Via Tam, a video from Kevin Baker about car safety. Go watch it, old timers… trust me, it’s revealing. What’s unnerving is that my dad had a ’57 Bel Air (4 door with the post, 283 Power Pack V6, and glass pack mufflers.) and he drove like he had stolen it.
As an example, one time (during Dad’s early years) a man came into the local diner and made the announcement that someone driving a Bel Air had been rear ended and killed, and that he thought it was Dad. One of the men spoke up and said “No way in Hell! No one’s that damn fast!”
I’ll take my Century (quit laughing!) over a deathtrap any day. Same engine as a Grand Prix, Lumina or Malibu, but with better styling, a bigger AC, and the safety of being viewed as a Granny-mobile. (By the way, she’ll beat a Grand Prix off the line and in the quarter mile. As far as to how I know this, I plead the Fifth.) Too bad I’ve sworn to never buy a Government Motors product again… looks like a Crown Vic or Town Car for me. (Time to see when the local PD has their vehicle auction…)
I still want a GSX or Invicta. They may be rolling death raps, but they’re stylish rolling death traps.
Kahiel
12 Oct 09 at 3:29 PM
I wish my dad were still alive so I could get more stories out of him. He had a T-bird convertible. He told a story about how he and some buddies drove down the highway (what passed for a highway back then) bumper to bumper as fast as their cars would go. When the sheriff spotted them and gave chase, they all cut to every direction they could. Naturally, he didn’t tell me this till I was in my thirties.
Dixie
12 Oct 09 at 4:30 PM
“Son, I know why you take the Interstate. [knowing look]” “115.” “That’s it?” “She has a governor.” “(chuckle)”
There were several towns in the area that were “sundown towns” for Dad. Police chiefs don’t like guys who do 65+ inside the city limits. [chuckle]