Posted on 10/21/2016 7:18:39 PM PDT by Kaslin
“I like speed.”
So says Vice President Joe Biden in a clip from an upcoming episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, where the two take the Vice President’s 1967 Chevrolet Corvette for a spin.
Biden tells Leno the car was a surprise wedding gift from his father, who worked at a car dealership at the time.
Biden is the car's only owner, and the well-maintained green convertible looks to be in mint condition, with a four-speed manual and a rebuilt 327 cu-in V8. Leno says it's a 300 hp version, but a decal on the air cleaner says it has 350 hp. According to the Hagerty Price Guide, it could be worth close to $100,000 today.
Due to security concerns, Biden isn’t allowed to drive it much these days. The jaunt with Jay was just the third time he’s been behind the wheel in seven years, and the ride took place at a secure Secret Service training facility.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Reality seldom intrudes on nostalgia.
I’m sure people saw *speedometer* speeds that were actually all but impossible, but the reality? Quite different!
Bias-ply tires? Crude suspensions? Aerodynamics? Geez, some people need to get real!
This is a golden age of fast cars. Nothing has the raw appeal and energy of those muscle and sports cars, but newer, almost mundane sedans are superior performers.
Try 125 ....
“Biden brags he drove 160 mph, but did he?”
Like every thing else in this morons world it only happens in his head.
“Nothing has the raw appeal and energy of those muscle and sports cars”
How about a 700 hp 2016 mustang, camaro or challenger?
I take your point, but these new high-hp cars are way too much like cocoons or space capsules. To me, they don’t have as much fun-factor.
Your mileage may vary, of course.
I’m getting to be an old guy, so something like a Jaguar F-Pace, BMW X3 35, or Audi SQ5 is getting to be my ideal everyday vehicle.
125, for what?
Too bad it wasn’t into a wall.....
Top speed.
Fun factor in the old muscle cars really came on the scene when hit the brakes ...
For a 240z? Hardly.
Or had to swerve...
Lol. 125 ... downwind.
Lol ... it took a specially prepared car with a stroked crate engine to exceed 130 at Bonneville!
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The “street” version had to be rev-limited to withstand the warranty. (this is the questionable value of electronic ignition systems)
She's also a connoisseur of fine carpets
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>> “They were a blast to drive.” <<
Right up to the point where a U-joint on a swing axle would blow out at speed in a hard corner... :o)
Quick trip into the old tires and hay bales!
Those things are still somewhat popular in SCCA races.
Lol. A specially prepared car with a hundred more hp does 130 while the stock 151 hp model would do 160 if not really limited?
Duh
I shudder at the thought of anyone doing 160 mph, let alone a much younger and presumably even more foolish Joe Biden, on the street tires of that era, with the brakes of that era and the aerodynamics of that era.
A 2nd generation Corvette Sting Ray is a beautiful car, but it would literally disintegrate if it were to go out of control and hit anything at anywhere close to that speed.
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My fun car in the mid ‘70s was a ‘64 dodge 440 coup with the 69/70 440 ci six-pack engine. I believe the compression was 11.5, but my memory may be foggy on that, but it would go from the Bay Area to Vegas without re-filling the tank, driving 80 MPH+ most of the way.
One trip I lost 2 rocker arms (on the same cylinder) and the car still made it to Vegas without re-filling.
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Joe’s speedometer is probably in km, so yes, he could see the number 160 with it.
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