My 2006 GT/manual gets 26 mpg on the highway, and I've seen 28 over certain stretches, depending on what tune I'm using.

SteveLehto > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 16:40

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#1 is an old wives' tale. I interviewed several of the aero engineers who worked on the Daytona/Superbird projects (including THE guy who conceived of the wing) and no one ever mentioned trunk clearance. At 180+ MPH, the cars did not have clean air at the deck lid surface. They put it higher to get it into clean air. That the trunk opened at that point just meant they did not have to mount the wing on the trunk itself.

jacknifetoaswan > ForCountry 07/06/2014 at 16:42

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That's it? My 2006 GT/manual gets 26, and I've touched 28, depending on which tune I'm using. My 93/performance tune gets me around 24 mpg highway, whereas my 87/mileage tune gets me 27-ish, but is not as much fun.

tobythesandwich > BahamaTodd 07/06/2014 at 16:44

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No. Not at all. Pontiac had hounded GM for the G3. They wanted the sales that the Aveo was getting.

Pontiac was not going to be GM's RWD performance brand. A poor selling RWD sedan and a roadster that lagged behind the Miata most definitely wasn't some kind of plan to move all of Pontiac to RWD performance. They were nice distractions. But Pontiac's entire ethos was to keep rehashing other GM products. Not that the G6 was a bad car, but there was completely NO move to make Pontiac all RWD.

Fuel_of_Satan > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 16:49

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Pictured: Hurst tops. In case anyone was wondering...

Also, Fire-Am w/Hurst top ~ Hen's teeth.

bottsdotts > Vicente Esteve 07/06/2014 at 17:08

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And also the one year only round marker lights.

lt5zr180 > tobythesandwich 07/06/2014 at 17:12

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The zr-1 didn't have the gas guzzler tax, I'd be happy to take a pic of my window sticker.