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Post by hanks73340 on Oct 30, 2020 7:15:28 GMT -5
I actually like that stripe. Would also like to have seen that Riviera parked next to it.
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Post by jeremy on Oct 30, 2020 18:54:15 GMT -5
I'm sure European cars make sense for European roads, but American cars make sense for American roads. What good is an F1 suspension going to do you, when you're cruising down an arrow straight midwestern interstate? It's better to have a big floaty car you can stretch out in.
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Post by Nacho-RT74 on Oct 31, 2020 3:39:54 GMT -5
Well, if you try to sell cars around the world you need a car to be able to be driven safely and comfortably all around for all kind of roads Actually there are more european and asian cars being sold and driven in USA, than American cars being sold in Europe and Asia. And American brand cars being sold in Europe are being designed and made by their European divisions . You won't find in Europe actually a "regular" American car like you can see in USA about European and Asian cars. Is true also Europe got more manufacturers spreaded all around on a smaller territory. In SouthAmerica there is a mix of both kind of cars however there are several diff reasons on each country to get more market covered by ones or another. Local plants ( hence brands coverage on local markets ), cars pricing, fuel pricing. BTW in Venezuela I have used my Charger ( 1974 ) and my Dad's W116 Mercedes (1975 ) on a mix of roads. Long interstate highways and small and curved roads. Even I have to admit my Charger is really fun to drive AND I REALLY MISS IT, the thruth is nothing compared to my Dad's Mercedes to be driven on any road included highways. Shame is a 6 cylinder engine, but if it was a V8 450 to be JUST A BIT closer on power to my Charger being originally 400, I would take it anytime over my Charger at any speed! LOL. Need to note the 450 Mercedes is 4500 cc and would be fuel injection, while the Charger 400 is 6600 cc. I wouldn't add the Mercedes is all disc brakes around, that's a diff category price competition not fair for the Charger or any other American car from those days. Also, Europe got also long and wide highways, sure not same lenght than USA interstate Highway system, but same kind of road. And USA also gets small and curved roads. I knew those on my visit to USA when going to Carlisle Chrysler All Nationals back in 2008. Sorry, I didn't want to highjack the thread, but the Galaxie made to talk about how or why won that race LOL. ( and spending double or triple of fuel too LOL ). ASIDE did need to pass over the other car driving over the grass and not on the asphalt LOL, but that was a pilot trick closing the road on both sides. Racing stuff.
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DynoDave
CO-ADMINISTRATOR
Motown Mopar-Wizard
Posts: 11,168
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Post by DynoDave on Oct 31, 2020 10:02:47 GMT -5
It's funny how my mind "chains" from one thing to the next, the rabbit hole that YouTube is, and the things you find that you didn't expect to. Nacho mentions the Galaxie straightening out the curves by going through the grass a little, which makes me think of the famous "Pass in the Grass" (that wasn't really a pass but a clever media tag). So I go to find a YouTube video of the pass in the grass, watch a few minutes of that and am drawn into a cool 1 hour long (!) video about Johnny Benson Jr. (who I thought was great). And it starts out with Johnny's early life in Grand Rapids, MI, where his Dad (John) is a famous local racer. And in 1973, John steps up and runs the only Winston Cup race of his life, in a '71 Dodge Charger. So I end up right back here!
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Post by Nacho-RT74 on Oct 31, 2020 11:11:23 GMT -5
Nacho mentions the Galaxie straightening out the curves by going through the grass a little, well on the last pass wasn't "a little" really LOL
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Post by jeremy on Dec 9, 2020 16:07:22 GMT -5
Actually there are more european and asian cars being sold and driven in USA, than American cars being sold in Europe and Asia. I'm not surprised, American cars "were" built for American roads and garages. Richard Hammond did a Top Gear segment with a 2nd gen Charger where he demonstrated that it would fit into his garage, but he wouldn't be able to open the doors to get out. That's what you get when you build your cities around 500 year old donkey cart lanes. Stuck driving Minis and the Peel P50. I think the smaller American cars like the Ford Focus and Fiesta did well in England. The Focus RS was a big deal for a while. Not sure if it still is, or is still made. BTW in Venezuela I have used my Charger ( 1974 ) and my Dad's W116 Mercedes (1975 ) on a mix of roads. Long interstate highways and small and curved roads. Even I have to admit my Charger is really fun to drive AND I REALLY MISS IT, the thruth is nothing compared to my Dad's Mercedes to be driven on any road included highways. Shame is a 6 cylinder engine, but if it was a V8 450 to be JUST A BIT closer on power to my Charger being originally 400, I would take it anytime over my Charger at any speed! LOL. I've never driven a 73-74 Charger, but I'm aware the front suspension was changed to get more of the "luxury" ride quality, at the expense of handling. It must have been a rush job in 72. It would be interesting to compare the Mercedes against a 300, if there had been a 300 in 75. If I could choose between the Mercedes and the 1970 Hurst 300, I'd take the 300 on looks alone. I'd really like to try one of those. I wouldn't add the Mercedes is all disc brakes around, that's a diff category price competition not fair for the Charger or any other American car from those days. I've read that the Viper was the first car Chrysler built where they saw a need for rear discs, and even that was iffy. For the most part I think rear discs are more about looks than function. It does look odd to have one type of brake in front and another in back. Also, Europe got also long and wide highways, sure not same lenght than USA interstate Highway system, but same kind of road. And USA also gets small and curved roads. I knew those on my visit to USA when going to Carlisle Chrysler All Nationals back in 2008. Yes, America has curvy backroads but most of the time you will be on a highway or interstate. If you're not in a city. I wouldn't try performance driving in traffic or anywhere with a high density of police. I'm in a rural area with lots of curvy backroads, but it's gotten far more dangerous to drive them in the last twenty years. The deer have gotten badly overpopulated, cyclists have lost their damn minds or just want to die, the Mennonites came in with their horse and buggies, sometimes you will see people driving quads and golf carts down the road . . . I go out to drive with the idea that I will come up on some kind of obstruction, and it happens, and I'm glad I wasn't hot dogging it because I'd be in a ditch with a wrecked car and maybe a negligent homicide charge incoming. I still dream of hot cars, but there's no logic in it.
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Post by Nacho-RT74 on Dec 9, 2020 17:50:15 GMT -5
Compairing my Mercedes Brakes and My Charger brakes... rear disc difference is really noticeable. Although I'm aware my Charger brakes system is not really as I wish and I think the prop dist block is the culprit.
BTW there is a even smaller Ford than Fiesta and Focus made in Europe which I think never got to be made in USA ? the Ford Ka
( it was also offered in Venezuela )
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Post by jeremy on Dec 9, 2020 20:11:05 GMT -5
I remember reading about the Ka, but I think that was when it was still a concept car. It would make a great hood ornament for an F-150, 250, or 350, all of which are abundant here.
Speaking of distribution blocks, I just pulled mine and am about to crack it open. Pics coming soon . . .
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Post by Nacho-RT74 on Dec 10, 2020 3:58:03 GMT -5
One thing more about the Mercedes, is not just about the brakes but all the suspension and handling. So far superior to any American car built on those days of any price rate. The most basic price rate of any Mercedes is/was way superior to any high class line of any brand American car.
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Post by jeremy on Dec 10, 2020 22:46:53 GMT -5
Other than the Charger, what American cars have you driven (in factory original condition)?
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