I'm 73 years old and grew up around ALL of these cars and remember them very well and also how they REALLY ran on the strip when stock. I was THERE. So, it was no surprise that the 1970 Stage 1 GS/GSX was not mentioned here. They were (and are) rare and were very lightly promoted by Buick, if at all. However, the GS Stage 1 ran way better than the sum of their parts would indicate. And unlike the Hemi's of the day, RA IV Pontiacs, LS6 Chevelle's, COPO 427's, 440+6 Mopar's, Boss 429 or Super Cobra Jet Fords, Boss 302's, 1967-71 Z-28's, etc. etc.... a Stage 1 GS could be ordered with a/c! The engine was that streetable,. So why wasn't the '70 GS Stage 1 included here? Simple. It was because: (1) few people who voted here really know anything about the 1970 GS Stage 1, not to mention ever owned one or raced against one stock for stock and (2) very few people who "voted" are Buick muscle car enthusiasts. It seemed that few GS guys ever raced their cars at the strip and thus lacked basic dragstrip etiquette in how to drive them or even decently tune one. Back in 1971 at the Gainesville, FL Raceway, when all of these cars were new, I saw several GS Stage 1's outrun nearly about all of the so-called Top 10 muscle cars shown here. I remember that the now-deceased 18-year track manager "Bob" used to laugh about that when it happened because he liked it when such underdogs took out the more highly touted models.
Yeah, a Buick 455 Stage 1 engine is a glorious beast. But go back a few to the Buick WIldcat 425 a very quiet sleeper that left the line with competitors jaws on the floorboards.
@@AndrewArndts Yes, I love the old "nail-heads". Sad that more aren't used in current street rods. But today it's all about availability and cheap parts and NOT about cool uniqueness.
Spot on!. I grew up on Woodward Ave in the late 60's early 70's and bought a brand new Camaro SS when I was 16. I got my first GS in 1980 and never heard of it before. I traded a Honda 450 bike for a '70 GS Stage 1 ragtop with 28K on it. Go figure. From that day forward I was sold on GS's and have owned many many more. I'm 70 now and just bought a '66 Skylark with a 455, stage 2 aluminum heads, roller rockers, Big Mutha Thumper cam, 4:11 9" Ford rear and Gear Vendors OD to just mention a couple speed goodies - a low 11 second car. Some of us kids never grow up. Buicks rule
@@albundyrocks2115 Thanks for the story and memories. Being an old-timer like me, I see that you know what you're talking about. BTW, 2022 GS Nationals, Bowling Green, KY. A Buick muscle car Mecca.
I was fortunate enough to grow up in the muscle car era with a Dad that was a gear head and taught me from an early age how to drive and respect the automobile. I had several cars that I wish I still owned now. Even though they may not have made this muscle car list, they were still awesome automobiles and I was fortunate to own them if for just a short time! (1961 Bubble Top Impala with factory 283 power pack option, 1964 Ford Galaxie XL with 390 Police Interceptor engine, 1969 Ford Mach I with 428 Cobra Jet, 1967 Ford 390 GTA Fastback Mustang, 1970 Ford Torino GT 2-door Fastback with 351 Cleveland)
In 1967 my family had the following 3 cars: DAD: 1964 Pontiac Bonneville 2 dr coupe with 421 c.i. V8 3 2 barrel carbs and a (no cost) option 4:10 rear end. ME: 1963 Corvette Stingray convertible 327 c.i. originally with solid lifter 340 HP motor, but had been replaced by a 1964 365 HP Holley 4 bbl carbed 327. Car had close ratio 4 spd and a 4:11 rear end. TWIN BROTHER: 1967 Shelby GT 500 428 c.i. 355 HP, 2 Holley 4bbl vacuum actuated carbs w/ Hurst 4spd tranny and Detroit Locker rear diff. The 355 HP was vastly underrated. Gas was $.25 per gallon for premium.
Wow - 3 great cars. My Dad had a 1967 Shelby GT500 with C6 auto that i could beat 4 speed Gt500's. Why ? Little known Fact - the C6 Auto in the 67 GT500 was a Factory Spec C6 from the ford 427 Fairline Drag Car that ford built( special order only). Ford sent out their C6 to a specialty shop to beef up the C6 to handle the HP of their 427 drag engine. I think this might have been the first performance automatic in a production car. By leaving it in Automatic using the brake/ pushing on the gas pedal and then releasing it- it I would burn a few feet of rubber go up to about 5500 RPM( 42+ or - MPH) shift burning a few more feet of rubber - then go up to about 80+ and chirp the tires shifting into 3rd gear and just keep pulling very strongly. I got home from the Army in April 1969 and was disappointed went I saw the C6 Auto in my Dad's 67 GT500 but was surprised when I Drove it. With progressive linkage on the 2 Holly 600 carbs you only drove on one but when got on it and the 2nd one kicked - Wow. And setting in our Garage next to the GT500 was my 1969 Kawasaki Mach III the Fastest production at that time - First Stock Motorcycle to break 100mph in Quarter Mile.
Hi Rick Performance-wise, the "good stuff" included in the GSX package could be ordered on a GS. I did just that, but neither wanted nor could afford the cosmetic pieces. I wanted more of a "sleeper" anyway.
@@kennycamaro2361 Kenny, this topic could be "debated" ad infinitum from those 52+ yr. old muscle car mags of day. So the point is that all of this is mere speculation. BTW, you won't find any vintage magazine "road tests" from those days to verify what you say. I've got all of those old mags and I challenge you to find ANY magazine of the day that showed a stock 1969-70 Ram Air 4 GTO with its stock 3.91's (or even the 4.33's) that even ran mid 13's. BTW, you'll find that none were ever tested with 4.33's.
I agree, they definitely should have listed that. Gnx has the reputation of being the last muscle car. Although some cars in Australia disagree, I feel the same. They should have mentioned the gnx turbo t type or grand national.
Had a 1965 GTO for my first car 389.with a single 4 Barrel with approximately 335 HP was fun to drive, however, I also had a 3 duce manifold that took approximately 30 minutes to swap out and the horsepower went to 360 horsepower. So easy to work on cars back then.
A lot of these cars were on their second owners when I was a teen in the 70's. Unfortuently a lot of them also got destroyed then by kids that didn't know how to handle them. That said we are in a great age now too with stock Mustang Gts putting out 460 HP and the top of the line cars putting out over 700hp. These cars will do more than go in a straight line too. Enjoy it while it lasts because the government is going to ruin it all again in a few years just like they did in the 70s.
Owners tended to be older. Although they were cheap by todays standards people made a lot less money. Corvettes seemed to only be owned by middle age family men. I was mainly into fast motorcycles but friends had most of these cars. Lots of street racing. Bikes were faster. The 454 Chevelle was absolutely brutal. It would fling you around inside like a toy. But they were also heavy. Todays hot rods are much faster. The quickness of the car is determined by the craziness of the driver. Had a friend with a 64 Mustang who was just insane. Insurance costs were and are very high. Yeah, kids could'nt afford these cars then. The kid whose dad owned the AMC dealer got a new 401 AMX every year.
Loved the video. We can all debate the particular order and include a dozen other cars - but it was nice seeing some of the greatest muscle every built. TY
I had a 69 Z28 like the hugger orange rally sport you showed. It ran 13.96 pure stock, 12.80 with headers, bars, and 5.13 gears. Later with a L88 it ran 10.90s , never had problems with any Hemi, 428s, 440s, 455s or just about anything else on the street. The L88 is now in my 60 Corvette with a 4.88 Olds rear, ladder bars, 400 turbo. Best was 10.60s back in 1975. The Vette was my first car I had ever bought. I managed to keep it when I went to Viet Nam and will keep it till I die. Currently I’m putting a 509W motor with twin turbos in it. I’m 74 now and I will never grow up when it comes to loud and fast cars.
I know what you mean Bill. I had a 69 with a 396 and built.. Ran real well till I crashed out. Then somehow I found the A body Mopar bug 440. 10:80 time Your new project sounds really fantastic. I'm 60 now and just been building motion simulators but in the mood for a turbo something.. A nice project to work on.. DMAX motion sim ch
Bill Ellers, if your '69 Z/28 had headers, bars, and 5:13 gears, it was NOT "pure stock." My '69 Boss 302 Mustang used to eat '67-'69 Z/28's for snacks. Average times were 13.1-13.3. A few 12.8's. It was 100% "pure stock" and had 4:30 rear gears (on the strip) and 3:50 gears (on the street). I bought it new, all options, at TASCA Ford and I still have it today. I raced it Memorial Day Weekend 2021 in NH and best time was 12.7. Same event, I raced my '57 Ford Custom 2dr sedan that has a de-stroked Ford 427 in it. Best time was 9.8. It's street legal as well. That car won three class championships back in the early 70's and it's still badass today. You can keep all the "bowties." Fords have always done me better than any "bowties" I ever had.
@@sergeantmasson3669 That's quite impressive, Sergeant. It's true that some folks have their own definition of "Pure Stock". I have here the 1986 Muscle Car Review annual covering the various "shootouts" they did in late 1984 and 1985, including the infamous 1970 GS Stage 1 vs. the 1970 GTX Hemi. . This 1986 Annual recapped them all. Another one of these "shootouts" they covered was a 1970 Boss 302 vs. a 1969 Z/28. This was on a Florida drag strip with stock type tires. They called the match-up a basic "draw" after neither car could get out of the 15's at around 95 mph.
Everyone has their favorite mine was the 1970 Chevelle super sport LS6 454 with 450 horsepower black with white racing stripes cowl induction and Hood pins sometimes I think I might have changed the color to Red with black racing stripes when I see it in most pictures but the greatest cars I had the only thing that would supersede that was my LT1 motion Corvette 1970 Orange fire mist motion performance made the fastest cars on the East Coast with tea top I still would love to have back my 66 GTO
In 1966 I had a GTO "Royal Bobcat" it was fast but I was beat by a 1969 Roadrunner so I sold the GTO and bought a 1969 Roadrunner with the 440 6pac and never looked back. I wonder which one would be worth more today.
@@bogart281 should have bought an LS6 454 1970 Chevelle that would have blown both of your doors off and we would just go beep beep as you breathe in my high octane exhaust
@@joelbell9082 Actually Joel the RR would have crushed the elephant. In the muscle car era the top 5 cars were #1 a 66 Cobra 12.20 @ 118 mph, #2 was the 66 Corvette 427 12.80 @ 112 mph, #3 69 Roadrunner 440 w six pack 12.91 @ 111.8 mph, #4 70 Cuda hemi, and dragging up last was the SS 454 Chevelle 13.12 @ 107.01. You can go pick up your doors on your way out.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ULTIMATE TORQUE MONSTER'S BUICK GS STAGE 1 AND THE OLDS 442 W 30 . 500 FT LB PLUS OF TORQUE @ LIKE 3200 RPM. 68 HURST OLDS 0 - 60 MPH IN 5.3 SEC.
The 1970 Olds 4-4-2 W-30 with 4-speed may have been the craziest packaging ever. Because of the 328 degree duration cam, there was insufficient vacuum to power the required disc brakes. Exercise that Popeye leg!
@@danareynolds1786 Few people even know what you're talking about. If the W30 got that cam, power disc brakes could not be ordered for the reason you mention. I know because I had one!
Not Bad, Honorable Mention"s Helped, Maybe Top 12 + Honorable Mention"s, Definitely Agree With ## Number 1 !!!! Can"t Believe 70 - 71 Challenger RT. Did Not Make Even Honorable Mention !!!!....
Good job on your presentation! I was 12 years old and remember two of my neighbors had 67,68 Stingrays, bright red! My aunt had the 65 GTO, that sounded so nice! Two of my uncles had a Charger and a Dodge R/T. My favorite for some reason back then was the 1966 Chevelle Super Sport 396. I’m glad I grew up during that era, the best Cars, best Music, best TV shows, and Mini Skirts! Lol
WOW! I probably watch 1,000 videos a year, but this one is clearly the best. I am 66 years old, so I was familiar with every one of these gems. Thank you, a super bunch, for a GREAT video!!
I don’t know if the Buick Grand National would be considered a classic or modern muscle car, but they’d get my vote. That turbo V6 would hurt all sorts of big V-8 feelings and have all the creature comforts doing it.
An underappreciated honorable mention is any of the mid to late 60s Buick Rivieras. I had a 63, a 64, and a 70.. But the 66 with the 465 wildcat nailhead motor, bucket seats, positive traction; just a fun car to drive. Plus the steep w shaped batmobile looking nose wasn't hard to look at.
The 69 Camaro ZL1 is top dog for me, followed by the 70 Chevelle SS, 70 Boss 429, 70 Buick GSX, 69 Camaro Z/28, 69 Mach 1, 69 GTO Judge, 69 Trans Am, 70 Trans Am and 71 Cuda.
When I was 17, my working class dad got lucky rich in the stock market, and so bought me a 1971 Dodge Demon 340 RT, 4 speed, blue with ralley wheels. I was an exceptional kid who treated my car with care and respect, unlike practically all of my contemporaries who raced and wrecked and beat the 1969-era muscle cars into the wrecking yards, generally in 6 months or less. I remember as a teenager, going to the wrecking yards, where there was row after row of smashed up Mustangs, Camaros, Firebirds, Chargers, what would make today's collectors cry
1972, I was ten years old. My Little League baseball coach had a SuperBird, my best friends older brother had a LS6 454 SS Chevelle, my dads friend had a 67 StingRay 427 tri-power, the man across the street worked for Chrysler and every year he had a different Mopar monster!. 68 Charger, 69 RoadRunner, 70 Cuda. My baseball coaches son had a 428 Mach1. All within a block of our house in Romulus Michigan. Worth over a million dollars today.
I am that age that I owned a bunch of muscle cars, from a 68 GTO to a 72 cuda and more in between. I am grateful to have been able to own and drive these special muscle cars !!
I never hear about what may have been a concept car, but it caught my attention back in 1970. It was the AMX/3. It was a mid-engine car with a lot of interesting features. It might be something for your show to look into.
I've driven a true mid-engine car ....the Pontiac Fiero, and have owned one for over 30 years. My current 88 V6 5-speed I bought six years ago with only 20K on it. Because it was the last year made, the dealer placed it on his showroom floor for seven years, then took if for his own personal driver, moved it to Florida and drove it only when he was on vacation...and I'm now 81. Still ride a motorcycle though.
A one-off indeed. Supposedly an unfinished prototype in many ways but used as an AMC concept car for the Chicago Auto Show where some manufacturers displayed "unfinished" prototypes ... most often cobbled together but functional-appearing interiors. Of course, this video is about production musclecars.
@@allenallen5005 The new Mustang is superior in every way.....BOSS 429 had shit build quality, rust bucket construction, slow, weak brakes, crap handling, poor reliability, and gas guzzler.....the newer Mustang V-8 is better in every way...you are right..NO COMPARISON. Newer is better......perhaps if you didn't subscribe and spend time to watch 129 youtube channels, you would have time to know about cars.....
I love how he said the 428 cobra was listed at 335 Hp but was really 400+. This is absolutely true, especially with hemis. My mom had a 69’ Torino gt 428 cobra jet hit 507 hp with full exhaust and gears!
The muscle era began in 1962 with the introduction of the B Body Max Wedge cars from Chrysler, a full two years before the under powered GTO. And ended with the apex predator the 1968 426 Hemi Barracuda which still holds the SS/A ET and mph records today.
That re1/4 MILE RECORDS - SUPER STOCK ELIMINATOR Class E.T. Speed Date Driver/Car Location SS/AH 8.48 156.84 10/14/2018 Rich Locker - North Royalton, OH Brownsburg, IN SS/A 8.56 155.92 10/14/2018 Ray Paquet - Holt, MI Brownsburg, record is actually in SS/AH, the H is for Hemi. They had to give the Hemis their own class because no one else could compete with them heads on.
I remember 1969 very well. My cousin had red 68, 428 CJ Torino and liked going after Mopars on the streets. My other cousin had a 69, 429 Cyclone with huge Micky Thompsons on the rear, his Speed Shop buddies made the mill really hot for that era in the 1/4 mile.
When I was stationed at Ft. Sill, OK. in 1971, I purchased a 1969 Dodge Dart GTS with a 383 4bb, with a Hurst 4 speed. I had headers put on it and it was fast. But then I got sent to Germany and drove it home to Virginia for storage. Well, my dad went and sold it to pay bills and I've never seen another one like it. And it never makes any lists.
My first car was a 1968 SS Camaro L-78 396/375 New with just about every option it was only around 3,000.00 bucks. Now today's cars have options that cost more than that. I later added Hooker headers and all kinds of hi perf engine options. Still wish I had it.
I didn't get to vote, but for me it's the 1987 Buick Grand National. One never talked about is the first muscle car made, which is the 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88
It was a great time for gear heads, but I will say this!! What’s old is new again!! These days the muscle cars running around are unbelievable, the horsepower and torque numbers are mind blowing!! America 🇺🇸 no one does it better!!‼️🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿
Internal combustion doesn't run on fossil fuels alone. Plenty options like hho natural gas hot vapors even Stirling. It's technically an air pump, plenty air around. Ps it's a motor not an engine btw.
I've owned 83 vehicles so far and the only one I ever dream about was my 1969 Judge that I bought when it was 1 year old. Added Torker intake with Holley spread bore and Thrush mufflers, ADDCO swaybars, J60 tires, Metallic brakes to compliment the original 4 sp Muncie Rockcrusher and 4:11 posi.
The conversations about which car to choose. In my opinion it’s all about Love❤, with me Love ❤️ comes first always and love ❤️ always has the right of way.
1970 Buick GSX and Olds 442 are also worthy of mention. Both shared the same roofline with the '70 Chevelle. The swept back look is not easy to like when considering the stereotypical 'boxy' looking muscle car...but the '70 models were better equipped (incl ac). The 1970 Ford Torino Cobra Jet (sitting on his shop floor) is also worthy of mention.
I am a 70-year-old woman. My first car at 18 was a 1968 Plymouth GTX. 440 with a 4-speed hurst. After that..... A 70 GTO, 75 Chevy laguna, Buick grand nation, Hurst cutlass, 88 turbo coupe thunderbird, 89 Iroc-z 350-5.7, 2002 Corvette.Got married wishing for a hellcat.
@@rickbailey189 No kidding! 135 MPH in third gear! I loved the rumbling sound it made while idling. At 8 miles per gallon, it would sit in the garage today.
@@judithbishop993 Judy, can you remember how much you or your dad paid for the 68 GTX? You obviously were quite aware what a fast car was since you were a teen just looking at the line up cars you mentioned above.
@@rickbailey189 Yes Ricky, It was bought at Waynesboro, va. Crysler Plymouth In 1969 Used. Was 18,000 miles on it. The price 2,400.00. Unreal right. All that torque on 15 polyglass tires with the rubber half gone. Long live Mopar!
I sure would have thought that the Dodge Dart would have at least made an honorable mention. Offering everything from a slant six to a Hemi, the 340 GTS was my favorite and the drag strip was full of them. : (
It was in '63 that the Dodge Dart was demonstrated at my high school. It did one long & continuous wheel stand. It had a 426 race hemi engine. Later in 1967 I rode passenger in my father's Plymouth w/383 engine. I was convinced that I wanted a high performance Plymouth. In November 1969 I ordered a '70 Road Runner (built in L.A.) I received the car on Dec 26th. That was my favorite car. I turned 13sec @97mph at Irwindale raceway. The only thing I did was headers, cam sprocket bushing, tarantula intake manifold & 1000 cfm Carter carb. If I would have bought an electric fuel pump I would break my own record for a stock 383. In 1965 NASCAR banned the 426 hemi due to protest from Ford & Chevy. Plymouth was allowed back the following year at NASCAR with restrictor plates unter the carbs to give the less fortunate Fords & Chevy's a chance. In the muscle car era Plymouth & Dodge gave more bang for the buck. Plymouth always outsold Dodge and when Richard Petty switched to Dodge, he lost most of his fan base.
@@robertgardner7470 The 426 HEMI, most especially the 426 Race HEMI is a legend in automotive history. Hemi cars today are going into the 6 figures. Some have hit 7 figures. Which is just insane. '71 HEMI Cuda CONVERTIBLE sold for $3.5 M at Mecum auctions in Seattle-2014. It was a hard sell but the guy got his 3.5 million back in 2014. I just try to imagine what that extremely low production car would be going for today in our inflation ridden economy.
Can't beat the visceral experience of the 307 hp 289 with a Borg Warner 4 speed in 65 Shelby GT 350. Second up is a 69 Camaro RS Z28 Crossram RL8. They just plain sound good.
Nice line-up...hard to believe the 67 Corvette 427/435 H.P. was only honorable mention. And what about the 1970 Ford Torino 428 Cobra Jet. That car was delicious and fast. Anyway, thank you for the lovely beauties you shared with us. All of them were number ones in my Great American Muscle Car Era.
Friend had a 429 SJ bench seats on the column shift. Looked identical to this one but they used flat black paint on the hood not gloss. The flat black looked crummy very quickly. Try to get a laser stripe today. The friend just carried his girl around in it. Never ran it. The SJ means it has stronger rods and a higher redline.
Oh and my dad and I both have 1967 impala ss as well is a switch though, his a butternut yellow black interior ss396 th400 , mines a black on black , ss 427 l-88 second design 4 spd and a power rag top , both buckets and console cars , mines really low mileage, and the l-88 was a dealership fix for a blow 390 Hp 427 , original owner opted for the l-88 , I hit the lottery with my impala 😊
@@redbuick Not under rated...ALL cars back then were OVER RATED with fake GROSS hp numbers...real NET hp was more like 320. The 426 Hemi was 350 hp net, not 425. The 440-6 was 325 net......a 2021 Dodge 5.7 is 375 net...more than any 70's muscle car. Get your numbers right.
Pontiac!!!! In any one of my 442’s & especially my 69 H/O we never had a problem tearing up any GTO or GTO Judge. Chevelle always gave us a good time. A buddy had a 69 Cuda with a 426 Hemi, we ran we were dead even until he hit fourth then that Hemi just came to life
Had the correct combination in a '68 Coronet R/T, 440 cid, Holley 780 dp, 4 speed, Dana 60 4:10. A 150 mph speedometer that was always getting buried. The race was between the gas gauge and the speedometer. My only gripe was with 1/4 tank, it starved itself when accelerating hard. Other than that, the front end came up and we were gone. Good times were had in that car and then my brother rolled it. The tragic end of many muscle cars.
@@bradnimbus4836 Dont need to drive the car to know the axle ratio and top speed Goober....to do 150 mph that car would need a 3:23 rear...impossible to do 150 mph with 4:10.....with 4:10 the engine redline maxes out in top gear at 113 mph...so how are you going to do 150--you are not...and he did not.
@@chadhaire1711 Goober? lol, you're the one making assumptions about his vehicle. What's his redline? Tire diameter? What transmission? My 98 C2500 with a 5.7 Vortec and 4.55 gears will hit 118mph at the redline with a 1:1 ratio. Stop acting like you know what you're talking about and stick to the plastic junk you peddle, ya arrogant little girl.
There were only 69 of the 1969 COPO 9560 Model ZL1 Camaro’s built that had the all aluminum 427. This was different then a 1969 COPO 9561 Model Camaro that would have aluminum headed iron block 427 of which a little over 1000 were made give or take. There is under 20 of the ZL1’s still around.
That’s actually a pretty solid list. I can’t find fault with it, as I’m a pretty well rounded muscle car fan of all 3, well...big 3 but I would add the 1970 440 6-pack challenger somewhere in there. The ‘69 charger I’d say is more iconic than the ‘68 but still a very good list 👍 all beautiful cars and some excellent points made here. I’ll make sure to show this video to me son
Brother Bob, who just retired from Chrysler, owned one of these, a 1970 with TorqueFlite and 4.10 gears. He ran the old Casler slicks of the day. Plum Crazy color and white vinyl roof. His only street race loss stock-for-stock was against his neighbor's 1970 GS Stage 1.
If I could be the right age in 1970, my choice would be the '70 Plymouth AAR 'Cuda, with the 340 6-Pack and a 4-speed with pistol-grip. I would upgrade the cam, add headers, and find a really good welding shop to widen the factory wheels front and rear. I would add the best low-profile tires I could find for handling, and lower the car at least 1 1/2 inches. That would be the car for me, in EM9 Deep Plum, with black stripes and charcoal interior.
I would like to add the original SS. The Super Stock Plymouth Sport fury. Showroom to strip, Mopar low 12,s at 116. Max wedge baby! The Savoy even had aluminum fenders and battery in the trunk and the like. Before the GTO which was a nice car too.
Like some of the lightweight "Swiss Cheese" Pontiacs, Fords & such, this car would go under "Ringers and Other Things" because it wasn't a full production musclecar, which is the thrust of this video. It was a factory race car.
I remember when you could pick up any one of these cars for $800. During the gas crunch they got parked in driveways, garages and back yards and forgotten. I had a line on a Dark Green 1969 Road runner when I was sixteen for only $300 but of course my Pop said nope.
That's because dad was afraid you would've wrapped the damn car round a telephone pole or have killed yourself and possibly your friends or girlfriend in the car. Dad knew how powerfully dangerous those road beasts were.
@@rickbailey189 I have four brothers and two sisters, 66 327 Biscayne. 1968 Mustang, Formula fire birds and trans-ams, 1972 Road Runner 440, 1960 Oldsmobile with a 394 V8 beast, ( This was my Pops car, then my sister and then my oldest brother, she got it back and totaled it after brother went in to service in 1972) You're probably correct on the danger part. lol
In 1976 my neighbor had a 67 Charger with a Hemi in it. I could have bought it for $600 but he wanted $800. My dad said you can't afford the gas for it.
Hoped for a honorable mention of a AMV8 but I get it. Aston Martin V8 was made from 72-90 and held up the muscle car title when the others had long passed or changed. The styling and performance kicked ass all the way through. For a British car it was really amazing to see them making their own muscle car. This is from a guy with a classic Mustang in the garage. :)
@@BuzzLOLOL muscle cars were ramblers converted from factory to be street and track drag machines, not family cars. I never seen a muscle sedan or muscle wagon. As far as American muscle it's always a coupe. A good marketing idea that lead to a cult like following. Has nothing to do with being affordable as some Daytona chargers listed at close to six grand when first sold, which would be close to 50k if sold in today's market.
You call the gto affordable I say the 70 OLDS holiday coupe is the best with a 455 producing over 300hp at the wheels and a 6 thousand revolutions per minute redline
Classic American muscles will be forever inherited and remembered,always.known for their sheer power and gargantuan bodies,they are the kings of the asphalt.
Very odd. No mention of Motor Trends No.1 pick for the fastest car of 1970. _The Buick GSX._ But then again, which one is "Top" is a completely subjective standard. (personal favourite)
I'm also in my 70's and grew up in Southern Cal and ALSO (shoutout to LR) drove and/or owned most of these cars back when they were NEW:) I'll echo his comments on the Buick GS series...BUT, there were damned few guys qualified to properly tune em, AND, they seemed more 'genteel' than the average young stud 'ponycar' standards of the time:) Now, contrast Shelby's 500, which was a BRUTE, and drove like it, getting my vote for near the top MOST uncomfortable Pony, almost a tie with the Hemi Cuda., ...definitely NOT GT types (Gran Touring). As for straight, in-line go...well my bro had a 396 Chevelle (or maybe NOVA, like I said I'm old:) with the solid lifter motor and a 3 speed manual. He had little difficulty doing mid 12's with street tires, at California's 'Orange County Raceway', however, same problem, thing was a beast to drive...his had NO power steering, and a MONSTER clutch that could give you a 'charlie horse' cramp at a stoplight LOL. One of my buddies' dad, got him a Boss 302, good handling car but a pain to get in and out of (I'm tall) and my own vehicle could take him, both in a straight light to light walk, and more importantly , out on the highway in the 'twisties'. Also, the Plymouth Road Runners, in various iterations, were also notable :) Lots of 'back seat' room for those weekend 'dates' :), AND, relatively light and whiz-bang performance with the 383. Road "handling"? well, not so much. The Hemi(or was it the 440 version), at least to me, drove like an extremely 'bloodthirsty' truck LOL. Finally, when it came to me, well, I had two I REALLY liked, the big motor Lincoln Cougar (luxo barge, but FAST), and the elegantly beautiful GTO. Problem with the Cougar, you almost had to literally pull the engine to change the spark plugs...jesus christ! My sky blue GTO" on the otherhand, was one of the most pleasant to drive and reliable cars out there, along with LR's BUICK GS series. Probably the most 'civilized' Ponies, available, yet still fast as hell. Mine had the 400 "over the top" 'tunnel port' motor, the new monster strong auto, and the Hurst "bang/screech" slotted shifter, as well as a remarkably good Limited slip type differential. This was one ELEGANT vehicle, and compared to almost all the other's, a true representation of the 'Gran Tourismo' ideal, besides looking like a work of art. There's a reason they sell for HUGE amounts these days. Now, how good was it? Glad you asked:) OK, since the statute of limitations has loooong run out, I can tell you , that coming back from UCLA to Orange County, one night at about 11pm, as I was nearing my then residence east of Orange, I dropped down to 1st and HIT THE GAS in order to clean out the carbs, and try to blow a little soot out the exhausts (I'd been in Heavy traffic and peeps on the fwy's traveled a LOT slower back then, than they do now :) Anyway, as I blasted up the darkened street by my old High School, to my BIG surprise, it was like the lights coming up in a stadium for a nighttime pro football game!!!!! I mean to tell you, the ENTIRE parking lot was FULL of the local PD vehicles from several nearby jurisdictions, including the Orange County Sheriffs. What the hell they were doing there I had NO idea, and had NO intention of hanging round to find out, so I TOOK OFF:) and, as ONE, ALL with their 'christmas trees' lit up, they 'surged' out after me in FULL PURSUIT!!!. Anticipating the worst possible result of capture:), I killed my own lights (darkened my license plate), slammed into 2nd (remember "Bang/Screech?" lol) screamed into the next intersection (no street lights here) pulled a full speed, tire squealing, drifting left turn and driving by moon light, accellerated HARD up the straight and led about 10 to 15 of the patrol cars towards a maze of winding, hilly roads which I knew by heart:) Short story, there was ONE 'particular, reverse camber right hand turn a few blocks up this rather wide, straight section, and these LONG wheelbase, swoopy ass '429' engined sedans (sorry forgot the model EDIT- now i remember, the Torino:) failed to take their 1. front/rear weight bias, wheelbase, and speed, into account and as I cleared the curve and gunned out onto the straight, I could literally see their lights began to literally 'roll' as, I think 3 of em, rolled down the reverse crown and into the dirt berm which almost literally exploded into a huge cloud of dirt, dust, and debris- which obscured the rest of the 'pack' from my view:) I, on the other hand, unobstructed, roared off, took a big right, across a small flat section then up and past Feliciano's (yes THAT Jose Feliciano:) hill top estate, powered along the ridge, then pulled into an orchard adjacent to the farmhouse of a friend of mine's, stopped behind some trees, opened the hood (to let the heat escape more quickly) then locked it up, and legged it through the trees to a nearby hilltop where I could watch the proceedings below me:) Well needless to say, it took a bit before the 'dust cleared' and the "Leo's" recovery trucks and 'winch on' flat beds arrived, and to my surprise it wasn't more than 3 minutes or so later, before I could several different police cars crisscrossing the valley's maze like roads below, presumably searching for my sorry ass LOL. One actually came up the same road, and I watched it go by the Orchard entrance, with its 'pusuit' lights still lit, but no sirens (wouldn't do to have some of the esteemed local residents disturbed that late at night:) Anyway, I stayed put for about 3 hours (to make SURE they'd given up), quietly approached my car and circled it to ensure no one was waiting for me. I nearly pissed myself, when a dark sedan with its headlights off, turned onto the same orchard road and rolled slowly and VERY quietly in my direction, however, it stopped closer to the house, the driver's side door opened, he got out, walked around, opened the passenger side and a girl I knew (rather well in fact;) got out, they embraced, and while they kissed, he grabbed her ass and held on LOL. Then he got back into the car and VERY quietly and slowly, reversed out and drove slowly away, all without lights. When I glimpsed his face as he got back into his car, , I was SOOOOO shocked.! I had NO idea (and neither did anyone else for that matter) that this man was seeing this barely out of high school girl on the sly...:) It's always amazed me how often young married teachers can go ''astray'!!!!! Well, needless to say, a night to remember, and for a LOT more peeps than just me. They never 'caught' me, or even came round 'investigating', AND I took a different set of roads home for several months just to make sure:) The local PD, however, soon changed their cars, and I got drafted, and went off to war..but THAT's a whole different story:( Gave my GTO into the care of my brother, he failed to change out the drive chain when the service manual called for it, and subsequently blew up that magnificent motor:( When I got back, well I wasn't thinking about muscle cars so much... Anyway, now you know what that GTO could REALLY do.... "Gran Tourismo" for the WIN!!!
Great story! Well worth the read. Thank you for sharing. Closest I ever came to anything like that was the "almost purchase" of a car in 1971. An accident had deprived me of my ride (a 1959 Studebaker Commander with a 259 V8). Shopping for a replacement took me to the closest used car lot on the same block where I lived. There it was! A 1967 Plymouth GTX with a dual-4 426 Hemi, factory 4-speed, and Hurst shifter. All for $3995 Canadian. I ended up buying the 1966 Dodge Coronet 318 automatic beside it (Wonderful set of glass-pacs on it!). My reasoning? I wanted that GTX soooo bad, but I figured A). I'd likely kill myself with that much power. and B). I knew I was going to be moving about 30 miles away from work and the gas bill, at 12 to 13 MPG, would kill me financially. I do occasionally wonder though; if I'd been able to buy that thing, and put it away in storage, what it would be worth today? Bet it would be worth enough to buy a really REALLY good dinner at McDonalds huh?
@@22942 I remember those cars...a well set up 318 could make that little bugger FLY!! Oh, speaking of Studebakers,, I had a class mate who's dad had an Avanti? He took me for a 'demo' ride once and I swore to never get into another for the rest of my life!!!! I believe it had a 'breathed on" 305, manual, limited Slip, and this fellow could REALLY drive....scared the hell out of me. :)
from what i have seen in my days, yes the buick GS/GSX was a real sleeper, from my experience the daytona charger did not sell because it was toooooooo radical to be a street car and most guys i talked to hated them and only purists like them because they are very rare today. as an old guy the 60s started a lot of stuff in cars and music, todays cars may be more modern but give me a 60s car any day
That Daytona did do a number on the ovals where they were made for. Dogs in the 1/4 mile but would fly when on an open road. Just don't open the headlights up past 120 mph. Don't ask just believe me....not pretty..
i have no doubt of that fact, i had a friend who had a plain jane 76 fairlane with a nascar engine in it and at 100 plus he had to worry about the front end coming up and i know a guy who had a 68 charger and he had the back axle gears welded which in a strait line was okay but he took a corner at 120 and the car went sideways into a tree and that was the end of him and his car. doing high speed is not to be played with and my roommate had an olds he did up and he was going veeeeeeeeeery fast and when the cops finally caught up with him they took the car and that was it. when i watch the vids dealing with super car drivers and watch them smash up showing off it obvious that common sense is not so common anymore but egos rule.
1969 Hurst/Olds, the ONLY GM A body car that had a 455 engine in 1969. Olds got around GM's rule limiting the A Body cars to 400 C.I. by having the Hurst Shifting Company install a modified 455 engine. It would eat a 1969 GTO Ram Air IV Judge for lunch. The 1969 Hurst/Olds was so fast that Chevy, Pontiac and Buick complained, causing GM to lift the ban in 1970 allowing all GM A bodies to have 455s or 454 (Chevy Chevelle). So you can thank Olds for getting GM to allow the biggest big blocks in the 1970 and beyond A body cars.
Olds had their 455 in the 68 H/O, and it was later revealed the 455 was actually installed on the factory assembly line. Also, Hurst designed/engineered the model, but they were assembled by Olds' longtime skunkworks contractor, Demmer Engineering. And once GM lifted the 400 CI limit on their intermediates for 1970, Buick took their "iron fist in a velvet glove" GS Stage 1 and spanked EVERYBODY'S ass in the quarter mile.
They are all awesome cars but for me the 1969 Mustang Boss 429 is number 1
Thats a pony car not muscle car. As I'm assuming most of the cars in this video are gunna be
@@MF11283 they have chapters so you don't have to watch the whole thing
I can’t really argue with you
I totaly agree
Feel you bro. Ford Pinto for me.
I'm 73 years old and grew up around ALL of these cars and remember them very well and also how they REALLY ran on the strip when stock. I was THERE. So, it was no surprise that the 1970 Stage 1 GS/GSX was not mentioned here. They were (and are) rare and were very lightly promoted by Buick, if at all. However, the GS Stage 1 ran way better than the sum of their parts would indicate. And unlike the Hemi's of the day, RA IV Pontiacs, LS6 Chevelle's, COPO 427's, 440+6 Mopar's, Boss 429 or Super Cobra Jet Fords, Boss 302's, 1967-71 Z-28's, etc. etc.... a Stage 1 GS could be ordered with a/c! The engine was that streetable,.
So why wasn't the '70 GS Stage 1 included here? Simple. It was because: (1) few people who voted here really know anything about the 1970 GS Stage 1, not to mention ever owned one or raced against one stock for stock and (2) very few people who "voted" are Buick muscle car enthusiasts. It seemed that few GS guys ever raced their cars at the strip and thus lacked basic dragstrip etiquette in how to drive them or even decently tune one.
Back in 1971 at the Gainesville, FL Raceway, when all of these cars were new, I saw several GS Stage 1's outrun nearly about all of the so-called Top 10 muscle cars shown here. I remember that the now-deceased 18-year track manager "Bob" used to laugh about that when it happened because he liked it when such underdogs took out the more highly touted models.
Yeah, a Buick 455 Stage 1 engine is a glorious beast. But go back a few to the Buick WIldcat 425 a very quiet sleeper that left the line with competitors jaws on the floorboards.
@@AndrewArndts Yes, I love the old "nail-heads". Sad that more aren't used in current street rods. But today it's all about availability and cheap parts and NOT about cool uniqueness.
Spot on!. I grew up on Woodward Ave in the late 60's early 70's and bought a brand new Camaro SS when I was 16. I got my first GS in 1980 and never heard of it before. I traded a Honda 450 bike for a '70 GS Stage 1 ragtop with 28K on it. Go figure. From that day forward I was sold on GS's and have owned many many more. I'm 70 now and just bought a '66 Skylark with a 455, stage 2 aluminum heads, roller rockers, Big Mutha Thumper cam, 4:11 9" Ford rear and Gear Vendors OD to just mention a couple speed goodies - a low 11 second car. Some of us kids never grow up. Buicks rule
@@albundyrocks2115 Thanks for the story and memories. Being an old-timer like me, I see that you know what you're talking about. BTW, 2022 GS Nationals, Bowling Green, KY. A Buick muscle car Mecca.
Buick
I was fortunate enough to grow up in the muscle car era with a Dad that was a gear head and taught me from an early age how to drive and respect the automobile. I had several cars that I wish I still owned now. Even though they may not have made this muscle car list, they were still awesome automobiles and I was fortunate to own them if for just a short time! (1961 Bubble Top Impala with factory 283 power pack option, 1964 Ford Galaxie XL with 390 Police Interceptor engine, 1969 Ford Mach I with 428 Cobra Jet, 1967 Ford 390 GTA Fastback Mustang, 1970 Ford Torino GT 2-door Fastback with 351 Cleveland)
Same here.
1964 Pontiac GTO 389CI 348HP
1969 Pontiac Firebird 400ci
1969 Ford mustang mach 1
1969 Ford mustang GT500
1969 Chevy camaro z28
1962 Chevy Impala $$ 409ci
1970 Chevy chevelle ss 454
My friends dad had the 64 pontiac. He raced it behind this dads back. He said he never lost a race.
Nice.
My dad bought me an E-body Barracuda going into 1977, my Junior year of high school. I still have it..... Love those old school Mopars...
In 1967 my family had the following 3 cars:
DAD: 1964 Pontiac Bonneville 2 dr coupe with 421 c.i. V8 3 2 barrel carbs and a (no cost) option 4:10 rear end.
ME: 1963 Corvette Stingray convertible 327 c.i. originally with solid lifter 340 HP motor, but had been replaced by a 1964 365 HP Holley 4 bbl carbed 327. Car had close ratio 4 spd and a 4:11 rear end.
TWIN BROTHER: 1967 Shelby GT 500 428 c.i. 355 HP, 2 Holley 4bbl vacuum actuated carbs w/ Hurst 4spd tranny and Detroit Locker rear diff. The 355 HP was vastly underrated.
Gas was $.25 per gallon for premium.
Bunch of cool cars, especially the GT500
😁💋lol
Wow - 3 great cars. My Dad had a 1967 Shelby GT500 with C6 auto that i could beat 4 speed Gt500's. Why ? Little known Fact - the C6 Auto in the 67 GT500 was a Factory Spec C6 from the ford 427 Fairline Drag Car that ford built( special order only). Ford sent out their C6 to a specialty shop to beef up the C6 to handle the HP of their 427 drag engine. I think this might have been the first performance automatic in a production car. By leaving it in Automatic using the brake/ pushing on the gas pedal and then releasing it- it I would burn a few feet of rubber go up to about 5500 RPM( 42+ or - MPH) shift burning a few more feet of rubber - then go up to about 80+ and chirp the tires shifting into 3rd gear and just keep pulling very strongly. I got home from the Army in April 1969 and was disappointed went I saw the C6 Auto in my Dad's 67 GT500 but was surprised when I Drove it. With progressive linkage on the 2 Holly 600 carbs you only drove on one but when got on it and the 2nd one kicked - Wow. And setting in our Garage next to the GT500 was my 1969 Kawasaki Mach III the Fastest production at that time - First Stock Motorcycle to break 100mph in Quarter Mile.
Gotta say bro had the best car haha
What a time to be alive (and white)
What about the Buick GSX? At the end of the muscle car era it had the best 1/4 mile time of all.
Hi Rick Performance-wise, the "good stuff" included in the GSX package could be ordered on a GS. I did just that, but neither wanted nor could afford the cosmetic pieces. I wanted more of a "sleeper" anyway.
It had the most torque of any stock produced car until the Viper
That’s not true. Other stock set ups ran lower times. 69 Ram Air 4 with the 4.33 rearend ran in mid 12’s.
@@kennycamaro2361 Kenny, this topic could be "debated" ad infinitum from those 52+ yr. old muscle car mags of day. So the point is that all of this is mere speculation. BTW, you won't find any vintage magazine "road tests" from those days to verify what you say. I've got all of those old mags and I challenge you to find ANY magazine of the day that showed a stock 1969-70 Ram Air 4 GTO with its stock 3.91's (or even the 4.33's) that even ran mid 13's. BTW, you'll find that none were ever tested with 4.33's.
I agree, they definitely should have listed that. Gnx has the reputation of being the last muscle car. Although some cars in Australia disagree, I feel the same. They should have mentioned the gnx turbo t type or grand national.
Had a 1965 GTO for my first car
389.with a single 4 Barrel with approximately 335 HP was fun to drive, however, I also had a 3 duce manifold that took approximately 30 minutes to swap out and the horsepower went to 360 horsepower.
So easy to work on cars back then.
Usually takes 30 minutes to drain out the antifreeze.
I had a 400 firebird my Dad and I put together.
The one and only Muscle Car I ever owned.
It must have been a blast to have grown up with these cars.
A lot of these cars were on their second owners when I was a teen in the 70's. Unfortuently a lot of them also got destroyed then by kids that didn't know how to handle them. That said we are in a great age now too with stock Mustang Gts putting out 460 HP and the top of the line cars putting out over 700hp. These cars will do more than go in a straight line too. Enjoy it while it lasts because the government is going to ruin it all again in a few years just like they did in the 70s.
The problem with growing up with these cars is that you are too young and too poor to afford them.
Owners tended to be older. Although they were cheap by todays standards people made a lot less money. Corvettes seemed to only be owned by middle age family men. I was mainly into fast motorcycles but friends had most of these cars. Lots of street racing. Bikes were faster. The 454 Chevelle was absolutely brutal. It would fling you around inside like a toy. But they were also heavy. Todays hot rods are much faster. The quickness of the car is determined by the craziness of the driver. Had a friend with a 64 Mustang who was just insane. Insurance costs were and are very high. Yeah, kids could'nt afford these cars then. The kid whose dad owned the AMC dealer got a new 401 AMX every year.
@@scottyV1000 They were very cheaply built cars with mediocre engineering. They were not expected to last long. But they were fun.
It was
What happened to the 442's?
Thought the same!
@@garypic4083 then you must not know cars
Grandma took it to the knitting bee
@@garypic4083 No
Just not that cool
Loved the video. We can all debate the particular order and include a dozen other cars - but it was nice seeing some of the greatest muscle every built. TY
Love this episode ❤️
Yup
I really enjoyed this. These are beautiful cars. I really love the black 429 Mustang and that 396 Camero is amazing looking.
Thanks for this.
Always had a sweet spot for the old school xr7 cougars
Got my high school car (67 Cougar) back 43 years after I sold it!
I owned a 67 Mercury Cougar, Teal green w/289 4 speed manual!
my job is restoring all kinds of 67-70 cougars, they’re so freaking sick!
My all-time favorite car is the ‘70 Cuda.
I had a 69 Z28 like the hugger orange rally sport you showed. It ran 13.96 pure stock, 12.80 with headers, bars, and 5.13 gears. Later with a L88 it ran 10.90s , never had problems with any Hemi, 428s, 440s, 455s or just about anything else on the street. The L88 is now in my 60 Corvette with a 4.88 Olds rear, ladder bars, 400 turbo. Best was 10.60s back in 1975. The Vette was my first car I had ever bought. I managed to keep it when I went to Viet Nam and will keep it till I die. Currently I’m putting a 509W motor with twin turbos in it. I’m 74 now and I will never grow up when it comes to loud and fast cars.
I know what you mean Bill. I had a 69 with a 396 and built.. Ran real well till I crashed out. Then somehow I found the A body Mopar bug 440. 10:80 time Your new project sounds really fantastic. I'm 60 now and just been building motion simulators but in the mood for a turbo something.. A nice project to work on.. DMAX motion sim ch
Stay young at heart my friend and enjoy that Corvette!
Wow, a pure stock '69 Z/28 with headers running 12.80? That would have been a NHRA class record holder.
Bill Ellers, if your '69 Z/28 had headers, bars, and 5:13 gears, it was NOT "pure stock." My '69 Boss 302 Mustang used to eat '67-'69 Z/28's for snacks. Average times were 13.1-13.3. A few 12.8's. It was 100% "pure stock" and had 4:30 rear gears (on the strip) and 3:50 gears (on the street). I bought it new, all options, at TASCA Ford and I still have it today. I raced it Memorial Day Weekend 2021 in NH and best time was 12.7. Same event, I raced my '57 Ford Custom 2dr sedan that has a de-stroked Ford 427 in it. Best time was 9.8. It's street legal as well. That car won three class championships back in the early 70's and it's still badass today. You can keep all the "bowties." Fords have always done me better than any "bowties" I ever had.
@@sergeantmasson3669 That's quite impressive, Sergeant. It's true that some folks have their own definition of "Pure Stock". I have here the 1986 Muscle Car Review annual covering the various "shootouts" they did in late 1984 and 1985, including the infamous 1970 GS Stage 1 vs. the 1970 GTX Hemi. . This 1986 Annual recapped them all. Another one of these "shootouts" they covered was a 1970 Boss 302 vs. a 1969 Z/28. This was on a Florida drag strip with stock type tires. They called the match-up a basic "draw" after neither car could get out of the 15's at around 95 mph.
Personally the roadrunner is my favorite car of all time
I can respect that 👌
Everyone has their favorite mine was the 1970 Chevelle super sport LS6 454 with 450 horsepower black with white racing stripes cowl induction and Hood pins sometimes I think I might have changed the color to Red with black racing stripes when I see it in most pictures but the greatest cars I had the only thing that would supersede that was my LT1 motion Corvette 1970 Orange fire mist motion performance made the fastest cars on the East Coast with tea top I still would love to have back my 66 GTO
In 1966 I had a GTO "Royal Bobcat" it was fast but I was beat by a 1969 Roadrunner so I sold the GTO and bought a 1969 Roadrunner with the 440 6pac and never looked back. I wonder which one would be worth more today.
@@bogart281 should have bought an LS6 454 1970 Chevelle that would have blown both of your doors off and we would just go beep beep as you breathe in my high octane exhaust
@@joelbell9082 Actually Joel the RR would have crushed the elephant. In the muscle car era the top 5 cars were #1 a 66 Cobra 12.20 @ 118 mph, #2 was the 66 Corvette 427 12.80 @ 112 mph, #3 69 Roadrunner 440 w six pack 12.91 @ 111.8 mph, #4 70 Cuda hemi, and dragging up last was the SS 454 Chevelle 13.12 @ 107.01. You can go pick up your doors on your way out.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ULTIMATE TORQUE MONSTER'S BUICK GS STAGE 1 AND THE OLDS 442 W 30 . 500 FT LB PLUS OF TORQUE @ LIKE 3200 RPM. 68 HURST OLDS 0 - 60 MPH IN 5.3 SEC.
The 1970 Olds 4-4-2 W-30 with 4-speed may have been the craziest packaging ever. Because of the 328 degree duration cam, there was insufficient vacuum to power the required disc brakes. Exercise that Popeye leg!
@@danareynolds1786 Few people even know what you're talking about. If the W30 got that cam, power disc brakes could not be ordered for the reason you mention. I know because I had one!
You are correct, sir.
Not Bad, Honorable Mention"s Helped, Maybe Top 12 + Honorable Mention"s, Definitely Agree With ## Number 1 !!!! Can"t Believe 70 - 71 Challenger RT. Did Not Make Even Honorable Mention !!!!....
10:45 my dream muscle Car!?
Good job on your presentation! I was 12 years old and remember two of my neighbors had 67,68 Stingrays, bright red! My aunt had the 65 GTO, that sounded so nice! Two of my uncles had a Charger and a Dodge R/T. My favorite for some reason back then was the 1966 Chevelle Super Sport 396. I’m glad I grew up during that era, the best Cars, best Music, best TV shows, and Mini Skirts! Lol
WOW! I probably watch 1,000 videos a year, but this one is clearly the best. I am 66 years old, so I was familiar with every one of these gems. Thank you, a super bunch, for a GREAT video!!
So in love 😻 with muscle cars 👋😁
My 10 favorites are:
1. 1970 GSX Stage 1
2. 1969 GTO Bobcat
3. 1969 442 Hurst
4. 1970 Chevelle LS6
5. 1970 Baldwin Motion Camaro RS/SS Phase III
6. 1970 Cyclone Spoiler
7. 1969 Boss 429
8. 1969 S/C Rambler
9. 1971 ‘Cuda
10. 1970 Challenger R/T
The stage 1 was the most powerful passenger car ever built . Only out done by the 67 Stingray which was a 2 seater .
My dream car , the 70 Chevelle made the list .. actually got a chance to own one. i still remember the day I picked it up . Great video !
396 or 454? Muncie 4sp?
I don’t know if the Buick Grand National would be considered a classic or modern muscle car, but they’d get my vote. That turbo V6 would hurt all sorts of big V-8 feelings and have all the creature comforts doing it.
An underappreciated honorable mention is any of the mid to late 60s Buick Rivieras. I had a 63, a 64, and a 70..
But the 66 with the 465 wildcat nailhead motor, bucket seats, positive traction; just a fun car to drive. Plus the steep w shaped batmobile looking nose wasn't hard to look at.
That's what I love about the movie "Roadhouse" with Patrick Swayze.
The 69 Camaro ZL1 is top dog for me, followed by the 70 Chevelle SS, 70 Boss 429, 70 Buick GSX, 69 Camaro Z/28, 69 Mach 1, 69 GTO Judge, 69 Trans Am, 70 Trans Am and 71 Cuda.
YAH gotta take off the stock manifold and install the Crossram one they give you in the trunk of a RL8 to get the right effect.
Olds 442 W-30 beat all those back in the day😉
When I was 17, my working class dad got lucky rich in the stock market, and so bought me a 1971 Dodge Demon 340 RT, 4 speed, blue with ralley wheels. I was an exceptional kid who treated my car with care and respect, unlike practically all of my contemporaries who raced and wrecked and beat the 1969-era muscle cars into the wrecking yards, generally in 6 months or less. I remember as a teenager, going to the wrecking yards, where there was row after row of smashed up Mustangs, Camaros, Firebirds, Chargers, what would make today's collectors cry
didnt make a 71 R/T demon
the demon was a package for the dart
I'm a Ford/Chevy guy but your #1 rocks!!! My dream car is a triple black convertible 1970 Hemi Cuda!!!!
Failed to mention the best;
1970 Buick GSX!
The best, not just failed to mention in my book.
1972, I was ten years old. My Little League baseball coach had a SuperBird, my best friends older brother had a LS6 454 SS Chevelle, my dads friend had a 67 StingRay 427 tri-power, the man across the street worked for Chrysler and every year he had a different Mopar monster!. 68 Charger, 69 RoadRunner, 70 Cuda. My baseball coaches son had a 428 Mach1. All within a block of our house in Romulus Michigan. Worth over a million dollars today.
So in love 😻 with muscle cars 👋😁
Burt Reynolds has a Question.
I love my vintage Corvette...nothing better than taking it for the first rip in the spring!!
Lol 😁 vintage Corvette is nice but I love the mustang
I think an honorable mention would be 1969 Mercury Cougar 428 CJ Eliminator!
69 Ford Mustang Mach 1 , 70 Shelby , 65 Comet Cyclone , 69 Camaro, 69 Plymouth Road Runner, 70 Plymouth Duster , 70 Dodge Dart, 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 ,1972 Dodge Charger , 1970 Dodge Coronet Super Bee 440 six pack.
and any 2021 Dodge Charger with bone stock 5.7 can match or beat them.....LOL
I am that age that I owned a bunch of muscle cars, from a 68 GTO to a 72 cuda
and more in between. I am grateful to have been able to own and drive these special muscle cars !!
My first car was a 66' mustang that I dropped a 302 into. Also had a 69' Dodge Dart GTS 340 & a 71' Dodge Charger RS 383
You don't know where to put apostrophes.
The Plymouth 340 Duster was a real street sleeper. It gave my 68 396/375 Camaro all it could handle but I won
I never hear about what may have been a concept car, but it caught my attention back in 1970. It was the AMX/3. It was a mid-engine car with a lot of interesting features. It might be something for your show to look into.
Were you in the ia drang valley
I've driven a true mid-engine car ....the Pontiac Fiero, and have owned one for over 30 years. My current 88 V6 5-speed I bought six years ago with only 20K on it. Because it was the last year made, the dealer placed it on his showroom floor for seven years, then took if for his own personal driver, moved it to Florida and drove it only when he was on vacation...and I'm now 81. Still ride a motorcycle though.
A one-off indeed. Supposedly an unfinished prototype in many ways but used as an AMC concept car for the Chicago Auto Show where some manufacturers displayed "unfinished" prototypes ... most often cobbled together but functional-appearing interiors. Of course, this video is about production musclecars.
That was basically a Pantera with AMX body and engine...
@@LR-my2di 6 fully functional AMX/3s were built. Where did you get your "facts" from?????
Number one for me would have to be the 1969 Mustang Boss 429. Its always been my untouchable dream car..
slow slow slow stock 14.1 slow
@@chadhaire1711strong engine just detuned far to much for the street. But with that said I don't care it is my dream car..
@@allenallen5005 2022 Mustang GT will smoke the 429.....looks just as good.....
@@chadhaire1711options vary. To me a new mustang doesn't even compare. Again I don't care how fast either are.
@@allenallen5005 The new Mustang is superior in every way.....BOSS 429 had shit build quality, rust bucket construction, slow, weak brakes, crap handling, poor reliability, and gas guzzler.....the newer Mustang V-8 is better in every way...you are right..NO COMPARISON. Newer is better......perhaps if you didn't subscribe and spend time to watch 129 youtube channels, you would have time to know about cars.....
Between the cars and all the product placement, this is like watching one huge commercial.
The very first car I ever bought I was 12
And it was a 68 Roadrunner that I bought for 80 bucks
What memories,my first car was a 64 gto,389 tripower,but automatic.it was a blast!
When I was 19 I bought a 1970 Plymouth Road Runner. Blue Fire, 727TF, 383Mag. I hope the RR makes this list.
jealous. 70 RR and the 67 GTO were tied for my favorite cars ever for the longest time
It's a beautiful car, perfectly designed, and even today, it remains unbeatable
I love how he said the 428 cobra was listed at 335 Hp but was really 400+. This is absolutely true, especially with hemis. My mom had a 69’ Torino gt 428 cobra jet hit 507 hp with full exhaust and gears!
Probably had Boss heads.
Neck breaking acceleration on the old bench seats.
@@JD-ir5fj boss heads only fit the 429.
Great vid!!!!!!!!!!!! 👍👍👍👍
The muscle era began in 1962 with the introduction of the B Body Max Wedge cars from Chrysler, a full two years before the under powered GTO. And ended with the apex predator the 1968 426 Hemi Barracuda which still holds the SS/A ET and mph records today.
As bad ass as the 426 Hemi was, the 426 Wedge was only a half step behind.
That re1/4 MILE RECORDS - SUPER STOCK ELIMINATOR
Class E.T. Speed Date Driver/Car Location
SS/AH 8.48 156.84 10/14/2018 Rich Locker - North Royalton, OH Brownsburg, IN
SS/A 8.56 155.92 10/14/2018 Ray Paquet - Holt, MI Brownsburg, record is actually in SS/AH, the H is for Hemi. They had to give the Hemis their own class because no one else could compete with them heads on.
@@zubitron5 = SS/AH record is 8.22 @160 by Gary Wolkwitz
@@zubitron5 - I know, I had a '64 Plymouth Max Wedge
@@zubitron5 NOT STOCK--who cares
More HMs: the Oldsmobile 442, Ford Torino Kong Cobra, Chevrolet Nova SS 396, AMC Rebel Machine, and my favorite, Mercury Cougar Eliminator 428 SCJ.
No GSX Buick or a W30 Olds I demand a recount lol
I agree, but there will be no recount. You see, most voters had no clue in the first place about a GSX Stage 1 or W30.
That's just crazy isn't it
if i ever win the lottery, i'm buying a 1970 Chevelle SS day one!
I remember 1969 very well. My cousin had red 68, 428 CJ Torino and liked going after Mopars on the streets. My other cousin had a 69, 429 Cyclone with huge Micky Thompsons on the rear, his Speed Shop buddies made the mill really hot for that era in the 1/4 mile.
My cousin had a '71 Cyclone with a 351 Cleveland. He surprised a lot of people with that monster. Especially big block GM's.
Thanks Tommy.
I had a 69' RR 383. Owned it about 13 years in the 70s into mid 80s. My current ride is a 17 Super Sport Camaro 6 speed manual.😁
When I was stationed at Ft. Sill, OK. in 1971, I purchased a 1969 Dodge Dart GTS with a 383 4bb, with a Hurst 4 speed. I had headers put on it and it was fast. But then I got sent to Germany and drove it home to Virginia for storage. Well, my dad went and sold it to pay bills and I've never seen another one like it. And it never makes any lists.
My first car was a 1968 SS Camaro L-78 396/375 New with just about every option it was only around 3,000.00 bucks. Now today's cars have options that cost more than that. I later added Hooker headers and all kinds of hi perf engine options. Still wish I had it.
and min wage was $1.25---so what. Newer cars dont cost much more with inflation.....can you do math???
I didn't get to vote, but for me it's the 1987 Buick Grand National. One never talked about is the first muscle car made, which is the 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88
It was a great time for gear heads, but I will say this!! What’s old is new again!! These days the muscle cars running around are unbelievable, the horsepower and torque numbers are mind blowing!! America 🇺🇸 no one does it better!!‼️🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿
Savor the flavor... Fossil fuels are going away. Pisses me off
The sound, feel and driving experience of raw manual handling and power can't be matched.
New cars are beast, but they drive you more.
Internal combustion doesn't run on fossil fuels alone. Plenty options like hho natural gas hot vapors even Stirling. It's technically an air pump, plenty air around. Ps it's a motor not an engine btw.
@@dickdastardly8150
Thanks "expert"..😒
Time to quit drinking..
In the 70s, all 396 Camaro owners added big meats, traction bars and a lift package to the rear end to handle all that torque.
I've owned 83 vehicles so far and the only one I ever dream about was my 1969 Judge that I bought when it was 1 year old. Added Torker intake with Holley spread bore and Thrush mufflers, ADDCO swaybars, J60 tires, Metallic brakes to compliment the original 4 sp Muncie Rockcrusher and 4:11 posi.
1???????
The conversations about which car to choose. In my opinion it’s all about Love❤, with me Love ❤️ comes first always and love ❤️ always has the right of way.
1-9-7-0 was the zenith(pinnacle) year for the muscle car era. The body styles were the hottest and the engines were the most powerful.
69 imo but that 24 months are undeniable
I'd say 1971. Boss 351 is a legendary engine.
Super nice👍🚘
1970 Buick GSX and Olds 442 are also worthy of mention. Both shared the same roofline with the '70 Chevelle. The swept back look is not easy to like when considering the stereotypical 'boxy' looking muscle car...but the '70 models were better equipped (incl ac). The 1970 Ford Torino Cobra Jet (sitting on his shop floor) is also worthy of mention.
Skylarks and wildcats too
318 rockets
Trans ams and cheetahs
Knock off chevelles and u forgot one the GTO also a chevelle knock off and skylark which is basically a gsx all chevelle knock offs
I am a 70-year-old woman. My first car at 18 was a 1968 Plymouth GTX. 440 with a 4-speed hurst. After that..... A 70 GTO, 75 Chevy laguna, Buick grand nation, Hurst cutlass, 88 turbo coupe thunderbird, 89 Iroc-z 350-5.7, 2002 Corvette.Got married wishing for a hellcat.
You're lucky you didn't kill yourself in that 68 GTX. 375 horses. I'll bet it ran very strong. 2 much HP!
@@rickbailey189 No kidding! 135 MPH in third gear! I loved the rumbling sound it made while idling. At 8 miles per gallon, it would sit in the garage today.
@@judithbishop993 Judy, can you remember how much you or your dad paid for the 68 GTX? You obviously were quite aware what a fast car was since you were a teen just looking at the line up cars you mentioned above.
@@rickbailey189 Yes Ricky, It was bought at Waynesboro,
va. Crysler Plymouth In 1969 Used. Was 18,000 miles on it. The price 2,400.00. Unreal right. All that torque on 15 polyglass tires with the rubber half gone. Long live Mopar!
I sure would have thought that the Dodge Dart would have at least made an honorable mention. Offering everything from a slant six to a Hemi, the 340 GTS was my favorite and the drag strip was full of them. : (
True
It was in '63 that the Dodge Dart was demonstrated at my high school. It did one long & continuous wheel stand. It had a 426 race hemi engine. Later in 1967 I rode passenger in my father's Plymouth w/383 engine. I was convinced that I wanted a high performance Plymouth. In November 1969 I ordered a '70 Road Runner (built in L.A.) I received the car on Dec 26th. That was my favorite car. I turned 13sec @97mph at Irwindale raceway. The only thing I did was headers, cam sprocket bushing, tarantula intake manifold & 1000 cfm Carter carb. If I would have bought an electric fuel pump I would break my own record for a stock 383. In 1965 NASCAR banned the 426 hemi due to protest from Ford & Chevy. Plymouth was allowed back the following year at NASCAR with restrictor plates unter the carbs to give the less fortunate Fords & Chevy's a chance. In the muscle car era Plymouth & Dodge gave more bang for the buck. Plymouth always outsold Dodge and when Richard Petty switched to Dodge, he lost most of his fan base.
@@robertgardner7470 The 426 HEMI, most especially the 426 Race HEMI is a legend in automotive history. Hemi cars today are going into the 6 figures. Some have hit 7 figures. Which is just insane. '71 HEMI Cuda CONVERTIBLE sold for $3.5 M at Mecum auctions in Seattle-2014. It was a hard sell but the guy got his 3.5 million back in 2014. I just try to imagine what that extremely low production car would be going for today in our inflation ridden economy.
Can't beat the visceral experience of the 307 hp 289 with a Borg Warner 4 speed in 65 Shelby GT 350. Second up is a 69 Camaro RS Z28 Crossram RL8. They just plain sound good.
Nice line-up...hard to believe the 67 Corvette 427/435 H.P. was only honorable mention. And what about the 1970 Ford Torino 428 Cobra Jet. That car was delicious and fast. Anyway, thank you for the lovely beauties you shared with us. All of them were number ones in my Great American Muscle Car Era.
435 gross hp is only 360 net, any 2022 V-8 puts that out..many V-6 too
Corvette is a roadster, not a muscle car. Definitely an automotive icon but not among Detroit muscle.
Torino is similar to a mach one, no el Camino or ranchero either.
Nice to see cars on here and no trucks like this channel has mainly become about
Hot rod truck is an oxymoron.
Wouldn't mind having that Ford Grand Torino in the background, though!!!🤩
Friend had a 429 SJ bench seats on the column shift. Looked identical to this one but they used flat black paint on the hood not gloss. The flat black looked crummy very quickly. Try to get a laser stripe today. The friend just carried his girl around in it. Never ran it. The SJ means it has stronger rods and a higher redline.
Oh and my dad and I both have 1967 impala ss as well is a switch though, his a butternut yellow black interior ss396 th400 , mines a black on black , ss 427 l-88 second design 4 spd and a power rag top , both buckets and console cars , mines really low mileage, and the l-88 was a dealership fix for a blow 390 Hp 427 , original owner opted for the l-88 , I hit the lottery with my impala 😊
Don’t forget about the last ford to have a 427 in it. The 68 mercury cougar gte.
68 Mustangs got a few Thunderbolts installed.
Fortunately the record company gifted Jim Morrison with one with the 428. 😂
70 GSX not even on the list? Something stinks.
You read my mind. Another underrated monster(365hp? Yeah sure).the stage 1 package made this a beast. But as usual........
@@redbuick Not under rated...ALL cars back then were OVER RATED with fake GROSS hp numbers...real NET hp was more like 320. The 426 Hemi was 350 hp net, not 425. The 440-6 was 325 net......a 2021 Dodge 5.7 is 375 net...more than any 70's muscle car. Get your numbers right.
Pontiac!!!! In any one of my 442’s & especially my 69 H/O we never had a problem tearing up any GTO or GTO Judge. Chevelle always gave us a good time. A buddy had a 69 Cuda with a 426 Hemi, we ran we were dead even until he hit fourth then that Hemi just came to life
Had the correct combination in a '68 Coronet R/T, 440 cid, Holley 780 dp, 4 speed, Dana 60 4:10. A 150 mph speedometer that was always getting buried. The race was between the gas gauge and the speedometer. My only gripe was with 1/4 tank, it starved itself when accelerating hard. Other than that, the front end came up and we were gone. Good times were had in that car and then my brother rolled it. The tragic end of many muscle cars.
BULLSHIT. With 4:10 rear the car topped at 113-115 mph redline....so sell the BS stories elsewhere.
@@chadhaire1711 You drove his car, did you?
@@bradnimbus4836 Dont need to drive the car to know the axle ratio and top speed Goober....to do 150 mph that car would need a 3:23 rear...impossible to do 150 mph with 4:10.....with 4:10 the engine redline maxes out in top gear at 113 mph...so how are you going to do 150--you are not...and he did not.
@@chadhaire1711 Goober? lol, you're the one making assumptions about his vehicle. What's his redline? Tire diameter? What transmission?
My 98 C2500 with a 5.7 Vortec and 4.55 gears will hit 118mph at the redline with a 1:1 ratio. Stop acting like you know what you're talking about and stick to the plastic junk you peddle, ya arrogant little girl.
@@chadhaire1711 Like the ratbag used car salesman version of Carnac the Magnificent
Nothing like a single wheel peel from a Shelby GT500 KR. Never meet your heroes, they'll only disappoint you lol
There were only 69 of the 1969 COPO 9560 Model ZL1 Camaro’s built that had the all aluminum 427. This was different then a 1969 COPO 9561 Model Camaro that would have aluminum headed iron block 427 of which a little over 1000 were made give or take. There is under 20 of the ZL1’s still around.
I am 75 and grew up with all this. You guys blew it, it started with the 409 Chevy Impala 425hp in 1964, shame on you.
That’s actually a pretty solid list. I can’t find fault with it, as I’m a pretty well rounded muscle car fan of all 3, well...big 3 but I would add the 1970 440 6-pack challenger somewhere in there. The ‘69 charger I’d say is more iconic than the ‘68 but still a very good list 👍 all beautiful cars and some excellent points made here. I’ll make sure to show this video to me son
Brother Bob, who just retired from Chrysler, owned one of these, a 1970 with TorqueFlite and 4.10 gears. He ran the old Casler slicks of the day. Plum Crazy color and white vinyl roof. His only street race loss stock-for-stock was against his neighbor's 1970 GS Stage 1.
If I could be the right age in 1970, my choice would be the '70 Plymouth AAR 'Cuda, with the 340 6-Pack and a 4-speed with pistol-grip. I would upgrade the cam, add headers, and find a really good welding shop to widen the factory wheels front and rear. I would add the best low-profile tires I could find for handling, and lower the car at least 1 1/2 inches. That would be the car for me, in EM9 Deep Plum, with black stripes and charcoal interior.
I would like to add the original SS. The Super Stock Plymouth Sport fury. Showroom to strip, Mopar low 12,s at 116. Max wedge baby! The Savoy even had aluminum fenders and battery in the trunk and the like. Before the GTO which was a nice car too.
Like some of the lightweight "Swiss Cheese" Pontiacs, Fords & such, this car would go under "Ringers and Other Things" because it wasn't a full production musclecar, which is the thrust of this video. It was a factory race car.
Really a great educational, well presented video. If you like good old muscle--watch this. Good job.
I remember when you could pick up any one of these cars for $800. During the gas crunch they got parked in driveways, garages and back yards and forgotten. I had a line on a Dark Green 1969 Road runner when I was sixteen for only $300 but of course my Pop said nope.
That's because dad was afraid you would've wrapped the damn car round a telephone pole or have killed yourself and possibly your friends or girlfriend in the car. Dad knew how powerfully dangerous those road beasts were.
@@rickbailey189 I have four brothers and two sisters, 66 327 Biscayne. 1968 Mustang, Formula fire birds and trans-ams, 1972 Road Runner 440, 1960 Oldsmobile with a 394 V8 beast, ( This was my Pops car, then my sister and then my oldest brother, she got it back and totaled it after brother went in to service in 1972) You're probably correct on the danger part. lol
In 1976 my neighbor had a 67 Charger with a Hemi in it. I could have bought it for $600 but he wanted $800.
My dad said you can't afford the gas for it.
To call a spade a spade.mopar was building hemis and installing dual quads on motors in the 50s.the first musle car was 58 300 mopar....
You are correct. 331/354 Fire dome or Red ram.
Hoped for a honorable mention of a AMV8 but I get it. Aston Martin V8 was made from 72-90 and held up the muscle car title when the others had long passed or changed. The styling and performance kicked ass all the way through. For a British car it was really amazing to see them making their own muscle car. This is from a guy with a classic Mustang in the garage. :)
Cobra is an Austin Healey
@@dickdastardly8150 - You mean an AC...
Muscle cars were affordable family cars... Aston Martin's weren't for most people...
@@BuzzLOLOL an ac cobra is still an Austin Healey. I meant exactly what I said because it is fact.
Please never assume.
@@BuzzLOLOL muscle cars were ramblers converted from factory to be street and track drag machines, not family cars. I never seen a muscle sedan or muscle wagon. As far as American muscle it's always a coupe. A good marketing idea that lead to a cult like following. Has nothing to do with being affordable as some Daytona chargers listed at close to six grand when first sold, which would be close to 50k if sold in today's market.
You call the gto affordable
I say the 70 OLDS holiday coupe is the best with a 455 producing over 300hp at the wheels and a 6 thousand revolutions per minute redline
The 1967 Corvette 427 V8 "L88" was an extremely rare animal. I think only 16 were made.
All big block "convertibles" with 4 speed are super rare.
Definitely a beast but not a muscle car, all roadster.
KUDOS! The #1 car would be my pick also.
I consider the Impala SS 409 to be the first muscle car.
Came out in 63 If I am not mistaken? Anyway the Beach Boys ran with it in 64 lol.
Classic American muscles will be forever inherited and remembered,always.known for their sheer power and gargantuan bodies,they are the kings of the asphalt.
Very odd.
No mention of Motor Trends No.1 pick for the fastest car of 1970. _The Buick GSX._
But then again, which one is "Top" is a completely subjective standard. (personal favourite)
1964, GTO was an option package for the Tempest/Lemans car. GTO became its own model in 1965.
The Beach Boys even made a song about the max wedge racing a fuel injected Stingray. The 413 was really digging in. Of course the Mopar won.
? The Stingray won.
Awesome awesome videos
I'm also in my 70's and grew up in Southern Cal and ALSO (shoutout to LR) drove and/or owned most of these cars back when they were NEW:) I'll echo his comments on the Buick GS series...BUT, there were damned few guys qualified to properly tune em, AND, they seemed more 'genteel' than the average young stud 'ponycar' standards of the time:) Now, contrast Shelby's 500, which was a BRUTE, and drove like it, getting my vote for near the top MOST uncomfortable Pony, almost a tie with the Hemi Cuda., ...definitely NOT GT types (Gran Touring). As for straight, in-line go...well my bro had a 396 Chevelle (or maybe NOVA, like I said I'm old:) with the solid lifter motor and a 3 speed manual. He had little difficulty doing mid 12's with street tires, at California's 'Orange County Raceway', however, same problem, thing was a beast to drive...his had NO power steering, and a MONSTER clutch that could give you a 'charlie horse' cramp at a stoplight LOL. One of my buddies' dad, got him a Boss 302, good handling car but a pain to get in and out of (I'm tall) and my own vehicle could take him, both in a straight light to light walk, and more importantly , out on the highway in the 'twisties'. Also, the Plymouth Road Runners, in various iterations, were also notable :) Lots of 'back seat' room for those weekend 'dates' :), AND, relatively light and whiz-bang performance with the 383. Road "handling"? well, not so much. The Hemi(or was it the 440 version), at least to me, drove like an extremely 'bloodthirsty' truck LOL. Finally, when it came to me, well, I had two I REALLY liked, the big motor Lincoln Cougar (luxo barge, but FAST), and the elegantly beautiful GTO. Problem with the Cougar, you almost had to literally pull the engine to change the spark plugs...jesus christ! My sky blue GTO" on the otherhand, was one of the most pleasant to drive and reliable cars out there, along with LR's BUICK GS series. Probably the most 'civilized' Ponies, available, yet still fast as hell. Mine had the 400 "over the top" 'tunnel port' motor, the new monster strong auto, and the Hurst "bang/screech" slotted shifter, as well as a remarkably good Limited slip type differential. This was one ELEGANT vehicle, and compared to almost all the other's, a true representation of the 'Gran Tourismo' ideal, besides looking like a work of art. There's a reason they sell for HUGE amounts these days. Now, how good was it? Glad you asked:)
OK, since the statute of limitations has loooong run out, I can tell you , that coming back from UCLA to Orange County, one night at about 11pm, as I was nearing my then residence east of Orange, I dropped down to 1st and HIT THE GAS in order to clean out the carbs, and try to blow a little soot out the exhausts (I'd been in Heavy traffic and peeps on the fwy's traveled a LOT slower back then, than they do now :) Anyway, as I blasted up the darkened street by my old High School, to my BIG surprise, it was like the lights coming up in a stadium for a nighttime pro football game!!!!! I mean to tell you, the ENTIRE parking lot was FULL of the local PD vehicles from several nearby jurisdictions, including the Orange County Sheriffs. What the hell they were doing there I had NO idea, and had NO intention of hanging round to find out, so I TOOK OFF:) and, as ONE, ALL with their 'christmas trees' lit up, they 'surged' out after me in FULL PURSUIT!!!. Anticipating the worst possible result of capture:), I killed my own lights (darkened my license plate), slammed into 2nd (remember "Bang/Screech?" lol) screamed into the next intersection (no street lights here) pulled a full speed, tire squealing, drifting left turn and driving by moon light, accellerated HARD up the straight and led about 10 to 15 of the patrol cars towards a maze of winding, hilly roads which I knew by heart:)
Short story, there was ONE 'particular, reverse camber right hand turn a few blocks up this rather wide, straight section, and these LONG wheelbase, swoopy ass '429' engined sedans (sorry forgot the model EDIT- now i remember, the Torino:) failed to take their 1. front/rear weight bias, wheelbase, and speed, into account and as I cleared the curve and gunned out onto the straight, I could literally see their lights began to literally 'roll' as, I think 3 of em, rolled down the reverse crown and into the dirt berm which almost literally exploded into a huge cloud of dirt, dust, and debris- which obscured the rest of the 'pack' from my view:) I, on the other hand, unobstructed, roared off, took a big right, across a small flat section then up and past Feliciano's (yes THAT Jose Feliciano:) hill top estate, powered along the ridge, then pulled into an orchard adjacent to the farmhouse of a friend of mine's, stopped behind some trees, opened the hood (to let the heat escape more quickly) then locked it up, and legged it through the trees to a nearby hilltop where I could watch the proceedings below me:) Well needless to say, it took a bit before the 'dust cleared' and the "Leo's" recovery trucks and 'winch on' flat beds arrived, and to my surprise it wasn't more than 3 minutes or so later, before I could several different police cars crisscrossing the valley's maze like roads below, presumably searching for my sorry ass LOL. One actually came up the same road, and I watched it go by the Orchard entrance, with its 'pusuit' lights still lit, but no sirens (wouldn't do to have some of the esteemed local residents disturbed that late at night:) Anyway, I stayed put for about 3 hours (to make SURE they'd given up), quietly approached my car and circled it to ensure no one was waiting for me. I nearly pissed myself, when a dark sedan with its headlights off, turned onto the same orchard road and rolled slowly and VERY quietly in my direction, however, it stopped closer to the house, the driver's side door opened, he got out, walked around, opened the passenger side and a girl I knew (rather well in fact;) got out, they embraced, and while they kissed, he grabbed her ass and held on LOL. Then he got back into the car and VERY quietly and slowly, reversed out and drove slowly away, all without lights. When I glimpsed his face as he got back into his car, , I was SOOOOO shocked.! I had NO idea (and neither did anyone else for that matter) that this man was seeing this barely out of high school girl on the sly...:) It's always amazed me how often young married teachers can go ''astray'!!!!!
Well, needless to say, a night to remember, and for a LOT more peeps than just me. They never 'caught' me, or even came round 'investigating', AND I took a different set of roads home for several months just to make sure:) The local PD, however, soon changed their cars, and I got drafted, and went off to war..but THAT's a whole different story:( Gave my GTO into the care of my brother, he failed to change out the drive chain when the service manual called for it, and subsequently blew up that magnificent motor:(
When I got back, well I wasn't thinking about muscle cars so much...
Anyway, now you know what that GTO could REALLY do.... "Gran Tourismo" for the WIN!!!
Great story! Well worth the read. Thank you for sharing. Closest I ever came to anything like that was the "almost purchase" of a car in 1971. An accident had deprived me of my ride (a 1959 Studebaker Commander with a 259 V8). Shopping for a replacement took me to the closest used car lot on the same block where I lived. There it was! A 1967 Plymouth GTX with a dual-4 426 Hemi, factory 4-speed, and Hurst shifter. All for $3995 Canadian. I ended up buying the 1966 Dodge Coronet 318 automatic beside it (Wonderful set of glass-pacs on it!). My reasoning? I wanted that GTX soooo bad, but I figured A). I'd likely kill myself with that much power. and B). I knew I was going to be moving about 30 miles away from work and the gas bill, at 12 to 13 MPG, would kill me financially. I do occasionally wonder though; if I'd been able to buy that thing, and put it away in storage, what it would be worth today? Bet it would be worth enough to buy a really REALLY good dinner at McDonalds huh?
@@22942 I remember those cars...a well set up 318 could make that little bugger FLY!! Oh, speaking of Studebakers,, I had a class mate who's dad had an Avanti? He took me for a 'demo' ride once and I swore to never get into another for the rest of my life!!!! I believe it had a 'breathed on" 305, manual, limited Slip, and this fellow could REALLY drive....scared the hell out of me. :)
Man, I love stories like that. Those were the days I wasn't around for, but it's cool to read about too.
Me and my friend Ralph saw Back in 1970 in the showroom Lafferty Chevrolet outside Philadelphia 69 ZL1 all-aluminum Camaro
from what i have seen in my days, yes the buick GS/GSX was a real sleeper, from my experience the daytona charger did not sell
because it was toooooooo radical to be a street car and most guys i talked to hated them and only purists like them because they are
very rare today. as an old guy the 60s started a lot of stuff in cars and music, todays cars may be more modern but give me a 60s car
any day
That Daytona did do a number on the ovals where they were made for. Dogs in the 1/4 mile but would fly when on an open road. Just don't open the headlights up past 120 mph. Don't ask just believe me....not pretty..
i have no doubt of that fact, i had a friend who had a plain jane 76 fairlane with a nascar engine in it and at 100 plus he had to worry about the front end coming up and i know a guy who had a 68 charger and he had the back axle gears welded which in a strait line was okay but he took a corner at 120 and the car went sideways into a tree and that was the end of him and his car.
doing high speed is not to be played with and my roommate had an olds he did up and he was going veeeeeeeeeery fast and when the cops finally caught up with him they took the car and that was it. when i watch the vids dealing with super car drivers and watch them smash up showing off it obvious that common sense is not so common anymore but egos rule.
Its said the big rear spoiler was designed so you could open the trunk under it.
@@rogersmith7396 That is true as the body had to be a production style. B body cars had a big deck lid so that spoiler had to be up there for sure.
@@jrs416cars I think Leno did one. Also Hoovies Garage recently bought one.
Excellent Episode. Just need to swap the 3rd with the 1st I think.
1969 Hurst/Olds, the ONLY GM A body car that had a 455 engine in 1969. Olds got around GM's rule limiting the A Body cars to 400 C.I. by having the Hurst Shifting Company install a modified 455 engine. It would eat a 1969 GTO Ram Air IV Judge for lunch. The 1969 Hurst/Olds was so fast that Chevy, Pontiac and Buick complained, causing GM to lift the ban in 1970 allowing all GM A bodies to have 455s or 454 (Chevy Chevelle). So you can thank Olds for getting GM to allow the biggest big blocks in the 1970 and beyond A body cars.
Olds had their 455 in the 68 H/O, and it was later revealed the 455 was actually installed on the factory assembly line. Also, Hurst designed/engineered the model, but they were assembled by Olds' longtime skunkworks contractor, Demmer Engineering. And once GM lifted the 400 CI limit on their intermediates for 1970, Buick took their "iron fist in a velvet glove" GS Stage 1 and spanked EVERYBODY'S ass in the quarter mile.
Very heavy.
The 1969 Camaro Z-28 has been my favorite car since it was introduced. Too cool for words.
*PONTIAC GTO* 😎👍🏻