that never happened did it? i don't believe it......

 

The L98 IROC-Z, Formula 350 and Trans Am GTA were available with an automatic only. But they were quick for the day. The 305 TPI with the optional dual catalytic converters and a 5 speed had nearly identical performance to the L98.

No, I've long thought this. I see no point in 6 second 0-60 family sedans. People gripe about a Camaro that is going to get "only" 27 MPG while driving a Camry that could probably get 40 MPG if they were willing to accept the 10-12 second 0-60 times that were the norm in the 80s.

 

This fits perfectly with my experiences (though I didn't actually start driving till 1980). T/A's and Z28's ruled the streets. It wasn't till the "hot" 82 Mustang GT came out that they were seriously challenged.

Just a point of clarification....you could not get a 5.7L Z28 (or GTA/Formula) with a stick - they were only available with the A4. Even so, they were pretty quick cars for their time.

EDIT....Eric beat me to it!!!

 

Amazing how a 157 hp, 2bbl, Mustang GT, with a 4-speed (where 4th was an overdrive gear), instantly changed the automotive landscape.


yup..

 

I have to slightly disagree with that statement. Well, the all black WE4 under the cover in my garage wants to disagree. Muscle cars werent dead in the 80's. They just didnt say camaro/firebird on the side or have v8's under the hood.
First car I bought when I graduated from college a few years ago was an 87 Buick Turbo T. The GN cars sure could put some torque down the dragstrip in their day.

All I ever wanted growing up was an iroc camaro. I still remember sittin at an "eat n park" admiring an iroc with my friends when a GN parked next to it. I was hooked instantly and had to do a ton of research.

Also, dont forget about the 1989 Turbo trans am.....with the GN 3.8 under the hood. Thats the direction I feel GM should have went with the car in the 90s. Im pretty sure that was a sub 6 second to 60/ under 14sec in the quarter also.

 

Regarding the 1/4 mile times of the W72 T/As.

Even if they were in the low 15s, that was still incredible for the time. The W72 was probably the fastest American car on the market in 1979.

We talk about what Pontiac is supposed to be. The '79 W72 is the epitome of what a Pontiac should be. Fastest in it's class, maybe fastest in the country, great handling, great driving dymanics, and tons of good styling. All for a good price. This is what today's Pontiacs are missing.

But back to Branden's OP. I remember talking to my friends' fathers and some of the older guys at work. Having a lot of experience with the cars from the '60s (most of them muscle cars), these guys were really disappointed with the hardware from the late '70s.

 

Easy... I've never owned a car built in the 1970s.

Actually I only started driving (for real) in 1980. In 1979, at the height of the fuel crisis (yes it actually happened in the late 70's/early 80's) my folks swapped their 1970 Kingswood Estate wagon for a Datsun 310 GX. I did my primary drivers training in the Datsun (aside from the training we did at school in mostly Chevy Chevettes :P) and occasionally in my dad's 1965 GMC pick-up. (Both sticks BTW.) After getting my license, I drove my dad's truck to school, until I was able to save up enough money to buy my first car my senior year. That's when I picked up my '67 Chevelle/Malibu for $600 from a friend's folks. My dad was excited to get is truck back, but then two days later my younger brother totaled it. I later swapped the Chevelle for a '68 Camaro RS (freshman year in college), which had no smog whatsoever. (Automatics in 1968 had no smog pumps in California for some reason, while '67 and '69 MY cars did.) That car lasted through college, and then after graduation I switched it to weekend status and bought a Nissan 240SX. That was followed by my current '95 Z28, and later the '02 Tahoe, a used '01 Tahoe, and two '67 Camaros. (Not to mention the '51 Chevy truck my uncle gave me when I turned 18 and I kept as a "project" until I was in my 30's.)

Avoiding the 1970's cars altogether has kept me from having HPDS (HorsePower Deficiency Syndrome).

 

They also could go 130 mph.

Just like the Mustang 5.0, the T/As got a few improvements over the years.

77 lost the 455 V8, but the smaller T/A 6.6 was actually quicker.

In 1978, the T/A 6.6 gained a better exhaust and 20 more horsepower.

Although everyone tends to quote the '77 Trans Am's times, it was the 78-79 W72 powered, WS6 packaged, manual T/As that were quicker.



Yep, there were rumors about that test. However, whether it was or wasn't a ringer, it was actually pretty easy to duplicate the performance.

1. Cut open the sealed hood scoop.
2. Adjust the distributor.
3. Have fun.

 

I stand corrected, sir.

 

IIRC Hot Rod Magazine ran around 14.4 with a 1978 Z28. I had a bit of a cam, intake, carb, headers and traction bars on mine and managed a best of 14.72 the only time I had it on a track. Based on how my 99 SS dragstrip numbers matched up to the magazines, that's probably accurate.

What I find more amazing that I found my 90 HP '83 Cavalier adequate, even after driving the Camaro, and now our 173 HP Solstice feels like a slug.

 

The thing that sucked about the late 2nd gen Z/28s is here in California we were pretty much limited to the 305 and for the most part automatics. I had a buddy in high school (who's folks were loaded) who's parents bought him a slightly used 1980 Z/28 back in 1983. Yes, it was only a 305 with a turbo 350, but he added a B&M shift kit and the 1980 Z/28's also had one advantage over the '79s... a functional cowl induction hood.

 

80 & 81 Z28's are pretty much my favorites (lackluster performance aside).

 

I've been tempted to pickup an unmolested 80 or 81 Z/28 for years. The only thing holding me back has been no room in my driveway and the fear of having to deal with biannual smog checks here in California.

 

I think that Mustang changed the landscape because in '81 and '82, performance cars took a hit that was far more disasterous than anything that happened in the 1970s.

V8 Mustangs dropped to 255ci and 120 horsepower. Trans Ams went turbo 301s, and lost their manuals. R/Ts and Road Runners died in '81, and the new 190 horse L81 replaced the high revving 225 horse L82 in '81 followed by the L82 Cross Fire injected engines.

Although Motor Trend September '81 ran a Mustang GT to 60 in 6.9 seconds, the car was no doubt not production since most other magazines ran about 8 seconds and Car & Driver ran a test of the more powerful, 4 barrel '83 Mustang to an 8.1 second 0-60 run.


This whole thread is turning into a run down memory lane.

 

No doubt. The 78s and 79s received several meaningful tweaks - a stronger block, a little more cam, a little more gear and most importantly a significantly revised and less restrictive exhaust system. All the 79 engines were made in 78 and stockpiled for the TATA, so those two years are essentially identical.