What is it like driving '65 - '73 Mustang and how does it compare to a S550??

[NoVaGT]

Just about anything with semi-trailing arms or pure trailing arms. Systems that make a transverse leaf spring also serve as one of the lateral links.


Norm

Gotcha.

I'm still amazed at old torsion bar/trailing arm suspensions, like on the 944. But damn if those cars weren't considered great handling cars in their day. Now they have helper coil-overs for the rear of those cars, sounds like they really improve them.

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[IrishStallion]

I love the 67-68 fastback look for sure. But, it would take easily double the $$ (and then some) I paid for my 18 pp1 A10 to restore/restomod it to perform/ride/handle as well. Plus the time/labor involved... Then you would be to scared to drive it. jmo.

 

[Vanillasludge]

The musty smell of a 50 year old interior, a painted dash with all that chrome, the creaks, pumping the gas before starting it. the huge sloppy steering wheel, hearing a carb suck air. some of the charms of old cars.

Every time I start getting nostalgic for an old car I stick my head into one and the ptsd brought on by that musty smell snaps me back to my senses.

Old cars are nice to think about but a gigantic letdown to daily drive. I’ve survived two single-master-cylinder brake failures and I’m not sure I have that much luck left.

 

[Norm Peterson]

Old cars are nice to think about but a gigantic letdown to daily drive. I’ve survived two single-master-cylinder brake failures and I’m not sure I have that much luck left.

That's a really easy thing to fix.


Norm

 

[Hack]

Gotcha.

I'm still amazed at old torsion bar/trailing arm suspensions, like on the 944. But damn if those cars weren't considered great handling cars in their day. Now they have helper coil-overs for the rear of those cars, sounds like they really improve them.

The 944 actually handles quite well. It handles better than a modern Mustang in my opinion. It does suck really badly in other ways, but as far as handling it's pretty good.

Of course it helps that it weighs 700 lbs less than a new Mustang, has 50/50 weight balance and it's much lower to the ground. Yes the angle of this photo makes the 944 look a little smaller than it really is. It has a back seat and a 6'4" guy like me fits no problem with plenty of headroom for a helmet. In terms of absolute grip it's not as good as the GT350, but you get a great feel for the road and nothing scary happens at the limits of traction in a corner, even with bumps etc. mid corner. In fact it's amazingly stable.

 

[mindo389]

After reading some of the latest comments in this thread, the thing that sticks out to me is the advancement in technology. Also some of the features in today's cars were considered exotic or from a foreign car back in the 60's and 70's. 480hp was considered a lot back then and going aftermarket would get you close in some instances. My 72 did well for what it was back then and actually handled pretty good. We learned how to drive those cars just like today: pushing the envelope or deciding, in some cases, when to back off before something bad happened.

 

[Ackbar00]

This one is easy to answer.

My 2020 GT is like this:

My 1969 Coupe:

Sometime, you just feel like putting in the work and driving the car. Sometimes, you just wanna press the loud pedal and go fast with no drama.

 

[spedy7]

It's quite a change. After driving the '66 for years as daily, I bought my first "new" car ('18 FiST). That was nice, not having to deal with vapor lock, aftermarket a/c retrofit, no power brakes/steering, sloppy shifter, poor ergonomics for my 5' 11" fluffy frame, no insulation, no good sound system (only two rear speakers), and a loud exhaust.

Compared to the S550, it's like night and day. Still fun to drive the old cars around though, especially with how light they are and the power that can be made (or swapped). Weighed mine in at 2700 lbs full tank.

 

[1emglenn]

Had a 67 Fastback with a 390, Holley four-barrel and a four-speed tran. Basically it was the Bullitt car a year before the movie came out. Mine was Canary Yellow with a badge on the front fenders that said High Country, whatever that meant. But driving it? Straight forward speed... absolutely f.....kn great! The rest? You had to do everything you could to control the beast. No brakes, solid rear axle with absolutely no weight on it so the rear would be jumping all over the place. Put air shocks on it, beefed up the rear leaf springs, but that rear just didn't want to stay on the ground. Had disc brakes on front but drums on the rear. You could get hard-pedal real quick. If you saw the movie Bullitt, you saw McQueen miss that turn and slam on the brakes. The car just kept sliding forward until he's able to jam it in reverse. They kept the scene in the movie, even though McQueen was upset about overshooting the turn. That is how they drove though, all power and no brakes.

 

[djdstang]

I recently drove a 65 convertible, it was like a horse & buggy compared to my 19 convertible.

I use to drive the old ones 90 mph all over California

 

[Troutwrangler]

I compare it to dancing...

Driving a new performance car is like dancing with a girl in her 20's, driving an old performance car is like dancing with your grandma.

 

[MNstang]

I sold my '65 Fastback in October to buy my new (to me) Mustang. So far, I can't imagine going back to that car. As many others have mentioned - it is a chore to drive. I had installed a ton of upgraded components and it still wasn't great. My car had power steering which was nice but very sloppy. The brakes were my biggest gripe - took forever and a lot of leg to stop the car even with upgraded front pads and front disc brakes. I did install shoulder belts in the front and air conditioning and that helped. It was a 289 A-code but I always wanted to put something more powerful in it. Now I have way more power and comfort! The old car got a ton of attention from strangers though - just such an iconic vehicle

 

[8borerifle]

I took a ride in my friends 1963 Ford Galaxy 500 427/425 4 speed convertible last summer ( he sadly passed from Covid 2 months ago). He had just put $100.00 of racing fuel in it and we went for a ride with the top down. Would love to own the car, red with red interior. Power was not all that impressive. I'm guessing low to mid 14's. When he hit the brakes the car pulled hard to the right. Ride was kind of bouncy and you could tell it didn't handle well. I have a 2015 Premium PP auto Ecoboost with FP tune and CVS intercooler. No comparison between the two. 2015 is faster and and an amazingly better car. I drove a ton of the old muscle cars (I'm 73 years old) and restored a 1967 Jaguar XKE roadster. My Mustang would destroy the Jag in every way except for the thumbs up I get when driving it. No, I don't want to own a 60's muscle car again!

 

[K4fxd]

I fit in the older cars better. The airbags put the steering wheel too far away, I hate having my arms extended while driving. So I end up putting the seat too far forward which makes my legs fold over.

That said the old cars are raw, you have to drive them, I like that. A nose heavy big block muscle car is a blast to drive, as long as you know how to use the throttle and brake.

I prefer manual steering on the older cars, the power units back then were too disconnected from the road.

If I had a 1970 Road Runner I would add new big disk brakes and upgrade the front A arms and springs. The rear is pretty well set up for launching, just remove the clamp on the front of the leaf spring.

I'd daily it

 

[ZPD]

I have a 67 that I have had for about 20 years. I put disc brakes on all 4 wheels and it has a stroked 347 in it with comparable hp as my '17 GT. They drive nothing alike. I enjoy driving the 67 mostly for nostalgia reasons but it requires so much attention. It rattles, shakes, the steering is vague and despite the disc brakes and the HP the acceleration is slow. Two different animals.

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