Performance: C3 vs Imports
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Manahawkin NJ
Performance: C3 vs Imports
I was reading up on the C3s and realized that the Corvette is a Paper Tiger when it comes to Performance. Is 195 Horsepower a different type of Horsepower back in 81? Another thing, a kid I know swears on his life that A 2nd Gen Mitsubishi Turbo can beat a C3 in the quarter and I don't have numbers in front of me. What do you guys think?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,041
Likes: 0
From: Wichita, KS
The mid 70's to early 80's GM engines were hampered by smog laws that the General could not get a handle on. As a result the engines were in fact very sick compaired to any other years. A stock '79 L82 4 speed was tested by one of the car magizines at 15.4 in the 1/4 mile.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,581
Likes: 28
From: Spring, Texas
Apples vs. Oranges. All vehilces were subject to heavy smog equipment and low hp/torque in the mid 70' and 80's. More recently, a number of auto manufacturers entered or re-entered the hp race (market-driven trend). Also, the newer ricer cars have numerous advantages from a physics standpoint (front wheel drive, aerodynamics, weight saving materials, etc.). What year Mitsu are you referring to? Compare it to a Corvette of the same year and the story changes. Each year, cars get better and more technologically advanced (the Corvette itself is just one case in point).
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,455
Likes: 5
From: Upstate South Carolina
I owned a 79 L-82 4spd, followed by an 81 Datsun 280zx turbo. The vette was hands down faster, better handling, and all round nicer car. About 6 years later I owned a 77 Datsun 280z followed by a 75 L-82 4spd. Again the vette was a better car but not by as great a margin. Vettes may not always be the fastest, but they generally hold there own. Plus what are those vettes worth today compared to the 280s.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 2
From: Twin Cities Minnesota
I love it when people compare my 35 year old car to a new one and say the new one is faster ( sheesh I hope so...)
Lets compare a 79 Vette to a 79 Mitsubishi, a little more fair I think
Lets compare a 79 Vette to a 79 Mitsubishi, a little more fair I think
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
By merely opening up the exhaust system (headers, duals, good mufflers) you can get an L-48 to run as fast to 60 as a modern Infiniti G35.
Not many naturally aspirated cars can boast a 2 second 0-60 time drop through exhaust modification.
Not many naturally aspirated cars can boast a 2 second 0-60 time drop through exhaust modification.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 53,992
Likes: 9,355
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Originally Posted by Pacin'California
Not many naturally aspirated
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,165
Likes: 950
From: Keizer Oregon
apples to oranges maybe, but the simple fact is: if you drive your C3 on the street your will pull up next to a ricer who want to tell his freinds about the old Corvette he smoked. So, personally, I am waiting for the next fart can to pull up next to my 440 hp stroked 76, and teach them not to look down on rubber bumpered mid-70's Vettes......(on the dragstrip of course 
)
)
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 420
Likes: 1
From: Lapeer MI
Yes 165hp was the lowest year. That's what I used to have. Anyone have any use for a 165hp SBC? I did a search on the second generation Mitsubishi and didn't find much. I assume your friend is talking about a 2nd Gen Eclipse.
The fastest production 2nd Gen Eclipse is the Eclipse GST. This is sports a turbocharged engine. Performace data follows:
0 - 60 in 6.4 seconds
1/4 mile in 14.9 @ 91.7
Max HP: 210 @ 6000 (notice how high those rpms are)
Max torque: 214 @ 3000
This car weighs a few hundred lbs less then you average C3.
Conclusion: The fastest 2nd Gen Eclipse is faster than the slowest C3. This is expected but at 22+ years old as stated eairlier. These Corvettes are really holding thier own.
The fastest production 2nd Gen Eclipse is the Eclipse GST. This is sports a turbocharged engine. Performace data follows:
0 - 60 in 6.4 seconds
1/4 mile in 14.9 @ 91.7
Max HP: 210 @ 6000 (notice how high those rpms are)
Max torque: 214 @ 3000
This car weighs a few hundred lbs less then you average C3.
Conclusion: The fastest 2nd Gen Eclipse is faster than the slowest C3. This is expected but at 22+ years old as stated eairlier. These Corvettes are really holding thier own.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,435
Likes: 0
From: largo florida
I dont see how or why these comparisons come up. Which is better, a dog or a cat, a frog or lizard, alligator or shark, steak or fish.... Need to compare apples to apples. C3 vs imports is a very very broad range.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
Likes: 7
From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
THe funny thing is 14.9 is a fast quarter mile for a import. I've driven a GSX and gotten a ticket in also. Unfortunity I was behind a same year Mustang GT vert that had just kicked my ash. The other part was that it was a girl coworker that beat me. The only good thing about that day was he only wrote me up for 85, not the 110 I was moving at.
I don't have to tell you the moral of the story.
I don't have to tell you the moral of the story.
Last edited by Budman68; Sep 20, 2004 at 10:52 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Manahawkin NJ
Is there any exhaust out there (mufflers or a whole system, has to be SL though as its my daily driver) that can improve performance by the margin you stated but sound stock? I hate loud exhausts on cars.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,180
Likes: 1,175
From: out of nowhere
Not always true
Originally Posted by Budman78
Don't race a V8 if your driving rice
