Underrated muscle
05-28-2010, 09:13 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Underrated muscle
There are some rides that were well respected, popular, or both, back in the day. The special cars Hurst and Oldsmobile collaborated on qualify, what others can you think of? 
Hurst/Olds
SD 455 T/A
Hurst/Olds
SD 455 T/A
Last edited by LU8; 08-30-2010 at 07:52 PM. Reason: typo
05-28-2010, 10:36 PM
#2
Race Director
1967
Yenko ordered L-78 equipped SS Camaros and swapped in the Chevrolet Corvette's L-72 427 in³ (7.0 L) V8. The cars came with a 4.10 rear end and heavy-duty suspension. The exact number of cars produced is not known; most estimates are around 50. Yenko also installed a fiberglass replacement hood similar to the "Stinger" hood featured on 1967 big-block Corvettes.
Don Yenko's Camaros were equipped with a 427ci L-72 in them with either an M21 or M22 transmission. The horsepower was rated at 423 hp (315 kW). Yenko Camaros were not allowed to race for Chevrolet on the drag strip because they were not made by Chevrolet. Chevy's answer to this was the Copo Camaro, or Central Office Production Order, in 1969. The Copo Camaros were equipped with the same 427ci engine and were allowed to race for Chevy.
Yenko ordered L-78 equipped SS Camaros and swapped in the Chevrolet Corvette's L-72 427 in³ (7.0 L) V8. The cars came with a 4.10 rear end and heavy-duty suspension. The exact number of cars produced is not known; most estimates are around 50. Yenko also installed a fiberglass replacement hood similar to the "Stinger" hood featured on 1967 big-block Corvettes.
Don Yenko's Camaros were equipped with a 427ci L-72 in them with either an M21 or M22 transmission. The horsepower was rated at 423 hp (315 kW). Yenko Camaros were not allowed to race for Chevrolet on the drag strip because they were not made by Chevrolet. Chevy's answer to this was the Copo Camaro, or Central Office Production Order, in 1969. The Copo Camaros were equipped with the same 427ci engine and were allowed to race for Chevy.
06-10-2010, 08:29 PM
#3
Instructor
Thread Starter
Not really a muscle car, or an official Ford product, but the Monroe Handler was a 3rd party creation that must be the best Mustang II ever made. I believe 7 cars were created based on the '78 Mustang II, and then given away as contest prizes. Looked sharp.
06-13-2010, 02:33 AM
#5
Team Owner
Member Since: Apr 2001
Location: Elmhurst, IL (West Suburb of Chicago) & Home of MEGA Horsepower
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St. Jude Donor '06
1969 1/2 Roadrunner A12 440 with a 6-pack!
I bought this past winter a tribute to this car, a 1969 1/2 Plymouth Road Runner with a 440, in a unique Ralleye Green, with of course just the black steel wheels and black fiberglass lift-off 6 back hood.
This was the FASTEST production Mopar back during the muscle car era ever produced that a regular Joe could buy, and would beat up on any street hemi any day of the week.
Every real deal 1969 1/2 A12 Code 440-6pack Road runner came equipped with a Dana 4.10 rear end be it a stick or 727 torque flight auto tranny car.
In bone stock form with a 4 speed, and coker tires, and a weighing in at 3765 lbs (empty), Ronnine Sox ran this bad boy back to back at 13.0 (flat at 111.52 mph and 110.15 mph) on March 31, 1969, at Cecil County Dragoway and this was witnessed by Super Stock Magazine.
As most know, in stock form through full exhaust and no speical tuning on small stock coker tires that was REALLY hauling the mail back then and is still fast today for a stock car, and the street hemi were only running mid to high 13s, and this literally was one the TOP DOG you might right across on the street back in the day (when I was only 7 years old)!
Now that is a MUSCLE CAR!!
See post #4 for a not so great picture of my 1969 1/2 Road Runner tribute with me and a couple of hot young chicks
taken at a local cruise night last month!
See post #5 for some more pics. of some young sweeties at same cruise night!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/grea...ers-grove.html
This was the FASTEST production Mopar back during the muscle car era ever produced that a regular Joe could buy, and would beat up on any street hemi any day of the week.
Every real deal 1969 1/2 A12 Code 440-6pack Road runner came equipped with a Dana 4.10 rear end be it a stick or 727 torque flight auto tranny car.
In bone stock form with a 4 speed, and coker tires, and a weighing in at 3765 lbs (empty), Ronnine Sox ran this bad boy back to back at 13.0 (flat at 111.52 mph and 110.15 mph) on March 31, 1969, at Cecil County Dragoway and this was witnessed by Super Stock Magazine.
As most know, in stock form through full exhaust and no speical tuning on small stock coker tires that was REALLY hauling the mail back then and is still fast today for a stock car, and the street hemi were only running mid to high 13s, and this literally was one the TOP DOG you might right across on the street back in the day (when I was only 7 years old)!
Now that is a MUSCLE CAR!!
See post #4 for a not so great picture of my 1969 1/2 Road Runner tribute with me and a couple of hot young chicks
taken at a local cruise night last month!See post #5 for some more pics. of some young sweeties at same cruise night!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/grea...ers-grove.html
Last edited by Mopar Jimmy; 06-13-2010 at 02:41 AM.
09-08-2010, 08:16 PM
#6
Instructor
Thread Starter
Thank goodness the factory Olds pace car effort fishtailed and crashed in the '71 Indy 500, because it allowed Hurst to step in and handle the '72 race, which included some Vista Cruiser wagon support vehicles with 455, scoops, and wild decals!
World's first SUV!!
World's first SUV!!
09-08-2010, 10:27 PM
#7
Melting Slicks
Thank goodness the factory Olds pace car effort fishtailed and crashed in the '71 Indy 500, because it allowed Hurst to step in and handle the '72 race, which included some Vista Cruiser wagon support vehicles with 455, scoops, and wild decals!
World's first SUV!!
World's first SUV!!
http://www.indypacecars.com/1971.html
09-09-2010, 05:20 PM
#8
Team Owner
Not exactly underrated, in a performance fashion, but certainly in the looks department, were the COPO 427 Camaros in 1969. A local dealer had a couple of them, monochromatic paint, cold air hood and spoilers, but NO engine emblems and "dog dish" hub caps on painted steel wheels.
05-02-2011, 08:51 PM
#9
Instructor
Thread Starter
It isn't considered much now, but in the late '70s, early '80s the 280ZX was something of an icon and a Corvette alternative in turbo form (0-60 7.4seconds). I remember reading Paul Newman had a 400 hp modfied 280ZX. Yes, I would like to have had one of those.
Datsun 280ZX
Datsun 280ZX
05-02-2011, 10:35 PM
#10
Melting Slicks
Well here are some photos of our muscle cars. Ford had a few like the Falco Cobra Coupe. 351 Clevo with a top loader. I sold this a few years ago for 78 thousand all numbers matching. My mate bought it and almost sleeps with it. It's as big as it looks real tug boat size. The other car I could never afford. It's a Ford XY GTHO Phase III. 351 Clevo from factory absolutely off it's head. It was rated the worlds fastest 4 door sedan. It always was worth a lot of money and it had Icon status brand new and got dearer as life went on. Here is an article on what their worth if you don't believe me. Stewy
05-08-2011, 05:30 PM
#16
Melting Slicks
05-08-2011, 07:50 PM
#17
I'll say it again. The '62-'67 Chevy IIs and Novas with SBC power were among the big $$$ winners in unsanctioned street racing back in the day.
Chevy offered an over-the-parts-counter 327 swap kit in mid-'62. It was expensive but a few people built fuel-inected Corvette eaters. Finished IIs were up to 400 pounds lighter than a C2. Pity is they didn't include better brakes, Nova front drums look like peanut butter jar lids!
To this day, you don't want to bet against a Nova when it's matched against a mere Camaro or Chevelle.
V-8 Vegas looked like a hot set-up for a while but the short wheelbasde and narrow track made 'em a handful. You needed Grumpy Jenkins to set one up, just as Hemi Mopars would lose to 440's unless tuned by Dick Landy or Sox & Martin.
After all these years, GTO, Roadrunner, SS 396 etc. drivers are STILL getting suckered by those grandmotherly little econoboxes, the Chevy IIs and Novas!
Chevy offered an over-the-parts-counter 327 swap kit in mid-'62. It was expensive but a few people built fuel-inected Corvette eaters. Finished IIs were up to 400 pounds lighter than a C2. Pity is they didn't include better brakes, Nova front drums look like peanut butter jar lids!
To this day, you don't want to bet against a Nova when it's matched against a mere Camaro or Chevelle.
V-8 Vegas looked like a hot set-up for a while but the short wheelbasde and narrow track made 'em a handful. You needed Grumpy Jenkins to set one up, just as Hemi Mopars would lose to 440's unless tuned by Dick Landy or Sox & Martin.
After all these years, GTO, Roadrunner, SS 396 etc. drivers are STILL getting suckered by those grandmotherly little econoboxes, the Chevy IIs and Novas!
05-09-2011, 05:03 PM
#18
I'm surprised people are listing so many 60s to 70s muscle cars.
The real underrated muscle came from the mid-80s to mid-90s. This is when straightline performance finally matched and surpassed the 67-72 muscle era, while at the same time providing superior efficiency, reliability, fuel economy, handling, and livability. These cars are some of the least appreciated sports and muscle cars out there, and the list includes the following: C4 'vettes, thirdgen Camaros and Firebirds, Foxbody Mustangs, Grand Nationals (not GNXs), Regal T-Types, Taurus SHO, etc. The few appreciated examples are the GNX, TTA, C4 ZR1, and to a lesser extent, the Cyclones and Typhoons.
The real underrated muscle came from the mid-80s to mid-90s. This is when straightline performance finally matched and surpassed the 67-72 muscle era, while at the same time providing superior efficiency, reliability, fuel economy, handling, and livability. These cars are some of the least appreciated sports and muscle cars out there, and the list includes the following: C4 'vettes, thirdgen Camaros and Firebirds, Foxbody Mustangs, Grand Nationals (not GNXs), Regal T-Types, Taurus SHO, etc. The few appreciated examples are the GNX, TTA, C4 ZR1, and to a lesser extent, the Cyclones and Typhoons.
05-09-2011, 05:30 PM
#19
Melting Slicks
Most of those eighties cars are dam ugly. Besides the Vettes. I liked the 80's camaro but they lost their way like the mustang. They had to go back and modernize the 60's stuff to get the figures back. Hemi, chev and ford !
