Back then, who had the quickest car in your crowd?

[theflash]

Re: Back then, who had the quickest car in your crowd?

In 1966 I bought a new 1966 Mustang 289 High performance fastback.
It was not fast enough for me.
I installed a supercharger and it would eat-up GTO’s.

In 1973 I build a 1969 Camaro 350 small block with twin turbo’s that put out 36 inch pounds of turbo boost. That was about 750HP
It was too fast for the street and I went SCCA road racing until they did not allow turbo charger cars to race.

Then I got into very fast motorcycles and never had a very fast car since.
How many cars can run 160MPH

[ThunderBubba]

Re: Back then, who had the quickest car in your crowd?

Back in the day my ride was a 71' Torino GT with a 351 in it. Not the fastest car on the street but plenty fast and sporty to snag the "Bubbette". The Torino is gone but the "Bubbette" is still hanging around.

[Dallasblackbird]

Re: Back then, who had the quickest car in your crowd?

My friends ruled the streets in our little town with a 60 Impala 348 with 3x2 carbs. Then they bought a 62 Impala 409 4x2 carbs and started racing it at the drag strip. The following year 2 other buddies bought 63 Ford 427 4x2 carb cars. The days of street racing was over. These cars were too hot for that.

I missed the Friday night races out on country roads, but these new beasts were too dangerous.

[Mark501]

Re: Back then, who had the quickest car in your crowd?

Rick, I spent many nights on the back country roads watching the muscle cars. It was so much fun. Fortunately I never saw anyone lose it but I saw some cars come off the line I thought could have. The races here had gained some local noteriety and one night they did slip a State Cop in undercover a 409 Chevy and busted a few guys. They lost their licenses for a year.
The Arkansas Highway Department set up just outside my hometown a sign that stated "Trash Barrell 1/4 mile." A few people would "Run the Barrells" as we called it but they were mainly used to time our parents cars. We always thought it was ironic the State furnished us Start/Finish markers.

[Dallasblackbird]

Re: Back then, who had the quickest car in your crowd?

I don't know what has changed. We ran lots of races at night on those two lane country roads and never had a wreck.

Now, here in Dallas someone regularly crashes a Mustang or Honda on 4 lane streets while racing.

Maybe we were just better drivers.

[jerrym3]

Re: Back then, who had the quickest car in your crowd?

We did some stupid stuff.

Although the avenue stores were closed, we used to do one/two block drag races on busy Bergenline Ave in West New York, NJ. A foot cop jumped out once when I was racing my 57 BelAir, but he let me go because the other guy took off, and I was wearing my Army reserve uniform.

Saw the remnants of a 60's Corvette that blew up during a drag race on one of the highways coming into NJ from the George Washingto Bridge.

From the nose to the back of the door, the car was pretty intact. From the back of the door to the rear was nothing but fiberglass shreds and chassis.

I look back and wonder how some of us made it.

[2FAST4U]

Re: Back then, who had the quickest car in your crowd?

When I was 20 y/o, I had a '69 Dodge Charget R/T (first picture) with a 440 Magnum engine, auto trans and 4.10 gears. A few years later, I had a '69 Chevelle Malibu with a 350-255hp engine and 2 speed "powerglide" transmission (second picture) set up for running in NHRA's "super stock" classes. Best time back then was a 11.45. Nowadays, I still drag race once in a while with a street legal '87 Buick Grand National. My best time to date is a 10.51 @ 129 mph...(third picture)...I have a new stroked motor in the car and I should do my first passes down the track with it very soon and I expect the car to run somewhere in the high to mid 9 seconds...
I guess there's no cure for drag racing!
Claude.

[Dallasblackbird]

Re: Back then, who had the quickest car in your crowd?

I still think my first ride in a Grand National was the biggest shock I've gotten from a car.
Granted, when you blast off in a 454 Chevelle you are expecting action. But, my first thought in the Buick was, "Its just a V6 turbo." Ho Hum.....followed by Holy Cow.

[2FAST4U]

Re: Back then, who had the quickest car in your crowd?

I still think my first ride in a Grand National was the biggest shock I've gotten from a car.
Granted, when you blast off in a 454 Chevelle you are expecting action. But, my first thought in the Buick was, "Its just a V6 turbo." Ho Hum.....followed by Holy Cow.

Yep!...After 23 years of owning mine, it still is one heck of a ride! You just can't imagine the feeling you get when you kill a big block Camaro or Chevelle with a V6 turbo Buick!
Claude.

[EllisonCal]

Re: Back then, who had the quickest car in your crowd?

I can't remember his name. Rich kid from Mount Vernon New York. He had a 1955
Chrysler 300 nobody could touch that tank. This was in 1955 brand new like I said rich
kid. Myself I had a 1951 Olds super 88 two door hardtop it was okay,blow away any
stock ford flathead.

Your '51 Olds made me think of a '49 Olds Club Coupe that was owned by a guy in Chicago ("Babe" Trent). It had a '59 Super 88 394 cu.in. single 4 barrel and 3 on the tree. It ran like hell through 1st gear but broke something everytime he tried to powershift into 2nd. Rusted out, worn out coil springs which made it rise up when it left the line. Scary but Cool!

[MerlotBlue]

Re: Back then, who had the quickest car in your crowd?

I still think my first ride in a Grand National was the biggest shock I've gotten from a car.
Granted, when you blast off in a 454 Chevelle you are expecting action. But, my first thought in the Buick was, "Its just a V6 turbo." Ho Hum.....followed by Holy Cow.

Yeah, the Grand National was about the only car from the factory that made an impression in the 1980s with it's very strong V6 that could easily be tuned up for more.

Virtually everything else out of Detroit was just a weak version of something that'd been done before.

It was a car I'd never have believed could be built before I actually saw it.

Stylish and comfortable enough to make a positive impression on the woman you dated on Saturday night and fast enough to make an impression on your buddies and competition at the race track on Sunday afternoon.

[FUN X 3]

Re: Back then, who had the quickest car in your crowd?

When I was 20 y/o, I had a '69 Dodge Charget R/T (first picture) with a 440 Magnum engine, auto trans and 4.10 gears. A few years later, I had a '69 Chevelle Malibu with a 350-255hp engine and 2 speed "powerglide" transmission (second picture) set up for running in NHRA's "super stock" classes. Best time back then was a 11.45. Nowadays, I still drag race once in a while with a street legal '87 Buick Grand National. My best time to date is a 10.51 @ 129 mph...(third picture)...I have a new stroked motor in the car and I should do my first passes down the track with it very soon and I expect the car to run somewhere in the high to mid 9 seconds...
I guess there's no cure for drag racing!
Claude.

Now I know where the "2 fast 4 u" comes from!
We went to the movies last night and saw a Charger just like yours in bright medium blue, it was all hopped up and loud. Looked and sounded good.

[2FAST4U]

Re: Back then, who had the quickest car in your crowd?

Now I know where the "2 fast 4 u" comes from!

You're exactly right!...You also have a good sense of observation!
Claude.

[jerrym3]

Re: Back then, who had the quickest car in your crowd?

Had a friend named "Deekie".

Deekie had a very quick 1954 Olds 98 hardtop, but the car was a bondo special.

Both side windows were broken, but Deekie had no money to replace them. So, to pass inspection, he kicked them out entirely.

Rumor is he passed inspection.

(Deekie died in a light plane crash.)

[keithwand]

Re: Back then, who had the quickest car in your crowd?

A friend had a 1969 Shelby GT 500 in high school. Blueprinted and bored.

He blew 2 engines shooting a rod through the hood on the 2nd one.

When he went away to college his dad traded it for a Pontiac Grand Prix and gave that to him.

We all thought it was a big mistake back then and now we know.