ronarndt

Today was perfect top down convert weather in northern VA. Unfortunately my 68 bb convert has the dash apart to replace my ammeter and wiring. So............ I took the car cover off my other completely impractical car- 93 RX-7 with many mods- and went for a drive. I have not driven it for over a year and forgot how easy it is to go much faster than intended. 420 rwhp in a 2700 lb car with a 4.10 rear axle. There is none of the noise, vibration and sheer terror of my 68 bb at full throttle. Sort of like the difference between Joe Frazier and Mohammed Ali. They both get the job done but one uses brute force and the other uses finesse.

revitup

One of them anyone can jump in and drive. The other one takes practice. I like having a car that takes practice to drive well.

resdoggie

I know the feeling. At 70 mph in the C3 it feels like 110. In my wife's CTS-V at 110, it feels like 30 mph.

The Hot Rod Grille

Anyone can drive a Prius, but it takes guts, nerve and skill to pilot a big-block C3.

cagotzmann

I think the big thing about C3's vs modern cars is the tolerance to which parts are made. The fit of modern parts interior / suspension parts are much tighter. This translate to much lower noise / vibration levels. It's this your brain translates as safe vs unsafe.

Can you get a C3 to drive like a modern car ?. Yes , but now you are down the restomod route. Can you make it as quite as a modern car ? that's is very difficult step without a complete interior upgrade / custom re-design.

DB Cooper

Since it's rainy today, I left the 78 in the garage and drove my first gen CTS-V to work this morning, and was just thinking the same thing.

scrappy76

Well kind of hard to compare the cars I own, they are all old.
When I drive my 76 corvette with the big block and side pipes, I feel like you have to do what it tells you to do. When I drive my 94 corvette that is stock except for exhaust and tires, I can tell it what to do.

I want to share my yesterday trip in the 76. I went to pick up my 12 year old son from school, some parent and other kids thought the corvette was awesome. When I pick up my son in the 94 corvette, nothing is really said.

OldCarBum

While we were out driving our 73 big block over last weekend, I had the opportunity to slowly but firmly press down on the accelerator through a long, sweeping, nicely banked curve on Hwy 12, Jamessen Canyon Rd between Napa and Fairfield. The torque from the big cubic inch and the suspension on the 73 took us from 60 to 90 in seconds and the feel behind the wheel and in the drivers seat as the all components throughout the car were working together was nothing like it would feel like in our new Acura. No way never that newer could compare.

Jack605

My 14 C7 Coup is just a blast to drive easy going shifts like a dream (manual)

My 69 is just raw fun, 350 manual transmission no top and no electronics - its a special kind of ride for people who just want to drive.

Jack

Revi

Yep, they tend to feel like this.

flyeri

For the past couple weekends we have driven the 2011 Grand Sport and had a great time driving around in the mountains. Today I drove the 68 BB to work and left about 11:00 for lunch. I drove, by myself, for over 2 hours along country 2 lane roads and all the time thinking this is way more fun than the Grand Sport. It's close to sensory overload and it just makes me smile the whole time I'm driving.

theandies

I'll take brute force over finesse any day of the week and I do as my C3 is my daily driver.
I'm actually waiting for my son to come home so he can help me take the hardtop off for the summer.
BTW I'm in Warrenton, Va. It's a B-E-A-utiful day out.

Barrist

Anyone remember "Walking" to School ?
Then remember the first time in Your or Buddies Car, same trip ?

That's the difference to Me.

C3 takes me Back to enjoying Life.

There I Go, showing my age again.

Have a Great Day,

Bill

ronarndt

It is a beautiful day also in Catlett. I am waiting for one more part to arrive so I can put the convert back on the road. Had to drive my X-5 to Manassas, but opening the sunroof is not the same as putting the top down.

ronarndt

I think you hit the nail on the head. I never find myself speeding in the Corvette because the noise lets you know you are going fast. Years ago, shortly after I got my RX-7 and had most of the high performance parts added, two of my co-workers who owned Corvettes (a 67 and a 94) and I bought track time at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA. I had the little Mazda over 180 mph on the long stretch of the tri-oval and it felt stable, relatively quiet at that speed and easy to drive. My friend with the 67 said his car felt like it was going to explode when he reached 100 mph. I found out later he has a 4.11 rear axle in it.

OldCarBum

I'll bet you that if you put a set of 15" BFG's on this, it would ride so much smoother.
You guys with your taller wheels and tires will never get it.

Torqued Off

Maybe I haven't driven modern Corvettes or any modern performance cars, but when I took out the 77 Corvette this morning for a long way to work, all I could do is smile to myself how much fun it is on these windy Pennsylvania roads. The sound, the wind, the torque, the special look out over those front fender humps, the feedback from the road on my manual steering, and just knowing that I built it......I can't imagine anything better. The only other vehicle that does that for me is the Harley. I am satisfied and glad for it.

billcarson

"i agree with all of them".
deactivate account

71 Vert LS1

We had the 71 vert with a LS swap for 3 years. It was a fun build. But last fall we did a few days in the Black Hills. Rented a 17 Mustang GT vert. It was a great few days.

There is no doubt the 71 vert would have made the trip without worries but with 550 miles one way it would over been a very tiresome ride. Also the first week after labor day must be the time for the monarch butterfly migration. You couldn't tell the color of the front of my truck. Spent 10 dollars in quarters to clean the front of the truck.

So we sold the 71 and bought a 14 Mustang GT vert. 16,000 mile cream puff car. It's a great ride.

As I type this I'm putting the finishing touches on my 68 C10 LS1/T56 swap. Total frame off restoration. It will be my old car drive.

general ike