Big Block Power
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,408
Likes: 792
From: Redondo Beach, California
Remember the GM pronounced reason for killing off the muscle cars, starting in 1971, was insurance costs for the customer and liability concerns for the corporation. Driving this pronounced reason was that the muscle cars were dangerous to drive.....particularly in the hands of an inexperienced unknowing driver. The only dynamic safety feature that they had was a limited slip rear end. But this was far from enough. Even with the limited slip, you could light up the rear wheels and with the rear wheels spinning, engine torque would bring the rear end around. On a street or interstate, quickly turning the steering wheel to change lanes and stomping on the gas pedal would spin the car out. Today's high powered cars are far safer with their stability control features...computer braking on both the front and matching rear wheel to prevent a spin out. And their limited slip rear ends are also computer controlled for safety.
Sure, a muscle car of the late 60s, early 70s could be safely driven and a lot of fun. You just had to be experienced driving the car, drag strip practice was really useful....knowing how to keep the car in a straight line with both rear tires spinning or on the verge. 69 driver with an L88 clone engine. Factory L88 short block with GM piece parts on top.
Sure, a muscle car of the late 60s, early 70s could be safely driven and a lot of fun. You just had to be experienced driving the car, drag strip practice was really useful....knowing how to keep the car in a straight line with both rear tires spinning or on the verge. 69 driver with an L88 clone engine. Factory L88 short block with GM piece parts on top.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,367
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,759
Likes: 1,647
From: Fairfax Virginia
I was told that the Emissions were the reason for the big drop in compression and the re-designed cylinder heads had killed the performance cars. My 1968 C3 427 is running 12.25-1 compression and it has the closed chamber heads on it. By 1969 they had the "new" Open Chamber cylinder heads and pinging galore. The 1968 closed chamber heads are less likely to detonate or ping than the newer open chamber style are.
The last, really tough small block is the 1970 LT1 engine in a Corvette. What an engine, it was similar to driving a BB Corvette as it had some serious torque to play with. The 370 HP was nothing to sneeze at either. That model was one of my favorites after driving a real one for a few months.
The last thing I want in my car are more "Safety Nannies" built in to over-ride my inputs. I love the simplicity of a Fine running 427 on some curved roads in the morning. Cruising at 70 and then stomping on the gas will get you into triple digits in a hurry, it is a 1960's car and it is made to cruise. My 1968 C3 is just a fun car to own and drive!
The last, really tough small block is the 1970 LT1 engine in a Corvette. What an engine, it was similar to driving a BB Corvette as it had some serious torque to play with. The 370 HP was nothing to sneeze at either. That model was one of my favorites after driving a real one for a few months.
The last thing I want in my car are more "Safety Nannies" built in to over-ride my inputs. I love the simplicity of a Fine running 427 on some curved roads in the morning. Cruising at 70 and then stomping on the gas will get you into triple digits in a hurry, it is a 1960's car and it is made to cruise. My 1968 C3 is just a fun car to own and drive!
