Overhaulin'

Why don't auto makers design and sell one car that you can make go fast?

We used to be able to get into the cars and rebuild them any way. The cars could be made to shake homes. The sound of the 4 speed with a 409 is extremely missed. If auto makers would design one car that could be souped up and played with as in the 60s, don't you think that car would be the best seller?

Public Comments

1. They still do. A BMW M3 can beat most of the old muscle cars of the late 60's early 70's. Good torque and HP, with a lot less weight. You can also buy an AC cobra if you want that sound.
2. They still do, THere are some 500 horsepower mustangs running around, you can rebuild it however you like, if you have money. However, look at it in the business point of view. I mean, if i am ford co engineer, of course i have the technology to build a car that is same as the 60s, with better safety feature. However, as time pass by, thats the problem is inflation, and human labor cost. If the price of metal and labor work double, doubling the sales price of the car will be too expensive for consumers. And include some fixes like waranty fix. Another fact that kills performance is Emmision. In order to pass the emmision test at the late 20th century, you cannot have the compression as the older engine does. Well as the leaded gas. If you take the 60s mustang to get a emmision test done with the current standard, it fails for sure. I dont think it would be the best seller. Look at the world nowaday, this yr, Toyota beat GM in sales rate at the first quarter of the yr by a little. Because their reputation of reliability and Gas economy. The engines back then are gasoline thirsted vampires... but the gasoline back than cost less than 50 cents a gallon.
3. chevy is putting a old styled coupe out for production in 2009