OT: Cheap cars (was: 1%...)

From: Mike Ford <mikeford_at_socal.rr.com>
Date: Thu Aug 2 14:17:31 2001

>I don't recall the numbers but the '78 probably had < 200 HP. I just bought
>a new truck and It's got more HP than the '78 did. IIRC, the '69 was around
>325 HP.

Keep in mind HP ratings changed drastically during the 70's. The early
testing was to carefully select an engine and make a flywheel test with
everything optimized, ie no stock manifolds and no assessories like a
alternator or even a belt in the front. Basically anything they wanted
could be used as the HP, and nobody on the street would come close. Modern
cars get rated on a production line average of the drive wheel performance
on a dynometer.

This had the odd result of making for example the 1986 mustang with
something like 200 HP from the 302 the fastest production Mustang to date
in stock trim. Now if you update one of the old cars like the BOSS Mustang
with modern tires the situation changes a lot.
Received on Thu Aug 02 2001 - 14:17:31 BST