How 'bout a Fifties Lincoln, the type that used to compete with (and sometimes win against) Ferraris in long distance road races?

I guess anyone who's ever watched the movie Bullitt must be in some way partial to musclecars. There were car chases before (It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World had a lot of the same stunts as Bullitt but it was a comedy, not an action movie) and since (ad nauseum), but the ultimate distillation was the chase in Bullitt, with Steve McQueen in the Mustang and the bad guys in the Charger. Rough!!!

Hey Sam, glad you're back in, I was tired of deciphering German, and I don't even know what the hell a 480 Volvo is! Only problem I have with the car chase was the soundtrack--the shifts never really matched up, etc., giving a car-lover fits (o:. Same thing in th French Connection, which was pretty cool too. Let's mention that this conference should include Euro-muscle cars also, like the Q-ship MB's of the 70's, V-8 Capri's etc. Anybody?

I think the V-8 Capris (at least the European ones) were conversions, the largest factory engine in a European Ford Capri was a 3-litre V-6. The Volvo 480 never made it to the U.S., despite R&T's best hopes. Classic Cars, a British magazine, had a five-way comparison between the Daimler Sovereign (Jaguar XJ-12 to you), the Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3, a pre-wedgebox Aston-Martin Lagonda (the first of about five made, based on the DBS), a BMW 3.0Si and a DeTomaso (I've forgotten the name of the sedan). Whether through nationalist bias or through an unusually good example of the type, the Daimler won! I believe the Mercedes was the fastest, the BMW was the best handling and the Daimler gave the best ride. The Aston-Martin and the DeTomaso both felt a bit cobbled-up (more acceptable for the Aston-Martin, it was a prototype, after all!)

I should say that the testers was rather surprized that a car bult under the British Leyland regime won, they said the driving experience in all of the cars was quite different from their preconceived ideas. When mentioning musclecars, one must notice the similarity in effect between the Plymouth Road Runner Superbird and the BMW 3.0CSL: powerful racing cars looking patently ridiculous on the street!

Yeah the Superbird Chargers, the GTX, and the RoadRunner *did* end up as cartoons of themselves. But I can't believe the prices they fetch today, in the 30's! I've always been partial to the 70 Cuda, or, if you needed room for friends, the Challenger R/T, and the big block SS Chevrolets. Seems right that the Daimler was the most refined ride of that (great) test. The MB suspension as I recall couldn't hack it with the weight. Still one of the best motors though! My uncle had a DB6, which he crashed, and a DBS. Both lacked handling, but opening the "bonnet" was a visual trip! Good that you know the Capri's were conversions; rode in one in Ireland and it scared the hell out of me!

Capris were rather popular in Jamaica. They would probably still be, if they were still being made! How about the Lotus Cortina or the Ford Escort Mexico? (I think that there were Lotus versions of the Ford Cortinas Mk I and II, but not of the Mk III, the type my brother drove.) Ford really tried their best to get a performance image in the Sixties, and by and large they succeeded. This image followed them into the Seventies, but only in Europe!

Yeah the Lotus-Cortinas were nice powerplants, and those little anonymous boxes could haul! Expensive if you over-revved 'em though. Early attempts at close-tolerance engines were pretty finicky.

Close-tolerance engines...exceed the tolerance and what do you get? Interference! On the other hand, I think the Escort Mexico used the 1600cc ohv "Kent" engine. One of the Indestructibles, I think (also one of the things least likely to break on a Lotus/Caterham Seven?) Any mention of a Lotus Seven in a musclecar topic shows that I'm WAAY off topic... Musclecars... 427, 440, 454, 8 mpg... Never going to see those again. The current Mustang is ugly IMO. Time for another Probe, with rear drive, a V-8 and and suspension components based on the RX-7 Mk III! And why doesn't Chrysler have a musclecar? (I can hear the question coming, but I have the answer...) The Viper costs too much to be a musclecar. It's an exotic. Chrysler needs a V-8!

Chrysler's riding the fence right now IMO. They have the platforms in the Intrepids and Avengers, the motors are in trucks. The "Prowler" looks to be a bust unless they throw a little caution out the window and give it some cojones. Otherwise even collectors will be booed if they drive 'em! The Viper; who drives 'em? CEO's and their egos? I see very few and when I do they're at things like motorcycle get-togethers and golf dinners. It should be raced by the factory if you ask me, sart another Chevy-Mopar war on the tracks.

They race Vipers at Le Mans (and finish in the Top 10!). I saw a Viper on the one night I spent in Miami (missed my connecting flight!) I took a picture; it's not very good, but I treasure it anyway! Do they still make the 318 engine? It'd go well in the Prowler IMO!

Last summer I sat in a Viper GTS and start the motor. I dont have the precise English words to explain tha experience. But I know that I don't have the verves to handle that monster. I never saw "in real life" a Prowler and would like it.The Viper's V10 sounds great, but I'm still a V8 sound lover.

The V10, for lack of better word, is Awesome ( I hate cliches). The 340 motor would be a better bet for the Prowler IMO. A street rod needs right-there torque without straining, and I remember the 318 as a little short in that dept. Yves! Glad to see ya! I thought Sam & I were alone on this island!

Yves' been here some time, but not in this topic. I figured that the 318 would be a marked improvement over the current V-6, and just about in line with the 302s and 305s associated with other ponycars. As I said in another topic (that died; I really should remove it! Terry,how do I do that?) the Viper's aluminium engine had design input from Lamborghini, while the Diablo had ergonomic and heating/ventilation/air-conditioning input from Chrysler engineers. Each doing what they do best! I don't know how well the 318 would adapt to modern emmissions and OBDII requirements (the lattter will probably drive more people to motorcycles, no pun intended), so they might need an all-new V-8, maybe an OHC or DOHC! Sounds COOL! (I don't mind cliches that much!)

Only the creator of a topic can make it die. Who started the topic that you're referring to above?

O.K., here's what was in the Viper/Diablo topic that I started. Once I'm sure this thing pastes, I'll go back and end it. Sun, Oct 26, 1997 (10:02) | El Sam Blob (Afor) It is not widely known, but the Dodge Viper and the Lamborghini Diablo have more in common than sinister names. The Viper was designed by Chrysler with input from Lamborghini (owned by Chrysler at the time) in the design of the aluminium V-10 block; a good idea, considering the decades of experience Lamborghini has with large, multicylinder aluminium blocks. Meanwhile, the Diablo profited from Chrysler's experience with ergonomics, electronics, quality control (don't laugh now, remember this was during the Iacocca era, when Chrysler rediscovered quality) and emissions control devices, which made it more comfortable and reliable than the Countach. What are your opinions on these two cars? And do you think Chrysler should have sold Lamborghini? 2 new of 3 responses total. Topic 13 of 21 [cars]: Dodge Viper / Lamborghini Diablo connection Response 1 of 3: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (08:49) * 3 lines What's the sticker price on these respective two cars, even though it isn't in my budget till I win the lottery. Topic 13 of 21 [cars]: Dodge Viper / Lamborghini Diablo connection Response 2 of 3: El Sam Blob (Afor) * Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (10:05) * 5 lines A Dodge Viper lists for about US$75,000 That's the cheap one! The Lamborghini Diablo, the last time I read, was going for almost US$300,000! That might be beyond your budget even if you do win the lottery! Topic 13 of 21 [cars]: Dodge Viper / Lamborghini Diablo connection Response 3 of 3: El Sam Blob (Afor) * Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (10:06) * 1 lines However, you can get a Vector M-12 for less than that, with the same engine (that is, if Vector hasn't folded yet!)

It seems that this topic may be more likely to fold than the Viper/Diablo topic right now! Wot, no musclecar/Q-ship fans?

I see a lot of "over-restored" muscle cars these days. None look like they should be driven daily and it's a shame. Kid up the street from me has a 340 Duster he drives on weekends! Talk about a car you can't kill, and he's afraid to damage it!

WHat does he drive during the week? A Civic? If so, can't blame him much; less gas to pay for & besides, who wants to drive those things in traffic? Wear 'em out without enjoying it? Why?

Would like to have such car to show youngster what's REAL CAR, what kind of toys their father where playing with :o))

He drives a 5.0 Mustang "boom car" in true newkid fashion.

He must be a power addic :o) He should try a 250 motocross ride (if not already done).