Honest question, please don't be rude....

[Zezima]

Just now learning about cars since I got my Camaro...
I will be using the Ford Mustang as my example... 2000-2004 Mustang GT, 260 HP, 2005-2010, 300HP, 2011-2014, 420 HP now the 2015 is like 435 HP

By this pattern, does that means like 70's and 80's Mustangs were like 20-50 HP, that's like nothing...

[jdrop01]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_M...ion)#Engines_3

[christianchevell]

Automobiles engine rating standards did change with the advent of the gas crunch in the early 70's, and that brought power levels down, and eventually EPA standards choked down the power of the out put and manufacturers made the needed changes with cats, and smog devices and etc etc. And power levels had stayed fairly low but the desire for more power drove the market back along with the advances in technology eventually.
Now in 2017 the EPA is forcing new CAFE standards on the manufacturers meaning they have to gain 5 mpg for the average over a number of years until they reach something like 50's in the MPG rating.... SO in other words NOW IS THE TIME TO GET A MODERN MUSCLE CAR. Also coincidentally the oil industry has reformulations out with once again messing with oil and there will be tow major standards one for low Viscosity newer turbo type low cube engines, one for older higher viscosity engines, and who knows what the ZDDP ratings are on a lot of oils, so the market is pointing to downward in performance and lighter in the future.

The changes in ratings have gone to rating the engine SAE with all accessories hooked up from back in the day when it was full timing, open headers, and no accessories ..... And no they did not have 25-30 hp... lol History: they had to do what they can now do better with carbon fiber and aluminum frames and small turbo engines and they will try to keep the cars competitive ..... Yet have to bend to the will of Big Government.

[i2disturbedSS]

Somebody ask this same question a few months ago. No they were not 50hp. Start by going through some wiki pages with each car. It's fun to learn about cars and the history. You'll see where ZL1 came from.

[Scalded Dog]

My '82 Camaro Berlinetta had 104 hp (bone stock!)... and this was not even the weakest of Camaros offered that year.

If I loaded weight into the car, like gasoline in the tank, humans in the seats, etc., it behaved more like a 20- 50 hp boat anchor. I was once beat in a red light to red light challenge by an elderly old bat with two glass eyes who was driving a Winnebago with a flat tire, that was towing another Winnebago... but I did come in second, so that's cool.

[phillip123hastings]

Lol, you have a good point there, however, things are not that simple. For example, the 1972 Mustang had 7.0 L V8 engine under the hood...

[mr02Z/28]

LoL ..... doesn't know much about cars but buys a ZL1 beast ......... this ain't turning out well, yikes .....

[Kens ss]

Originally Posted by Zezima

Just now learning about cars since I got my Camaro...
I will be using the Ford Mustang as my example... 2000-2004 Mustang GT, 260 HP, 2005-2010, 300HP, 2011-2014, 420 HP now the 2015 is like 435 HP

By this pattern, does that means like 70's and 80's Mustangs were like 20-50 HP, that's like nothing...

Well actually during the original muscle car era 1960's thru 1971. Hp ratings were being low balled by the manufactures, in order to comply with insurance industry pricing.

For example 429 boss was rated at 429hp, but actual dyno results showed closer to 500hp.

This all ended by 1973/1974 when the gas crisis hit.

Now manufactures will report the absolute highest hp based on a test performed under ideal conditions, and are engine dyno, not rwhp. The consumer will be hard pressed to recreate that power without mods or tunes.
Similar is the mpg ratings... Also tested under ideal conditions, most American cars I have owned, do not achieve that.
Except my VW Turbo Diesel (daily driver) where I am beating the city rating by nearly 3 mpg.

[PalmerGA]

Originally Posted by Zezima

Just now learning about cars since I got my Camaro...
I will be using the Ford Mustang as my example... 2000-2004 Mustang GT, 260 HP, 2005-2010, 300HP, 2011-2014, 420 HP now the 2015 is like 435 HP

By this pattern, does that means like 70's and 80's Mustangs were like 20-50 HP, that's like nothing...

"Honest question"? Really? Yes. For example, you could get a 1969 Mach 1 Mustang with a 429 cubic inch (7 Liter) engine, but it only put out 32 Horsepower... Honest.

[Spec]

Originally Posted by mr02Z/28

LoL ..... doesn't know much about cars but buys a ZL1 beast ......... this ain't turning out well, yikes .....

No better way to learn than it is to learn from the top...

Also, don't mean he ain't a good driver...

[SteelCamaro]

Let's not forget the "gentlemen's agreement" between Japanese car manufacturers to rate their cars at 276HP (crank). In reality, a 1990 GTR made around 281WHP.

[pickwithaustin]

Wow. Just wow.

[IOMCamaroSS]

[RxRated]

Boss 429 was rated 375 hp.