As a Ford fan, (in the closet GM fan) I will respond in kind.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

LOL thats pretty funny, but I will say even though both my Mopar's are 440's (wish they were Hemis) I still haven't come accross any Ford or chevy that can beat me in a race .

On the other hand when I finish with the Chevy its gonna be the fastest one out of the lot

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OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR, ONLY IN A BENZ

89 560SEC
90 350SDL (Rudolph)
91 350SDL (300SDL drivetrain)
87 BMW 635CSi (Swanhild)
89 BMW M6 (euro)
99 Suzuki Hayabusa (Only the fastest thing ever)

Bring it on, my Uncle has a built 68 Mustang. Full Shelby suspension and brakes, built and stroked 351. I'd like to see a mopar try that car. But then again mopar drivers are usualy in a sorry state after any race.


Zip, flame suit on!

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Well I'm talking about unmodified there is no way a Mustang could take a Mopar, now with as little as $4-5000 in a 426 Hemi its easy to get 800+ HP. then we can compare modified cars.

__________________
OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR, ONLY IN A BENZ

89 560SEC
90 350SDL (Rudolph)
91 350SDL (300SDL drivetrain)
87 BMW 635CSi (Swanhild)
89 BMW M6 (euro)
99 Suzuki Hayabusa (Only the fastest thing ever)

Yeah but Hemi's are pretty rare, and from my understanding the 440 is a much better street engine.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

We're both correct.

And here I thought MOPAR was an acronym for Mostly Old Parts And Rust.

Actually, I knew a couple of guys, when I lived in Detroit, that worked for Chrysler in some sort of experimental engine division. They always stated that the engineering was better than average....it was the execution that was sub par. (kinda like Benz and the first few years of the ML)

I too like the designs of the older 50's and 60's cars...they had character!

Maybe one day I'll get a big red shark, just for grins.

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

Wow Russ, you're finally coming around! I remember sending you pics of my Oldsmobile Toronado's (4 yrs ago?) and you were a little skeptical. I think you were blown away at the sheer size of these beasts and the fact that they were also FWD!

Here's a blue GT like my dearly parted:



A weird video, although the pics are decent and the facts are correct.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1z9uP1-jQU

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'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

Can you imagine being a Brit and finding that approaching you at 50 MPH on a narrow country lane? It would make me swerve my Vauxhall into a box hedge.

Russ, I have found an immensely practical piece of American iron for you:

oh man i had a green 70 gt.that car rocked.it would do flaming burnouts as far as you wanted.but it really liked it's gas,i still have the engine.

From 61-63 I lived in Shipley, Yorkshire, a small town outside of Bradford. Up the street from my house was a dealer that sold mostly US Chrysler products. They seemed like behemoths to me at the time.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

That would be a great car for tight European streets, it would take up the whole damn street! What's that get 6mpg on a good day? Cheap to run in Europe to!

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Actually some of the best examples of old American cars are now in Europe. I visited with a friend of a friend in Holland a while ago. He took us back to his barn and it was filled with old Buicks, Cadillacs, and Lincolns, all beautiful. I was in shock -he just smiled and said that he visits the States once a year to attend classic car shows, and always comes back with another car for his collection.

I kinda miss those big barges. It's hard to be rude to other drivers when you're piloting a boat like that down the road...

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

Thanks for the replies, great reading. I still want to hear more opinons/stories about cars from this era! How would the handling compare to a W126 or W140 S-class?
People here comment that my 190E is a big car. They have no idea eh?

Hi! I was actually thinking of that (though I didn't remember your name/logon) when I wrote this! I remember asking you about the Toronado and it has stuck in my memory since. I still am shocked that it's front-wheel-drive! But I think that somewhat started off my interest in these cars. And the fact it was FWD, totally against my expectation, was very interesting and made me realise I don't know anything about American cars but could get into it.



Speaking of powerful front-wheel drive cars... Vauxhall are currently selling the Astra VXR here which has 238bhp and 236 lb ft, put through the front wheels:

A simple engine chip upgrade apprently sees some 280bhp..

Thanks kindly for the offer - do you have any pics? I sometimes visit car shows including santa pod so will keep an eye out for her.



Anyway back on topic, some cars I like:









All from that site http://mapleleafmopars.homestead.com/ - click "cars in barns". Amazing stuff.

I love the names of some of this stuff.... "Air Grabber"... "440 six pack" (?)

I really hate the idea of these sort of cars (which were originally fairly cheap and 'everyday') being restored with $20,000 paint jobs, chrome everywhere, and never driven more than 20 feet off a trailer. It's completely wrong. OK for a Ferrari maybe. They look much better in real, unrestored condition.

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190E's:
2.5-16v 1990 90,000m Astral Silver
2.0E 8v 1986 107,000m Black 2nd owner
http://www.maylane.demon.co.uk/190esmall.jpghttp://www.maylane.demon.co.uk/190esmall2.jpg