Heh -- a friend of mine was in the market for a car one time and decided she wanted something a little different than the usual used car, so we checked out some ads in the paper for classic 1940's and early 1950's cars, like the one in your picture.
Yeah, they look cool, but during test drives we discovered why they're not real popular any more: THEY DRIVE LIKE GREAT BLOODY PIGS.
Can't accelerate, can't stop, can't corner. Load 4000 pounds of lead onto your average riding lawnmower, and that's what it felt like driving these beasts.
It's incredible how far automotive technology has come in 50 years. The lowliest econo-box today vastly outperforms (by every measure) the most refined (for their time) cars from half a century ago.
I used to own a 1940 Ford. Best car I have ever had the pleasure to drive.
It only had a 100hp engine but I had no problem with power and speed at all. It would take off easily in second gear and interstate speeds were no problem. These cars can be found with a Columbia Overdrive which was an option when they were bought new.
I guess the reason that 100 hp was enough was because there were not any accessories to drag down horsepower. Just a generator and two water pumps......thats it! Now days you need an extra 100 hp just to run all the extras.