In 1969 - 1970 when the engines really started to get out of control, the insurance companies heavily penalized ($$$) drivers for anything rated over 390HP bythe manufacturer. So the manufacturers were REALLY conservative with their claims. Prior to that time, all engine were measured using SAEGROSS horsepower. This would be the equivelent of a bare block without any accessories mounted on the engine. Soon after they began measuring by SAENET Horsepower, which included all parasitic drag from accessories. In a very short period of time from 1970 to 1974, the power decreased drastically. In 1974 a Chevy 350 V8 was rated at 140hp SAE NET, with the newly required pollution controls, I'm sure Dodge was similarly hit. 1974 may have been the worst year inthe history of American auto manufacturers, and the worst year for all U.S. performance car sales. 1974 was the only year that you were required to buckleyour seat belt,or your car would not start, but that is a whole other thread....

Just as a side note at the same time boat engines were power rated at the engine. Around 1970-1971 when the cars changed from SAE gross to SAE net, boat motors changedratings from at the driveshaft, to at the propeller.

 

Tobin, in your opinion, what WAS the best year, HP-wise for muscle cars? 69-70, or what? Just curious.

dave

 

1971 when Mopar started going downhill with pollution controls................
Insurance did not matter at that time becuase insuranse was pretty cheap back in the late 60s early 70s.
JT

 

Dave, 69 or 70? you will have to excuse me, I know this is a Dodge board, but their were so many fantastic engines. The Chevy Chevelle was available with six6! different 396 engines, and all the way up to the big block 454.Ford had the Boss 302, Boss 429, and Cobrajet 428 engines (all rated around 280-330 hp, making around 400). I loved the Boss 302 Mustangs, 9000 rpm redline! Horsepower is always good, but these big V8's were torque monsters, pin you back in the seat at any speed, monsters. Back in the day ... 1969 my bother had a 1967 GTO, and his friends had a Boss 302 Mustang, and a '69 454 Corvette. The only Dodge I knew about at the the time was my mothers 1965 Plymouth Barracuda fastback with a 4 banger in it. I do remember theRoadrunner with the 440 six-pack, it had a huge oval "Coyote" aircleaner around the carbs.the Roadrunner had an adjustable front suspension, where you could raise or lower it about an inch and a half, for better weight transfer on launches. But I am avoiding the question.

I like '69 everything was so out of control. Almost anyone could spin the tires, of course 78 series tires were the norm, but some cars came with the incredibly wide 70 series polyglass tires. Neither of which inspired any confidence. The thing that no one remembers is how damn hard cars were to start back then.Sometimes you pumped the gas pedal madly while turning thekey. Sometimes you held it to the floor while turning the key. Sometimes you had touse a manual choke, depending on the temperature. Sometimes after it started it would 'vapor lock'then you were screwed because it would never start again. then sitting in traffic you would gag, because none of the cars on the road were 'tuned correctly, always too much fuel to the engine.

Modern cars are an incredible step forward from that time.

The answer is '69.

One other thing people do not remember about the '69-'70 Chargers, was the long flat trunk lid. It used to pool water near the rear window. In 1976 when I worked in a used car dealership, we had a lot of Chargers come through, but every one of them had the area behind the rear window glass rusted out. This allowed water into the trunk, which also rusted. A matter of fact most of the cars of that era rusted badly, but the sheet metal used to build them was at least twice as thick as todays cars. Effective rust protection from the auto manufacturers was not introduced until the late 70's.

Does that answer your question Dave? Sorry about the rambling....

 

Yep. I would probably have said 69 or 70, too. That was quite a time in my life. I was in the Navy, home ported in San Diego. All kinds of "muscle" running around on the streets there.

dave

PS: The Barracuda would have had the venerable slant 6 in it.

 

69 and 70 were the years,,,,1971 they started to put pollution controls on our cars lol....
When the autobody guy was doing some work on my 1969 Daytona he forgot how to put the nose back on since it hadat least a hundredsmall parts lol...
In the late 60s and early 70s I could not afford any cool Mopars,but now I own a few and let the prices keep going up.....JT