Is it the late 60's / early 70's all over again??

1 Clean WS6 · 04-13-05, 05:03

Those that forget the past are doomed to repeat it....

Words of wisdom indeed...and as I read through my latest issue of Car and Driver I had to think to myself...is history repeating itself??

We all remember the "glory days" of speed in America...the late 60's and early 70's when high octane gas was cheap and the cars were fast. 400+ horsepower Mustangs, Corvette's and Camaro's were commonplace...and life was good. Then came the OPEC crisis..the gas crunch and the end of an era.

Well 30+ years later the streets will soon be filled with 500 horsepower Corvettes, 450 horsepower Mustangs, 400 horsepower GTO's and now we also have a 500 horsepower BMW and a bunch of 300 horsepower Japanese imports too!!

With the national average of regular gasoline hovering around the $2+ per gallon mark. I can only wonder if the new gas crunch is imminent and the end of the new horsepower era is in sight. Will my children talk of the days when you could walk into a dealership and buy a 300 horsepower Mustang GT as they charge the batteries on their 75hp electric car???

I miss paying a $1.30 for 93 octane....it seems like it was only yesterday.

Soarer V · 04-13-05, 05:14

Funny, we (friends) were just talking about this same subject.

I like the idea of these new cars lighting the tires up at 70 mph.

Wonder where things would have gone with the 1970 SS 454 chevelle, big blocks, hemi motors, etc., had not the emission/gas changes happen.

MongooseGA · 04-13-05, 07:01

It's about damn time the horsepower wars came back around. I wasn't around the first time

Spilchy · 04-13-05, 07:13

Quote:

Originally posted by 1 Clean WS6
I miss paying a $1.30 for 93 octane....it seems like it was only yesterday.

I miss paying .83 cents for regular in South Jersey in 1999!

That's the cheapest I've ever paid (at a named brand place).

Now, it's $2.09 by me.

Mr. Clean · 04-13-05, 07:30

Quote:

Originally posted by Spilchy
I miss paying .83 cents for regular ....

83 cents??? That's highway robbery! I remember the gas wars of the late 60s early 70s. Prices were often under 25 cents per gallon (I believe I have paid as little as 19 cents per). They pumped the gas, washed your windows, checked your fluids (topped them off if low) and tire pressure. Then they thanked you and asked for you to "come on back now ya' hear"

They gave away promotional items and some gave trading stamps. They were called Service stations for a reason.

Corey Bit Spank · 04-13-05, 07:39

lol my mom drove a '66 mustang back then....

she tells me her plain old family sedan is more fun to drive, gets better gas mileage, and won't blow up. Oh how the times change things...

klnyc · 04-13-05, 07:47

damn, here in nyc, i pay 2.45 a gallon(93 oct). Thats still cheap right? How much is 16oz of Nyquil $5.00

Scottwax · 04-13-05, 07:52

I don't know if gas prices will affect the horsepower race. Adjusted for inflation, gas is still not at record levels. In addition a lot of what killed the muscle car era was the upcoming EPA requirements. Lower compression, unleaded gas, EGR valves, lean burn carbs and pellet filled catalytic converters all killed power.

These days, with computer controlled engine management, 4 valves per cylinder, better combustion chamber and manifold design, fuel injection, etc and you can have power and decent mileage. In addition, some of the newer hybrids actually make more power than the gas version and not only have better acceleration but much better mileage. The V6 Accord hybrid hits 60 mph in 6.8 seconds, runs a low 15 @ 93 mph quarter mile and gets 29 mpg city and 37 mpg highway!

drock · 04-13-05, 09:07

i just paid 2.68 for 87 at shell today and its suppose to be the cheaper shells

Soarer V · 04-13-05, 09:40

Quote:

you can have power and decent mileage.

You're right, 2001 Z06 had 18mpg city and 28mpg hwy.

thinksnow · 04-14-05, 11:42

The newest issue of Car and Driver has another throwback article in which they tested the Audi 5000, Saab 900 Turbo, Toyota Cressida, among others. The Toyota was the HP leader with 143. No car had lower than 29 EPA Hwy mpg.

It was good to see some cars that compared with my 120hp vintage Accord. Well, 120 without 150K plus miles, at least

MongooseGA · 04-14-05, 01:11

I got in an argument today with a retarded senior in my CAD class. The kid's a major VW fan (not what makes him an idiot) and he insisted that the VW Beetle Turbo would walk a C6 Z06. He then proceeded to tell me he's driven the new Z06, his uncle has one.

The he compared specs on the computer, and reluctantly admitted defeat to me.

It's good to know that there are finally cars out there (especially ones from the U S of A) that have the ability to shut up whiney shi*t talkers.

Long live high octane.