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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!convex!techsup!mikey
From: mikey@techsup
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: best car, worst car
Message-ID: <-39614471@techsup>
Date: Sat, 18-Jan-86 14:47:00 EST
Article-I.D.: techsup.-39614471
Posted: Sat Jan 18 14:47:00 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 22-Jan-86 05:39:41 EST
References: <2800005@faust>
Lines: 35
Nf-ID: #R:faust:2800005:techsup:-39614471:000:1540
Nf-From: techsup!mikey    Jan 18 13:47:00 1986




The Plymouth Superbird was made for 1 year, and 1 year ONLY.  It was based 
on the Road Runner chassis (Which was based on the Sattelite...) hench
the name 'Superbird'.  Base minimum engine was the 440 Hemi Magnum.  Optional
engines were the 440 Hemi-Magnum six-pack or the 426 Hemi.  It had the
option of a Torgueflite automatic transmission or a 4-speed.  

Imagine a Road-runner with a horizontal tail about 22 inches off the rear 
deck supported by vertical fins at the left and right fender.  The front
end was modified with a snout with flip up headlights (Very radical for 1970).

The under carriage was beefed up and 'supposedly' had a suspension tuned for
Daytona at 220 mph. (The earlier Daytona model did in fact have a suspension
tuned for 180 mph)

The superbird was produced and designed for retail under $5000. All the
numbers were adjusted for this as there were some rules for racing about
the maximum selling price back then. 

The superbird didn't fare that well on the race circuit.  220 mph was great
on a track by itself, but the thing was pretty poor when it had to run in a 
pack of slower cars.  Also complicating it was a rules revision that limited
any cars with aerodynamic modifications to 5 liter engines when the rest of the
field was allowed 7 liter.  

All in all, a bueatiful car, but not practical.  I only ever saw one ad from
Plymouth for the car, anyone remember the backroads legend of Johnny and
his Superbird ad?

mikey  N1DVJ
trsvax!techsup!bbimg!mikey

ps.  You KNOW how I feel about 55!!