[Marty McFlew]

I remember those days in the 60s I as a kid too. I rembember pre Camaro and mustangs. I saw the first Mustang on display at the Worlds fair in NY. More freedom then to have fun an do your own thing without being hassled by the man. No emmissions...your car was your to do as you please. From the factory they were not as fast as today because of tires and other technology, but I think that the enginges were just as good then minus the bad mileage. I think if you took lets say a 440 or 396 and added fuel injection gave it a modern trans they too would be easy 12 sec cars. Cars were just cooler and the music was too.

[at7000ft]

Originally Posted by 6th Gen SS

Agree. I don't think we have to worry about lack of gas in the next 50 years. That's my bs-guesstimate.

I'm more worried about stricter CAFE standards yielding more turbo 4 and 6 bangers with fake engine sounds pumped into the cabin speakers

If that's the case I would keep my prospective 6th gen forever.

Yea, until the government confiscates all 8 cylinder (and greater) cars. Remember cash for clunkers? This will be performance car crush

[laynlo15]

I lived those days and the new Camaro is awesome, no matter how you label it. I have had some really fast cars but none have been this fast stock. The handling is just bitchin, the tranny shifts very fast. I was at the strip yesterday and the car ran perfect, never missed a beat. How many rides can you buy for 40k and take it to the track and run 12.04@115 w/1.79 60'. There was no mustang there that could do that, how do I know? I ran a new 5.0 on my first pass, he ran 12.53 to my 12.05. I think it is a great time to own a 16 Camaro.

[motorhead]

The old day were much more fun as far as the shear fun factor. You could get hi powered cars for very cheap money, make them faster for not much more, crash them and go get another one if you survied. It also seemed like everyone had a hot rod back then. Sure the cars are better now, but that's where it stops for me. Other than losing some friends, I wouldn't trade those times for anything.

[z28guy30]

Originally Posted by laynlo15

I lived those days and the new Camaro is awesome, no matter how you label it. I have had some really fast cars but none have been this fast stock. The handling is just bitchin, the tranny shifts very fast. I was at the strip yesterday and the car ran perfect, never missed a beat. How many rides can you buy for 40k and take it to the track and run 12.04@115 w/1.79 60'. There was no mustang there that could do that, how do I know? I ran a new 5.0 on my first pass, he ran 12.53 to my 12.05. I think it is a great time to own a 16 Camaro.

A 12 flat bone stock? You were booking it down the strip!

[laynlo15]

Yep, bone stock. I think the 60' times are more impressive. It just leaves really hard for street tires. Going back next weekend to try some other things to get it into the 11's. I only got three runs so couldn't really try different rpms leaving the line. Just basically left off idle every time.

[mikeSS]

i would say the last generation american performance cars, and this generation is the golden era.

The next generation after this one we are going to see some major changes to the market. Engines will be smaller, turbo, and electric assist of sometime.

By 2025 i would be shocked to see a Hellcat type motor, lets just say that.

[z28guy30]

Originally Posted by mikeSS

i would say the last generation american performance cars, and this generation is the golden era.

The next generation after this one we are going to see some major changes to the market. Engines will be smaller, turbo, and electric assist of sometime.

By 2025 i would be shocked to see a Hellcat type motor, lets just say that.

I agree. 40 years from now our modern performance cars could be highly sought after classics when emissions and fuel economy standards become more stringent! Of course there will always be those loyal to the 60's and early 70's also.

[L&M CAMARO 6]

Originally Posted by ParisTNDude

The mid to late 60s was every bit as exciting. In 1966, I bought my first new car, a Chevelle SS 396 with 375 HP. Awesome car, until the 1968 Charger R/T came out and I had to have one. With it's 440 cubic inch motor and 375 HP, it was definitely king of the road and it was more awesome than my Chevelle.

But, you're right...who ever would have thought you could have a car running low 12s in this day and age. In the 70s, as you say, I thought performance was dead. Now, my low 12 second Camaro can also get over 30 MPG if I try real hard. The Charger could get 13 if you stayed out of it.

Good times, for sure!

I gave up my beloved Chevelle for the biggest POS That has ever been in my garage a 1969 road runner man that thing was over weight and under powered. Traided in on a corvette and swore off mopars forever.

[E-Ray]

Lets not rule out the electric car era, Tesla, Porshe, Corvette, all have high H/P vehicles that are very impressive when it comes to performance.

[mikeSS]

Originally Posted by E-Ray

Lets not rule out the electric car era, Tesla, Porshe, Corvette, all have high H/P vehicles that are very impressive when it comes to performance.

I could see electric cars for the most part putting out the performance numbers people want.

But they lack the sound and emotion of a gas motor.

[laynlo15]

That tesla is a bad boy. Might have to attach some playing cards like we used to do on our bike spokes when we were young just to make some sound. How many remember that?

[oldman]

Originally Posted by at7000ft

Yea, the EPA will have to pry my Camero SS steering wheel from my cold dead fingers!

you and me both...

[oldman]

Originally Posted by Marty McFlew

I remember those days in the 60s I as a kid too. I rembember pre Camaro and mustangs. I saw the first Mustang on display at the Worlds fair in NY. More freedom then to have fun an do your own thing without being hassled by the man. No emmissions...your car was your to do as you please. From the factory they were not as fast as today because of tires and other technology, but I think that the enginges were just as good then minus the bad mileage. I think if you took lets say a 440 or 396 and added fuel injection gave it a modern trans they too would be easy 12 sec cars. Cars were just cooler and the music was too.

My 440 with fender well headers and pos-o-tracktion g60 on cop rims would run 12s, oh and pinion snubber, clamp the front and remove the clamp from the back. Nothing wrong with the carbs 3 of them in my case or the 727 trans.... stock was 3.55 gears but my Dana 60 came with 4.10 which were a little steep for the tire tech of the time, the 440 had lots of torque.... good track and a hemi grind cam aka purple shaft low 12s was doable. Any faster required slicks. I would hit the rev limiter before the end of the 1/4 mile with the 4.10s.

I like the old days cause you could not jut buy speed, you needed to know cars, you needed to tune and tweek, everything was modified... like putting a 440 AVS carb on the 340 for 100 more cfm, or swapping in the hemi 284 purple cam.

The 80s were great too, the first affordable turbo cars were out GLH-S and the first dual cams 2TG for the Corolla (never imported to the US but readily available, similar to the Alfa, at the end of the 80s you have the 5.0 vs Grand National it was a wonderful time. An eclectic mix of carb, big engine, turbo, twin cam et al.

The 90s were great you get the first LT1 and with Ford killing the 5.0 you had a complete and total GM dominance. The import side had the Integra with VTEC which has led to my 275 HP 2400 lbs all motor Type R. The LS1 came out in 98 and that was even better than the LT1 byebye opticrap. The were a few of the 4WD GM trucks: Typhone and Syclone to worry about. I ended up with a Volvo R Wagon running low 13s street.

Then for me the dark ages were between 2002 to 2009, 2009 the regular Challenger came out and soon after the 5th Gen Camaro. In many ways the Challenger to my mind was the last tuner car, they were not fast for the most part out of the box, but they were beautiful and is was worth the money to make fast. I hated the Mustang's 4.6 and for the most part they were disappointments to own and race, please don't both with my Mustang 4.6 was XYZ... I clear example is my Type R even today routinely destroys any and all 4.6 I find, they really were not players with out a lot of time and money. There were a good many Evo and STI and for a while there it look like the way to go. Now the 2016 is out and at 3600 lbs and a solid structure, it is the platform of the future. Ford has pushed the new Mustang up 2 years as a reply. Dodge looks like it is down for the count. There are some quick FWD and AWD 4 bangers so it is not like you can't be careful, 306 HP for the new Type R, I've seen a slew of 2.0 FSI put down 300 or more WHP, the Ford has the 350 HP Focus and don't forget the odd ecoboost Taurus.

Of course there are the stange ones like my Bro's turbo intercooled Boxster, twin turbo M3 BMW, Audi V8 and supercharged V6 but for the most part it is still a LS family vs 5.0 kind of fight.