29 replies to this topic

[Tomm]

shizz that mini has maguire arches on it does it not?

I must say, although they may not be the best driving cars in the world, id kill for a yank tank

[Jammy]

11.6 seconds is actually a very good time for a mini. As far as I know the fastest mini down a drag strip is the 9.8s (I think) by Stuart Mead, in his green NOS injected Ford powered RWD mini. The problem mini's have with dragging is that they have the drag coefficient of a brick, and you have to modify them somewhat to get very big grippy tyres on them.

And on the subject of big yank V8s, apart from the lurrrvly noise, I'm not impressed with them at all. They weigh a metric tonne, so not great for handling, and the actual power per litre figures are pretty poor.

[syholl]

Yank engines are indeed very basic, but they are very strong and the BHP can easily be improved on. A 6.3 litre engine can easily be tuned to produce 500bhp and even more torque. And that is the big advantage of these engines, the torque in any gear at any speed is simply phenomenal... I'd have one...!

[USA-Fin]

And on the subject of big yank V8s, apart from the lurrrvly noise, I'm not impressed with them at all. They weigh a metric tonne, so not great for handling, and the actual power per litre figures are pretty poor.

JB,
I guess you've never driven a a Trans Am (racing series) car. They handle like they are on rails. The replicas that the manufactuerers sold for street use also handle very well. The main attraction though, as you pointed out, is the lovely noise, the smell, and the wild styling of the muscle car era. The love of those things in Muscle cars and Minis is what makes us car guys.The fact is that there are a great many cars today that are faster than the muscle cars of the past ever were.
Until you've been in a 3800 pound car that can hang the front tires (wheelstand) when going down the 1/4 mile you haven't lived.

Jim

[USA-Fin]

Yank engines are indeed very basic, but they are very strong and the BHP can easily be improved on. A 6.3 litre engine can easily be tuned to produce 500bhp and even more torque. And that is the big advantage of these engines, the torque in any gear at any speed is simply phenomenal... I'd have one...!

How about 1500 horsepower on pump gas! Here is a '73 Camaro that will do 270 miles per hour and it's a street car! 0 to 170 in 7 seconds!

http://www.nelsonrac...media-mags.html

[lemmingzappa]

The worlds fastest road legal car............

[Jammy]

Well I was kinda talking about out the box figures, not taking sides or anything, but with Jap engines now turning out either close to, or over 100bhp per litre, 300-400 bhp from a 6 or 7 litre engine isn't that impressive to me, although I spose I'm missing the point somewhat.

And your right, I've never even been in an American built car, let alone an American muscle car, but I've no doubt a track set up mini could out handle pretty much any track set up muscle car.

However, having said that, I think people (me included) love muscle cars for their power, brutality, character, and sheer presence on a road, in much the same way I love minis for their character, giant killing ability, and mostly unrivalled handling.

[miniboo]

torque torque torque is what american muscle cars are about

[Mini 360]

Was that Mini not in MiniWorld earlier in 2006?

[shelby mustang]

yeh i no what u mean about the american muscle nd yes we have a pontiac firebird nd i no the power they have my uncle has a corvette aswell both great fun to take the both out=] but u still gota love that mini. it is quick for a mini very quick.

[phils sprite]

hi

dunno if you guys have seen this but check this beast out sounds bloody amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

have fun

[CanadianMiniFan]

I live in Canada so (unfortunately) there are TONS of American built cars going around. the onlyones worth even looking at are of course late 60s and early 70s muscle cars. and to jammy, ur lucky never being in an american built car lol except for muscle cars which are amazingly torquey, but are gettin out of date and take tons of gas. the look of them though....second only to the mini. i actually have this fantasy when i'm old and rich of doign a clubby w/ dodge charger esque grill (all across hiding the headlights) with a powerful japanese engine (small lots of power turbo). O, wait why not stick a bike engine in the back adn twin turbo charge it. Ligten it up with everything carbon , we'd have a very fast car. I'd buy some very good ear plugs too lol.Well you can't knock the muscle car. hope you like my dreami(ish) car.

Edited by CanadianMiniFan, 08 January 2007 - 02:45 AM.

[M1N1C00P3R1275]

yank tanks dont handle well ,fact ,and the ac ace yes it went well with a american engine in a straight line but wonder why the called it the "widow maker" . but u yanks are really not very good at getting much out you engines a bmw m3 will get over 100 hp per litre where some american huge v8 engines strugle to get 75hp per litre. a bentley cont. gt speed will generate 552hp out of a just under six litre engine, a corvette zo6 generates 506bhp from a 7.0-litre V8 thats not impressive as jammy corecctly said and before we get to prices a corvette may be cheaper but a bentley isnt made of cheap plastic and doenst shout im a and as top gear will show you , you yanks dont appreciate quality like us......but as all of that is far beyond my reach as i have a distant smaller budget.........

but before u start USA-Fin yes i have been in american cars my uncle has had several ac aces or as you yanks call them cobras, and even a 7.5 litre one. its british tuned producing far more than a american equivalent over 560hp thats as high as the rollers read.but it still cant go round a corner.

[Brick*Racer]

Here Here to classic cars.
Im 100% into classic and not plastic!

[Ru55boy]

yep, thats the 6.3 ltr chevy v8, owned by nathan dobson

(i honestly didnt just read that off the poster on my wall)

Dave

Nathan is the guy who helped me out with a 12g295 head when my standard one was shagged (check out my project 1979 Mini 1000 Auto). He just drove past me one night in that car and I had to stop him for a chat, next he's lending me his compression tester and talking me through my burn't out valve. One of the nicest blokes you could meet, and a complete mini nut!

That car is awesome, he's linked it up to Nos and putting out 600bhp!