Also, people dont believe in masks because they don't work. The CDC has a report on masks saying that masks dont prevent catching a virus, they do very little to prevent spreading a virus, and if used improperly, they can actually increase the spreading. Also, wearing a mask is quite bad for the respiratory system. Side note, the report was about influenza not covid, but they spread the same and that means it was conducted before covid politics could influence the results.
@@frankr8271 Only fools think its foolish and dangerous. I'm merely looking at applicable studies performed on the subject. As for anecdotal data, masks reduce oxygen levels and make it harder to breath for many people I've talked to. If you wish for respiratory impairment and faster spread of disease, keep wearing your mask. I'm sure it'll help pacify those around you. Edited for spelling.
Jeff Brooks Ha, I forgot about that. All the boys took auto shop in high school to work on their cars during school. I did all my own maintenance on a 1955 Buick Special, my first car I owned at 16.
My grandma had a Dodge Challenger back in the early 70s. She loved that car but my grandpa wouldn’t let her drive it much after she went 120 mph on the Interstate. Lol
I came VERY close to buying a Firebird like that when I was 19 years old. Stuck with my 71 mustang instead. Ended up owning 4 Mustangs over the years, 3 GTs and the last was an 07 GT/CS with Roush suspension and some fantastic forged alloys/Michelin Pilot Sports, which I still have.
@@thegrimyeaper Honda is still fighting the good fight, occasionally managing to design a car whose design is at the same time daringly avantgarde and tastefully restrained beauty.
Rule #1 when buying classic cars: Replace all the hoses at the same time that you tune up the engine. Rule #2: Upgrade these shocks, whenever possible. Rule #3: If you need to work on the engine, you'll likely need to work on the whole drive train. Rule #4: Have fun; and ensure that there are plenty of libations available, because you're going to spend a lot of time fixing the car up, before you ever take it on the road.
I've got a'77 Trans Am that I drive all the time! These guys are the new generation that just don't understand these cars. I grew up with the "Bandit" T/A being everyone's dream car! It took me 20 before I could get one. Had it over 20 years now. Yeah, it's got it's problems, but I can deal with it. Paid cash for it. No loan. Maintenance is way cheaper than new car payments, if you can do it yourself, which I do! Would I trade for a new car? Nope! Would I sell it? Only if I could get enough to restore my '70 Nova!
@@mikemcgown6362 I am 19 and I have a 1975 bmw 2002 but the truth is , it is not just logical and practical to daily drive an older car. Yeah it is gonna be cheaper to maintain than the new car’s payment but you can also pay cash for a newer car which is safer , more fuel efficient and perform higher. + it is gonna break down a lot less cuz of age unless you buy a new POS. I drive my 2002 just cuz I prefer it for reasons others wouldn’t understand
FYI - It wasn't just American vehicles that had 5-digits odometers. All vehicles in that era from all countries had 5-digit odometers. That said, it was badge of honor to "flip" the odometer.
I bought a lot of cars back then at 100,000 for 2-300 bucks and ran them to 120,000. Sometimes they were still worth $200. Of course usually by that time all the fuses were bent copper house wire and the heater core circumvented. I once drove a Nova wagon to work for three weeks with no radiator, as in, the head gasket blew and I removed the radiator. Still ran great for 20 minutes each way, just started idling faster as it got hotter
@@Gnefitisis I did eventually. Credit was not as easy to get back then. Later I started buying better cars and I always had a car payment instead of car problems. After a romance with a 1970 Lincoln - nine years old and rife with typical Ford issues, but what a fabulous car- I found the best value was about 3-5 years old from the used car dept of a new car dealership. My current car I bought new and have maintained it by the book.
My '77 Trans Am is showing 76,xxx odometer. I don't know how many times it flipped. I do know it's on its 3rd engine/transmission combo, but I don't care! It's just a glorious car to look at, work on, and drive!
Having had these cars for 40+ years, here what you need to take into consideration: 1) Even though they didn't make a lot of power stock, they were the most powerful things in their day. It's unreasonable to expect that technology has remained static since then, so it's not that meaningful to compare it to a modern car's output. 2) You said the handling isn't that good by today's standards. Well keep in mind you aren't as sprite as you were when you were 18, so it stands to reason that your particular cars are just worn out from age. My Trans Am handles with the best cars you typically see on the street. It's just a matter of spending some time & money on the right parts. Too bad that doesn't work with our bodies as easily. 3) These cars are not unsafe. If you maintain them mechanically, & upgrade a few components (like put rear disc brakes on from a Trans Am that had them), they are pretty safe. Yes, there are no airbags, but they are solid with thicker metal than today's cars. 4) The reliability was better than most cars in its day! You just happen to be comparing them to reliability of cars 50 years in their future. And there is much to be said for their analog simplicity. I doubt your new daily driver will be very reliable in 50 years because it will cost a fortune to replace the constantly failing emissions equipment. And good luck with super expensive & proprietary diagnostics equipment that may get binned when demand wanes. 5) When it comes to emissions, that is the number one unreliable thing in modern cars. And it was the same back then. By tossing all that stuff in the trash, most new and old cars will run better. And whales will not drown, & the planet will not suddenly spin off into outer space (wait, it's already done that...lol). 6) Methodically make a list of systems that need to be freshened up, changed out, or resto-modded. You will see how safe & reliable these cars can be. And they are so simple by comparison, a person can often maintain them on their own, and with inexpensive basic tools. 7) Back in the 60's when Herb Adams was setting these up for racing, the 2nd gens turned out to be fantastic race bodies. Do some careful digging through modern parts catalogs, & you will see a lot of choices to make these cars competitive at many levels of racing. That means they were pretty good to begin with, but those old parts wore more quickly, so these cars were not at the peak of freshness for long. 8) Mileage is relative to state of tune, gearing & weight. If you wanted to shed a thousand pounds, no problem...they make carbon panels for these now. And if you don't want your engine screaming near redline on the highway, just toss the 3-speed trans & drop in a 6-speed. My first Trans Am could get 24 mpg's at 55 mph with a 400-inch Pontiac engine with the original tranny. The tranny is such a big limiting factor for good economy. But just a decade earlier, you may recall GM trying to tell us we really only needed two gears (remember the Powerglide transmission? )! As far as the positive things you mentioned, yes...these cars are way cool still, can keep up with many new cars if you aren't shy with money, & in another 50 years, they will be even cooler! I doubt most people will burn with passion & excitement for a Corolla!
Thicker steel counts for nothing when it comes to safety. Structural engineering is a real discipline. If you care to search for it, there's a photoset of a Pontiac Lemans that got hit by a Lexus in a parking lot. The Lexus was barely damaged, it was going so slowly that the airbag didn't even go off. The passenger door of the Pontiac was pushed in 45 degrees the wrong way and it's latch was touching the driver's seat. The passenger's seat was crushed to pulp. The lesson is that a thick paper bag is still just a paper bag.
@@richardmaudsley7447 Yes, structural engineering is a science, and thicker steel can matter too. I hit a deer on the freeway in my 2nd gen Trans Am. There was virtually no damage. I also hit a deer in my new F450 at a slower speed, & there was a lot more damage! It's a combination of factors that matters.
@@ivanmarkovicxxx That has much less to do with steel thickness and much more to do with styling. F Bodies are low and pointy. You hit something it's rolling over and out of the way. An F450 is basically a brick wall on wheels. You hit something it has nowhere to go but through your radiator.
My red 1977 Trans Am really is a time warp, 400 with a 4 speed manual, only options are power steering and power brakes, nothing else... has a performance cam, headers and all emissions removed I’m sure decades ago, added 17” rims and performance tires shocks and sway bars. Lots of fun, always makes you smile
My second car as a teenager was a 78 Camaro with the 350 and a Q-jet. I thought I was getting good gas mileage at 18 mpg! Absolutely loved the sound of the 4-barrel at wide open throttle, and the dual glasspack exhaust.
@@mikemcgown6362 -- One of the best movies ever made; thanks in no small part to Jackie Gleason. "Nobody makes me look like a possum's pecker." He played the role of Sheriff Buford T. Justice perfectly!
I used to have a huge 1978 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight. It did not seem like much back in the day, but I would love to have one of those old land yachts restored to "modern" reliability for a nice road trip.
Both cars have quite a bit of style, maybe consider resto-modding for more reliability if that's a concern. There is certainly something about older cars that makes you more connected when you have to work on them occasionally, for me, its actually relaxing, but I do have the convenience of a modern daily driver as well.
My dad had a 1979 firebird when he was 20. Now I’m 20 and i just got my 1991 corvette. Even though my 91 corvette is newer I’m glad I have a car from 2015 to daily.
I love the Trans Am. My 403 79 TA got 13.8 mpg back in the day. I would try to squeeze every mpg out of it as I traveled back and forth to college so I kept a log. Coincidentally I have a stick shift Corolla and I thrash it. It can be fun, but it’s not cool at all. I sold the TA years ago and bought another better one with the Pontiac engine and a 4 speed. Awesome cars.
Built a 403 in 77 442 for buddy. Fast till he turned the bearings. 403's have Windowed main bearings, need a girdle installed and a MSD6AL to rev limit. Unfortunately it was a top end only build. Modern computer cars are rpm/rev limited. All
dan hoyland I think I recall putting an Accel HEI kit on mine too and a set of 8mm wires. Pretty sure my gearing was 2.71 rear and a Hydramatic MX1 (RPO code for the 350C). I always had carb problems and in the end put a Holley spreadbore Q-jet replacement carb on it. Cars been gone 25 years now. Probably scrapped years ago.
I have a Cameo White 79 Trans Am, and it definitely takes a mechanically inclined person to own/drive/maintain it. Absolutely nothing like the driving experience in a classic musclecar
The TAs dashboard has been replaced at some point without the passenger grab handle. That's a good thing, that old handle faded differently than the dash and warped. Also, 1978 T-Tops were much smaller, these aftermarket ones are much closer to the 1979 fisher T-Tops, another good upgrade.
Back in Ohio, me in my '77 Trans Am and my friend with a '73 Corvette would tear around the countryside seeing how far we could push the cars in the envelope! We drove them hard! We had a blast!
Very fun video. Thanks guys! Can't wait for the footage from the scenic mountains. I'll probably never own a real "muscle" car because I'm just not that good of a mechanic, but I will always appreciate the aesthetic of a classic car like a Firebird or Corvette (Camaro not so much).
Reliability is always my main concern with 'older' cars. I like to drive across several states confident that I will not break down somewhere. But that concern does not mean I will ever give up the cars that feed my soul. ^^
Some old cars work fine in modern traffic. The 1971 Volvo 1800e is rare example of a car you can drive anywhere. Has four-wheel discs, fuel injection and many improvements over the earlier models, but handles well in traffic and the twisties. 25mpg - Ez on gasoline+the drivetrain lasts 100,000 miles between repairs. They also look as nice as any sports car, really. The '71 is pretty rare (only 5000 produced but last I checked, still affordable. Nicer still, it's basically a 1950s design.
The old European automobiles were built pretty durable and very long lasting life, much better than today's over engineered, electronic filled, thin body metal, cars of European cars today. I would prefer to have a 1998 BMW M5 compared to a new M5 that's made today.
When you talk about 70s car's horsepower, you need to differentiate between very early 70s ie pre-1972 and later 70s. The earliest 70s muscle cars were in their prime for cubic inches and horsepower. ZL-1 was rumored to have around 500 hp although for insurance purposes it was billed as 425, if I remember correctly. Same with the 426 Dodge Hemi and 427 Ford. There was the 440 Chryslers as well and the 454 Chevy and 455 Pontiac - all will immense horsepower. Anyway, you guys are hilarious and fun to watch, keep up the good work.
They will do better. One trip a year to an exotic location. The Caribbean South America Tahiti And A smoky and the bandit series. A blues Brothers 3 b part. A road trip to Canada
Looks like the original analog gauges on the 'Vette were replaced with digital units. Also, I believe that T/A has after market, dealer cut and install, T-tops. They do not look anything like the later, larger GM units that did NOT leak. Mine still are leak free after all these years. Kudos on a super "ride along" nostalgic video!
I have a 77 Firebird. When I drive that car around, cars that are 40 years newer are intimidated. Challengers, Stangs and even a Vets have to rod it in front of me, or maybe I should take it as a compliment. I should show off to them! Cars built in the 70`s where not built to last. But parts are cheap and easy to work on. That old car turns heads, that is what counts to me.
I know what you're saying! I've got a '77 Bandit and cars are tempting me all the time! When they give a rev, I tap the gas and sit it sideways. They back down.
I just love the look, sound and feel of an old american car. There's nothing like it. I presonally think these type of cars have more style than the newer ones. Or even european standard cars :)
This is amazing, like I'm in the back driving with you. I don't know why I didn't find this sooner (I follow all the channels you have but didn't see this one).
In the case of older cars and can make them very reliable if you are willing to spend a bit more and do a little more work. For example on an older corvette you can do a LS engine swap and upgrade the brakes and suspension to those used by later corvette models, in the end you will pay a bunch more but you will end up with a very reliable car you could daily drive.
I recommend you guys actually try a 15w40 diesel oil in your older cars. The diesel oils have more zinc and more detergents than most typical passenger car motor oils today, but they're still safe for a normal gasoline engine. You guys are in California so you don't really need to worry about cold start wear the way we do in the Northeast, so you could run them all year round. Biggest advantage is price, most diesel oils like Delvac 1300, Rotella, etc, run only $10-15 per gallon, but the technical specifications are incredibly good. A good site to read more about oil is the bobistheoilguy forums. BTW, Lucas motor oils test somewhat badly in independent tests by PQIA and people's own oil analysis of them. The additive packs are good, but the base oil quality isn't the best. I do think they have the best "mechanic in a bottle" products in USA though.
@@mikemcgown6362 Unfortunately lab tests on the STP additive say it only has 127ppm zinc, most modern oils are 700-900ppm, so besides thickening the oil it may not be doing much for zinc. $10 a gallon NAPA store brand 15w40 has 1100, by comparison Mobil 1 5w30 has 800. Winston's Lucas oil actually has almost 2000ppm, but at that level it could actually be more harmful than good as it ends up basically corrosive (over 1500ppm can be corrosive) racing oils have tons of zinc because they're meant to be drained every few races, not held in the crankcase for 5000 miles. Even Valvoline VR1 racing oil is only 1450ppm.
The first thing that caught my attention (aside from the coolness of the cars) was the flicker of the digital dash display in C-Milk’s car. Obviously it’s not a real problem, it’s just a visual example of camera shutter speed, and I’m sure there’s a lot of math, science, and technology in the explanation, but I just thought it looked interesting.
I own a 1989 Firebird, not THAT old yet, but still i exactly feel what you are talking about. Just last week i got in the car and she wouldn't crank, out of nothing and i was like "what the hell is wrong now again you old princess". Pulled the fuse out and back in and worked again. Getting parts here in Switzerland is sometimes a pain in the ass, but worked out pretty good so far. And over here these cars are even more head turning, because you rarely see them. I am not a car mechanic, but still a mechanic and you learn something new everytime you wrench around on these things and it feels so much more rewarding driving them. And yea, she also makes weird noises all the time but hey, thats a part of the soul of these cars, at least they still got one.
I live in Europe. And own a 79 trans am and a 74 el camino. Yes the breakdown yes they ride a bit old school. And yes fuel is expensive. But I look cool af when I drive it
Back in the 50s and 60s, the big three, Ford, GM, and Chrysler, dominated the American Car market making effectively a monopoly. Also, the auto unions were strong and allowed job security for poor performers. American cars had planned obsolescence from the corrupt monopoly and poor quality from complacent workers. The Japanese cars came in during the 70s and introduced much needed competition leading to a huge improvement in quality all around. Unfortunately, this scenario unfairly tarnished the reputation of American workers and helped rationalize the sell out of the American middle class by relocating much of the supply chain to China.
Cuba still has the 50's and 60's domestic cars, from the big 3, GM, Ford, Chrysler. Sometimes maybe see some Lada cars, old Russian or Ukurainian automobiles.
My husband has a t-bucket hot rod and it flys when you want, but it doesn’t have power steering and is a beast to control at high speeds. Not practical, but it’s painted with flames and people love it.
ALL the cars I had from '82 to '95 had more than 100,000 miles. Most were '70's Chevy or Pontiac models. Mainly LeMans or Novas. A couple Chevelles, too.
As you indicated, the reason is because classic American cars were built to LOOK COOL, they weren't built to run well. That would've required money to be spent on technological advancement, and the American car manufacturers did as little of that as possible because it reduced profits.
Owner of old American cars and old Japanese motorcycles...they are WAY easier to work on from front to back to top and bottom...it is parts acquisition that is the problem. I used to know a man who purchased his old vehicles with manual everything. No power windows, locks, seats, etc. I laughed at him in the beginning...20 years later...he still owned those cars and only replaced the batteries and minimal maintenance. Moral of the story is...the less you depend on "technology" the easier life is...obviously at 1:51
WELL IF THATS IN FACT A REAL T\A 6.6. That there my friends is a pontiac 4oo. AND THEY ARE DAMN NEAR BULLETROOF...TRUST ME ON THIS...maintained correctly, that low revving engine will last nearly forever.....AND DONT EVER EVER CALL A 6.6 T\A A BIG BLOCK...
I think your guys cars would turn more heads hear on the east coast? Cali probably sees a ton of old cool cars as well as new? Can't wait to see more of your trip.
I love old cars from the 60's and 70. Small, big, Amercian, European, Japanese, Russian. I would daily drive it any time (if it was reliable). I saw a 1966 Chevy Impala hardtop (in Laos!) and was totally in love. Mind you it was totally original. But at the same time I also love the old Fiat 500 for example. It was an era were everything was possible regarding car design.
I live in a West Auckland suburb in NZ, where every 10th household has a classic American muscle car in it, me, I have '68 Mercury Cougar, mechanically great, but a 20 footer, every panel is a different shade of Lime Frost.
One thing I like about my classic cars is that they don't have a computer...then again, they also don't have power windows, power steering, central locking, air-conditioning, but they do have push button radio's.
In 1984 I got a new to me 1983 Mustang convertible. That car was so much fun for me at 16 years old driving around SoCal. I'm 51 now and I came across a pristine 1983 Mustang convertible same specs as my childhood one and boy what a hot turd that car is. Actually I don't care I love driving it for fun but never as a daily driver.
As a young man and 40+year pro mechanic I drove all my hot rods and muscle. back then you could fix . it on the side of the road with parts from walmart . Today my 86 regal GN sits at home while my daily is a 06 Town Car It never breaks.
They're both awesome, guys! I prefer the C3 styling (especially the "flying buttresses" behind the rear window). However, the Screaming Chicken helps close the styling gap for the T/A. Call me a puss, but no A/C (especially here in the Midwest) would be a deal breaker for me.... I'd go as is T/A 55 / C3 45. (If the C3 had A/C, the numbers would flip.) Overall, I'm a '70s "personal luxury coupe" fiend -- seeing both of these out on the road really makes me want to get my '70 Grand Prix (my first car) restored. Looking forward to more content on these!
As the world's largest builder of Starsky & Hutch Gran Torinos, there is a lot of truth to what you are talking about. My buyers are almost all in their 50s, kids are grown and gone and they want the car of their youth to take their wife out to dinner and be the hit of every car show they go to. You could get a range of engines in my torinos new all the way up to the 460 4V which had a whopping 216 HP. Most have one of three different 351s with about 165 HP. Since it is illegal to race around town, I find that now in my 50s I'd rather have a car that looks cool and sounds tough and I don't care that it is gutless and has no road feel. There is not a time I drive a S&H unit that I don't draw a crowd, have people taking selfies with it etc. Old American cars are simple to work on, parts are abundant and easy to get. Yes, old cars are going to let you down. That comes with owning and driving an old car. The joy they bring out weighs the break downs all day long.
Thanks mate, really appreciate the comment! I'm really happy with my 78 trans am (although I need to sort out that crappy aftermarket roof and get a proper re-spray)
@@serpentza I've been thinking of getting a 77 or 78 Trans Am. I'm also noodling around making a Knight Rider Kitt T/A. I'd do it all except the interior electronics. I'd leave it stock inside and maybe put the Kitt steering wheel on it but make the outside exactly like Kitt. I think you'd like my video I shot in the 80s with my 1982 Z-28 Camaro Pace Car vs my brothers black 1982 Trans-Am. I've been enjoying your new car channel and look forward to your next video.
@@AB0BA_69 if you don't like it then don't watch. I've been watching these guys since the beginning and there's a reason I keep coming back. The video format of being raw is extremely hard to find today. Most youtubers will have over 30-40 cuts for every minute of footage. I hate that. Cuts are fine, but there's nothing worse than hearing someone's words cut off then connected by another take.
Yeah, the Z-28 I drove from Alberta to Manitoba and back was exactly like that. The drivers seat was leaning slightly as you tend to rest your arm on the right rest (the guy who owned it said "don't put your gas money there as it will blow away") and your body weight over the years makes the inside edge lean back. My Dad - lease car ordering sheet mistake when the new '82 Camaro came out - the lease guy said, "oh you could order that if you want .. someone thinks the Camaro is a 4 door". So EVERYONE made him get it and he was so embarrassed - bought the sedan ('80 Olds Cutlass) he had before to use whenever his boss came to town. The Camaro was a VERY unforgiving car - if you did a driving error it really made you pay for it. I spun that car out in winter often (even water on the road you had to be careful) and I remember being so used to it it was "like normal" .. now-a-days it would be like a near death experience to me. My sister bought that Camaro - its transmission gave out driving it into the moving truck - so a few years here in Winnipeg.
I just want to address the statement you guys made about odometers being an indication that these cars were made to last only a few years. That's simply not true, even notably reliable cars like Toyota and Nissan had 5 digit odometers in the 1970's, truth is that 6 digit odometers didn't really start to become a thing until the 80's and 90's. I remember one time a friend and fellow car nut once told me "The proof is in the odometer, you see all these old cars with 40, 50, 60 thousand miles and they're nearly dead.", well; the rebuttal is "Can you prove that odometer didn't roll over?" Sure, these cars broke down alot in the day. But, so do new cars. And that's often due to people who don't take care of their vehicles. But the only real difference between old cars and new cars today in terms of breaking down is what you keep in the car. In your Trans Am you keep some wrenches, maybe a ratchet and some sockets; screw drivers and some tape. In your new car you keep your cell phone and credit card handy.
ACTUALLY BUD THE TOP OF THE LINE MUSCLE CAR even the vette back in 74 was the PONTIAC SUPER DUTY TRANSAM WITH 310 NET HORSEPOWER..! not the corvette! that SD car would put the smack down on your corvette with 170HP and also smoke those 400HP ferrari dinos, 365s m 308s and even the mighty early countach.!
I agree on the title but as of 2015 they have gotten better. Look at the Fords now with the ECO Boost and nice designs. Also GM has came a long way and that C8 Corvette is outstanding!
Living the dream! The older the car is relative to when it was manufactured will always raise the risk of safety. I think it is relative to age and the tech that was at the time. Cars built pre front disc brakes are just not as safe, and cars with abs brakes are just safer than non. Abs from 1990's is not as good as the abs on a 2020. The 2nd gen is a good platform to build on and I agree Herb Adams set a standard on the 2nd gen that cara even today use, proportions of the front to rear away bars is about the same today as they did in these Trans Am trims, 1.25" front and ,.75" rear bars is still used as a good balance. Yes independent suspension is better than a solid axle, etc... But it's amazing that the basic formula is still used today. I have a 2000 and an 81 Trans Am, they are not the same but both bring a different kind of smile. To truly appreciate the difference you need to take each for a drive back to back, though some stuff is the same (rear solid axle with posi traction), the tech differences give you a different feel. For example, the steering column in a 2md gen uses a rubber disc to connect the steering box to the steering column intermediate shaft, and the steering is handled with a bar (center link) and 4 tie rods. The 2000 has a rack and pinion, you hold the steering wheel and the car goes in that direction, there is no rubber to absorb those random bumps in the road. Some call it sloppy handling, but that's how they did it. Don't forget most roads outside of cities as late as the 90's were gravel, they built these cars to work in the environment they sold them for. Don't forget most interstate highways date back to the 60's. Watch Smokey and the Bandit, most of the driving then was still on 2 lane roadways, not multi lane on/off ramp no stop light highways. The concept of an overdrive transmission wasn't a norm until the 80's. Once you know a bit about how things were, a 3 speed automatic with a soft steering setup wasn't a bad choice for the time when cars could go on the highway but also down a gravel road.
I realize most may not get the oversimplification of this statement, but that '78 Trans-am has just a wonderful rolling feeling as it travels that you just don't get in a modern car.
May Isuggest getting AAA coverage if you dont got already? I own a 52 Olds and 74 Cutlass (not that they break down a lot) One tow alone could more than cover the cost of the Platinum membership. Also, I get peace of mind knowing my wife and kids are covered if they have car issues. AAA certainly reduces my concern for driving old cars all over SoCal.
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Do a Miata!
Also, people dont believe in masks because they don't work. The CDC has a report on masks saying that masks dont prevent catching a virus, they do very little to prevent spreading a virus, and if used improperly, they can actually increase the spreading. Also, wearing a mask is quite bad for the respiratory system. Side note, the report was about influenza not covid, but they spread the same and that means it was conducted before covid politics could influence the results.
@@evolutionglitch4739 Foolish and dangerous.If you choose not to wear one stay away from people and dont talk others into your foolishness please.
@@frankr8271 Only fools think its foolish and dangerous. I'm merely looking at applicable studies performed on the subject. As for anecdotal data, masks reduce oxygen levels and make it harder to breath for many people I've talked to. If you wish for respiratory impairment and faster spread of disease, keep wearing your mask. I'm sure it'll help pacify those around you.
Edited for spelling.
@Say less no... even better... he went from South Africa to China to California... though to be fair, he is making incremental improvements.
Older American cars came with huge service manuals, back in a day when Americans were expected to have mechanical skills.
Mercedes have way bigger manuals - more sophisticated
Back when all the schools taught mechanics classes n when cars were simpler
Jeff Brooks
Ha, I forgot about that. All the boys took auto shop in high school to work on their cars during school. I did all my own maintenance on a 1955 Buick Special, my first car I owned at 16.
Did all my own work to keep my dads truck runnen and my 79 firebird. 485k miles believe it or not.
@@BuiltToRace_com thats because even the most basic components of Mercedes break lol
My grandma had a Dodge Challenger back in the early 70s. She loved that car but my grandpa wouldn’t let her drive it much after she went 120 mph on the Interstate. Lol
That's one cool granny, its rare to have rocking granny like that.
Wow a granny doing 120 mph on the interstate, wish I had a granny like that.
@@theroyalcrownedtiger2946 she wasn't a granny in the early 70s dude 🙄
That Pontiac looks amazing
I came VERY close to buying a Firebird like that when I was 19 years old. Stuck with my 71 mustang instead. Ended up owning 4 Mustangs over the years, 3 GTs and the last was an 07 GT/CS with Roush suspension and some fantastic forged alloys/Michelin Pilot Sports, which I still have.
Matthew Stein I bought a Pontiac Firebird for my first car and I’ve never looked back 😂
I personally love the analog feel of old cars. New cars are like driving sadness.
They look like sadness too.
@@thegrimyeaper Honda is still fighting the good fight, occasionally managing to design a car whose design is at the same time daringly avantgarde and tastefully restrained beauty.
yeah specially suvs are like all from the same factory and same designer
cars used to have personality
true
Ok . boomer.
Rule #1 when buying classic cars:
Replace all the hoses at the same time that you tune up the engine.
Rule #2:
Upgrade these shocks, whenever possible.
Rule #3:
If you need to work on the engine, you'll likely need to work on the whole drive train.
Rule #4:
Have fun; and ensure that there are plenty of libations available, because you're going to spend a lot of time fixing the car up, before you ever take it on the road.
Sorry but a seventies Firebird is always gonna be the coolest car in the state.
of New Jersey.
I've got a'77 Trans Am that I drive all the time! These guys are the new generation that just don't understand these cars. I grew up with the "Bandit" T/A being everyone's dream car! It took me 20 before I could get one. Had it over 20 years now. Yeah, it's got it's problems, but I can deal with it. Paid cash for it. No loan. Maintenance is way cheaper than new car payments, if you can do it yourself, which I do! Would I trade for a new car? Nope! Would I sell it? Only if I could get enough to restore my '70 Nova!
@@mikemcgown6362 I am 19 and I have a 1975 bmw 2002 but the truth is , it is not just logical and practical to daily drive an older car. Yeah it is gonna be cheaper to maintain than the new car’s payment but you can also pay cash for a newer car which is safer , more fuel efficient and perform higher. + it is gonna break down a lot less cuz of age unless you buy a new POS. I drive my 2002 just cuz I prefer it for reasons others wouldn’t understand
FYI - It wasn't just American vehicles that had 5-digits odometers. All vehicles in that era from all countries had 5-digit odometers. That said, it was badge of honor to "flip" the odometer.
I bought a lot of cars back then at 100,000 for 2-300 bucks and ran them to 120,000. Sometimes they were still worth $200. Of course usually by that time all the fuses were bent copper house wire and the heater core circumvented. I once drove a Nova wagon to work for three weeks with no radiator, as in, the head gasket blew and I removed the radiator. Still ran great for 20 minutes each way, just started idling faster as it got hotter
@@sammolloy1 Why would you do this? Just spend a little more money and deal with less problems.
@@Gnefitisis I did eventually. Credit was not as easy to get back then. Later I started buying better cars and I always had a car payment instead of car problems. After a romance with a 1970 Lincoln - nine years old and rife with typical Ford issues, but what a fabulous car- I found the best value was about 3-5 years old from the used car dept of a new car dealership. My current car I bought new and have maintained it by the book.
The first six digit odo that I saw was on a Volvo, but they seemed to not last any longer than a Pontiac.
My '77 Trans Am is showing 76,xxx odometer. I don't know how many times it flipped. I do know it's on its 3rd engine/transmission combo, but I don't care! It's just a glorious car to look at, work on, and drive!
Having had these cars for 40+ years, here what you need to take into consideration:
1) Even though they didn't make a lot of power stock, they were the most powerful things in their day. It's unreasonable to expect that technology has remained static since then, so it's not that meaningful to compare it to a modern car's output.
2) You said the handling isn't that good by today's standards. Well keep in mind you aren't as sprite as you were when you were 18, so it stands to reason that your particular cars are just worn out from age. My Trans Am handles with the best cars you typically see on the street. It's just a matter of spending some time & money on the right parts. Too bad that doesn't work with our bodies as easily.
3) These cars are not unsafe. If you maintain them mechanically, & upgrade a few components (like put rear disc brakes on from a Trans Am that had them), they are pretty safe. Yes, there are no airbags, but they are solid with thicker metal than today's cars.
4) The reliability was better than most cars in its day! You just happen to be comparing them to reliability of cars 50 years in their future. And there is much to be said for their analog simplicity. I doubt your new daily driver will be very reliable in 50 years because it will cost a fortune to replace the constantly failing emissions equipment. And good luck with super expensive & proprietary diagnostics equipment that may get binned when demand wanes.
5) When it comes to emissions, that is the number one unreliable thing in modern cars. And it was the same back then. By tossing all that stuff in the trash, most new and old cars will run better. And whales will not drown, & the planet will not suddenly spin off into outer space (wait, it's already done that...lol).
6) Methodically make a list of systems that need to be freshened up, changed out, or resto-modded. You will see how safe & reliable these cars can be. And they are so simple by comparison, a person can often maintain them on their own, and with inexpensive basic tools.
7) Back in the 60's when Herb Adams was setting these up for racing, the 2nd gens turned out to be fantastic race bodies. Do some careful digging through modern parts catalogs, & you will see a lot of choices to make these cars competitive at many levels of racing. That means they were pretty good to begin with, but those old parts wore more quickly, so these cars were not at the peak of freshness for long.
8) Mileage is relative to state of tune, gearing & weight. If you wanted to shed a thousand pounds, no problem...they make carbon panels for these now. And if you don't want your engine screaming near redline on the highway, just toss the 3-speed trans & drop in a 6-speed. My first Trans Am could get 24 mpg's at 55 mph with a 400-inch Pontiac engine with the original tranny. The tranny is such a big limiting factor for good economy. But just a decade earlier, you may recall GM trying to tell us we really only needed two gears (remember the Powerglide transmission? )!
As far as the positive things you mentioned, yes...these cars are way cool still, can keep up with many new cars if you aren't shy with money, & in another 50 years, they will be even cooler! I doubt most people will burn with passion & excitement for a Corolla!
I totally agree
Thicker steel counts for nothing when it comes to safety. Structural engineering is a real discipline.
If you care to search for it, there's a photoset of a Pontiac Lemans that got hit by a Lexus in a parking lot. The Lexus was barely damaged, it was going so slowly that the airbag didn't even go off. The passenger door of the Pontiac was pushed in 45 degrees the wrong way and it's latch was touching the driver's seat. The passenger's seat was crushed to pulp.
The lesson is that a thick paper bag is still just a paper bag.
@@richardmaudsley7447 Yes, structural engineering is a science, and thicker steel can matter too. I hit a deer on the freeway in my 2nd gen Trans Am. There was virtually no damage. I also hit a deer in my new F450 at a slower speed, & there was a lot more damage! It's a combination of factors that matters.
@@ivanmarkovicxxx That has much less to do with steel thickness and much more to do with styling.
F Bodies are low and pointy. You hit something it's rolling over and out of the way.
An F450 is basically a brick wall on wheels. You hit something it has nowhere to go but through your radiator.
My red 1977 Trans Am really is a time warp, 400 with a 4 speed manual, only options are power steering and power brakes, nothing else... has a performance cam, headers and all emissions removed I’m sure decades ago, added 17” rims and performance tires shocks and sway bars. Lots of fun, always makes you smile
Except for the 17" rims and 4 speed, sounds like my Bandit!
My second car as a teenager was a 78 Camaro with the 350 and a Q-jet. I thought I was getting good gas mileage at 18 mpg! Absolutely loved the sound of the 4-barrel at wide open throttle, and the dual glasspack exhaust.
Now I have a sudden urge to watch "Smokey And The Bandit" again.
Funny. Every time I get in my '77 Trans Am I start singing "East bound and down".
@@mikemcgown6362 -- One of the best movies ever made; thanks in no small part to Jackie Gleason. "Nobody makes me look like a possum's pecker." He played the role of Sheriff Buford T. Justice perfectly!
Nice video, another appealing part of having a 70s-80s muscle car is driving the car of your childhood dreams. Even if it is a beater. :)
Also people you don't know wanting to talk about the classic cars!
I've driven my '75 IH Scout II to Texas from California several times and it is truly an adventure.
Its a lifestyle .not anyone can get a older car . Its the respect you get .when you fix your own car . 💪
I used to have a huge 1978 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight. It did not seem like much back in the day, but I would love to have one of those old land yachts restored to "modern" reliability for a nice road trip.
Love watching, thanks. I drove that route a 100 times in an old jaguar. It only broke down once.
Both cars have quite a bit of style, maybe consider resto-modding for more reliability if that's a concern. There is certainly something about older cars that makes you more connected when you have to work on them occasionally, for me, its actually relaxing, but I do have the convenience of a modern daily driver as well.
it's is true on average GM and other companies wanted consumers to buy a new car every 2 to 3 years
My dad had a 1979 firebird when he was 20. Now I’m 20 and i just got my 1991 corvette. Even though my 91 corvette is newer I’m glad I have a car from 2015 to daily.
I love the Trans Am. My 403 79 TA got 13.8 mpg back in the day. I would try to squeeze every mpg out of it as I traveled back and forth to college so I kept a log. Coincidentally I have a stick shift Corolla and I thrash it. It can be fun, but it’s not cool at all.
I sold the TA years ago and bought another better one with the Pontiac engine and a 4 speed. Awesome cars.
Unfortunately in California only the 403 auto was available
Built a 403 in 77 442 for buddy. Fast till he turned the bearings. 403's have Windowed main bearings, need a girdle installed and a MSD6AL to rev limit. Unfortunately it was a top end only build. Modern computer cars are rpm/rev limited. All
I put a hi perf distributor in mine and with 242 rear gears I got 21 mpg on the highway. The car still sucked tho
dan hoyland I think I recall putting an Accel HEI kit on mine too and a set of 8mm wires. Pretty sure my gearing was 2.71 rear and a Hydramatic MX1 (RPO code for the 350C). I always had carb problems and in the end put a Holley spreadbore Q-jet replacement carb on it. Cars been gone 25 years now. Probably scrapped years ago.
@@WorthlessWhips you could've gotten one from a different state with a Pontiac engine!
I have a Cameo White 79 Trans Am, and it definitely takes a mechanically inclined person to own/drive/maintain it. Absolutely nothing like the driving experience in a classic musclecar
Somethings never change with C-Milk, always forgetting he left his turn signal on! 🤣. Love both cars, but the 78 Firebird Trans Am is my favorite!
The TAs dashboard has been replaced at some point without the passenger grab handle. That's a good thing, that old handle faded differently than the dash and warped. Also, 1978 T-Tops were much smaller, these aftermarket ones are much closer to the 1979 fisher T-Tops, another good upgrade.
4:40 - You can take the boy off the bike, but you still can't get him to cancel his indicator!
Back in Ohio, me in my '77 Trans Am and my friend with a '73 Corvette would tear around the countryside seeing how far we could push the cars in the envelope! We drove them hard! We had a blast!
This is even better than the bike talks. I love this.
4:43 (British English) = "Indicator". (American English) = "Blinker".
(Human) = "turn signal"
Very fun video. Thanks guys! Can't wait for the footage from the scenic mountains. I'll probably never own a real "muscle" car because I'm just not that good of a mechanic, but I will always appreciate the aesthetic of a classic car like a Firebird or Corvette (Camaro not so much).
Reliability is always my main concern with 'older' cars. I like to drive across several states confident that I will not break down somewhere. But that concern does not mean I will ever give up the cars that feed my soul. ^^
Firebirds is one of the coolest cars in the world! i have said to my self that one day i should buy one
Some old cars work fine in modern traffic.
The 1971 Volvo 1800e is rare example of a car you can drive anywhere. Has four-wheel discs, fuel injection and many improvements over the earlier models, but handles well in traffic and the twisties. 25mpg - Ez on gasoline+the drivetrain lasts 100,000 miles between repairs. They also look as nice as any sports car, really. The '71 is pretty rare (only 5000 produced but last I checked, still affordable.
Nicer still, it's basically a 1950s design.
The old European automobiles were built pretty durable and very long lasting life, much better than today's over engineered, electronic filled, thin body metal, cars of European cars today.
I would prefer to have a 1998 BMW M5 compared to a new M5 that's made today.
When you talk about 70s car's horsepower, you need to differentiate between very early 70s ie pre-1972 and later 70s. The earliest 70s muscle cars were in their prime for cubic inches and horsepower. ZL-1 was rumored to have around 500 hp although for insurance purposes it was billed as 425, if I remember correctly. Same with the 426 Dodge Hemi and 427 Ford. There was the 440 Chryslers as well and the 454 Chevy and 455 Pontiac - all will immense horsepower. Anyway, you guys are hilarious and fun to watch, keep up the good work.
Love You guys and I hope You can stay on TH-cam in the US as succesfuly as in China.
They will do better.
One trip a year to an exotic location.
The Caribbean
South America
Tahiti
And
A smoky and the bandit series.
A blues Brothers 3 b part.
A road trip to Canada
The US is looking more and more like China every day with Silicon Valley’s crackdown on free speech. Part of a very disturbing and disappointing trend
@@joetz1 By free speech, do you mean stopping propoganda?
@@Gnefitisis everyone gets to talk
Even the so called propagandists
You guys talking while you ride motorcycles and drive is like the perfect mix of a TV show and podcast. Love it.
Spanners, lol, where are you from? LOL. I know but it still sounds funny here in the US.
AS FOR ME , MY TOOL OF CHOICE is my 72 JAVELIN AMX......I have it in my garage....
Just got home from taking my car to get its state inspection, i get home and see a new episode is out!
Whats up with the gauges in CMilk's car? is HAL9000 in there or something?
Looks like the original analog gauges on the 'Vette were replaced with digital units. Also, I believe that T/A has after market, dealer cut and install, T-tops. They do not look anything like the later, larger GM units that did NOT leak. Mine still are leak free after all these years. Kudos on a super "ride along" nostalgic video!
I have a 77 Firebird. When I drive that car around, cars that are 40 years newer are intimidated. Challengers, Stangs and even a Vets have to rod it in front of me, or maybe I should take it as a compliment. I should show off to them! Cars built in the 70`s where not built to last. But parts are cheap and easy to work on. That old car turns heads, that is what counts to me.
I know what you're saying! I've got a '77 Bandit and cars are tempting me all the time! When they give a rev, I tap the gas and sit it sideways. They back down.
My 1st car was a '76 Olds 442 ...man I loved that car
I just love the look, sound and feel of an old american car. There's nothing like it. I presonally think these type of cars have more style than the newer ones. Or even european standard cars :)
This is amazing, like I'm in the back driving with you. I don't know why I didn't find this sooner (I follow all the channels you have but didn't see this one).
You also have to remember the age. This car would have driven very differently if it wasn't 50 years old
Both win; both are cool !!
In the case of older cars and can make them very reliable if you are willing to spend a bit more and do a little more work. For example on an older corvette you can do a LS engine swap and upgrade the brakes and suspension to those used by later corvette models, in the end you will pay a bunch more but you will end up with a very reliable car you could daily drive.
If I had to choose between the two it haft to be Winston firebird I would drive it and injoy it
I recommend you guys actually try a 15w40 diesel oil in your older cars. The diesel oils have more zinc and more detergents than most typical passenger car motor oils today, but they're still safe for a normal gasoline engine. You guys are in California so you don't really need to worry about cold start wear the way we do in the Northeast, so you could run them all year round. Biggest advantage is price, most diesel oils like Delvac 1300, Rotella, etc, run only $10-15 per gallon, but the technical specifications are incredibly good. A good site to read more about oil is the bobistheoilguy forums. BTW, Lucas motor oils test somewhat badly in independent tests by PQIA and people's own oil analysis of them. The additive packs are good, but the base oil quality isn't the best. I do think they have the best "mechanic in a bottle" products in USA though.
I use STP additive that has the added ZZDP in that modern oils don't have. Or you can use engine break in lube that has moly one ZZDP. Check it out.
@@mikemcgown6362 Unfortunately lab tests on the STP additive say it only has 127ppm zinc, most modern oils are 700-900ppm, so besides thickening the oil it may not be doing much for zinc. $10 a gallon NAPA store brand 15w40 has 1100, by comparison Mobil 1 5w30 has 800. Winston's Lucas oil actually has almost 2000ppm, but at that level it could actually be more harmful than good as it ends up basically corrosive (over 1500ppm can be corrosive) racing oils have tons of zinc because they're meant to be drained every few races, not held in the crankcase for 5000 miles. Even Valvoline VR1 racing oil is only 1450ppm.
@@GilBatesLovesyou so I learn. I use the engine break in additive from Comp Cams in my oil changes to be safe.
those old chevy vans have always fascinating me, but sadly I can't afford a money pit like that
Ahhh Cmilk. Forgetting the indicator, good old times. :)
The first thing that caught my attention (aside from the coolness of the cars)
was the flicker of the digital dash display in C-Milk’s car. Obviously it’s not a real problem, it’s just a visual example of camera shutter speed, and I’m sure there’s a lot of math, science, and technology in the explanation, but I just thought it looked interesting.
I own a 1989 Firebird, not THAT old yet, but still i exactly feel what you are talking about. Just last week i got in the car and she wouldn't crank, out of nothing and i was like "what the hell is wrong now again you old princess". Pulled the fuse out and back in and worked again.
Getting parts here in Switzerland is sometimes a pain in the ass, but worked out pretty good so far. And over here these cars are even more head turning, because you rarely see them.
I am not a car mechanic, but still a mechanic and you learn something new everytime you wrench around on these things and it feels so much more rewarding driving them.
And yea, she also makes weird noises all the time but hey, thats a part of the soul of these cars, at least they still got one.
I live in Europe. And own a 79 trans am and a 74 el camino. Yes the breakdown yes they ride a bit old school. And yes fuel is expensive. But I look cool af when I drive it
I’ve got a 74 elcamino here in the states it’s a rust bucket but I love it.
"What's up with all these WONDERFUL PEOPLE without masks?" I fucking died.
Cool, that was like your old motorcycle videos. I think I prefer watching the mechanical stuff though. Do some more of that.
Back in the 50s and 60s, the big three, Ford, GM, and Chrysler, dominated the American Car market making effectively a monopoly. Also, the auto unions were strong and allowed job security for poor performers. American cars had planned obsolescence from the corrupt monopoly and poor quality from complacent workers.
The Japanese cars came in during the 70s and introduced much needed competition leading to a huge improvement in quality all around.
Unfortunately, this scenario unfairly tarnished the reputation of American workers and helped rationalize the sell out of the American middle class by relocating much of the supply chain to China.
Cuba still has the 50's and 60's domestic cars, from the big 3, GM, Ford, Chrysler.
Sometimes maybe see some Lada cars, old Russian or Ukurainian automobiles.
Well Spoken, Could not have said it better myself.
Thank You.
Hence I live for Restomods. Best of all worlds mates.
My husband has a t-bucket hot rod and it flys when you want, but it doesn’t have power steering and is a beast to control at high speeds. Not practical, but it’s painted with flames and people love it.
3:45 New shocks pleas! I lived back then, 100k miles was a lot but our cars always topped that, seats and interior were failing by then usually.
ALL the cars I had from '82 to '95 had more than 100,000 miles. Most were '70's Chevy or Pontiac models. Mainly LeMans or Novas. A couple Chevelles, too.
Yes! My short Top gear show is on ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
As you indicated, the reason is because classic American cars were built to LOOK COOL, they weren't built to run well. That would've required money to be spent on technological advancement, and the American car manufacturers did as little of that as possible because it reduced profits.
Thank god you guys chose to live in Southern California! So awesome to see you guys drive around the areas I love to. Great video
one word. Restomod. Combine the looks of old with the modern drivetrain tech of today. Suspension upgrades and a LS engine.
After everything you've both been through, you guys are like family
Owner of old American cars and old Japanese motorcycles...they are WAY easier to work on from front to back to top and bottom...it is parts acquisition that is the problem. I used to know a man who purchased his old vehicles with manual everything. No power windows, locks, seats, etc. I laughed at him in the beginning...20 years later...he still owned those cars and only replaced the batteries and minimal maintenance. Moral of the story is...the less you depend on "technology" the easier life is...obviously at 1:51
WELL IF THATS IN FACT A REAL T\A 6.6. That there my friends is a pontiac 4oo. AND THEY ARE DAMN NEAR BULLETROOF...TRUST ME ON THIS...maintained correctly, that low revving engine will last nearly forever.....AND DONT EVER EVER CALL A 6.6 T\A A BIG BLOCK...
I live here lol, so crazy seeing you guys in all these spots. Are you still in town?
I think your guys cars would turn more heads hear on the east coast? Cali probably sees a ton of old cool cars as well as new? Can't wait to see more of your trip.
I love old cars from the 60's and 70. Small, big, Amercian, European, Japanese, Russian. I would daily drive it any time (if it was reliable). I saw a 1966 Chevy Impala hardtop (in Laos!) and was totally in love. Mind you it was totally original. But at the same time I also love the old Fiat 500 for example. It was an era were everything was possible regarding car design.
I live in a West Auckland suburb in NZ, where every 10th household has a classic American muscle car in it, me, I have '68 Mercury Cougar, mechanically great, but a 20 footer, every panel is a different shade of Lime Frost.
Lucky people
You are a wonderful duo, this is your best show to date.
One thing I like about my classic cars is that they don't have a computer...then again, they also don't have power windows, power steering, central locking, air-conditioning, but they do have push button radio's.
Sometimes I wonder if serpenza is trolling with his Canadian Ayyy?
Haha saying Eh is pretty common in NZ/Aus as well.
TechnoAlliance1 And?
Everyone thinks old American cars are junk but their FREAKING OLD try to keep an old British car going without bankrupting yourself.
lol - the corvette with a screaming chicken :-)
In 1984 I got a new to me 1983 Mustang convertible. That car was so much fun for me at 16 years old driving around SoCal. I'm 51 now and I came across a pristine 1983 Mustang convertible same specs as my childhood one and boy what a hot turd that car is. Actually I don't care I love driving it for fun but never as a daily driver.
As a young man and 40+year pro mechanic I drove all my hot rods and muscle. back then you could fix . it on the side of the road with parts from walmart . Today my 86 regal GN sits at home while my daily is a 06 Town Car It never breaks.
Staying awesome! Love riding along in the rumble seat with you guys!
They're both awesome, guys! I prefer the C3 styling (especially the "flying buttresses" behind the rear window). However, the Screaming Chicken helps close the styling gap for the T/A. Call me a puss, but no A/C (especially here in the Midwest) would be a deal breaker for me.... I'd go as is T/A 55 / C3 45. (If the C3 had A/C, the numbers would flip.) Overall, I'm a '70s "personal luxury coupe" fiend -- seeing both of these out on the road really makes me want to get my '70 Grand Prix (my first car) restored. Looking forward to more content on these!
Thanks, Mike! Would love to see your Grand Prix.
As the world's largest builder of Starsky & Hutch Gran Torinos, there is a lot of truth to what you are talking about. My buyers are almost all in their 50s, kids are grown and gone and they want the car of their youth to take their wife out to dinner and be the hit of every car show they go to. You could get a range of engines in my torinos new all the way up to the 460 4V which had a whopping 216 HP. Most have one of three different 351s with about 165 HP. Since it is illegal to race around town, I find that now in my 50s I'd rather have a car that looks cool and sounds tough and I don't care that it is gutless and has no road feel.
There is not a time I drive a S&H unit that I don't draw a crowd, have people taking selfies with it etc. Old American cars are simple to work on, parts are abundant and easy to get. Yes, old cars are going to let you down. That comes with owning and driving an old car. The joy they bring out weighs the break downs all day long.
Thanks mate, really appreciate the comment! I'm really happy with my 78 trans am (although I need to sort out that crappy aftermarket roof and get a proper re-spray)
@@serpentza I've been thinking of getting a 77 or 78 Trans Am. I'm also noodling around making a Knight Rider Kitt T/A. I'd do it all except the interior electronics. I'd leave it stock inside and maybe put the Kitt steering wheel on it but make the outside exactly like Kitt. I think you'd like my video I shot in the 80s with my 1982 Z-28 Camaro Pace Car vs my brothers black 1982 Trans-Am. I've been enjoying your new car channel and look forward to your next video.
1:13 A boomer mobile will bring out your inner boomer.
FIRST MINUTE! BOOM.
Edit: Why do these videos seem sooooooo short?
Short? It’s because they have little to say.
@@AB0BA_69 - Then explain mukbang, and ASMR that are ages long without speaking. Also, it was more of a rhetorical question.
NeverMetTheGuy what is there to explain? Both are absolute garbage. These boys really need to do a better job editing their vids down.
@@AB0BA_69 if you don't like it then don't watch. I've been watching these guys since the beginning and there's a reason I keep coming back. The video format of being raw is extremely hard to find today. Most youtubers will have over 30-40 cuts for every minute of footage. I hate that. Cuts are fine, but there's nothing worse than hearing someone's words cut off then connected by another take.
How much longer would you want to listen to them complain about the classic cars?
Winston cruzing in his blocker car.
Yeah, the Z-28 I drove from Alberta to Manitoba and back was exactly like that. The drivers seat was leaning slightly as you tend to rest your arm on the right rest (the guy who owned it said "don't put your gas money there as it will blow away") and your body weight over the years makes the inside edge lean back. My Dad - lease car ordering sheet mistake when the new '82 Camaro came out - the lease guy said, "oh you could order that if you want .. someone thinks the Camaro is a 4 door". So EVERYONE made him get it and he was so embarrassed - bought the sedan ('80 Olds Cutlass) he had before to use whenever his boss came to town. The Camaro was a VERY unforgiving car - if you did a driving error it really made you pay for it. I spun that car out in winter often (even water on the road you had to be careful) and I remember being so used to it it was "like normal" .. now-a-days it would be like a near death experience to me. My sister bought that Camaro - its transmission gave out driving it into the moving truck - so a few years here in Winnipeg.
I just want to address the statement you guys made about odometers being an indication that these cars were made to last only a few years. That's simply not true, even notably reliable cars like Toyota and Nissan had 5 digit odometers in the 1970's, truth is that 6 digit odometers didn't really start to become a thing until the 80's and 90's.
I remember one time a friend and fellow car nut once told me "The proof is in the odometer, you see all these old cars with 40, 50, 60 thousand miles and they're nearly dead.", well; the rebuttal is "Can you prove that odometer didn't roll over?"
Sure, these cars broke down alot in the day. But, so do new cars. And that's often due to people who don't take care of their vehicles. But the only real difference between old cars and new cars today in terms of breaking down is what you keep in the car. In your Trans Am you keep some wrenches, maybe a ratchet and some sockets; screw drivers and some tape. In your new car you keep your cell phone and credit card handy.
It's called a flock of birds.
Restomods are great investments with car enthusiasts - modernized older vehicles can be a reliable daily driver
Hahaha, besides the fact that you're in cars and in the US, I keep expecting one of you to yell out "MILK DOG" when trying to turn around... 🤣🤣🤣
Heheh, _not this time_ ... WROOUUUUMMM!
But yeah, "milkdogging" could become a slang term like "riding shotgun", describing an urgent turnaround.
Turn around quick, before you get invited for some milk!
ACTUALLY BUD THE TOP OF THE LINE MUSCLE CAR even the vette back in 74 was the PONTIAC SUPER DUTY TRANSAM WITH 310 NET HORSEPOWER..! not the corvette! that SD car would put the smack down on your corvette with 170HP and also smoke those 400HP ferrari dinos, 365s m 308s and even the mighty early countach.!
“Wonderful” people😂
Winston the Trans Am looks beautiful. I hope you do some wrenching on the block to get some more hp!!!
Id take a mustang from the 1960s or a classic ford truck
Old trucks are amazing vehicles
I agree on the title but as of 2015 they have gotten better. Look at the Fords now with the ECO Boost and nice designs. Also GM has came a long way and that C8 Corvette is outstanding!
Trans Am HP did not drop like that until after 76, thankfully mine was a 75 and it moved
4:20 State of the Art suspension right there! :D
Living the dream!
The older the car is relative to when it was manufactured will always raise the risk of safety. I think it is relative to age and the tech that was at the time. Cars built pre front disc brakes are just not as safe, and cars with abs brakes are just safer than non. Abs from 1990's is not as good as the abs on a 2020.
The 2nd gen is a good platform to build on and I agree Herb Adams set a standard on the 2nd gen that cara even today use, proportions of the front to rear away bars is about the same today as they did in these Trans Am trims, 1.25" front and ,.75" rear bars is still used as a good balance. Yes independent suspension is better than a solid axle, etc... But it's amazing that the basic formula is still used today.
I have a 2000 and an 81 Trans Am, they are not the same but both bring a different kind of smile. To truly appreciate the difference you need to take each for a drive back to back, though some stuff is the same (rear solid axle with posi traction), the tech differences give you a different feel. For example, the steering column in a 2md gen uses a rubber disc to connect the steering box to the steering column intermediate shaft, and the steering is handled with a bar (center link) and 4 tie rods. The 2000 has a rack and pinion, you hold the steering wheel and the car goes in that direction, there is no rubber to absorb those random bumps in the road. Some call it sloppy handling, but that's how they did it. Don't forget most roads outside of cities as late as the 90's were gravel, they built these cars to work in the environment they sold them for. Don't forget most interstate highways date back to the 60's. Watch Smokey and the Bandit, most of the driving then was still on 2 lane roadways, not multi lane on/off ramp no stop light highways. The concept of an overdrive transmission wasn't a norm until the 80's. Once you know a bit about how things were, a 3 speed automatic with a soft steering setup wasn't a bad choice for the time when cars could go on the highway but also down a gravel road.
Gimme the ponyac
Now, I gotta watch the chase scene from Bullitt...for the 90th time.
Only 90 times? I wore out my VHS on Smokey and the Bandit and played the DVD enough it skips. Go figure!
I realize most may not get the oversimplification of this statement, but that '78 Trans-am has just a wonderful rolling feeling as it travels that you just don't get in a modern car.
May Isuggest getting AAA coverage if you dont got already? I own a 52 Olds and 74 Cutlass (not that they break down a lot) One tow alone could more than cover the cost of the Platinum membership. Also, I get peace of mind knowing my wife and kids are covered if they have car issues. AAA certainly reduces my concern for driving old cars all over SoCal.
I have roadside service on my auto insurance coverage.