Here is a fun comparison test from MuscleCars magazine (1986).
A 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 (LS-6) VS a 1986 Buick Grand National Turbocharged 231-cu-in V-6:
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Here is a fun comparison test from MuscleCars magazine (1986).
A 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 (LS-6) VS a 1986 Buick Grand National Turbocharged 231-cu-in V-6:
'76 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Limousine, '95 Lincoln Town Car.
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Good read, thanks for posting it.
"We went to Wnedy's. I had chicken nuggest." ~ Quiggs
Member
Thanks Fleet.
My mother drove a Chevelle 396 back in the good old days. She traded it in on a Vega
Supporting Member
very early awareness of the fuel price developments....commendable move.Originally Posted by Turbo.Jenkens
Thanks Fleet.
My mother drove a Chevelle 396 back in the good old days. She traded it in on a Vega
"I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams
Furniture
Pffff. Have you no taste?
Supporting Member
yes I would never have bought a Vega, it is too thirsty...
"I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams
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Have I mentioned that my dad used to own a '75 Vega? This was back in the 1980s. I did ask him once what mpg he was getting and he said "22-24." I suppose that is pretty good back then, but certainly not these days (my '95 Lincoln averages 21 mpg).
I did drive that Vega a few times and it was pretty bad. A quite stiff ride, noisy, seating position too low and no power!
I was glad when he sold it.
'76 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Limousine, '95 Lincoln Town Car.
Furniture
Well said old man.
Member
In her defense, my My Grand father was a WWII vet (Pacific theater.) No one in the family was allowed to own a Japanese car until after his death in 2001. My fathers experiences with the MGB he owned at the time surely didn't help her view of small European cars.
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Oh, no. I bet she regretted that! She probably found out real quick that the 396 Chevelle was a lot more reliable.Thanks Fleet.
My mother drove a Chevelle 396 back in the good old days. She traded it in on a Vega
'76 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Limousine, '95 Lincoln Town Car.
Member
Actually it wasn't that bad, It was my Dad's daily driver until 1986. He has always put my Mom's transportation needs before his.
Furniture
Well they sold well, were great on gas, and cheap - a good runabout car if you ask me.
You don't have to like it (I don't) but they did their job rather well actually.
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They wouldn't have been so bad if they were reliable.
They probably would not make the "10 worst cars" list if they were reliable.
'76 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Limousine, '95 Lincoln Town Car.
Furniture
0-60 mph in just short of 7 seconds in the 70s with a 7.4L engine is still unacceptable in my books - it took the Corvette and American manufactures in general till the 90s to start getting some big figures again.
EDIT: They really shoulda considered DOHC and revving higher to eek more power out of the engines at th is point and just designing them better in general.
Fanatic
Chevy really couldn't do much about it.
The engines had to pass emissions and they were trying to increase fuel economy. Both of those things really cut the horsepower. And the '72-'73 big-block 'Vettes weighed several hundred pounds more than the '60s 'Vettes. However, the 14.1 sec 1/4 mile is better than expected. Most muscle cars which ran a 0-60 mph of 6.8 seconds would run mid-to-high 14s for the 1/4 mile.
That is why the '70s were not looked upon with admiration regarding the "high-performance" cars of the era.
'76 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Limousine, '95 Lincoln Town Car.
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