Came across this wind tunnel video

[70 sublime]

This school that has the wind tunnel is only about half hour from my house

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkwgiiemZ_I

[VegasCharger]

Cool video.

Thanks for sharing.

[alfaitalia]

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,131764.msg1638169.html#msg1638169

[DixieRestoParts]

Cool stuff. Thanks for posting. Wonder how a Charger '69 500 would stack up COD wise?

This is purely anecdotal, but back in the early '80's, I drove my '69 Charger R/T at 130 MPH. That MPH is per the speedo, which could certainly have been off. The thing I remember is how it felt like a brick moving through the air. I thought I could feel the resistance of the air trying to hold it back.

About 4 years later I added a 71 Challenger to the stable and I remember driving it at 130 and thought the front end was gonna lift. I backed out with about an 1/8th of a pedal left because I was concerned with the front end doing that enough to lose control. LOL.

[lloyd3]

The video confirmed a few things for me.  2nd Generation cars may look great but...the Daytonas were way ahead of their time in terms of aerodynamics.  And, also that new cars have taken advantage of all the spectacular technology developed and commonly available in the last 50 years.  They may not look as visually appealing to my 60-year old eyes, but they are far-advanced in terms of most (if not all) of the things that probably really matter. You know...things like brakes, aerodynamics, fuel efficiency, safety, comfort, crashworthiness, less-polluting, etc.  If anything has been lost (besides a little soul?) it is 1. affordability, 2. ease of maintenance and repair, and 3. perhaps the ability of endure (ie. not made to last).  Sophistication has its price it would seem, and... of course, so does nostalgia.

[alfaitalia]

Affordability??? In the UK cars are cheaper than they have ever been when compared to average earnings over the last 50 years.....and new cars are far cheaper in the US than in Europe so (unless you have way lower average earnings in the US....and I'm pretty sure you don't....)then it should be even better there.

Edit:....According to Wiki (yeah I know but even so) The US has the second highest average earning in the World whereas the UK is a lowly 15th.........So yeah your cars are cheaper than ever!!

[Mytur Binsdirti]

First comment....

"The guy who does your audio should be fired."

[lloyd3]

alfaitalia:  Everything is relative. When you're getting started out, money is always hard to come by.  My first car was $500, my brothers was $40, both were driveable from day one and lasted several years.  Parts were commonly available and were quite inexpensive. Maintenance was of agricultural simplicity and could be done in your driveway.  My 14-year old is looking at cars now and a beater is $5000 and... you need a computer to work on it.  Not quite the same.

[Lennard]

  Afaitalia/Dean just loves to argue.  

[alfaitalia]

Can't argue there...I do! You can still get those $500 (or £...whatever) cars now....the difference is that kids want it all from day one. No to buying an old wreck for £500 like I (and probably lots of members on here) did in 1984  (17 is minimum driving age here...soon to be 18 apparently) and doing it up with my dad...they want a £5000 car from day one..."and it better have AC and 19 inch alloys or is won't look cool and I don't want to be seen in it!" Kids today eh? But just based on cost and earnings...they are cheaper than ever . I don't know if it's the same over there but recently used car prices have crashed to the floor......when the leasing and PCP (personal contract purchase) payments for a basic new car are so cheap, who would want a used one?...(we me of course.....not many new cars get me excited...ALFA,s aside!)..and maintenance is covered so just tax it,insure it and put the fuel in....three years later get another. More like disposable items than cars....sad really....but good news if you buy used cars like me. My dd 2010 model Alfa I just bought was under £2500...a similar age/model car five years ago (before pcp took off) would have been double that or more. Oh and what self respecting 14 year does not have a computer to download new maps, free diagnostic software and tunes to their cars ecu....my 8 year old can do it...and did to delete my egg from the system (with only a little help!)....ever feel old?

[lloyd3]

alfaitalia: Interesting..so delayed gratification isn't just a lost art here?  Your argument for dumping a car about every three of four years does make sense when all the economics are considered.  Accordingly, I might even consider taking out a loan for my next "newer" car (almost a first for me).  When I do the math for everything, it costs me about $400/month to own and maintain a safe & decent daily driver.  I could go further down the food chain and save a few bucks but...there you have it.  The new stuff certainly has its charms.

I'm extremely frugal, so this is a pretty big departure for me.