C1 Handling
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,945
Likes: 79
From: central FL, near the beach.
one reason i kept my 61 (got it in 75)
is great handling.
.
if your c1 doesn't handle good, fix it! it might just be alignment. i would hate my 61 w/stock alignment!
.
other complaints i've heard about c1's
1. hard steering, mainly in parking lots.
2. stiff ride
3. slow cornering speeds
when people complain of poor handling, these are often what they mean. All can be improved over stock, as i have on my 61.
.
as for comparing it to exotic cars, you rich guys sure know how to torture yourself
is great handling.
.
if your c1 doesn't handle good, fix it! it might just be alignment. i would hate my 61 w/stock alignment!
.
other complaints i've heard about c1's
1. hard steering, mainly in parking lots.
2. stiff ride
3. slow cornering speeds
when people complain of poor handling, these are often what they mean. All can be improved over stock, as i have on my 61.
.
as for comparing it to exotic cars, you rich guys sure know how to torture yourself
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,345
Likes: 866
From: Norcal CA
2018 C1 of Year Finalist
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,548
Likes: 36
From: Location, Location QC,NY
Paul, why don't you weigh the 65 GT against an equally equipped 65 Corvette, that would be fair, or weigh your 62 Corvette against a 62 equally equipped Falcon.....oh sorry! That doesn't exist.... Let's keep it close to the same years for this to be fair.....
rustylugnuts
rustylugnuts
A sorted '65 Vette however should run circles around my Mustang, full disks and IRS on the Vette... at double the price they were never direct competitors. The '65 GT 350 variant of the Mustang sure gave 'um a run for their money on the tracks though!
I should qualify that...I had two '66 Mustangs I called the beauty and the beast....1st and 2nd pics. The convertible was a tame 2bbl 225 HP, automatic, pussycat with all power....normal driving between this car and the vette (again normal speeds) are both pretty tame experiences...the 17" steering wheel and rear sway bar on the '61 vette add to its stability and ease of steering. (No rear sway bar on regular Mustangs). I think the vette has better weight distribution as well. I may be older than you by a few years...unmodified Mustangs were terribly 'skittish' cars (including 'bump steer' symptoms)....moreover if driven hard without the Shelby underhood bracing the shock towers were prone to collapse inward....they did not hold up well at all to spirited driving.
The fastback (the beast!) on the other hand was an all manual, 4 speed brute with a 'street boss' engine (souped up 289 with 351 heads). There were too many mods to the suspension to list here...beyond what Shelby did with them even. My C1 can't compare to this car which I specifically set up to drive 'on the edge'.... I could flip the fastback into a 4-wheel drift and go round corners steering with just the accelerator. Not sure if I could do it with the bone stock '61 vette but I'm sure it would be a life-changing experience...
The above comments would be a more accurate comparison... And you're a lucky man to have both a vintage vette AND Mustang....I had to sell one to get the other...
The fastback (the beast!) on the other hand was an all manual, 4 speed brute with a 'street boss' engine (souped up 289 with 351 heads). There were too many mods to the suspension to list here...beyond what Shelby did with them even. My C1 can't compare to this car which I specifically set up to drive 'on the edge'.... I could flip the fastback into a 4-wheel drift and go round corners steering with just the accelerator. Not sure if I could do it with the bone stock '61 vette but I'm sure it would be a life-changing experience...
The above comments would be a more accurate comparison... And you're a lucky man to have both a vintage vette AND Mustang....I had to sell one to get the other...
Paul
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,945
Likes: 79
From: central FL, near the beach.
As far as comparing c1 to c2 c3, Herb Adams said it best when he complained the c2 & c3 were Twitchy Uncontrolable Monsters, when pushed to the limit. I had to add Heim joints/stronger struts to the rear of my 72 to get it to handle safely. So even stock c1 against c2-3, the c1 has superior handling. But most folks rightly say the c2-3 ride better, steer easier, and corner faster. But that is not good handling, as the pros define it.
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i am honored to be on franks ignore list.
and he says i am the FIRST! a double honor!
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i am honored to be on franks ignore list.
and he says i am the FIRST! a double honor!
Last edited by Matt Gruber; Dec 1, 2009 at 02:26 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,654
Likes: 2,341
From: Lake Minnetonka, Mn
2018 C1 of Year Finalist
Yup, exactly my point. Even though there is only a three model year difference between the cars, there was twenty years or more in the suspension design.
A sorted '65 Vette however should run circles around my Mustang, full disks and IRS on the Vette... at double the price they were never direct competitors. The '65 GT 350 variant of the Mustang sure gave 'um a run for their money on the tracks though!
Very nice looking rides Frank, sounds like you had a lot of fun with them, especially the fastback.
Paul
A sorted '65 Vette however should run circles around my Mustang, full disks and IRS on the Vette... at double the price they were never direct competitors. The '65 GT 350 variant of the Mustang sure gave 'um a run for their money on the tracks though!
Very nice looking rides Frank, sounds like you had a lot of fun with them, especially the fastback.
Paul
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,141
Army
The fastback Mustang I ran had the full Shelby suspension: Lowered front A-arms, Monte Carlo & export bars, driveshaft safety loop, rear sway bar and heavier than stock front bar, poly bushings, reverse eye rear leaf springs, quick steer Pitman & idler arms, KYB shocks (Koni's are outrageously priced!), Shelby front end alignment..and on and on. The fella that bought it said it would outdrive his Mazda Miata - no sweat...
I have to stop ... I'm getting p!ssed because I sold it..
I have to stop ... I'm getting p!ssed because I sold it..
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,610
Likes: 11
From: Tampa, FL & Harleysville, PA
rustylugnuts
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,945
Likes: 79
From: central FL, near the beach.
I can only speak from my personal experience. I've had a 61, 64, 76, 72.
As purchased my 61 had far superior handling.
The newer ones rode better on smooth roads, and could corner faster possibly, but, when pushed to the limit, they would spin out. So i agree with Herb Adams and in 1990 bought his Heim joints/struts for my 72 and cured the problem. The 61 never had the spin out problem, which is why i rate it far superior. And that is a reason why i kept the 61 and sold the 76(in 1982, i had no idea how to fix the horrible handling, ie spinouts, back then).
So Jim,(and others)
U feel my experience is unusual? All the c1 handle poorly except my 61? Or all C2 & c3 handle better, except for me and Herb Adams?
As purchased my 61 had far superior handling.
The newer ones rode better on smooth roads, and could corner faster possibly, but, when pushed to the limit, they would spin out. So i agree with Herb Adams and in 1990 bought his Heim joints/struts for my 72 and cured the problem. The 61 never had the spin out problem, which is why i rate it far superior. And that is a reason why i kept the 61 and sold the 76(in 1982, i had no idea how to fix the horrible handling, ie spinouts, back then).
So Jim,(and others)
U feel my experience is unusual? All the c1 handle poorly except my 61? Or all C2 & c3 handle better, except for me and Herb Adams?
Last edited by Matt Gruber; Dec 2, 2009 at 05:48 AM.
