My thoughts are with my good friend Bob and his father…
One would think a good night’s sleep would foster creativity, but I don’t have much for today despite one of the best nights of sleep I have had in quite some time. This Hemmings article is about the last vehicles with carburetors. Apparently, the 1991 Jeep SJ Grand Wagoneer, built in Toledo, was the last US-built vehicle with a carburetor.
The article ends, “For now, though, and especially in light of the coming prohibitions against sales of new internal-combustion-powered cars around the globe, it’s at least worth exploring the topic just to illustrate that nothing lasts forever, no matter how used to it we have become.” It is true that nothing lasts forever, which is kind of a double-edged sword, but I’ll stop there.
I have learned to never say never, but at the moment I don’t see myself purchasing an electric vehicle. Of course, I can’t really predict the future that well, just like the rest of the human race.
Thirty years ago I was working for my hometown baseball team and hoped to be with them for a long time. Three years later I was no longer working for them and the year after that I moved to California, where I met my wonderful wife. I could not have foreseen any of that.
I’ll spare you the rant against inflexibility and blind adherence to ideology. I just know that none of us can really predict the future with great accuracy and that successful people are almost always adaptable people.
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This Corvette Blogger “article” shows a video of a C7 Corvette Z06–that’s what I own–drag-racing a C8 Corvette. David Banner (not his real name) brought this to my attention. As the article states, the naturally-aspirated C8 was at a disadvantage because this race was held in Morrison, Colorado at an altitude of 5,800 feet.
Not surprisingly, the race was no contest. The Z06 ran the quarter-mile in 11.18 seconds reaching 124.87 MPH. The C8 ran a 12.62 quarter-mile at 110.84 MPH.
In the 1960s at the height of the original muscle-car era, a car that could run the quarter-mile in the low 14s was considered very fast. After the end of the muscle-car era in the early 1970s, NO ONE could have predicted cars that off the showroom floor could run 11- or 12- second quarters. At lower altitude I know a stock C7 Z06 can run the quarter in the high 10s.
THIS is the golden age of automobiles. Enjoy it while it lasts because nothing lasts forever.
#NotSoThoroughThursday
#OneCanNeverKnowAnything
#NothingLastsForever
#somanycarsjustonelife
#disaffectedmusings
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Disaffected Musings 
The performance being offered today is amazing even compared to 20 years ago, never mind 50 years ago. Thank technology for that, in engines, suspension, tire technology and other parts of the car. My only wish is that modern engines were not covered with umpteen square feet of plastic covers. I like the look of mechanical things and for me the sight of multiple carbs, a 6-71 style blower or old style Hillborn injectors is hard to beat. Probably the reason I prefer the older muscle, it’s more visceral and “in your face.”
But as I’ve heard somewhere, DSFDF. 🙂
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Thanks, DDM. Also thanks for the DSFDF “shout-out.”
I sound like a broken record, but everything is a trade-off. I agree that modern engine bays lack aesthetic appeal, but those engines sure are amazing. I’m actually toying with the idea of having a paint shop fill in the “Corvette” and “LT4” on the engine cover in a red epoxy paint to match the exterior. Of course, I may be losing what tenuous grip I have on sanity…
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I don’t suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it. 🙂
Cars SHOULD be personalized, in what ever manner the owner wishes. After all, it’s your money and your car. I know not everyone appreciates what I do to my vehicles, as I also don’t understand what others do to their vehicles (“stanced” cars, “tail dragger” pickup trucks, WTF?).
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Amen, sir!
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