The Sleeper
Growing up in the car-crazy 60's and 70's, I've had my share of great street racers. One of my favorites was a pure sleeper - a performance car dressed in a 'plain brown wrapper', as it were. She was a white on red two-tone, 1965 Chrysler New Yorker 9-passenger station wagon. This car had it all: push-button transmission, square steering wheel, foot-activated 'seek' switch for the (AM) radio, rear-facing fold-down "way back" seat, dual air conditioners, and - and! The best part: a 413 cubic inch (6.8 liters) engine.

She was truly huge, and handled like the cruise ship she was, but put your foot into her 4-barrel carb and you got results in a hurry! Her massive over-square RB engine put out an honest 350 HP, and the intake noise sounded like a jet engine ready for takeoff. It was endless fun to idle up next to "hot" cars at stop lights, then tromp on the gas the instant the light turned green. She wouldn't beat everyone, but the point was she did way better than expected.

One fine spring day, I pulled up next to a local rowdy who was constantly bragging about his small-block Chevy Nova. He had some real performance guys breath on his car once or twice, and his after-market parts probably cost more than the car. We stared each other down, and we both knew: "It was on!"

There was no traffic in front of us; the road was clear all the way to the intersection with the highway. I had timed the light perfectly, and my foot was already stomping down as it turned green. That old Mopar fairly leapt across the intersection, rising up on the suspension like a boat coming on plane. I was ahead by 3 car lengths before the Nova started catching up, then he slowly inched past me. I eased off the gas, and began judiciously using the brakes - I'd taken him off the line with my bone stock station wagon, and proved my point.

As I watched, the Nova continued accelerating, and didn't even slow down for the intersection! His brake lights came on, and the back end swerved around some, but he zoomed through a gap between a school bus and a cement mixer, then swerved onto the dirt shoulder, through a parking lot, off a large tree and smack into the Taco Time.

Turns out he'd broken a motor mount, and the torque of the engine had twisted it upwards causing the throttle lever to be pushed against the hood. Nobody was hurt, and there was only minor damage to all involved, but the cops got involved, and I got a warning ticket for "contest of speed". I laminated the ticket and hung it from the lighter knob as a badge of honor. :) Good times!
(danalan Pretty good, for an amateur., Mon 26 Apr 2010, 21:02, 3 replies)

This story gives me the horn.
Have a click.
( Scrumper, Mon 26 Apr 2010, 21:25, closed)

.
"As I watched, the Nova continued accelerating, and didn't even slow down for the intersection! His brake lights came on, and the back end swerved around some, but he zoomed through a gap between a school bus and a cement mixer, then swerved onto the dirt shoulder, through a parking lot, off a large tree and smack into the Taco Time."

The mental picture of this is pure class. Genuine lol.
(god_is_a_ghoti Carpe Deum., Tue 27 Apr 2010, 0:22, closed)

Sounds Familiar...
"She was truly huge, and handled like the cruise ship she was, but put your foot into her 4-barrel carb and you got results in a hurry!"

...I've had dates like that...
(Draco Rattus ate all the pies on, Tue 27 Apr 2010, 8:47, closed)