We maintain that there are few things in this life better than some vintage, regulation-choked General Motors steel.
Except for, you know, today’s more powerful, much more capable performance machines.
Still, there’s something about 1980s GM muscle cars that gets us all misty-eyed. So we thought we’d share this video from MotorWeek (found over at Autoblog) wherein “Television’s Original Automotive Magazine” walks and talks their way through four well-muscled, American icons from yesteryear. Featured are the Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS, Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2, Oldsmobile 442 (pictured), and the king of the hill: the Buick Regal Grand National.
Despite the massive collective displacement of the four GM muscle cars, specific power output is laughably low. We’d like to say that’s by today’s standards, but really, it’s by most any standards. The Monte Carlo SS, for instance, makes just 180 HP from a 5.0-liter V8 few by a four-barrel carb. The Pontiac and the Olds fare even worse.
At 245 HP, the 3.8-liter V6 turbo in the Grand National is lightyears ahead of the other American muscle in review. Still, the car performs leaps and bounds better on a cold day than a hot one; MotorWeek measured a difference of 1.6 seconds in the 0 to 60 time between testing at 85 degrees and 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can enjoy all the glamorous, retro muscle goodness for yourself in the video below:
Comments
I have never seen that Pontiac 2+2. Never seen one on the road. Hmmm…I guess for $18,000 back then was hard to justify…The Buick GNX would be the better buy at $14,500 and 90 more hp…
Extremely rare, even then, but honestly not very good looking. And yes I’ve seen a few – new and now old.
The GNX was something on the order of $29,000
The 2+2 was only built for Pontiac to make the GP a better race car in much the say way the Superbirds were built in 1970.
The cars were limited to around 1100 units depending on who you read.
The modifications were drawn up and fabbed by Petty Enterprises and Pontiac would send them out to be converted.
The engine was only a standard 305 as Chevy did not want to share the 305 HO as they needed them for the SS.
GNX was much higher priced but the GN started around $15k and went up from there back then. It was the power car but today it kind of pales which is crazy as we never thought it would ever get this good.
The 2+2 was only sold with all loaded accept the Sunroof was an option at $18K. While collectors have not shown much love for it one day they may be popular as they are really a low production car and was a car made only so the body could be raced.
The real ones to have here is a Aero SS with T tops. Or if you can find a complete original stock unmolested GN. So many have been built up or modified a stock one is a real find today.