Hellcat...and modern power generally...

[2011G6E]

Just having a drool over the reviews and Dodge website about the new Challenger Hellcat. At least 707 horsepower! Good lord.

When I started driving in 1982, we thought that the days of powerful cars were quickly coming to a close. Ford had killed the V8...Holden looked like doing the same...not that they were exactly "powerful" engines by that time. The 253, in standard form, which lives in our WB 1982 ute only put out something like 105kw from the factory. The last 351 put out only about 160kw after all, less than a lot of four cylinder cars these days.
My modified 265 hemi four speed Charger made around 270hp. It drank fuel like there was a hole in the tank, and was lumpy and grumpy but by hell did it go. Then in the beginning of 2011 we bought a G6E, and I was amazed that the engine put out near as dammit the same power as my beloved and much missed Charger had. However, it used less fuel than our 1982 2ltr five speed Celica, and went like the clappers while doing it.

Back in those days we all imagined the future was going to be a bit bleak...Peter Wherrets excellent TV series "Torque" (which I have the coffee table book of), closed on a pessimistic note...oil would mostly be gone by the year 2000, cars would probably all be electric, public transport would be the norm, private cars would be rare again as they had been in the early days of motoring.


How wrong we were back then...707hp out of a factory built, reliable, street legal car with a warrantee. Amazing. Especially when it only costs $60,000 (a base Challenger is about $26,000).

Now if only we could get the government here to treat us like adults are treated in every other country on Earth and let us have access to brand new cars which just happen to have the steering wheel on "the wrong side" to freely to drive if we so wish...

[irish2]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

The last 351 put out only about 160kw after all, less than a lot of four cylinder cars these days.


Now if only we could get the government here to treat us like adults are treated in every other country on Earth and let us have access to brand new cars which just happen to have the steering wheel on "the wrong side" to freely to drive if we so wish...

Not many 4 bangers putting out 160kw.

I agree with the last bit. I own a 'left hooker' and have no problems driving it here.

[mik]

Must have been a 2 barrel 351? As for 253, they where always a bit of a lazy engine unless tinkered with, I don't think my cm Val 265 ci had 270 horses, it certainly liked a drink though..

[Falcon Coupe]

You peaked my curiosity so I went for a look.

http://www.drivesrt.com/2015/challen...t-hellcat/#top

Kind of wish I hadn't now..WANT!

[CoupeKing]

I have a car crush on these things.

All u need to watch is the first 20 seconds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo1fzXQqdnE



Jay Leno in his garage with the old and new

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWMjR3r-nsI

[fgpsi]

Only just realised it's faster than the new Viper

[Mighty Reds]

I thought I was going to be looking at a car and it ends up being a boat.

Runs and hides.....

[mr smith]

I also remeber EFI being touted as the death of the muscle car. Little did we know what was to happen, modern performance vehicles rock.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by mr smith

I also remeber EFI being touted as the death of the muscle car.

Whoever said that didnt have a clue.

[CyberWasp]

How many times do we have to ask for them to be sent here?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Whoever said that didnt have a clue.

image

Hell yeah, Buick Grand National, turbo 3.8L V6 faster than the Corvette of the same age.

[CoupeKing]

They`ve already sold over 5,000 units. Doesn`t surprise me one bit considering the plethora of marketing it received. We could have learned a few things here. Anyway, even after exceeding expected sales, they still pump out videos for the marketing train
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu_O1wH91SA ..more sales.

K&N Filters Dyno`d one. It got 635 HP at the wheels. They only lose 72 HP through the drive-train..interesting.

[Moby Vic]

Originally Posted by mr smith

I also remeber EFI being touted as the death of the muscle car. Little did we know what was to happen, modern performance vehicles rock.

I remember that, too. "Once carburetors go away, you'll never be able to modify your car again!"