[harddrivin1le]

Originally Posted by nota

That video is great! Being an Asia-Pacific R/H/D market meant those cars were sold here (along with their little van-thing - another major revver) in modestly reasonable numbers, and are just sensational. I've even had a ride in one

I've come across Leno's site before. Must say it thoroughly impresses in quality, size & price and its hard not to admire the presenter. Dunno what he's like personally (don't really care either) but as a 'car guy' communicator he does talk the language and relates very well. Doesn't come across as arrogant or a braggard and I think he really excels in selecting and sharing those tidbits of delicious trivia. Eg "Like this tiny piston? Here's the chain drive assembly" etc. Not to mention the calibre of vehicles featured. And of course those demo drives

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Not hard to guess where this thread is headed but I'll sneak in a different tack through a surprise diversion ..

Leno's knowledge credentials on Mopar's R/T Hemi Challenger seem to be fairly unimpeachable. As too would appear his assertion that these particular cars when equipped with 426 cid of Detroit's finest do "0-60 mph in about 6.2 seconds"

Which turns out to be no faster (in fact its a tad slower) than another Mopar R/T Hemi coupe of fair comparison, which also possessed a superior dynamic ability in virtually every dimension

However for the uninitiated this other 'muscle car' has a surprise in store .. (its both a Hemi and a Six Pack?! " I hear you ask)

Interested? Here's a reputable Road Test and one of my own Pics to show off those sensational lines

Good running, bone stock 426 street hemis could trap in the upper thirteens at around 105 MPH with a sharp tune (carb. and ignition adjustments only) and the lightest examples weighed 3,750 pounds. Such a car (e.g. '70 Hemi Cuda) could get into the lower-to-mid thirteens on slicks. That's pretty damn fast - by 1970 standards.

0 - 60 times of the original "muscle cars" were largely traction limited and therefore are not a good indicator of the vehicle's true potential. 1/4 mile trap speed is relatively unaffected by tire choice. Combined with race weight, 1/4 mile trap speed is therefore a far more accurate determining factor of engine power.

The 426 hemi was a very hot street engine by late 60s/early 70s standards and no-one is disputing that fact. It's just that a huge percentage of those who subscribe to the "muscle car" religion would have us believe that these engines made "500 HP right off the showroom floor." I posted this to dispute such claims and to demonstrate that modern pushrod/2 valve per cylinder American V8s are in much higher states of tune.