@@marks4374 wow my son was 5 when he asked how long Obama would be president (?)- he was upset he killed it! I'll still replace my 95 t/a convertible! Best car I've ever had (lt1)
Except Pontiac produced the 2+2 for NASCAR homologation purposes, that was the sole purpose for it’s existence. Same reason for the Monte SS Aerocoupe.
American car companies were broker than broke in the late 1970's and early eighty's so you really have to take that into consideration...we were lucky they could afford stickers back then
I agree. If the Challenger, for example, had a 2.6 litre 4 cyl. or a 3.0 litre 4 cyl. engine, rather than the 1.6 litre engine offered for the US market, I imagine people would've enjoyed it more.
In the 80s, seeing these cars around town next to the big boats of the 70s was actually quite striking. It was a new economical era for legitimate reasons. Today, seeing a 2020 car next to 2000s cars is virtually unnoticeable. The industry has reached its peak on overall design. Now it's all about the interior toys.
@@rockettcustoms6266 Fifty years from now, there will be some old fart flapping his gums about how covid was worse than the black plague, that bodies were dropping left and right in the streets, and they had to truck bodies to be buried in mass graves. He'll tell everyone he was there and knows everything. The rest of us who didn't rely on the idiot box 📺 to tell us what to think, will know better.
@midnitesquirldog1 Grandfather had a 1970 Bonneville. 455 EVERY Option. That 2 Door Boat would Walk Anything Corvette on the Highway back in the 80s. Just keep pulling from 50 all the way to Burried speedo at 120 in 4 sec( but Dyno)
@@savagetuner2404 We are definitely in the second golden age of horsepower. I hope everyone appreciates it. The first one ended with little warning. We're always one crisis, or well meant but poorly implemented wave of legislation away from going back to econoboxes.
Cars got depressing in 1971... no HP... no MPG... junk Japanese steel made from WWII/Vietnam weapons... some revival started in 1976 for some models...
You must admit that cars of the late seventies and early eighties were very boring low horsepower cars. About the only car in that era that was real good was the Lincoln Continental and the Corvette. The narrator of this video was very clear. The high performance cars of the Sixties really never came back. Some real good ones nowadays but nothing like the Sixties.
@@brianzybura8633 O you know i agree, no argument from me. And it was sadness on top of sadness that the car companies lost their mojo and then badged the lamest cars of all time with the greatest names of all time.
@@robbchastain3036 Robb, sorry if I misinterpreted you. No doubt, a sad video. BUT the good news is that a lot of guys are rebuilding all the old muscle cars and bringing them back to life. Likely you know about that. If you havent already, GOOGLE NICKS GARAGE. This gentleman and his helpers redo muscle cars top to bottom--the works. This YT channel is lots of fun, and I think you will enjoy it.
A very enjoyable segment, brought back vivid memories! I proudly owned two 1970 Challenger's, one a 440 auto R/T & today I drive my 2014 Blacktop Edition R/T with Super Track Pack with 392 rear gears. I had that 1985 Shelby Charger Turbo, it was my very first brand new car in the 80's as I also owned two 1969 Charger's, one a 440 auto RT/SE, I however can't abide the new 4-door Charger though, I can't.
I worked at a garage in 90 and we had one of those same turbo cars that the owner picked up cheap at an auction that we used for a parts runner, we gutted the cat and put a Supertrapp muffler on it and played around with the adjustments on the engine, we'd drag race 60's muscle cars and newer IROC's and stuff with it in town and people just couldn't believe how fast that thing was.
vinniecorleone62 I don’t get it either maybe there is a problem with two door cars that I am unaware of. The real charger was a great car. The new one is nice and they run but close your eyes and imagine it a two door. Your children can’t. My 7 year old grandson is my mini me he has been a car guy since five for sure. I used to love hearing him name vehicles going down the road. Oh were you meaning to say CATALINA INSTEAD OF CANTALINA. My father had the latter.
i agree the DODGE CHARGER in its new style has went same way as FORDS RS FOCUS 4DOORS and i say why ruin a cars pedigree and looks by turning into a family 4door saloon or hatchback charger if had been a 2 door with packages same as challenger i think lots more wouldnt mind a charger but nothing will ever beat 68 to 70 chargers as was an evil looker and fast and being in scotland ive only saw under 20 in my life id pleasure of driving a hemi charger and an rt440 with pistol grip manual box and id a laugh playing with that at traffic lights the hemi i drove was fast but some lazy driver had an auto installed when i prefer a clutch and manual box as more control of car into bends and such the auto i felt unsafe on tight corners as if car was about to slide off road if itd been manual itd been a controllable rocket lol
I had one of the "only" 180 hp Quad 4 Calais for my first car. It would slaughter IROCs and Mustang GTs at the weekend stoplight action. Seriously underrated little car.
I owned one. Was it a Charger in the traditional sense of a muscle car? No… However, it was a quick car that handled well and was really fun to drive on winding back roads. From ‘78 to ‘83 automakers ignored the performance market and there weren’t any real performance cars being produced. As a way of reviving interest in Chrysler performance products, this car was a good start.
I had a regular Shelby Charger. It was an OK car. I never jumped on the front wheel drive bandwagon because they're kind of squirrely when you put your foot in it.
I liken them to the "Awkward Teenage Years" of the US auto industry. Most executives still thought that bigger was better, and only begrudgingly started down the path to smaller more fuel efficient cars. They no longer had the big rear wheel drive V-8 cars and tried their best to envision a " muscle car" in a diminutive body.
@@BELCAN57 I miss the "big" rear wheel drive cars Steve. We all know the government mandated Detroit to make more fuel efficient cars available, which meant smaller less powerful engines. And in order to accelerate to highway speeds safely, the cars needed to be put on a strict diet, because of of the pathetically low HP. Now-a-days, a second gen F-body is considered "big", when back in the day, they were almost compacts. But I wish in those years, something like the 86 2+2 had a 400 4 spd still as an option. :(
Eh, I don’t mind the late 80s rebranded Mitsubishis by Chrysler like the conquest and the Daytona, as whatever you can do to those cars, you can do the same to the JDM counterparts, and there is a huge aftermarket for both the Galant (Daytona) and the Starion (Conquest)
The Mach-E is not a revival. It will do in the 2020s what the original Mustang did in the 1960s. The Mach-E will be a great success despite the tears of self-appointed Mustang purists.
@@MarloSoBalJr Perhaps it is you who missed the point. The Mustang is only meant to be what Ford wants it to be: it is an innovative, youthful fun vehicle. In the 1960s that meant a long hood, cramped interior and muscular look (even if you had the wimpy base inline six and three-speed) which spawned the whole pony car genre. 50 years on, the world has moved in a different direction. Going forward, an innovative, youthful, fun vehicle will be electric and usefully practical while remaining fast and fun to drive. Think of the Mustang as a concept rather than a specific vehicle.
Funny thing about the FWD Charger: Like with the Chrysler mini-vans, it was such a success in sales that both GM and Ford began developing FWD "sport coupes" as the next generation of the Camaro/Firebird/Trans-Am and Mustang, respectively. When engine packaging issues troubled the GM-30 (Internal body/platform code) and word got out of Ford's intent on making the next Mustang basically a FWD Mazda re-bodied to resemble their successfully received Probe-V aero-research concept, work on each was abandoned and both scrambled to design "proper" RWD platforms that could be offered with V-8 power.
Yes, and they were fairly advanced in the product development before they canned it if I remember right. The rwd mustang was to go away, being replaced by the Probe. But as it turned out, the Probe was the one that went away.
@@charlesm.7573 here in the UK we were told the new ford probe would be the new ford capri (too anyone in usa the ford capri was the european mini mustang we got 2 engine options a 2.0 4 cylinder or 2.5v6 the v6 had a mazda engine i owned both models 1st 2.0 (wasnt impressed) i then bought the v6 slightly better but to be honest still not replacement for capri and front wheel drive then ford tried to announce yet another replacement capri that wasnt the cougar that didnt sell well or last long like probe in uk think we got probe around 92 93 gone by 96 97 now fords fcking the european rallye sport models now that usa is in control a 4dr focus rs and it took till 3rd model RS FOCUS TO GET NEAR THE CAR IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FROM START THE FOCUS RS MK1 REPLACED THE FORD ESCORT RS COSWORTH A 4WHEEL DRIVE TURBOCHARGED RALLY RACE CAR IN ROAD TRIM WITH MOTORSPORTS PEDIGREE THE LATEST 4DOOR FOCUS RS IS A JOKE AND UGLY THE 1ST FOCUS RS SHOULD HAVE CONTINUED FROM WHERE ESCORT LEFT OFF IN 96 INSTEAD RS HAS BECAME A BADGE WISH FORD WOULD BUILD FIESTA RS AS ID BUY THAT AS 2DOOR BUT I OWN AN ORIGINAL 92 LAST OF LARGE TURBO ESCORT RS COSWORTH AND FORDS YET TO BUILD A CAR TOO SUCCEED IT IN MY EYES . it pisses me off over 40years uk europe development and tech thrown away to make a world car with an RS badge ford usa should stick to mustangs etc europe the rs st ranges as ford svr are a joke its designers wear welding goggles lol
Chris Liberty I had a 79. It was an interesting car and honestly wish I still had it. Was great on gas and super reliable. It definitely was not a performance car however. The best part was the AC. It blew out at 38 degrees lol.
@@michaelb6729 the Dodge Challenger of that era was the same chassis platform as the Starion/Conquest..except Challenger had a live axle rear and Starion had irs
What also killed these cars was the EPA requirements for horsepower robbing emission controls and the added weight of those components. The second being the bean counters at Ford and GM nixing optional power enhancing devices like turbos/superchargers/intakes/free flowing exhaust systems. Alot of these cars are rarely seen on the road anymore, probably in private collections or in junkyards.....
Those weren't necessarily performance cars though. They were ordinary family cars that had performance variants. The cars in this video used names of performance variants. If he just went with old names of run of the mill family cars, this video would be too long. He'd have to include the Malibu, Impala, Cutlass, Regal, Dart, LeMans, Nova, Cougar, etc., the list could go on forever.
I doubt the 80s Monte Carlos and 442s generated "substantially more horsepower" than the 2+2. They were all pretty weak. GN and GNX, different story. Corvette killers!
Actually, the monte was "rated" at 190, but made more. The Olds 442 was 180 with 3.73 gears and the GN was 235, also under rated. The GNX was rated around 300, also under rated. They all made significantly more.
@@sledgehammer8542 Sorry, but the Monte WAS rated at 180 and I doubt it even made that, lol. Those 305's were horrible and the 'SS' was a pig on its best day by running a mid-16 second quarter.
@@231mac you are correct. They were rated at 180, but it was the exact same engines as the z28 and trans am from 83 up. It was the L69 H.O.. In those cars it was claimed at 190. They actually made around 225 at the flywheel. They were very strong and reliable engines for the 80's. They were not 16 cars, they were mid to high 15's. Excellent for the time period. I owned several of all three. The 305 in the 2+2 was the Lg4. It was 150 hp, and no where close to the L69. Don't believe everything you read. The L69 in my 84 T/A, was faster than a TPI 305 85 T/A, because the carburated cars made more torque. The TPI 305 was rated as higher HP than the L69. It wasn't.
I'd always hated when U.S. car makers would sacrifice a prestigious nameplate, only to slap it on something like an Omni whose greatest aspect of the package was merely some 'sports' detailing/trim slapped on. I don't recall many of these very well, because I ignored them in disgust.
@@jeffreyrubish347 yeah, the Omni GLH was way more than just a sticker or appearance package, it was actually pretty darn fast, faster than most of the V8 cars of the era.
This channel relaxes me. Some people listen to rain, others read by a fire place, I come here and take a time machine back to when the world made sense.
So do I, as the 442 was a four barrel, four speed stick with two wheel drive via locking diff.... A four cylinder, automatic, front [one] wheel drive == barf barf.
I have trouble with a dodge with four doors being called a charger. Or a four door impala being called “SS”. I had a 65 impala SS 67 SS and a 66 chevelle SS, and an uncle had a 69 charger. Guess I’m a traditionalist. Cars lack excitement and all look alike these days, also putting a caddy emblem on a truck does not make it a caddy, just an over priced GMC
It's not great but the performance sedan market is pretty big in America. You could make the argument that Chrysler should have just made a performance 300c, but the 300c has always been known as a cheaper luxury car. It's easier to market a brand new car with an old familiar name than it is to try and shift an existing car's demographics.
All about family these days. Is why 4 door cars or people don’t know a lot about cars like they used too. All about looks and features. Not enough people care. Also the price much much higher too.
@@USNVA-yn6cp no, it absolutely did not. The Avenger has nothing in common with the new Charger. The Avenger was fwd, and the Charger is rwd. The 2006 to 2010 Charger was built on the LX platform, which was a rwd platform built using older Mercedes Benz suspension components. The current Charger uses the LD platform, which is an updated version of the LX. I'm not sure how you came to the conclusion that it came from the Avenger, but you are wrong.
Just get me one of those Pontiac Grand Am’s from that time period, especially with the 7.3 liter hot rods!! But that Quad 4-4-2 isn’t bad either, for the time.
The silver and dark gray Challenger was my very first new car in 1978. I loved that thing. You have to remember that most people did not WANT gas guzzling performance cars so pretty much all cars had what the car salesmen liked to call a "casual" acceleration. The Challenger was designed as direct competition for the Toyota Celica.
Lol! I like that you continuously mention rwd and fwd. when I got my first car(or should I say snagged from grandma) I subconsciously intended to get rwd. However at the time I didn’t know all the mechanical details of cars just the exterior looks and features. I was kinda disappointed when I first opened the hood and saw that the engine was side ways. As a kid I always felt the the power flow was better with the engine facing forward like most muscle hot wheels. 🤪now I would rather have a rwd car even if it is not high performance. 👍🏽
The Quad 4 was an amazing little 4 cylinder. I had a 4 door, '95 Grand Am with the quad 4 - high output. With 175 factory horsepower mated to a 5 speed manual trans, it was a tuner boys worst nightmare in sleeper trim!
It never ceased to amaze me how these "car guys" at the corporations just Didn't Get It ! They viewed the name as a "property" they had the right to slap on any itinerate product they shoved out the door
@@joeblowski4643 You're Right ! What was ℹ thinking ? It's their Property ; they can do whatever the h*ll they Want with it . It's their Toy , they can d*mm well Break it if They Want To . They can wear their underwear on their head, if they want to ! Thanks : you've shown me the light 🌈
The 1984 1/2 GT 350 also came with the Turbo 4cyl that the same yr SVO got. I never heard of 2 diff 5.0 offered?? Just the 4v bbl not any EFI until 1985 in the auto trans option 5spd still had a 4v carb. And the wheel options the other guy stated yes they wer euro both wer TRX the ragtop picture had the 14" and the fastback had the 390mm. "TRX handling package" option. Very expensive to replace tires & had one choice michelin.
In a nutshell the big three big wigs were afraid the gasoline shortage would last forever and they scrambled to compete with the imports. In other words, they dumped their expensive girlfriends, put lipstick on a pig and put it out on the street to see how it would do. The rest is history.
LincolnTek you make it sound like most of those cars were garbage. The Rebranded Mitsubishis of Chrysler (especially the later ones) were no slouch and had huge potential, since their JDM counterparts had a lot of aftermarket support, such as widebodies, turbo kits, and parts from the venerable HKS. The people who get upset about JDM performance cars rebranded as American cars are boomers who hate them because they’re not “amercian” or big enough
i owned a brand new '86 Shelby Charger with the 2.2 turbo engine. It was a very fast car that got 22 mpg city. Back then that was the magic combination that the big three were looking for. The car could do burnouts, but the front wheel drive torque would pull the whole car to the right, so keeping it in a straight line while accelerating under boost was a big challenge.
I think Ford using the Mach 1 badge on the Mustang II in the mid 70s was a bigger aberation than the GT 350. That thing came with a crappy 6 cylinder that was just over 100 hp as the standard engine (the optional 302 V8 wasn't much better).
So true they were really,really slow-18sec 1/4's.I mean really with the 302.Also AMC had an AMX version in '77-80 with the Hornet/Spirit bodies.They were slow with the 258 sixes.Some with the 304's with 130hp.
Pontiac did want to install the H.O. 5.0L engine into the 2+2. But at the time, there was a shortage of them as they were being installed in the Monte SS, Camaro Z28, and Trans Am, which at the time were all hot sellers. Unfortunately this led to the 2+2 getting the detuned 5.0L.
I put an LS 3 with a Tremec 6 sp in my 87 SS Monte Carlo Aero Coupe. We had a new neighbor move in and the sawed-off little runt was always telling me how much faster his 87 Buick Grand National was than my Monte. So I finally had enough and said lets each put up a hundred bucks and go race. Midway through 4th gear, I had already put 8 car lengths on him and I was pulling away fast. After the race, he wanted to see my engine and then he claimed I cheated because he thought it still had the factory 305 engine. He did pay me but we defiantly don't borrow lawnmowers from each other.
In my youth I helped a neighbor, who owned and raced a REAL 1966 Mustang GT350 factory Trans Am car, build something very unique. He purchased a Shelby GLHS new and with 96 miles on the clock we stripped it down, had the body chemically stripped to bare metal, and brazed every spot-welded joint together. I didn't understand why until he took me for a ride in his new SCCA race car which handled like nothing I'd ever experienced. You don't realize how much body flex cars have until you remove all of it! It took some time to get the suspension tuned properly. It cornered on three wheels and would easily pull 1g on 1980's street tires. Amazing for a front wheel drive K-car with what is essentially a steel pipe between the two rear wheels.
Makes me want to sob. Those were the cars churned out when I was a kid. At least there were a lot of the real muscle cars still left over then. Now however? Ya need an IT degree to even bother with them.
You know, though, those Mitsubishi Challengers really were pretty cool. I forgave the naming about them, the only problem was that where I lived they just rusted away way too fast. When I first saw a 'Charger 2.2' I did think the decals and naming were ridiculous but I eventually ended up with the Plymouth version, the Turismo/Duster 2.2 . Despite the front wheel drive, that was a really fun and useful little car, and I kinda did think for once they actually had kinda the spirit of the old Dusters I love so much to this day. Mine had the decals on it, kinda sun-faded, so the little guy looked adorably like a Matchbox car that'd been in some child's pocket a little too long. I did kind of want to add the Shelby stuff, but rust was still kind of an issue.
The only problem with these Challengers is that they were underpowered. And that isn't anything an engine swap can't fix. A turboed Slant six could fit in there.
@@OllamhDrab How am I missing the point? They were rear-Wheel-Drive right, so you just need to upgrade the car so you can put a bigger engine in it. And then they were imports, this is just an older version of what is done today. Do you know where the Dodge cars themselves come from? They are on German platforms with Italian parts if not including some from China as well. Chevys come from Canada and Fords from Mexico and both except for final assembly. There is no such thing as true Domestic anymore with 100% parts because nothing is truely built here with American except for Toyotas and their parts which the dies were originally not from here either.
@@OllamhDrab A six would be too heavy for it? Do you know about Australian cars from the 70's that are the same size of a Toyota Corolla that had sixes in them?
The revived 442 was a sweet car with a sweet engine. If only Olds didn't call it a 442, I'm sure it would have sold better and would have a better reputation now.
to be honest when they rebranded the cars in the 80"s they could have made them more peppy than what they were. it is sad that majority of people then and now do not know how to maintain and know what they have as in a turbo setup. I own two of the old school mustangs that are turbo as well as the challenger from the 80's. granted I rebuilt the engines as well as the turbo setups in the mustangs that to me were a bad air flow setup to a setup that they needed to breath a lot better.
@@Ben-qb4lj yes sir (highway). That motor was way ahead of its time. Unfortunately they all blew head gaskets which ruined the motors. That car was great in scca racing also.
@@john-vy1ml I had one back in the day. I miss that car. I had to pop the hood more than once to show people it was just a 4 cylinder. Mine lost it's timing chain at 60,000 miles. Bent every valve in the motor, but didn't break anything else. The little car lot I bought it from gave me an extended warranty.. That saved me $1,500.
Big block powered muscle era car's won't be replaced by my children making up their version of them. 440, 426 & 383 Challenger's &Charger's are what us babyboomer's drove all year long, myself I owned a 69 GTX ,thanks for sharing.
The 80’s GM G-body performance cars were cool regardless of not having the performance of their namesakes, like the Olds 442 and Hurst Olds Cutlasses. The Where the Buick GNX used a turbo V6 to its advantage, the Olds FE3-X (didn’t enter production) used a V8 and extensive improvements to suspension and handling, it could out-handle a Corvette of the time.
Yeah great video, good info and all that bud I’d try putting some more energy into your voice, just some constructive criticism, keep up the good work.
My first car was an 82 Gran Prix. The front end was unique on the 2+2 but I prefer the stock one. Good thing about it is GM was really interchangeable [junkyard C.BOP] so as a young guy with a used car. I was able to really step it up by robbing affordable parts off the other wreaked "sports" models and eventually replaced the sluggish V6 with a V8. But the speed limit in Texas was 55mph max at the time so even with an underpowered V6 that car was *so comfortable inside* and tint and installing sound systems from my shop meant I pieced together nice audio for cheap. New cars are better but that's what was available to us late 80s early 90s. *I can't work on the new ones though*
The 442 wasn’t the only car Oldsmobile shamed. They tried to sell an updated Tornado called the Tornado Troféo then just Troféo. In 1992 the last Tornado rolled off the assembly line. Have to say that the first generation was the best…. So sad that Oldsmobile is no more.
I understand that some people like four door convenience combined with performance, but they shouldn't have used the Charger name. I can't believe they didn't even offer a two door version.
Absolutely nailed #1 my brother!!! # 2, great call, both were so inept. By 1982 standards, that Mustang was really quick. My 350 Buick Apollo got totally embarrassed. Oh, the malaise era of the mid 80's. That aero coupe was an eye catcher, but the darn government regulations just killed power! And your # 5 is in complete agreement!! Those were some woe-some days and eras!
80’s were awesome. Mustangs Z28s TransAm, Grand National. Plus there were plenty of muscle cars still out there. I’ll gladly go back to that era any time.
The 80's 442 failed because it wasn't even a 442. The model name means 4 speed stick, 4 bbl, 2 dual exhaust. I'm not sure they even met one of those requirements in the 80's model. So.......fail!
It's really impressive how much engine power has increased over the years. That 1984 Mustang GT 350 had a 5.0 liter V8 with 175 horsepower. Meanwhile the 1998 Ford Windstar _minivan_ I used to have had a 3.8 liter V6 with 200 horsepower!
Why O' Why do automobile manufacturers get revamps so, so wrong and not just in the U.S.A and Canada but in mainland Europe as well as the far East. The lesson to be learned is "Think, think talk in depth and consult" then get it all correct and a legend returns to the road. "Maybe I tend to live in a Utopia?" Good vid as always!!
Truly embarrassing that Detroit chose to trash the proud history of their performance cars with these posers! The Challenger/Charger being perhaps the WORST!🤮💩
wow - I never heard of that re-badged import Challenger.... but i do remember those front wheel drive Chargers, but that Pontiac 2+2 I completely missed as well.... don't remember it at all. I seem to recall a 4 cylinder Duster that was really sad as well, especially since I own a 71 with a small block from my 70 that I keep thinking about putting together... Good Video !!
Today, some muscle cars deserve the old name. Mustang, Camaro, and Challenger got it right, but while Charger has performance, it is little more than a sexed up new version of the Intrepid. They should have, at the very least, offered a two door version. I love the style and performance of my '13 Mustang GT.
I actually had an '83 Challenger. On paper, it should have been a winner. 2 door hardtop, rear wheel drive, "big" OHC 4 cylinder, 5 speed manual, 4 wheel disk brakes...alas, the "challenge" was trying to keep it running.
Brings back memories of HS, all the chicks had the charger 2.2 and most of the guys were saving for that 305 HiPo Monte or Cutlass . To this day I can still see the looks on their faces when I flew past them in my 78 Datsun 810 .
I used to own a 91Olds 442. I loved it, however the problem I had was behind the doors at the rocker panel, the paint came off. Like sand blasted or something. The dealer repainted and a few months later, it looked bad again, they painted again and added clear adhesive stickers to the edge. I only drove the car for 3 years but loved it.
I had a Omni 81 if I recall. Amazing gas mileage. Unfortunately every gas fill up also was accompanied with a quart of oil. Luckily an 18 wheeler rear ended us and we lived but the car was thankfully totaled. I owned 3 Dodge vehicles in the past 40 years. Cutting edge design but reliability in question.
The Ford Taurus SHO and the 90's Thunderbird were very fast during it's time. Also the Fiero was great for it's time, but the issue with the Fiero is that they suddenly caught on fire. I love the Buick Grand National. Also the Camaro and Firebird/ Trans Am another great cars.
This guy needs to calm down
Exactly! Xanax should not be taken prior to recording!
He reminds me of that radio DJ from Reservoir Dogs
I watch these videos on 1.25 speed otherwise I can't bear them
Stop yelling. Shhh.
🤣
Oohhhhh I still mourn Pontiac
Ben Sheppard -AO fitness ministry
And Olds
Ben Sheppard -AO fitness ministry I bought my 88 Fiero GT new. I still have it to this day. I will never get bored with it.
@@marks4374 wow my son was 5 when he asked how long Obama would be president (?)- he was upset he killed it! I'll still replace my 95 t/a convertible! Best car I've ever had (lt1)
Yes I Miss my Le Mans :(
@@Ben-qb4lj nobama and gm will pay for what they did to pontiac.
None of those were even real attempts, they were just trying to cash in on name recognition.
Exactly. 👍🏼
Except Pontiac produced the 2+2 for NASCAR homologation purposes, that was the sole purpose for it’s existence. Same reason for the Monte SS Aerocoupe.
American car companies were broker than broke in the late 1970's and early eighty's so you really have to take that into consideration...we were lucky they could afford stickers back then
Carport Shenanigans I’m so love hate with the aerocoupe, hate the trunk and overall look but love the performance boost to the notchback monte
I agree. If the Challenger, for example, had a 2.6 litre 4 cyl. or a 3.0 litre 4 cyl. engine, rather than the 1.6 litre engine offered for the US market, I imagine people would've enjoyed it more.
I watch these videos when I need to sleep. His voice is the best cure for insomnia that I know of.
In the 80s, seeing these cars around town next to the big boats of the 70s was actually quite striking. It was a new economical era for legitimate reasons.
Today, seeing a 2020 car next to 2000s cars is virtually unnoticeable.
The industry has reached its peak on overall design. Now it's all about the interior toys.
"legitimate reasons" being the commie takeover of the US
@bri there was no real crisis
@@NikoBellaKhouf2 No, the fascist takeover actually!
@@NikoBellaKhouf2 Yeah, there was actually. You obviously weren't around in the '70's so don't flap your gums about stuff you don't know about.
@@rockettcustoms6266 Fifty years from now, there will be some old fart flapping his gums about how covid was worse than the black plague, that bodies were dropping left and right in the streets, and they had to truck bodies to be buried in mass graves. He'll tell everyone he was there and knows everything.
The rest of us who didn't rely on the idiot box 📺 to tell us what to think, will know better.
Dodge had the most badass muscle cars, and also the most insultingly pathetic rebranding of an econobox
i still prefer Pontiacs
They are both my favorites
Some Plymouth dealers slapped Road Runner decals on Sundance Coupes🤣
@midnitesquirldog1 Grandfather had a 1970 Bonneville. 455 EVERY Option. That 2 Door Boat would Walk Anything Corvette on the Highway back in the 80s. Just keep pulling from 50 all the way to Burried speedo at 120 in 4 sec( but Dyno)
Dodge
The first ‘Old Car Memories’ video that made me depressed
Steve Silvas Dude this is their golden age.
@@savagetuner2404 We are definitely in the second golden age of horsepower. I hope everyone appreciates it. The first one ended with little warning. We're always one crisis, or well meant but poorly implemented wave of legislation away from going back to econoboxes.
His voice is different
@@alphatrion100 Different? You perhaps mean stupid?
Cars got depressing in 1971... no HP... no MPG... junk Japanese steel made from WWII/Vietnam weapons... some revival started in 1976 for some models...
This is the saddest muscle car vid ever.
So so sad!!!
You must admit that cars of the late seventies and early eighties were very boring low horsepower cars. About the only car in that era that was real good was the Lincoln Continental and the Corvette. The narrator of this video was very clear. The high performance cars of the Sixties really never came back. Some real good ones nowadays but nothing like the Sixties.
@@brianzybura8633 O you know i agree, no argument from me. And it was sadness on top of sadness that the car companies lost their mojo and then badged the lamest cars of all time with the greatest names of all time.
@@robbchastain3036 Robb, sorry if I misinterpreted you. No doubt, a sad video. BUT the good news is that a lot of guys are rebuilding all the old muscle cars and bringing them back to life. Likely you know about that. If you havent already, GOOGLE NICKS GARAGE. This gentleman and his helpers redo muscle cars top to bottom--the works. This YT channel is lots of fun, and I think you will enjoy it.
Nope, Watch the R54 Restorations Muscle car crash comp video. Makes me soooo sad 😥
To my eye, that Challenger is just a Plymouth Horizon with some decals on it.
Absolutely, lol - probably complete with mushy brakes.
Would love to see one in person only because they are so rare now lol
The Challenger is a rebadged Mitsubishi Sapporo
@Squirmin Herman the one eyed German the sapporo was a cool car in its own right.
I remember the charger, but never seen the Challenger
A very enjoyable segment, brought back vivid memories! I proudly owned two 1970 Challenger's, one a 440 auto R/T & today I drive my 2014 Blacktop Edition R/T with Super Track Pack with 392 rear gears. I had that 1985 Shelby Charger Turbo, it was my very first brand new car in the 80's as I also owned two 1969 Charger's, one a 440 auto RT/SE, I however can't abide the new 4-door Charger though, I can't.
I worked at a garage in 90 and we had one of those same turbo cars that the owner picked up cheap at an auction that we used for a parts runner, we gutted the cat and put a Supertrapp muffler on it and played around with the adjustments on the engine, we'd drag race 60's muscle cars and newer IROC's and stuff with it in town and people just couldn't believe how fast that thing was.
vinniecorleone62 I don’t get it either maybe there is a problem with two door cars that I am unaware of. The real charger was a great car. The new one is nice and they run but close your eyes and imagine it a two door. Your children can’t. My 7 year old grandson is my mini me he has been a car guy since five for sure. I used to love hearing him name vehicles going down the road. Oh were you meaning to say CATALINA INSTEAD OF CANTALINA. My father had the latter.
My brother had a Charger Turbo in '87 or so, and it had a shocking amount of pickup for a four-banger.
@@texaswunderkind Yep, I could beat 5.0 Mustang GT's then light after light.
i agree the DODGE CHARGER in its new style has went same way as FORDS RS FOCUS 4DOORS and i say why ruin a cars pedigree and looks by turning into a family 4door saloon or hatchback charger if had been a 2 door with packages same as challenger i think lots more wouldnt mind a charger but nothing will ever beat 68 to 70 chargers as was an evil looker and fast and being in scotland ive only saw under 20 in my life id pleasure of driving a hemi charger and an rt440 with pistol grip manual box and id a laugh playing with that at traffic lights the hemi i drove was fast but some lazy driver had an auto installed when i prefer a clutch and manual box as more control of car into bends and such the auto i felt unsafe on tight corners as if car was about to slide off road if itd been manual itd been a controllable rocket lol
The Shelby GLHS Charger was an animal. The most underrated of the 80's turbo cars.
I had one of the "only" 180 hp Quad 4 Calais for my first car. It would slaughter IROCs and Mustang GTs at the weekend stoplight action. Seriously underrated little car.
Yep i worked with a guy i used to joke glh stood for GOES LIKE HECK
I owned one. Was it a Charger in the traditional sense of a muscle car? No…
However, it was a quick car that handled well and was really fun to drive on winding back roads.
From ‘78 to ‘83 automakers ignored the performance market and there weren’t any real performance cars being produced. As a way of reviving interest in Chrysler performance products, this car was a good start.
I had a regular Shelby Charger. It was an OK car. I never jumped on the front wheel drive bandwagon because they're kind of squirrely when you put your foot in it.
@@joehart6406 it actually did.
I agree. You got it right. 98% of the late 70s, and 80s, were the worst. Very embarrassing.
I liken them to the "Awkward Teenage Years" of the US auto industry. Most executives still thought that bigger was better, and only begrudgingly started down the path to smaller more fuel efficient cars. They no longer had the big rear wheel drive V-8 cars and tried their best to envision a " muscle car" in a diminutive body.
@@BELCAN57 I miss the "big" rear wheel drive cars Steve. We all know the government mandated Detroit to make more fuel efficient cars available, which meant smaller less powerful engines. And in order to accelerate to highway speeds safely, the cars needed to be put on a strict diet, because of of the pathetically low HP. Now-a-days, a second gen F-body is considered "big", when back in the day, they were almost compacts. But I wish in those years, something like the 86 2+2 had a 400 4 spd still as an option. :(
Eh, I don’t mind the late 80s rebranded Mitsubishis by Chrysler like the conquest and the Daytona, as whatever you can do to those cars, you can do the same to the JDM counterparts, and there is a huge aftermarket for both the Galant (Daytona) and the Starion (Conquest)
@@disappointednep-nep2430 I guess it's just a generational thing. I'll never be convinced. But hey, that's just me.
Yep but gm did do a little better tho than the other guys tho if you think about it
i didn't know steven wright had a youtube car channel.
Either him or Ben Stein. (From Ferris Bueller’s Day Off).
I find his narration very calming.
Robert Witt Jr, I thought it was Carlton the doorman, from “Rhoda”.
Robert Witt Jr 🤣🤣
Hahahaha. It’s a small world....but I wouldn’t want to paint it.
This guys energy is off the charts
He's as exciting as Ben Stein on tranquilizers.
It took 30 years of drinking to forget these cars...thanks!!!
Ford forgot again. The Mustang Mach E may turn out to be a good electric SUV, but it is not a Mustang.
Stephen Hensley why would they even call it a mustang smh
Stephen Hensley F-150’s account for 90% of Fords profits. Everything thing else is basically on backburner
The Mach-E is not a revival. It will do in the 2020s what the original Mustang did in the 1960s. The Mach-E will be a great success despite the tears of self-appointed Mustang purists.
@@CaptHollister I think you missed his point... the Mach-E is a "SUV" not a coupe like what a Mustang is meant to be.
@@MarloSoBalJr Perhaps it is you who missed the point. The Mustang is only meant to be what Ford wants it to be: it is an innovative, youthful fun vehicle. In the 1960s that meant a long hood, cramped interior and muscular look (even if you had the wimpy base inline six and three-speed) which spawned the whole pony car genre. 50 years on, the world has moved in a different direction. Going forward, an innovative, youthful, fun vehicle will be electric and usefully practical while remaining fast and fun to drive. Think of the Mustang as a concept rather than a specific vehicle.
Funny thing about the FWD Charger: Like with the Chrysler mini-vans, it was such a success in sales that both GM and Ford began developing FWD "sport coupes" as the next generation of the Camaro/Firebird/Trans-Am and Mustang, respectively. When engine packaging issues troubled the GM-30 (Internal body/platform code) and word got out of Ford's intent on making the next Mustang basically a FWD Mazda re-bodied to resemble their successfully received Probe-V aero-research concept, work on each was abandoned and both scrambled to design "proper" RWD platforms that could be offered with V-8 power.
Some executives got too ambitious and when word caught on nobody wanted to be doing what they wanted.
Yes, and they were fairly advanced in the product development before they canned it if I remember right. The rwd mustang was to go away, being replaced by the Probe. But as it turned out, the Probe was the one that went away.
@@charlesm.7573 here in the UK we were told the new ford probe would be the new ford capri (too anyone in usa the ford capri was the european mini mustang we got 2 engine options a 2.0 4 cylinder or 2.5v6 the v6 had a mazda engine i owned both models 1st 2.0 (wasnt impressed) i then bought the v6 slightly better but to be honest still not replacement for capri and front wheel drive then ford tried to announce yet another replacement capri that wasnt the cougar that didnt sell well or last long like probe in uk think we got probe around 92 93 gone by 96 97 now fords fcking the european rallye sport models now that usa is in control a 4dr focus rs and it took till 3rd model RS FOCUS TO GET NEAR THE CAR IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FROM START THE FOCUS RS MK1 REPLACED THE FORD ESCORT RS COSWORTH A 4WHEEL DRIVE TURBOCHARGED RALLY RACE CAR IN ROAD TRIM WITH MOTORSPORTS PEDIGREE THE LATEST 4DOOR FOCUS RS IS A JOKE AND UGLY THE 1ST FOCUS RS SHOULD HAVE CONTINUED FROM WHERE ESCORT LEFT OFF IN 96 INSTEAD RS HAS BECAME A BADGE WISH FORD WOULD BUILD FIESTA RS AS ID BUY THAT AS 2DOOR BUT I OWN AN ORIGINAL 92 LAST OF LARGE TURBO ESCORT RS COSWORTH AND FORDS YET TO BUILD A CAR TOO SUCCEED IT IN MY EYES . it pisses me off over 40years uk europe development and tech thrown away to make a world car with an RS badge ford usa should stick to mustangs etc europe the rs st ranges as ford svr are a joke its designers wear welding goggles lol
Funny thing about the FWD Charger...equipped properly, it RIPPED.
Olds quad 4 engine was a kickass little 4 cylinder. Just needed a better body built around it
those beretta gtz were pretty sweet
The "Mitsu" Challenger...a.k.a. a Starion n.a. rwd car was pretty cool... but NOT a Challenger.
Chris Liberty
I had a 79. It was an interesting car and honestly wish I still had it. Was great on gas and super reliable. It definitely was not a performance car however. The best part was the AC. It blew out at 38 degrees lol.
You mean Mitsubishi Sigma "Scorpion" ??
The Starion became the Chrysler Conquest.
@@michaelb6729 the Dodge Challenger of that era was the same chassis platform as the Starion/Conquest..except Challenger had a live axle rear and Starion had irs
Unless you put a 340 w/6 Pack and a Torque Flite 727 in it. Muahahaha!!!
@@12yearssober "super reliable" ??? When compared to what ???
A Honda Civic 1200, Buick Opel by Isuzu & Subaru 360 !!!!
What also killed these cars was the EPA requirements for horsepower robbing emission controls and the added weight of those components. The second being the bean counters at Ford and GM nixing optional power enhancing devices like turbos/superchargers/intakes/free flowing exhaust systems. Alot of these cars are rarely seen on the road anymore, probably in private collections or in junkyards.....
don’t forget the chevy nova, Pontiac lemans, and dodge dart.
All great cars ... that turned into abortions.
Those weren't necessarily performance cars though. They were ordinary family cars that had performance variants. The cars in this video used names of performance variants. If he just went with old names of run of the mill family cars, this video would be too long. He'd have to include the Malibu, Impala, Cutlass, Regal, Dart, LeMans, Nova, Cougar, etc., the list could go on forever.
The modern dart is good tho
Pokey, depends what was underneath the hood of the nova.
And Subaru Impreza Casablanca
I doubt the 80s Monte Carlos and 442s generated "substantially more horsepower" than the 2+2. They were all pretty weak. GN and GNX, different story. Corvette killers!
Big Momma GM didn't like the GNX being that fast
Fire Dude It wasn’t that the GNX was that fast it was a fact that the Corvettes in that era were severely underpowered due to the smog motor craze.
Actually, the monte was "rated" at 190, but made more. The Olds 442 was 180 with 3.73 gears and the GN was 235, also under rated. The GNX was rated around 300, also under rated. They all made significantly more.
@@sledgehammer8542 Sorry, but the Monte WAS rated at 180 and I doubt it even made that, lol. Those 305's were horrible and the 'SS' was a pig on its best day by running a mid-16 second quarter.
@@231mac you are correct. They were rated at 180, but it was the exact same engines as the z28 and trans am from 83 up. It was the L69 H.O.. In those cars it was claimed at 190. They actually made around 225 at the flywheel. They were very strong and reliable engines for the 80's. They were not 16 cars, they were mid to high 15's. Excellent for the time period. I owned several of all three. The 305 in the 2+2 was the Lg4. It was 150 hp, and no where close to the L69. Don't believe everything you read. The L69 in my 84 T/A, was faster than a TPI 305 85 T/A, because the carburated cars made more torque. The TPI 305 was rated as higher HP than the L69. It wasn't.
I'd always hated when U.S. car makers would sacrifice a prestigious nameplate, only to slap it on something like an Omni whose greatest aspect of the package was merely some 'sports' detailing/trim slapped on. I don't recall many of these very well, because I ignored them in disgust.
The only interesting Omni was the GLH. I drove one once and it was impressive for its day.
@@jeffreyrubish347 yeah, the Omni GLH was way more than just a sticker or appearance package, it was actually pretty darn fast, faster than most of the V8 cars of the era.
8:23 "Cantilina", I think he meant to say Catalina.
All I know is I'm eating catalope tomorrow for breakfast.
It was the Cantilever 2 + 2
kik Urass I think the Cantilina was made in Mexico, to compete with the Chrysler Couldalina.
The Car Crazy Guy
I have one of the 86 version, love it, but...
Cantilever any faster than anything else. Imo, the only downside to the car.
Maybe he was thinking about going to the cantina to get some funky cold medina?
God I miss the 80's. And Pontiac!
This channel relaxes me. Some people listen to rain, others read by a fire place, I come here and take a time machine back to when the world made sense.
I stay confused about the decisions of the past AND the present.
So do I, as the 442 was a four barrel, four speed stick with two wheel drive via locking diff....
A four cylinder, automatic, front [one] wheel drive == barf barf.
I'm with you. Especially Dodge and that four door Charger I despise. That car is nothing more than a high performance four door grocery getter.
@@davidhollenshead4892 442 stood for four-barrel carburetor 4 speed manual transmission and dual exhaust
@@davidhollenshead4892 Originally 442 meant 4 Barrel, 4 sp, and dual exhaust.
442 used to mean "4 barrel carburetor, 4 on the floor, dual exhausts"
I have trouble with a dodge with four doors being called a charger. Or a four door impala being called “SS”. I had a 65 impala SS 67 SS and a 66 chevelle SS, and an uncle had a 69 charger. Guess I’m a traditionalist. Cars lack excitement and all look alike these days, also putting a caddy emblem on a truck does not make it a caddy, just an over priced GMC
Yes you are correct.
I agree! Charger SHOULD be only with 2 door.
In my mind, there's no such thing as a "performance sedan". 2 doors too many for me!
Kevin from “The Office” narrates ...
Nailed it!
Robert Jonas, I just thought about Kevin and his Chili. 😆
Mark Frank The chili episode is the best!!!
The quad 4 engine in the 442 is a beast of a 4 cylinder , drove a 97 cavalier with one in it , it was an option on the z24
1964-1970 era was best muscle cars on highway. Wish I still had my 67 Impala SS and 70 Grand Prix. More hp than c.i.
I wish I still had my 69 Road Runner that got stolen and stripped, and a 67 Chevelle SS 396 that was the dream car I never got to have.
'71-'73 was good, too. It's after the oil crisis then that messed it up afterwards.
Still have my 68 Camaro
I bet you do wish you still had that 67 ss , like my dad wishes he still had his 69 mach 1 mustang .
I still simply love the Grand Prix 2+2!! I would not mind what so ever, taking it on a Sunday Drive any day of the week!
Can't wait for the Chevette and Monza revivals. ;-)
lol
To quote Darth Vader "NOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!"
AAAARRRGGGHH! 😖
Bobcat.
Well at least anything that they could bring out as A new and improved chevette couldn't be any worse than the original.
I worked for the company that produced the water pump for the Quad 4.The Quad 4 engine was still used after 1991.
The new charger is a Chrysler 300c Period There will never be a 4 door charger in my mind,
Yes. I like the car, but not the 4 doors.
It's not great but the performance sedan market is pretty big in America. You could make the argument that Chrysler should have just made a performance 300c, but the 300c has always been known as a cheaper luxury car. It's easier to market a brand new car with an old familiar name than it is to try and shift an existing car's demographics.
All about family these days. Is why 4 door cars or people don’t know a lot about cars like they used too. All about looks and features. Not enough people care. Also the price much much higher too.
@@USNVA-yn6cp no, it absolutely did not. The Avenger has nothing in common with the new Charger. The Avenger was fwd, and the Charger is rwd. The 2006 to 2010 Charger was built on the LX platform, which was a rwd platform built using older Mercedes Benz suspension components. The current Charger uses the LD platform, which is an updated version of the LX. I'm not sure how you came to the conclusion that it came from the Avenger, but you are wrong.
Dan Favata I work for dodge b your 100% wrong sir ty fir replying
Just get me one of those Pontiac Grand Am’s from that time period, especially with the 7.3 liter hot rods!! But that Quad 4-4-2 isn’t bad either, for the time.
1974 Grand Am, 7.3, super duty would be awesome. Had one, just not the super duty. Highway cruiser deluxe.
The silver and dark gray Challenger was my very first new car in 1978. I loved that thing. You have to remember that most people did not WANT gas guzzling performance cars so pretty much all cars had what the car salesmen liked to call a "casual" acceleration. The Challenger was designed as direct competition for the Toyota Celica.
When buick put gs emblems on 4 cylinder skylark made me sick nothing like 1970 gsx
It's like a VW Beetle with a Rolls Royce grill.
You look at it and think: 'They got to be kidding.'
Yeah it's a lame car in the end.
The Calais 442 with the W41 handling package was a quick little car. I remember reading about it when it was new.
Lol! I like that you continuously mention rwd and fwd. when I got my first car(or should I say snagged from grandma) I subconsciously intended to get rwd. However at the time I didn’t know all the mechanical details of cars just the exterior looks and features. I was kinda disappointed when I first opened the hood and saw that the engine was side ways. As a kid I always felt the the power flow was better with the engine facing forward like most muscle hot wheels. 🤪now I would rather have a rwd car even if it is not high performance. 👍🏽
The Quad 4 was an amazing little 4 cylinder. I had a 4 door, '95 Grand Am with the quad 4 - high output. With 175 factory horsepower mated to a 5 speed manual trans, it was a tuner boys worst nightmare in sleeper trim!
Ok 👌
It never ceased to amaze me how these "car guys" at the corporations just Didn't Get It ! They viewed the name as a "property" they had the right to slap on any itinerate product they shoved out the door
the trademark is in fact their property and they can use it as they wish.
@@joeblowski4643 You're Right ! What was ℹ thinking ? It's their Property ; they can do whatever the h*ll they Want with it . It's their Toy , they can d*mm well Break it if They Want To . They can wear their underwear on their head, if they want to ! Thanks : you've shown me the light 🌈
That first Mustang pic with the red background - i had as a poster well over a decade ago!! Im in uk... man that gave some memories...
While some may not call the Nova a performance car the revival of the name in '85 was a laugh
It was a toyota Corolla just made for GM,,never saw that style in Toyota lineup
@@jorgebobe9329 The sharing of the Matrix which became the Pontiac Vibe was a much better era.
My first car.
@@jorgebobe9329 I call it the Toyota Nova.
How did the 1985-1988 Chevy Nova not make this list? It should be number one.
This is a great vid, too bad the narrator is sooo tired!
The 1984 1/2 GT 350 also came with the Turbo 4cyl that the same yr SVO got. I never heard of 2 diff 5.0 offered?? Just the 4v bbl not any EFI until 1985 in the auto trans option 5spd still had a 4v carb. And the wheel options the other guy stated yes they wer euro both wer TRX the ragtop picture had the 14" and the fastback had the 390mm. "TRX handling package" option. Very expensive to replace tires & had one choice michelin.
Did he really say "Can't-alina"
That's the way I heard it too. There isn't any "n" in CATALINA!
Yes he did !😂
Once he said Cantalina he lost all credibility
Don't forget the revived Pontiac GTO (complete with the bonnet nostrils) too based on the Holden/ Vauxhall Monaro
A Dodge Charger should never ever be front wheel drive, what were they thinking?
In a nutshell the big three big wigs were afraid the gasoline shortage would last forever and they scrambled to compete with the imports. In other words, they dumped their expensive girlfriends, put lipstick on a pig and put it out on the street to see how it would do. The rest is history.
LincolnTek you make it sound like most of those cars were garbage. The Rebranded Mitsubishis of Chrysler (especially the later ones) were no slouch and had huge potential, since their JDM counterparts had a lot of aftermarket support, such as widebodies, turbo kits, and parts from the venerable HKS. The people who get upset about JDM performance cars rebranded as American cars are boomers who hate them because they’re not “amercian” or big enough
i owned a brand new '86 Shelby Charger with the 2.2 turbo engine. It was a very fast car that got 22 mpg city. Back then that was the magic combination that the big three were looking for. The car could do burnouts, but the front wheel drive torque would pull the whole car to the right, so keeping it in a straight line while accelerating under boost was a big challenge.
I still drool over that grand prix 2+2🤤🤤
ME DO TO......LOVE IT
I remember when GM try to revive the Monte Carlo SS in the early 2000’s
The 85 to 88 SS was a beauty car I had one
Wish they. Bought the grand national back
I think Ford using the Mach 1 badge on the Mustang II in the mid 70s was a bigger aberation than the GT 350. That thing came with a crappy 6 cylinder that was just over 100 hp as the standard engine (the optional 302 V8 wasn't much better).
So true they were really,really slow-18sec 1/4's.I mean really with the 302.Also AMC had an AMX version in '77-80 with the Hornet/Spirit bodies.They were slow with the 258 sixes.Some with the 304's with 130hp.
These old cars with the carburetors were easy to work on and a lot of parts were interchangeable .No computer to mess with either.
Pontiac did want to install the H.O. 5.0L engine into the 2+2. But at the time, there was a shortage of them as they were being installed in the Monte SS, Camaro Z28, and Trans Am, which at the time were all hot sellers. Unfortunately this led to the 2+2 getting the detuned 5.0L.
Imagine an 86 Pontiac 2 + 2 with an LS swap? Somebody out there did it or is doing it
Over a long enough timeline, everything gets an LS swap.
It probably wouldn't take long to find an old VW Beetle with one.
Christopher Conard google it. There’s a beetle out there w/ an LS swap
I put an LS 3 with a Tremec 6 sp in my 87 SS Monte Carlo Aero Coupe. We had a new neighbor move in and the sawed-off little runt was always telling me how much faster his 87 Buick Grand National was than my Monte. So I finally had enough and said lets each put up a hundred bucks and go race. Midway through 4th gear, I had already put 8 car lengths on him and I was pulling away fast. After the race, he wanted to see my engine and then he claimed I cheated because he thought it still had the factory 305 engine. He did pay me but we defiantly don't borrow lawnmowers from each other.
They’ve put an LS in everything else. I’m about sick of LS swaps.
@@barryfields2964 Just curious what would you use for a swap?
In my youth I helped a neighbor, who owned and raced a REAL 1966 Mustang GT350 factory Trans Am car, build something very unique.
He purchased a Shelby GLHS new and with 96 miles on the clock we stripped it down, had the body chemically stripped to bare metal, and brazed every spot-welded joint together. I didn't understand why until he took me for a ride in his new SCCA race car which handled like nothing I'd ever experienced.
You don't realize how much body flex cars have until you remove all of it!
It took some time to get the suspension tuned properly. It cornered on three wheels and would easily pull 1g on 1980's street tires. Amazing for a front wheel drive K-car with what is essentially a steel pipe between the two rear wheels.
Makes me want to sob. Those were the cars churned out when I was a kid. At least there were a lot of the real muscle cars still left over then. Now however? Ya need an IT degree to even bother with them.
It wasn’t until recently that I finally understood the 1984 GT350 had no better engine than a regular GT. Sad.
Don't think it offered "EFI", either...
You know, though, those Mitsubishi Challengers really were pretty cool. I forgave the naming about them, the only problem was that where I lived they just rusted away way too fast. When I first saw a 'Charger 2.2' I did think the decals and naming were ridiculous but I eventually ended up with the Plymouth version, the Turismo/Duster 2.2 . Despite the front wheel drive, that was a really fun and useful little car, and I kinda did think for once they actually had kinda the spirit of the old Dusters I love so much to this day. Mine had the decals on it, kinda sun-faded, so the little guy looked adorably like a Matchbox car that'd been in some child's pocket a little too long. I did kind of want to add the Shelby stuff, but rust was still kind of an issue.
The only problem with these Challengers is that they were underpowered. And that isn't anything an engine swap can't fix. A turboed Slant six could fit in there.
@@beauxr.benoit1374 That'd be missing the point. (Also it'd seriously be terrible.)
@@OllamhDrab How am I missing the point? They were rear-Wheel-Drive right, so you just need to upgrade the car so you can put a bigger engine in it. And then they were imports, this is just an older version of what is done today. Do you know where the Dodge cars themselves come from? They are on German platforms with Italian parts if not including some from China as well. Chevys come from Canada and Fords from Mexico and both except for final assembly. There is no such thing as true Domestic anymore with 100% parts because nothing is truely built here with American except for Toyotas and their parts which the dies were originally not from here either.
@@beauxr.benoit1374 I meant that they're cars you'd want to keep pretty light. Not really ideal for a heavy engine, yaknow?
@@OllamhDrab A six would be too heavy for it? Do you know about Australian cars from the 70's that are the same size of a Toyota Corolla that had sixes in them?
The revived 442 was a sweet car with a sweet engine. If only Olds didn't call it a 442, I'm sure it would have sold better and would have a better reputation now.
to be honest when they rebranded the cars in the 80"s they could have made them more peppy than what they were. it is sad that majority of people then and now do not know how to maintain and know what they have as in a turbo setup. I own two of the old school mustangs that are turbo as well as the challenger from the 80's. granted I rebuilt the engines as well as the turbo setups in the mustangs that to me were a bad air flow setup to a setup that they needed to breath a lot better.
The 80's was the early years of turbocharging for most manufacturers, they definitely didn't have them down that well yet.
This narrator was the kid that the teacher picked to read a page and you’d wake up with drool on your desk and cheek.
Olds quad 442 was an absolute beast and got 32 mpg.
32?! 😳
@@Ben-qb4lj yes sir (highway). That motor was way ahead of its time. Unfortunately they all blew head gaskets which ruined the motors. That car was great in scca racing also.
@@john-vy1ml I had one back in the day. I miss that car. I had to pop the hood more than once to show people it was just a 4 cylinder.
Mine lost it's timing chain at 60,000 miles. Bent every valve in the motor, but didn't break anything else. The little car lot I bought it from gave me an extended warranty.. That saved me $1,500.
You just watered down the word “beast “. It was a 4 cylinder with < 200 hp . Who cares about MPG’s , it was ugly as a toenail.
The DIS says you get 32mpg but I've been calculating the mpg on mine and it's a consistent 26
Big block powered muscle era car's won't be replaced by my children making up their version of them. 440, 426 & 383 Challenger's &Charger's are what us babyboomer's drove all year long, myself I owned a 69 GTX ,thanks for sharing.
I thought I'd be in for a laugh when I saw this come up but now I just feel dead inside.
Honourable mention - from JDM - the Mitsubishi Eclipse. Originally a sporty coupe and convertible. Brought back recently as a crossover SUV.
Or a wheezy subcompact sedan or hatch. The SUV is actually called the Eclipse Cross, if you wanna get technical.
So true video,and I sorely miss Pontiac.!!!
The performance versions of the Solstice were interesting.
@Benny Silin GTO ?
Backyard Buck this and the G8. Holdens, with LS engines.
The 80’s GM G-body performance cars were cool regardless of not having the performance of their namesakes, like the Olds 442 and Hurst Olds Cutlasses. The Where the Buick GNX used a turbo V6 to its advantage, the Olds FE3-X (didn’t enter production) used a V8 and extensive improvements to suspension and handling, it could out-handle a Corvette of the time.
Yeah great video, good info and all that bud I’d try putting some more energy into your voice, just some constructive criticism, keep up the good work.
Simply adjust the speed to 1.25 and it sounds great.
My first car was an 82 Gran Prix. The front end was unique on the 2+2 but I prefer the stock one. Good thing about it is GM was really interchangeable [junkyard C.BOP] so as a young guy with a used car. I was able to really step it up by robbing affordable parts off the other wreaked "sports" models and eventually replaced the sluggish V6 with a V8. But the speed limit in Texas was 55mph max at the time so even with an underpowered V6 that car was *so comfortable inside* and tint and installing sound systems from my shop meant I pieced together nice audio for cheap. New cars are better but that's what was available to us late 80s early 90s. *I can't work on the new ones though*
I had a 86 Charger...it was a good newspaper delivery car! LOL!
The 442 wasn’t the only car Oldsmobile shamed.
They tried to sell an updated Tornado called the Tornado Troféo then just Troféo.
In 1992 the last Tornado rolled off the assembly line.
Have to say that the first generation was the best….
So sad that Oldsmobile is no more.
The olds was pretty good, very few out there in good condition.
The 1986 Pontiac 2+2 only needed more horsepower, which could be easily remedied.
Chrysler Charger nowadays is a joke too! 4 freakin doors, WTH?
I understand that some people like four door convenience combined with performance, but they shouldn't have used the Charger name. I can't believe they didn't even offer a two door version.
Absolutely nailed #1 my brother!!! # 2, great call, both were so inept. By 1982 standards, that Mustang was really quick. My 350 Buick Apollo got totally embarrassed. Oh, the malaise era of the mid 80's. That aero coupe was an eye catcher, but the darn government regulations just killed power! And your # 5 is in complete agreement!! Those were some woe-some days and eras!
Truly an awful era for American cars. Thank God its over.
Man, it really wasn't though. This is when HP was finally coming back (albeit slowly) and everyone was going crazy with it. Great times, actually.
80’s were awesome. Mustangs Z28s TransAm, Grand National. Plus there were plenty of muscle cars still out there. I’ll gladly go back to that era any time.
The 80's 442 failed because it wasn't even a 442. The model name means 4 speed stick, 4 bbl, 2 dual exhaust. I'm not sure they even met one of those requirements in the 80's model. So.......fail!
Umm CaNtalina? It's supposed to be Catalina... no N. Does that mean it can't? 🤦♂️
It's really impressive how much engine power has increased over the years. That 1984 Mustang GT 350 had a 5.0 liter V8 with 175 horsepower. Meanwhile the 1998 Ford Windstar _minivan_ I used to have had a 3.8 liter V6 with 200 horsepower!
I know what to put on when I can't sleep
Why O' Why do automobile manufacturers get revamps so, so wrong and not just in the U.S.A and Canada but in mainland Europe as well as the far East. The lesson to be learned is "Think, think talk in depth and consult" then get it all correct and a legend returns to the road. "Maybe I tend to live in a Utopia?" Good vid as always!!
All of these am cars are from the 1980’s what a surprise
It is no wonder the Germans and Japanese took over the car market during that era
I've never seen one of those late 70's Challengers in my life, not counting UA-cam.
Look ma it's a montecarlo with a face lift!! 🤣🤣🤣
The 2+2 gbody pontiac grand prix can be easily modded today to increase the hp, great videos man 😊 .
Truly embarrassing that Detroit chose to trash the proud history of their performance cars with these posers! The Challenger/Charger being perhaps the WORST!🤮💩
Not their fault. Blame the government and all the regulations they passed during that time.
Guberment Regulation, my friend, guberment regulations....
The Shelby Charger was pretty fast for its day, and is by no means “the worst”
@@disappointednep-nep2430 In fact, yes, it was a quick machine back in the day. My friend had the 2.2 Turbo. Went like stink.
wow - I never heard of that re-badged import Challenger.... but i do remember those front wheel drive Chargers, but that Pontiac 2+2 I completely missed as well.... don't remember it at all.
I seem to recall a 4 cylinder Duster that was really sad as well, especially since I own a 71 with a small block from my 70 that I keep thinking about putting together...
Good Video !!
The 2+2 was purely a NASCAR ringer.
I wanted to see the Pontiac LeMans 1960s and 1980s models.
Daewoo rebadged.
I test drove a used 80’s (?) Lemans. This was before the internet. I was expecting a GM subcompact - instead it was complete trash!
@@stephen3164 yea, late 80s to early 90s for the subcompact.
DaeWHOOOO? Daewoo! DaeWHOOOOOOO?
@@stephen3164 you were expecting a GM compact, but got trash? So you got exactly what you wanted?
Today, some muscle cars deserve the old name. Mustang, Camaro, and Challenger got it right, but while Charger has performance, it is little more than a sexed up new version of the Intrepid. They should have, at the very least, offered a two door version. I love the style and performance of my '13 Mustang GT.
a friend of mine had a quad 4. that thing was fast asf!
I actually had an '83 Challenger. On paper, it should have been a winner. 2 door hardtop, rear wheel drive, "big" OHC 4 cylinder, 5 speed manual, 4 wheel disk brakes...alas, the "challenge" was trying to keep it running.
Brings back memories of HS, all the chicks had the charger 2.2 and most of the guys were saving for that 305 HiPo Monte or Cutlass . To this day I can still see the looks on their faces when I flew past them in my 78 Datsun 810 .
From my decade, the chicks drove Camaro Berlinetta's and the guys drove Honda 750/4 with a 4 into 1 Kerker header!
I used to own a 91Olds 442. I loved it, however the problem I had was behind the doors at the rocker panel, the paint came off. Like sand blasted or something. The dealer repainted and a few months later, it looked bad again, they painted again and added clear adhesive stickers to the edge. I only drove the car for 3 years but loved it.
Jeez....... Chrysler was awful with some of their garbage.
That Charger was just a joke
I had a Omni 81 if I recall. Amazing gas mileage. Unfortunately every gas fill up also was accompanied with a quart of oil. Luckily an 18 wheeler rear ended us and we lived but the car was thankfully totaled. I owned 3 Dodge vehicles in the past 40 years. Cutting edge design but reliability in question.
By the late 70s, many saw the original Challengers as gas guzzling, rust buckets.
Many......dweebs.🤓
The Ford Taurus SHO and the 90's Thunderbird were very fast during it's time.
Also the Fiero was great for it's time, but the issue with the Fiero is that they suddenly caught on fire.
I love the Buick Grand National.
Also the Camaro and Firebird/ Trans Am another great cars.
Only '84 Fiero caught fire... valve cover leaked oil on insulation that fell down on the exhaust manifold...