Oh, how the times have changed....IROC, TransAm, Foxbody shootout circa 1985

[Bagman]

Yeah, but at the time my carbureted '79 Z28 had a stock HP rating of 160.

Yeah and L82 Corvettes pumped out 220 HP. Like I said, sad times for the American car industry.

 

[Bagman]

Had an '84 Supra. I don't care, wouldn't mind having and driving hard a 'new' one just like it today. Fun times.

These were very popular back in the day...

 

[Kyzrsoze]

Yeah and L82 Corvettes pumped out 220 HP. Like I said, sad times for the American car industry.

I'd say the 70s and early 80s were sad. At least 85 and up is when hope returned (if you were a young gearhead back then). Now the interiors were another story. Those continued to be awful into the 1990s.

 

[Wallace's]

what makes the new Japanese cars less appealing to me design wise now is that they intentionally alter the body, interior and engine for the united states instead of just switching the steering wheel side and importing them. The 80s toyotas and hondas i see on the road still look cool as Antarctica in my eyes

You can thank the EPA and NHTSA for that. I am sure manufacturers would love to just swap the wheel to the other side, but it's more complicated than that given the USA's unforgiving safety and emissions requirements.

Same reasons we will never saw the diesel Hilux, 22B Subaru, Cosworth Escorts and numerous other great rides that our over seas neighbors got to enjoy. Instead, we have to wait until they are 25 years old, then pay double the overseas market price for them here and still have a dated technology ride with right hand drive...

 

[GeauxLSU]

Earlier this week, I drove a one owner, '85 Vette from Canton to Norcross. 67k on it. It was in incredible shape and was absolutely like stepping into a time machine, 'cool' digital dash and all... Engine and transmission were flawless but when I first got it in and started off, I thought "What an abysmal bucket of bolts!" I admit, after a few miles, I settled in and was grinning.

 

[Bagman]

I'd say the 70s and early 80s were sad. At least 85 and up is when hope returned (if you were a young gearhead back then). Now the interiors were another story. Those continued to be awful into the 1990s.

I disagree about the 70's. My 1970 Cuda 383 produced 375 hp and the 440 cu produced around 390 hp if I remember correctly. Those are decent numbers and way better than anything produced in the 80's.

 

[palmettomoon]

Classmate got an IROC for a 'graduation present' in 1985. I was so jealous, but happy for him to have it, it was awesome. He completely totaled the damn thing on day 5 of ownership.

I've hated rich kids ever since.

 

[Kyzrsoze]

I disagree about the 70's. My 1970 Cuda 383 produced 375 hp and the 440 cu produced around 390 hp if I remember correctly. Those are decent numbers and way better than anything produced in the 80's.

I certainly agree with you on that. What I was thinking is the mid/late 70s. Things really got sad around 1973/'74 with the choking emissions equipment and weak scramble for fuel economy. From that point up to the mid 80s was a sad time for gearheads.

Personally, my choice from the early 70s is a 455SD Trans am. A 70 GTO with a Ram Air 400 would be a close second.

 

[napp]

I bought a new Pontiac Trans Am in 1976....455ci engine, 4spd tranny, posi-traction rear end. One of the most disappointing cars I ever owned, performance wise. The big engine had gobs of "oh boy" torque when you first got into it; but soon changed to "oh crap" as it ran out of breath. By 1976, the emissions goblins had reduced the power of the once mighty 455 engine to 200 hp. Gas mileage was a steady 11.2 mpg around town; and a reliable 11.8 on the highway.

 

[Jackspack]

I still have my 86 IROC. It has 64,000 miles on it. Needs a paint job, but other than that she's cherry.