1981 Popular Mechanics supercar article (512 vs 308 vs riff raff)

blast from the past courtesy of PM, Phil Hill and Stirling Moss:

http://jalopnik.com/5532971/malaise-what-malaise-popular-mechanics-does-supercars-1981-style

direct link to article (starts on page 112)

http://books.google.com/books?id=tdgDAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover&lr=&rview=1#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

I love the caption of the 308 picture... "its engine felt virtually unburstable".

 

Only one car of the bunch has decent brakes.

 

depends on your definition of 'decent' is.

Just a quick search for '70-0 braking' brought up a 2011 Rousch mustang with Baer clampers and gumballs. Distance to stop from 70 mph: 170' (with stock 'stang brakes: 189')

Both the 512 and 308 comfortably better these distances, but so do the Merak and Pantera, and a couple other come darned close.
The Longchamp would do better with a parachute :O

But just to prove how many variables are involved in these kind of tests, Car and Driver measured an Enzo's 70-0 distance at 151'. I somehow doubt that a 512 on 1981 tires could stop 22 feet shorter....

http://www.web-cars.com/enzo/specifications.html

 

Anyone else notice the absence of the Porsche 911, or especially, the 911 Turbo? Only the 928 and 924 Turbo were featured in the test.

 

Nice find!!!


PDG

 

Anyone who thinks a BBi can stop from 70 mph in 130 feet, I've got a bridge in New York for sale, cheap!

Yes, I too noticed the obvious lack of a 911 . . . Here's a thought: I've read many times that Porsche originally intended the 928 to replace the 911; maybe they were promoting the 928 at the time of this article and not promoting the then aging, soon-to-be-phased out 911? (lol)

I don't think the 911 Turbo was available in 1981 -- I think it was '76-'79 in the States, then brought back several years later, possibly.

 

you are correct regarding the 930 turbo but...the clearly tested other grey market cars in the test. it would have been nice to see a 930 blast a 12.9 second 1/4 mile.

i am curious if the boxer and countach were fully federalized versions? if so, it would clearly explain how sloooooooow they were.

neat to read the article though...makes me really want a pantera gts!!!!!!

 

i am curious as well, the story box quoting the ACI federalizer stated that they "removed the carberators" and installed a purpose built fuel injection?
has anyone ever seen a boxer that has been "federalized" in this way?

the horror, oh the horror!!!!



doug

 

I actually ran across my copy of that magazine 2 weeks ago

 

Id rather have most of those than anything currently available.

I am officially old.

 

i'm with ya, i dont like ANYTHING made after 1989!

 

What they said. It's getting harder to tell cars apart anymore.

 

I share your sentiments too. That is pretty much my dream car lineup there, sans a Porsche 930. The 930 probably would have been the fastest 1/4 mile car there save for the Manta Mirage. Though I love old front engined Ferrari V12s these were the cars that I had posters on the wall of (and still do) and lust for more than any other.

I actually just started a tread over in the ole "American Muscle" page here singing the praises of the Mirage... and early Esprits as well on the British page too. Perhaps this article substantiates the legitimacy of the Mirage as being a true exotic (and probably the fastest) of the time despite being somewhat of a 'kit' car.

 

"For my money the 308gtsi should cost twice as much as the 512 Boxer, not the other way around."

I find this to be an interesting quote. Anyone agree with it?

Jim

 

Nice thread post !

I do believe a Pantera is still on my bucket list

G

 

I was surprised how much better the M1 did than the others. I agree with the others that the numbers seemed slow.

 

Many numbers mean little as many of those cars aren't geared for the 1/4 mile.
Also pay attention to the speed.
Interesting braking numbers on the 512 far exceeding most everything else!
Wonder about fitting those brakes to the 308?
BMW M1 cost more than the 512 but it can't stop?
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Very cool article.

I remember and love all those cars from the early 80s.

I don't remember the M1 being such a high performer, I'd have guessed the V12 cars were faster.

The M1 price is very high, but from what I recall in the 80s, that price includes a very high US federalization charge (the M1 was never officially sent to the US by BMW). I think the real sticker price was in the $60s.

The 380SL was slow even by 80s standards. You could walk faster than that!

 

Whoa. Me too! I couldn't help but stop and flip through it. I think my dad bought it for me to keep me quiet on a flight. It worked.

 

I noticed that, too. I would guess they meant that the 308 was more usable on U.S. roads in real world driving conditions. It has always had the reputation of being the first real user-friendly Ferrari.

In 1981 terms, it's hard to judge. I think they were using typical journalistic prose to make a point.

In 2010 terms, I would easily take a 308 at $40K over a Boxer at $120K. The 308 is still a very usable Ferrari, has sane servicing costs by Ferrari standards, looks better IMHO, and offers the targa option for those who use their Ferraris mostly in nice weather. They really are a bargain.

 

Great article. I remember this article originally and mostly I remember that in 1981 that there was such a dismal array of interesting 'affordable' cars. These cars were <mostly> stratospheric in price, and rarely seen in my area.

The Pantera though - realizing I may get burned at the stake for this - seemed the most approachable and realistic of the exotics. It was like something a 'regular' person could own. Guess that's why it was such a turn on for me. I wanted one even more after this article.

Thanks for posting. Makes me want to go fire the old beast up!

 

Does anyome think the 512's braking distances are off? They are like 35 feet shorter than the next car. The M1 can obviously do everything well as it has the fastest laptime.

 

i am going backwards now. i bought a 1970 camaro RS / SS 4 speed last weekend, simply "because"......

the old stuff is better, depending on how you are going to use it.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=283806