Time Machine - 1970 edition

"BadMotorScooter" (badmotorscooter) 09/25/2014 at 20:16 • Filed to: None

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The year is 1970 and you're in America. The Vietnam war rages, Nixon is in the White House, and gas is cheap. Emissions regulations and oil embargoes are things you don't know about. You are looking for a new ride, and get to choose one new car of that model year. What do you choose? The bad news is that the car is stolen after 10 years and you have no insurance, so profit making is not possible. This is a car you get to drive and experience, not resell.

I'd choose the 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda convertible, in a crazy color, like Plum Crazy. It is perhaps the epitome of early 70s muscle combined with overall Mopar craziness of the era. Not as extreme as the Charger Daytona or exotic Miura, but perhaps cooler and a better overall experience plus I could take my friends for a ride with the top down.

What would you choose?

Sweet Trav > BadMotorScooter 09/25/2014 at 20:13

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I'd find a '69 Camaro Z/28 for its road race credentials and high revving 302DZ. (they were still selling 69's in early 70 because the next gen had production delays)

My citroen won't start > BadMotorScooter 09/25/2014 at 20:17

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1970's Fiat Dino.

BadMotorScooter > Sweet Trav 09/25/2014 at 20:20

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Why not a ZL1 though? Didn't those sit on the lots for a while?

Sweet Trav > BadMotorScooter 09/25/2014 at 20:22

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Im pretty sure the ZL1 was special order only. The 302DZ revved all the way to 8k. it may not have been faster in a straight line, but it was faster around a corner.

SVTyler > BadMotorScooter 09/25/2014 at 20:23

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Granted, it probably wouldn't stay in one piece for those ten years but still worth the attempt.

BadMotorScooter > SVTyler 09/25/2014 at 20:25

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Beautiful, but would you choose this if it were your primary daily driver? That's not a clause in the time machine scenario, but would that change your mind?

BadMotorScooter > My citroen won't start 09/25/2014 at 20:26

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Hard to argue against that...

desertdog5051 > BadMotorScooter 09/25/2014 at 20:26

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'70 Z-28 Camaro. 350/375hp split bumper. Ecstasy.

Jedidiah > BadMotorScooter 09/25/2014 at 20:26

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Gas was cheap, but you only had three years until the crisis. Insurance was a bitch and there were tons of strikes in the auto plants.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > BadMotorScooter 09/25/2014 at 20:26

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One 1970 Z28 please.

Or maybe...

1970 Ferrari Daytona

T5Killer > BadMotorScooter 09/25/2014 at 20:29

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1970 BOSS 429

Or A M551 Sheridan since I served recently If I was alive during Vietnam I probably would have served too.

Steve in Manhattan > BadMotorScooter 09/25/2014 at 20:30

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BarraCUda!

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > BadMotorScooter 09/25/2014 at 20:31

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454 with a 4 on the floor, Jacked up in the rear and ready to do a standing quarter in 13 seconds.

mmm.....

BadMotorScooter > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 09/25/2014 at 20:32

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You could stroll into your local Chevy dealer and order a Corvette Zr2 convertible, which I'd prefer to the Z/28. Daytona... meh

BadMotorScooter > desertdog5051 09/25/2014 at 20:33

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Hemi Challenger or Cuda though?

BadMotorScooter > Jedidiah 09/25/2014 at 20:35

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Yeah but even knowing what you do now, and assuming you worked for a living, I'd go with some crazy 70s muscle. Olds 442 is not a bad choice!

SVTyler > BadMotorScooter 09/25/2014 at 20:36

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Hmmm, that's a good question. I'm a gambling man, why not? Surely I'd have an old Triumph Bonneville I could ride to work when the British engineering inevitably goes full Leyland, right?

If the stipulations require one vehicle only I'd probably get a 396-equipped Nova SS. For some reason I just love these little things.

BadMotorScooter > T5Killer 09/25/2014 at 20:37

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First, thank you for your service. And second, Boss 429 - excellent choice!

BadMotorScooter > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power 09/25/2014 at 20:38

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Make it a convertible... tasty

fhrblig > BadMotorScooter 09/25/2014 at 20:41

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1970 AMX.

Jedidiah > BadMotorScooter 09/25/2014 at 20:42

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This is not just your dad's 442. This is a W30.

Cammed. Aluminum differential housing and intake manifolds and of course the massive functional hood scoops in addition to the 442 equipment that included better sway bars, stiffer shocks and springs.

BadMotorScooter > fhrblig 09/25/2014 at 20:43

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That would be a fun car. Definitely different but very cool.

desertdog5051 > BadMotorScooter 09/25/2014 at 20:45

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Would have to go with the 'Cuda. Just because of the headlights. Otherwise, they were quite similar.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > BadMotorScooter 09/25/2014 at 20:48

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I gotta pick a couple:

BadMotorScooter > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 09/25/2014 at 20:53

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I like the Espada, but if I'm in 1970 and buying a Lamborghini, it's going to be Miura.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > BadMotorScooter 09/25/2014 at 20:59

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Exactly.

1. I like to be a little different.

2. I personally prefer the Espada.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > BadMotorScooter 09/25/2014 at 21:07

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nah. I like my rocketships roofed

crowmolly > Jedidiah 09/25/2014 at 21:12

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Note the red fenderwells

crowmolly > BadMotorScooter 09/25/2014 at 21:16

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I believe that's a Plum Crazy '71 Cuda.

I would go with a 1970 Baldwin Motion Phase III GT Vette.

Tuned LS-6 454, side pipes, 70's styling (which was appropriate then), 11 second quarters and a 150+ mph top speed back when people didn't care as much.

Tuned-Port-Injected-Rage > BadMotorScooter 09/25/2014 at 21:41

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So many choices. I'd have to go with a '70 T/A. Polar White and Ram Air IV 400. I can dream, right?

Jobjoris > BadMotorScooter 09/26/2014 at 04:38

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I'm surprised no one came up with the only reasonable answer?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > BadMotorScooter 09/26/2014 at 09:48

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The answer is always Montego.

Or at least a variant of it in this case. I'd pick a (if we're in 1970) 1 year old 69 Mercury Cyclone. I prefer the 68-69 body over the 70. And it's basically a big block fastback version of my real life 68 Montego.

MUSCLE MERCURY

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Sweet Trav 09/26/2014 at 09:50

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I didn't even pay attention to who made the above comment.

But when I saw the motor specifically called out as 302DZ, I knew it was you lol

Sweet Trav > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 09/26/2014 at 09:51

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8000 RPM! in a 60's small block! what is not to love!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Sweet Trav 09/26/2014 at 09:53

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hahahaha

It's just like if you saw a post saying "The only answer is Montego" you wouldn't need to check who wrote it.

And there is nothing not to love about that motor.

BadMotorScooter > Jobjoris 09/26/2014 at 11:06

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I considered that, but it's 1970 which means muscle rules. I can't imagine not strolling into a domestic dealership and ordering some huge V8 in an outrageous 70s color. 911 is awesome but I don't think 1970 was a standout year, was it?

Jobjoris > BadMotorScooter 09/26/2014 at 13:28

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This dear sir, is a 2.2 911S with 180bhp on 1000kgs. This was the 'widowmaker' way before the release of the 930. 1970 is the first year of the 2.2.

Dadu > SVTyler 09/28/2014 at 14:07

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Mrs. Peel, We're needed.

anon-sxmcyecofnu1eocpqsk9iq > BadMotorScooter 10/04/2014 at 19:06

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The painfully beautiful SL.

camaroboy68ss > Sweet Trav 01/10/2015 at 11:16

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The first batch of 50 all went to Fred Gibb Chevrolet. as soon as he saw the price of the ZL1 option he had to beg Chevy to take most of them back to redistribute because he couldn't move them all.

As for straight line performance, the 302 wouldn't beat the COPO cars, with a little timing and some long tube headers to get it breathing the 302 would blow past a L78 Camaro, you just had to rev the pee out of the 302 to get the horsepower since it was way up the power band.