What was the first American production car to have 400hp?

"JR1" (type35bugatti) 06/26/2014 at 09:57 • Filed to: Pop quiz time!

4

36

Here is your only hint. I'm sure someone on here knows!

Coty > JR1 06/26/2014 at 09:59

2

'58 Merc?

Nibby > Coty 06/26/2014 at 10:00

0

Not a Benz

Nibby > JR1 06/26/2014 at 10:00

1

Obviously it's a Ford Tempo.

ly2v8-Brian > JR1 06/26/2014 at 10:00

0

Dodge Polara? It was a Chrysler product.

dogisbadob > JR1 06/26/2014 at 10:01

5

Yeah but that's SAE gross and probably doesn't count because it's like 250 net hp.

The first American production car with 400 hp *net* is the Viper, I think. (Remember, the C4 ZR-1 didn't top 400 hp until midway through its production run)

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > JR1 06/26/2014 at 10:01

0

I wanna say the Chrysler 300.

Coty > Nibby 06/26/2014 at 10:02

3

dogisbadob > JR1 06/26/2014 at 10:02

1

this is awesome

Party-vi > JR1 06/26/2014 at 10:04

11

"Dese lights are dildos."

~ Skwisgaar Skwigelf

Nibby > Coty 06/26/2014 at 10:04

0

Oh, right. xD

Hermann > JR1 06/26/2014 at 10:04

7

itschrome > JR1 06/26/2014 at 10:05

1

late 50's mercury something or other

Nibby > JR1 06/26/2014 at 10:05

2

1958 MERCURY PARKLANE MARAUDER WHAT DO I WIN?

JR1 > Coty 06/26/2014 at 10:07

3

Wow you're good that was a quick response!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Hermann 06/26/2014 at 10:07

1

Well played.

JR1 > dogisbadob 06/26/2014 at 10:07

2

Technicality.

JR1 > Hermann 06/26/2014 at 10:09

1

I see what you did there and I like it. You sir just won the internet

JR1 > Nibby 06/26/2014 at 10:09

1

My respect!

JR1 > dogisbadob 06/26/2014 at 10:09

5

Cars don't have this kind of style anymore

PheeNoIVI > JR1 06/26/2014 at 10:11

0

That light looks like a life size version of a lite-brite thing.

Nibby > JR1 06/26/2014 at 10:13

0

YAY

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > dogisbadob 06/26/2014 at 10:14

1

looks like a toy laser.

Coty > JR1 06/26/2014 at 10:16

1

I knew the tail light, not the horsepower, haha. My '68 Chrysler with 383 only makes 290. :(

Imirrelephant > JR1 06/26/2014 at 10:16

3

I had to GIS this to find it. I had never heard of a Mercury Park Lane before. Here is a pic of the Super Marauder engine that made the mentioned 400 HP:

430ci and 3 x 2bbl carbs! I love that air cleaner!

JR1 > Imirrelephant 06/26/2014 at 10:26

1

That 430 MEL what a beast of an engine. Made a mountain of torque ! And it is the Super Marauder

TheCraigy > dogisbadob 06/26/2014 at 10:59

0

L88 vette!

Mike_Smith > JR1 06/26/2014 at 12:33

1

Pretty important technicality IMO.

JR1 > Mike_Smith 06/26/2014 at 12:56

0

Well it's grandfathered in so the big Merc does have 400hp

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Coty 06/26/2014 at 14:41

0

Those 383's can make potentially WELL over 400 though :D

Coty > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 06/26/2014 at 15:19

0

Oh for sure, mine's bone stock with a 2 barrel...for now.

PardonMyFlemish16 > JR1 07/16/2014 at 22:38

1

This was 400 gross HP, which meant they used the heat of combustion of gasoline x fuel flow w/no accounting for even thermodynamic losses. By these measures a Mazda 2 makes 400 HP

JR1 > PardonMyFlemish16 07/16/2014 at 23:02

2

I know but it was grandfathered in so I say it counts!

Farabomb > PardonMyFlemish16 01/18/2017 at 18:56

0

The thought of a Mazda 2 with 400 hp makes me tingly.

TwoFortified > JR1 01/18/2017 at 19:10

0

Of course they do.

You want light covers that bulbously bulge out of their housings? Look no further!

I really hate early 60's design.

JR1 > TwoFortified 01/18/2017 at 20:45

1

But this was late 50s!

TwoFortified > JR1 01/19/2017 at 14:38

1

I hate that too. I know that’s unpopular, and all opinions are valid - nobody’s gonna get flamed for liking them (at least, not by me), but I was never a fan of the whole Land Yacht styling of American cars which was predominant (if not exclusive) in that era. I’ve always loved cars for their function, and my preferred function is to be fast. Weight is the enemy of fast, and those things look like they weigh 4 tons. Coupled with slow, wheezy engines that would have been better suited in a truck, I just...I never saw the appeal. Mid-late 60's USDM cars were gorgeous, and we got to ride that pretty far into the 70's. USDM Cars in the 80's took a definite stylistic downturn (something that never really went away. They don’t design cars like they used to), but at least they were...comparably light and comparably powerful, and thus, comparably much faster. I wouldn’t call the Grand National a panty-dropper exactly, but aside from the design (which, to be fair, was period appropriate), the thing was awesome.

I dunno, I’m weird.