The 340 is the biggest POS V8 Chrysler ever made.
My take on "modern " is, that the cars are too expensive, especially performance models, and that there isn't as much to choose from. back in the day, and lets stay with A body Mopar, Mustang etc. these cars had an economy "Base" model, and a performance optioned model for a few $$$ more. You could pick options, and pretty much have a 340 Swinger with nothing in it, no radio, no A/C etc. and you could take the car to the track. Now, there isn't much in choices, if you buy a Shelby Cobra, or Challenger Hellcat, you had better be making 6 figures to pull off the car payments every month. I don't suspect it was that difficult to make payments on a $3200 Dart Swinger 340 back in 1970 making $ 5-7 bucks an hour, I am not sure though wasn't a working adult then, maybe some older folk may chime in.
I remember one evening about 1968 my Dad came home and layed his monthly paycheck from his State job on the kitchen table.
I remember sneaking a peak at that $613 check that was buying 12 acres in pine tree country, a house my Mom and Dad were building and the expense of 4 kids.
$3,200 was a lot back then for most, but money did go a lot farther then.
Car shows are ok. You do have to learn to just smile and nod. The whole time wondering why you paid money to sit on a folding chair and have people judge you and your ride. But then you get to drive home and remember what it is all about as you lay down a set of 11's and drive off into the sunset.
Agreed, and one reason I don't enter shows, so I can leave when I get tired of it.
Another big reason is that literally no one knows what they are looking at besides a 73 Dart body with non stock buckets.
They don't have a clue about the Magnum hidden under all the LA motor accessories, or the EQ heads with the LA bolt pattern, or custom ground cam, or the 4 speed OD trans with a one of one custom designed fully automatic shifting system, or the fact that I built it ALL myself.
Even the judges only see a daily driven 73 low life Swinger.
I don't care really, because I go to look at other cars and see friends anyway.
yes, I was of age then, and remember them all. The muscle car era is historically significant.
Nine times out of ten back then the better driver won the race. There were many dumb kids with rich parents that bought them their favorite muscle car. I knew a guy that would win in whatever car he drove, and he was a crazy man in his 69 383 Roadrunner.
Unfortunaetly, he went to Vietnam in 70', and did not make it back.
What I like best about my Dart is it thinks it is still 1969! No Computer, no Turbo, no Supercharger, and no worries about someone hacking the GPS or an EMP exploding the electrical system.
Mechanics today can't troubleshoot a newer car without a computer. I tell them all the time: back then your brain was the computer, you had to listen to the exhaust system and engine, smell the exhaust ,and calculate everything in your head, using only a timing light and vacuum gauge!
Ah, the good ole days!
Whenever I open the garage up, Purple Haze(jimi Hendrix for the youngens here) starts playing on the radio! I went in the military in the summer of 70', and $100 bucks a month didn't go far to own anything newer than a 66 Polara. I was lucky to afford that, with a $40 dollars per month car Payment.
I totally agree.
People just don't seem to be able to put clues together anymore when it comes to mechanical stuff whether it be cars or whatever.
It seems to be because of a lack of understanding of how things work and what they do, and I'm afraid it's getting to be more and more that way with each generation.
My two middle 20's boys could tell you right off what tires work best on their video game track, but if you told them to point out a converter dust cover or a head bolt they wouldn't have a clue if it's under, on top, or even in the trunk.
I started young with no real tools other than wrenches and ratchets and pretty much zero money, so I learned to diagnose early on as I had no money to throw at it.
Later I ended up certified in multiple area's including transmissions (auto and standard both) as well as what was called bumper to bumper two wheel, front wheel and 4x4.
That early experience was priceless, because I already understood how it all worked and just needed the technical details.
Nowadays most couldn't ever tell you what specific bearing is going out in a 4-5 speed, or what clutch burned up in a BMW trans.
Fun fact:
Did you know the 5 speed Dodge colt transmission only has 4 gears, but has two input gear tooth sets on it.
Engine vacuum moves a diaphragm that switches from one gear to the other for 5th.
Loss of vacuum to that diaphragm gives you first-second-third-fourth- and fourth.:D
