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Hig116:
the critical year in my opinion is the horse power change from 70 to 71 on all GM engines due to the lowered compression ratio. So I would look at 68 to 70.
The music died after 1969 in.my opinion. The 427 was Chevrolet's last and best attempt at dominance in the horsepower wars of the muscle car '60s. The 454 was a stroked, externally balanced attempt at trying to stay competitive in the smogged and insurance dominated years to follow. The Arab oil embargo and gas lines in '73 pretty much sealed the deal.
The motors GM is making now would totally destroy anything it made in 69. If horsepower is your thing these are the good old days.
No, I am not kidding. The new engines have more horsepower at high rpm, but when you start the engine you have to look at the tachometer to make sure it is even running. When I start my 427, it rattles my neighbors windows, women scream and babies cry. The car is hot, the exhaust smells, it only gets 9 mpg and the whole car shakes like it is going to fall apart. When I was in the Navy, I flew in P2 Neptunes, C118s and S2s with huge radial engines. My 427 vette reminds me of those experiences. I am not impressed by the new technology in automotive engines. If I wanted to accelerate really fast, I would probably strap a hydrogen peroxide rocket to my azz.
He DID say "of the muscle-car 60's". You give ANY group of design engineers 50 years to improve something-anything they damn well better improve it or you just paid a bunch of incompetents a lifetime of wages. Now, the big block is a different case. They stopped all high performance work on it in 72 and down-graded it to a truck engine. The peanut ports, the L29, even the 8.1 were all designed for effeciency below 4000 rpm. The ZZ502 is essentially a 71 LS-6 with a bigger bore. But is an over-the-counter engine for gear heads and boats. Not a big enough market to sink any real design work into.
No, I am not kidding. The new engines have more horsepower at high rpm, but when you start the engine you have to look at the tachometer to make sure it is even running. When I start my 427, it rattles my neighbors windows, women scream and babies cry. The car is hot, the exhaust smells, it only gets 9 mpg and the whole car shakes like it is going to fall apart. When I was in the Navy, I flew in P2 Neptunes, C118s and S2s with huge radial engines. My 427 vette reminds me of those experiences. I am not impressed by the new technology in automotive engines. If I wanted to accelerate really fast, I would probably strap a hydrogen peroxide rocket to my azz.
I think its a pretty small group of people who prefer that type of motor to the one's made nowadays. But to each his/her own.
No, I am not kidding. The new engines have more horsepower at high rpm, but when you start the engine you have to look at the tachometer to make sure it is even running. When I start my 427, it rattles my neighbors windows, women scream and babies cry. The car is hot, the exhaust smells, it only gets 9 mpg and the whole car shakes like it is going to fall apart. When I was in the Navy, I flew in P2 Neptunes, C118s and S2s with huge radial engines. My 427 vette reminds me of those experiences. I am not impressed by the new technology in automotive engines. If I wanted to accelerate really fast, I would probably strap a hydrogen peroxide rocket to my azz.
Not sucking up to the moderator but if they had to put only one Vette into a time capsule this would be the year and the color and being a convertible makes it perfect. If you had to explain all Corvettes in one picture here you go.
Elon Musk put the wrong car into orbit.
I know this is a very opinionated question, but I'm curious what would be considered the best year/option between '68 and 72'. Not looking at most valuable or rarest, instead looking for which would be the best for under $30K as an occasional driver car? I'm looking a purchasing soon and trying to decided. I really want a convertible, if there is one year that is better than another.
I don't know what a 427 C3 goes for, but I think in most cases its a lot less than the most powerful C7 available new.
I like to be nice to my neighbours so I bought the quietest mufflers I could get.
ProTeam has a '69 L89 coupe for sale at $249,000. My buddy just bought a gorgeous 2002 C5 convertible for $16,000. My neighbors play loud music on their outdoor speakers every weekend night, well after midnight. I could not care less if I rattle their windows.
ProTeam has a '69 L89 coupe for sale at $249,000. My buddy just bought a gorgeous 2002 C5 convertible for $16,000. My neighbors play loud music on their outdoor speakers every weekend night, well after midnight. I could not care less if I rattle their windows.
I said a new C7 goes for more than the typical 427 C3, never said anything about a used C5. What does a typical 427 C3 go for? I see a 427 C3 vert for sale for 35K in the for sale section - that's typical. A base no option C7 is 55K, one with the most powerful motor is a lot more. When you take into account that there are a fraction of 427 C3's for sale compared to the number of C7s for sale its pretty clear the market has spoken and a lot more people would rather have GM's current most powerful motor than an old 427
I'm sure not every one of your neighbours plays loud music after midnight and there's a lot of people in your neighbourhood that don't appreciate loud music after midnight or your loud car - two wrongs don't make a right.
Im 53 too young to recall the classic hp cars new but have to admit i relate to and am drawn to what faster rat is preaching,
Its not about going fast for me or the tall hp that todays cars have, like rat said, is it running, i dont hear anything,
Ive said it before if i had to keep it i wouldnt take a c7 for free,
Sure they are cool but they have zero "tingle" factor for me,
Now im desktop building the engine for my 69,
Budget build so old school parts, a 454, why not a 427,
Forget it real 427, blocks are sought after,
When you see one listed on cl be sure its not a 454 with a 396 crank, but a real 427,
Anyway, now i am gonna be sure when you are standing next to my 69 you will feel it,
If old hipo stuff doesnt give a person the warm fuzzies i have no idea how to explain it, its just a born in rev head thing....
If old hipo stuff doesnt give a person the warm fuzzies i have no idea how to explain it, its just a born in rev head thing....
.
I like a powerful motor, but noisy and rough running doesn't do anything for me. The thought of a whisper quiet, super smooth running motor that surprises people with its power is what makes me giggle - walk softly and carry a big stick. If I could afford to put a new high horsepower motor in my car that's what I'd do.
I guess for many of us that are a little more senior in our years (I am 64) it is more about nostalgia than performance. I realize today's cars can out perform a 427 Vette but for me there is nothing that sounds and feels better than a big block. There are electric cars that out perform a 427 but I wouldn't want one. To those of us that remember when the big block Vette was the king of the street it represents an era that was short lived but very special. I have several friends with C7 Corvettes which are very nice cars but just don't excite me. My club partcipated in a large parade with lots of C5, C6, and C7's. Rather than take my C5 I took my '71. It received an unbelievable response compared to the modern Vettes. The great thing is everyone can enjoy what they like and there is room for all.
Last edited by blue67ragtop; Feb 9, 2018 at 10:47 AM.
As with Mr. Blue67Ragtop, I am a rare bird at the Corvette Club and even though my car is "passable" (to put it politely), I end up front and center at any photo shoot that is arranged.
"Bob, can you move your car so Keith can get in the middle? His car needs to be in the middle."
Last edited by keithinspace; Feb 9, 2018 at 10:40 AM.
I guess for many of us that are a little more senior in our years (I am 64) it is more about nostalgia than performance......
I have several friends with C7 Corvettes which are very nice cars but just don't excite me.......
The great thing is everyone can enjoy what they like and there is room for all.
I had fun when I was much younger smoking tires and banging gears.... now I just want to cruise.
I had fun when I was much younger smoking tires and banging gears.... now I just want to cruise.
All i do now is cruse too, i need a 500 hp bb like an alley cat needs pajamas
I just like hearing that 500,
Im not trying to sneak up on anyone no need to walk softly,
Its just what i like, im an old school gear head. If a person likes his/her c7 or classic with modern engine, i respect that too i cant help that i find it boring, i wish i didnt it would make life easier...
