[GoldenBear]

Originally Posted by tooslow

Contrary to popular belief, the horsepower wars of the '60's/'70's did not end because the government mandated that they stop making high-horsepower vehicles, it ended because fuel prices went so high nobody was looking at buying them. Instead, people began looking for more fuel efficient options.

Those who are old enough to remember recall that fuel prices did not dramatically increase in the United States until the Fall of 1973, after the start of the Arab Oil Embargo, and, after the 1974 model year vehicles had already been released. The original muscle car era was already essentially over by the Fall of 1973 before the dramatic increase of gasoline prices occurred in the United States.

The two most important factors that contributed to the end of the original muscle car era in the early 1970s were higher insurance premiums that were then being imposed by insurance companies for performance vehicles due to the associated liability and stricter government imposed emission standards. The typical muscle car buyer could no longer afford or was no longer willing to pay the associated insurance premiums, and the automobile manufacturers could no longer produce cost effective performance vehicles that could meet the newer emission standards given the technology of the era.

[tooslow]

Originally Posted by GoldenBear

Those who are old enough to remember recall that fuel prices did not dramatically increase in the United States until the Fall of 1973, after the start of the Arab Oil Embargo, and, after the 1974 model year vehicles had already been released. The original muscle car era was already essentially over by the Fall of 1973 before the dramatic increase of gasoline prices occurred in the United States.

The two most important factors that contributed to the end of the original muscle car era in the early 1970s were higher insurance premiums that were then being imposed by insurance companies for performance vehicles due to the associated liability and stricter government imposed emission standards. The typical muscle car buyer could no longer afford or was no longer willing to pay the associated insurance premiums, and the automobile manufacturers could no longer produce cost effective performance vehicles that could meet the newer emission standards given the technology of the era.

Thanks for the clarification and your arguments in support of my position that the government did not mandate the end of the horsepower wars of that time.

[eolson]

I'm sure some Mother's group will end the High Horsepower era when one of their children is found stuck to one of the ZL1's giant rear tires like gum. Then their wrath will be unstoppable! Erik

[lil_chef]

Originally Posted by yotaman96

So our pushrods engines are new technology? Have you looked at a new GT500? There is nothing boring about them. They look great. Much better than a GT.

just to put this to rest... The pushrod engine design is NEWER than the OHC design....

[Sax1031]

Originally Posted by lil_chef

just to put this to rest... The pushrod engine design is NEWER than the OHC design....

Such a common misconception.

OHC design came before the cam was put into the block.

[8cd03gro]

True, but did DOHC Ti-VCT come before OHV?

[lil_chef]

that is just a variation of the same basic design. just like how modern pushrod engines aren't exactly like they were back then.

[YourBlindingBias]

Hmm, pushrods are different than they were back then?
in what way? you mean the hydraulic lifters?

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by lil_chef

just to put this to rest... The pushrod engine design is NEWER than the OHC design....

Originally Posted by Sax1031

Such a common misconception.

OHC design came before the cam was put into the block.

I'm confused...are you disagreeing with each other? ...even though you're saying the same thing?

Overhead cam came before pushrod design....correct?

[SIRLOIN]

First came the dinosaurs, then came oil...then came OHC,

[ffrcobra_65]

And we are again in the spin cycle gawd I love car forums, we can hash over the same stuff over and over and it never gets boring. Gotta be a lot of work being a mod here.

[Huggerorange73]

Originally Posted by ffrcobra_65

And we are again in the spin cycle gawd I love car forums, we can hash over the same stuff over and over and it never gets boring. Gotta be a lot of work being a mod here.

[hrpiii]

did I miss something, I read the first three post and the last 5 post. It said GT500 is better than ZL1, but ZL1 is better than GT500, but until we see it in a consumers hand, we are going to beat this damn argument until someone slashes their wrist.

Did I get the jest of it, or do I need to go back and read page 3 or something?

[YourBlindingBias]

^this pretty much, everyone is bench racing. and of course there is the "simulations" from Al O who won't stop talking junk lol