Overpowered, overpriced new cars

[Bird]

Speaking of "stock" cars, how many here remember the old Mobil Economy Run that used to be done each year? It was a (fair?) approximation of fuel mileage before the EPA ratings. You may notice the comment, "Automakers tried to "prepare" their cars to achieve better results."

Since the cars were bought from dealers' inventory, the automakers didn't know which of their cars would be selected. I believe it was 1957 or 1958 when Chrysler products had some rear differential failures and it eventually hit the news that Chrysler put motor oil instead of SAE 80-90W gear oil in all the cars they made for a 2 week period to be sure the one bought for the Mobil Economy Run had thinner oil in the rear end to help the gas mileage.:laughing:

 

[dodge man]

There is a nearby town, Keokuk Iowa, that has three retired stock car drivers. Erni Derr, Don White, and Ramo Stott. I had a friend that had his engine rebuilt at of the guys engines shop about 15 years ago. He quit racing in the mid 70's. It had looked like he quit racing the week before. There were still Superbird front cones and wings laying around. The really good racers got what was called a body in white, which was a striped down shell. The guys in Keokuk got complete cars, and they had to strip out all the parts. This guys shop was still filled with all these brand new looking interior parts, seats etc. He had this huge rack of of 8 3/4 rear ends with different ratios. He had a 70 Superbird race car out back that had been rebodied as a 74 Dodge Charger. At that time, these were true "stock" cars, they started out as regular cars and had a roll cage added.

This was when Dodge was just gettting back in racing, they were in trucks at the time but not Nascar. We had some interesting talks about the past and future of Dodge in Nascar.

 

[om21braz]

TI'd even put a Holman-Moody Talledega against these new cars, with modern tires.

I know where there is a Ford Talledega just sitting in shed - all original as far as I know.

 

[JDgreen227]

I know where there is a Ford Talledega just sitting in shed - all original as far as I know.

Belongs to a little old lady who drives it to church, right....:laughing:

 

[tcartwri]

Have you ever been to the site carsinbarns.com

warning! will make you cry.

I recall coming across a 69 Charger 500 in the junk yard when I was a kid. The one with the flush grill and rear window. It was badly rusted and the motor was missing, but I wish I had been a little bit older when I found it.

 

[om21braz]

Belongs to a little old lady who drives it to church, right....:laughing:

Actually, I don't believe it has been driven by anyone in probably 30+ years.

 

[RoyJackson]

Have you ever been to the site carsinbarns.com

warning! will make you cry.

I recall coming across a 69 Charger 500 in the junk yard when I was a kid. The one with the flush grill and rear window. It was badly rusted and the motor was missing, but I wish I had been a little bit older when I found it.

Being into sportscars, the one that brought tears to my eyes was in Italy (I was stationed in Italy at the time). I had a Fiat Dino coupe, but really had the hots for a Fiat Dino Spyder (attached picture).
A buddy and I were at a salvage yard looking for some wheels. There was a very nice Dino Spyder setting there...clean, all the parts were there.
I went back the next week to see if I could buy it....by that time, the salvage yard had cut the Spyder in two pieces (right at the doors).

The attached picture wasn't the car I looked at...just an example of a Fiat Dino Spyder.

 

[JDgreen227]

Speaking of "stock" cars, how many here remember the old Mobil Economy Run that used to be done each year? It was a (fair?) approximation of fuel mileage before the EPA ratings. You may notice the comment, "Automakers tried to "prepare" their cars to achieve better results."

Since the cars were bought from dealers' inventory, the automakers didn't know which of their cars would be selected. I believe it was 1957 or 1958 when Chrysler products had some rear differential failures and it eventually hit the news that Chrysler put motor oil instead of SAE 80-90W gear oil in all the cars they made for a 2 week period to be sure the one bought for the Mobil Economy Run had thinner oil in the rear end to help the gas mileage.:laughing:

Bird, I remember reading about those economy runs but it always baffled me why so much importance was paid to them because even today, how many people buy a car based on fuel economy as compared to other makes. I have never purchased any new or used vehicle with gas mileage as a factor in my choice.

 

[RobertN]

The Talledega was an interesting car from a rules standpoint.

The Hemi's were hard to beat, even with restrictions. After the Daytona, NASCAR made Mopar build a minimum number of cars "as raced", and they had to make a certian number of cars related to the number of dealerships. Hence, there are lots of Superbirds out there. And, originally, a minimum number of Hemi 4spd cars.

For, did not have to do that. There were much fewer Talladega's. AND... none of the Talledega's were ever built "as raced", ie 427 4spd or Boss-429 4spd cars. those motors were and trannies were placed in other cars, like the Boss-429 Mustangs.

Ford never had to jump thru the hoops that Mopar did; Mopar was restricted to make Ford competitive. Of course, mid-late 1960's, GM was a non-player in Winston Cup...

I know where there is a Ford Talledega just sitting in shed - all original as far as I know.

 

[RobertN]

Yup, pretty sad seeing some of those cars rot...

Have you ever been to the site carsinbarns.com

warning! will make you cry.