Muscle Cars 1965

[@hokep61]

In 1965, my cousin was ready to buy her first new car. She knew nothing about cars but wanted something sporty and a bit of get up & go. She asked her younger brother.....a gear head... to pick the perfect car for her. She came home with a black on black 65 GTO! A 20 year old, great looking young lady driving a GTO, turned quite a few heads back in the day!

[@matrox]

That 65 Wildcat has beautiful profile.

[@BillofRights1951]

I had the good fortune to grow up in a family with a weekend house in Malibu. In '63 a family moved in on the street, and the father, a VERY reserved, patrician guy, had an affinity for high powered cars...and yet drove them very conservatively (gotta love those 60's parents). What followed over the years from that household was a parade of cars that today would garner big $$ at the big auctions....and shame on me for not grabbing at least one of these: 63 Buick Riviera with 400 nailhead and that godawful dynaflow tranny, 65 Chevy Malibu SS with the 300hp 327, and loaded with all options including power windows and factory air, and the powerglide...his (very hot) daughter and I used to drag-race other cars on PCH (back when it was sparsely traveled...now it's a parking lot). And even with the 2-speed auto, the car was faaaast. We beat it to death and it took everything we threw at it and never faltered. Next was one of the very first '67 Camaros...the SS350 with a 4-speed...burned a lot of rubber with that one (and potentially the most valuable...it was one of the first released and I believe that 350 was a unique version and not the same as 350's that came later)...and finally a loaded '67 Buick Riviera with the center console. WHY I didn't grab at least one of them when he was literally giving them away shows my youth and lack of maturity at the time.

[@mindtouchone]

In early 1965. a friend was getting out of the Army, he had saved a lot of money while stationed in Germany. He wrote me and said that he had heard that the GTO was what was "happening " and when he got home he wanted to order one - the best one possible. We were 21 years old/ He knew I had a lot of knowledge about "muscle cars" and he wanted me to go with him to order it and again it was to be " the best". We went to the dealer and I ordered everything desirable - money was no object. Everything was on the list from metallic brakes, to Tri Power to an AM/Fm radio with a powered antenna , to a 3:90 diff with limited slip and everything else. Before it arrived I told him to order a Royal Bobcat kit , headers. and American Mag wheels with street "slicks. We installed the thin head gaskets in this basically new car in his driveway along with everything else in the Bobcat kit along with the headers. From that time on it was full throttle "Power shifts" " over and over shifting gears at full throttle and the induction roar from the carbs and roaring exhaust sound was like a a person on drugs that needed a frequent "fix" and this happened over and over again - for 3 years. .

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Thanks, I loved reading this comment. I don't get many on my muscle car videos.

[@buzzwaldron6195]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles - Couple important things you missed: '65 Chevelle 396" engine didn't have posi option (after you spent all that money! ) so not competitive in 1/4 mile... you spent a frustrating 10 seconds trying to get it off the line... The '65 442 got the tripower 360 HP option later in the model year...

[@shannonwittman950]

Jay Leno tells the story of helping his Dad to buy a new Galaxy. His Mom talked his Dad into allowing Jay to choose the options, so Jay got with the sales guy privately -- and loaded the car with the biggest engine available, 4-speed stick, dual exhausts, etc. etc.! Pretty funny. Surprised the heck out of his Dad when the car arrived because it was a growling road-burner.

[@stevethomas760]

I believe Jay got muffler delete.

[@matrox]

In 1965 the Ford Galaxie and T-Bird were my 2 favorite Fords for that year. My brother bought a 65' Galaxie in the early 70s when he graduated H.S.

[@Indiskret1]

"If you've got the cap... Olds has the car! A digger's dream, this 4-4-2! Here storms a lean 'n' mean Rocket V-8... This woolly machine waits for you at your Oldsmobile Dealer's now. Hurry!" 😂😎 (I started with flat caps when my dad passed away 5 year ago, probably in a kind of celebration of who he were, and now I certainly have some woolly enough... I hope.) 😜 Another great video, thanks again, Greg!

[@daszieher]

People, who buy as an investment bore me. They are usually not about the enjoyment. One should buy a car, when it speaks to the innermost part of your petrol-fuelled heart.

[@andyZ3500s]

It's very rare to here these cars talked about as they really were. There is usually a bunch of hype and mixed up facts. I'm pretty new to your channel and enjoy it alot.

[@stairgauge]

I had a 1970 Roadrunner 383- 4 speed, 3.23 rear end I ran 13.8 at 101 m.p.h. Coming home from Kern river one day I decided to see what my gas mileage would be if I did everything right. No racing, no going through the gears, no 120 mile an hr runs through the desert.(remember I had a 3.23 diff.) I got 19.3 miles per gallon. Why oh why did I get rid of it? My new wife and I had a lot of fun in it. Then came what was called In my day a rug rat. My wife said we didn't need a truck and 2 cars.....I stared to say no way but she said look at it this way honey it's the cars fault. I said no, she said yes....stupid roadrunner.why were cars made so big in my day?

[@andyZ3500s]

@@stairgauge The Kern River that's funny I was born in Fresno. I live father north now. It doesn't surprise me that you could get that mileage out of that car with doing everything thing like you said. I would be a little suspicious if it was a Charger with the same driveline do to the difference in body shape. The 70 GTX and Roadrunner has always been one of my favorites. Back in the early 80's there were a bunch of guys who were still driving 340 cars daily and able to get 20 miles per gallon or so it was said. When I was around 20 I was driving a 64 Barracuda 273 four speed car with a wide ratio and 273's out back. Can't remember exactly but the gears were in the 270's. When I bought the car the original engine was replaced with a 69 Dodge 318. I never checked what kind of milage that it got but it did pretty good considering that it never lacked for power. It was definitely now drag car. I think that we all got ride of cars back then that seems crazy now. I liked your story

[@busterb11702]

Hi Your videos show what a tremendous amount of work has gone into the making. I just want to commend you on this Muscle Car series. It is very informative & superbly laid out. In 1965 I went to my local Pontiac dealer and bought a '65 GTO off the lot. It was a 4 speed 4 barrel car. I remember the color as being silver mist metallic but I cant find a color with that particular name in the 65 brochures. That car was a big hit with the girls, (with a big back seat), the car I mean LOL! Anyway, as informed as I am regarding Muscle Cars, watching your videos has given me a lot of detailed info I had not previously known (or perhaps forgotten). Thanks again

[@Monaco-BuilditFixitDriveitEver]

My Drum brakes on my 1965 big Dodge are very good, ( I think) and I drive it everywhere and run it pretty hard.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

No they aren't. While Dodge did have very good drum brakes, in modern traffic they are nowhere near up to par. At some point, find a safe spot and try and bring it to a full stop from 80mph. You will be shocked at how long it takes. At first they will seem fine, but by the time the speed drops to about 30mph they will start to get very weak and bringing it to a full stop will take much longer than you would anticipate.

[@buzzwaldron6195]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles - Apparently you have no experience with those brakes, the heavy duty drum brakes on a '65 GTO are vastly superior to the early too small disc of disc brakes that fit inside the little 14" wheels of the time! They had weak stopping power. Of course the disc may cool faster, but you don't repeat panic stop much in normal driving. Disc brakes were much better when 16" wheels came along.

[@chucksmalfus9623]

People always argue with me when I say the Malibu started out as a sub model of Chevelle ,thank you for confirming what I was sure is true.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Chuck, I'm here to help.

[@buzzwaldron6195]

LOL! Most people argue the GTO started out as a sub model of LeMans... DeLorean got past the 330" limit for mid size cars... twice... in '63 he took the Pontiac 336" used in earlier GMC trucks and put it into Tempest by calling it a '326'... then in '64 got the 389" in Tempest because it wasn't standard... just a quiet option... along with the GTO option... but well exposed by the car magazines... it sold like crazy (like Ford Mustangs) so GM went along with it... took Malibu SS 396 until '70 to catch up with GTO sales...

[@mikeadams8293]

My parents had a ‘69 Grand Prix. That thing would pass everything except a gas station! And it didn’t have A/C!

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Yes, people forget how A/C wasn't standard back then. A lot of cars didn't have it.

[@tinfoilhat3268]

Having driven four-wheel drum, brake vehicles and relatively modern traffic at least traffic 10 years ago. It's a little bit sketchy, especially if they're manual drums. If they're boosted big boy truck drums, it's not too bad.

[@billrimmer5596]

For many years I overhauled the Super Turbine 300’s. The switch the pitch feature was amazing. U get high stall converter acceleration, with low stall converter mileage. Another important feature is oil temperature. If u r running a fixed high stall with fairly tall gears, u will overheat your trans fluid. The front pump had a little solenoid that would control the stator position. If I remember correctly, they used a modulator for normal driving shift pressure control, and an electric kick down. Much like the Turbo 400. So no throttle pressure rod to the carb. Many race cars use the Aluminum Powerglide which is also a two speed. They use super high stall speeds to allow the engine to rev to its power potential. So the Buick and Olds would have a two terminal plug on the side of the trans. One terminal for switch the pitch and the other for kick down. TH 350’s use the cable kick down

[@jimh6763]

Boy do I remember the old 4 wheel drum breaks!!! Go through a deep puddle with them and forget it!!! Your not stopping at all. Add brakes with not booster and its scary!!!

[@jimh6763]

Sorry brakes

[@789pokey]

If you see a big puddle coming, drag the brakes a little to keep them dry.

[@jimh6763]

@@789pokey Oh, im talking about a parking lot thats low! It fills with water!! There was no chance when you start off under a foot of water!! It was quite an experience!! Glad theyve gone to all disc brakes!!!

[@buzzwaldron6195]

Disc brakes had the same problem when wet...

[@ferdinantjohnson1166]

Pure gold once again. Thank you from Germany.

[@billbolton]

Thanks for the video, these cars are very rare in the UK

[@carltyson4393]

Great video. I am a big fan of your airplane videos, but have become a fan of the auto stuff too. As a former owner of a 1967 Chevelle SS I have fond memories of those times. It was a hoot...probably needed much better brakes than it had but then I was a teenager and stopping was not the top priority! Have a good day.

[@matrox]

31:15 Even with slicks they were still spinning the tires. Add modern sticky tires and a modern 6 or 8 speed trans and all these would be high 12 and low 13 sec. cars.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

True, with modern slicks they would all be nearly 1 full second quicker in the 1/4 mile. At least the 4 speed cars when paired with aggressive rear end gears.

[@ak1s4]

I've been looking forward to this for a while now. Cannot wait for the next video. Cheers!

[@daveallen8824]

Best looking of all the GTO's

[@Robert-ff9wf]

I remember looking at the front drum brakes on cars from this era. They were huge and very heavy. They look like they belonged on a 18 wheeler truck!

[@leewilliams2094]

They did build a factory 427 425 HP Impala in 1965 My friend had a factory original 1965 427 425 horsepower 4-speed Impala SS. It came from the factory with dual-quads on an aluminum manifold it had factory tubular headers with Chevrolet factory part numbers. They were built in very small numbers to qualify as stock for drag racing. But my friends car was never raced.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

I literally have a video of such a car on this channel. While awesome, it's not really a true muscle car. I call those types "seinor" muscle cars, the big block Impalas, and the fast Grand Prixs and Rivis.

[@buzzwaldron6195]

I suspect your friend had the 409" engine... as did my friend: plane jane sleeper beige '65 Biscayne 4 door dual quad 409 425 HP 4 speed bench seats...

[@rayschoch5882]

Right where I live, Greg. I graduated from college in '66, and was a real gearhead (and diehard Mopar fan) at the time, making weekly trips to a local drag strip, where my favorite car to root for was a local guy driving a Plymouth Belvedere 383 3-speed stick. Most of the cars in this episode should have blown his doors off, at least on paper, but he was VERY good off the line (no slicks that I can remember, but noticeably larger rear tires), and must have tweaked his 383 skillfullly, and probably added a good set of headers, which were a genuine thing in those days, 'cause he beat 9 of every 10 challengers overall, taking class trophies home fairly regularly. Every once in a while, a really good GTO and driver would take him, but it didn't happen often. I didn't get my 'Formula 'S" Barracuda until 2 years later, and this is the year that whetted my appetite. Good stuff, Greg.

Arguably, my favourite year for domestics.

[@johngilbert6036]

I owned a 1964 Buick Wildcat convertible with 425 cubic inch 465 Wildcat V8 it showed 2 speeds on the column (low and drive) but was a 3 speed transmission. It would out run a 325hp 396 Chevelle hands down never encountered a 375 car, but no 396 ever passed it. it was ultra reliable and was a used car My dad traded my 1955 Ford Club Sedan I had rebuilt as a youth while I was in Vietnam. He replaced the top and it was a dandy. I loved those model buicks they were the class of the industry.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

The Buick 425 was much faster than history seems to remember. The transmission your car had was the Super Turbine 400, essentially a 3 speed but with a variable pitch torque converter giving it a real advantage. Against a 396 Chevy with 325hp and a powerglide, yes, the Buick was faster. Thanks for your comment. Part 3 is coming very soon.

[@johngilbert6036]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles My dad liked the 1955 Buick Century with the Dynaflow transmission. He was a mechanic and told me the dynaflow had movable vans on the torque converter that served the purpose of gears. Did the variable pitch torque converter originate from the dynaflow transmission system.

[@chadhaire1711]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles The horsepower ratings of these old cars are were fake for the most part..they used the old GROSS system which involved removing air cleaner, belts, and mufflers to get a high number. problem is, once these items were put back on the engine, and back in the car power loss was about 18% which was SAE NET.. The hottest engine up to 1971 was the 426 Hemi rated at 425 hp but starting in 1972 all engines were rated NET, so the 426 was really 350 hp and it said so in the factory catalog. That 396 was not 325 hp, but more like 275 hp.

[@billrimmer5596]

Super Turbine 400 with switch the pitch and electric kick down. The two terminal side plug. Did a few overhauls of them too. That trans with an overdrive is still around today on Chevy trucks.

[@DCFusor]

Having lived through this era as an excited motor-head kid, with a somewhat gear-head dad (who was from the "get out and get under" era to re-shim main bearings on his old Packard) - I have to commend this series to anyone wanting to know how it really was...

[@ThreenaddiesRexMegistus]

Must be showing my age : I know exactly what you’re talking about !😁. I’ve seen Holden shells replaced in-situ with leather belt material - it worked well enough to get out of the bush and to a parts store!

[@jimschnurr3512]

My Dodge Coronet with the 426 wedge with "wide oval" tires did run in the low 14's. It was something i wish like all of us which we had kept.

[@laurencethornblade1195]

Great video, no Spitfire comments.

[@chasstone5048]

Amazing details n specs

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Thanks for your comment.

[@matrox]

My 69' RoadRunner was on a 116" wheelbase if I remember correctly.

[@densealloy]

As usual excellent. One of the quickest cars I've driven was a 1965 Chevelle Malibu with a 383 stroker and belt driven centrifugal supercharger and a four speed. I really liked the fact that super charger was bolted to the front of the engine (if I remember correctly) and with the small block in the engine bay there was plenty of room. It had a small hood scoop so it was almost a sleeper. I didn't own this so I don't have more details other than my wife screamed very loudly when I took her for a spin and when I asked what she thought, she said with a small tremor "I think I tinkeled".

[@edwardsmith6609]

No matter the content, I always enjoy this channel. I find myself viewing my subscriber list...waiting for a dot to appear above Greg's Airplane icon showing me a new vid is ready to watch, to which I momentarily hesitate before clicking as I "is it a car or a plane ? car or a plane ?" Turbosupercharged P47 or some classic American muscle...always a treat. Thank You.

[@rogerholloway8498]

I really appreciate your thorough reviews, keep up the good work!

[@jeremythompson9122]

If I was buying a new car in 1965 it would be a 421 Tri Power-4 speed Pontiac Catalina 2+2. Probably just as fast as a 389 Tri Power GTO but roomier and more comfortable...not to mention the 2+2 Catalina was such a great looking car. Love the styling of both the 65-66 Catalina 2+2 and Impala SS. I'd go with the 2+2 over the SS 396-425 horsepower Impala because the 2+2 was a bit more upscale and the 421 HO was a better street engine than the solid lifter 396-425 horsepower Chevy engine. The 421 HO had loads of horsepower and torque but was a reliable engine for everyday use. The Chevy 396-425 was a bit more radical but needed the valves adjusted every few thousand miles like any other solid lifter big block of the day

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

The Catalina 2+2 also had an amazing interior, much nicer than the Chevy. Thanks for watching both of my muscle car videos. Part 3 is in the works, but it's behind a couple of airplane videos.

[@doctorgille]

As always - an excellent discussion of the 1965 Muscle Cars. I really appreciate the breadth and depth of Greg's analysis. Any knucklehead can pore over the magazine ads and memorize the specs. Cars and Coffee is full of fact spouting poseurs. Which is all well and good. But there's no there, there. Things I've heard and read many times. Tell me something new. What Greg brings to the table is context. A deeper look at what was going on. What could have gone on. And now here we are 54 years later, blessed with the perspective of distance and wisdom. 1965 is a fascinating year in the realm. Forces were bubbling up from the bottom, and down from the top. GM had the benefit of a bit of cross pollination between the GS/SS/GTO/442 A-bodies. Certainly there were divisional powerplant differences, but they all put out around the same HP. What I find interesting is that Ford had led the ponycar charge with the Mustang, and GM was asleep at the wheel on that one. Would be a while before the Firebird and Camaro hit the deck. Chrysler had something to answer, kind of, but really had a lack of marketing cohesion, even though they clearly had the hardware available. Although they were introduced mid '65, the Rambler Marlin is worth mentioning. Properly optioned with a 327 V8, Bendix disc brakes, and the technically 5 speed manual "Twin Stick" (3 speed manual with in-out overdrive) it was a car that had no competitors feature wise. It would be another 2 years ('67) before discs were available on the GM A-Bodies and probably 10 years at least before any 5 manual transmissions showed up. But, nobody bought them, and pristing examples are rare these days. I suppose in the last 40 years, I've seen less than 10 on the road. Would really like to see Greg do a deep dive on the Marlin. Fascinating car.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Thanks. I have a real love for the AMC cars, but I'll probably cover then in another series.

[@jimh6763]

I loved the Ford 390!! It made lots of torque and power! Easy to work on back then.

[@buzzwaldron6195]

Got smoked by 389s, 327s, 400s, 383s, 340s though...

[@jimh6763]

@buzzwaldron6195 not mine. Routinely beat my friends Pontiac 389

[@mynameis9057]

Great stuff Greg,thank you! Man, I remember back in the 80s and even the 90s being able to buy a lot of these same cars for chicken feed! Everybody had chevelles, mustangs and camaros and they were so common place they were often ridiculed, along with their owners, lol! Weed trash them constantly, run them into bogs,rivers,snow banks,jump them dukes of hazardous style, breaking motor mounts so often, weed have a few spares on hand just like the burn out tires in the trunk with the floor jack and tool box ready for action! Working at a full service garage, gas station definitely had its perks! Especially the used tires rack and tire machine along with a often helpful fleet of tow trucks to help yank us out of whatever silly jam weed get our teenage selves into! Lol! Then after a silly Friday night debacle, weed get the local newspaper and pick up another $50.00, $100.00 $500.00 60s or 70s beater,supe it up a bit and do it again. A few idiots who thought they could drive like the duke boys, with more bucks than brains and skill, destroyed more sweet cars than i care to recall! A couple of sweet early 70s Le mans sports, a 70 351 Mustang, satellite, 70 340 challenger,mustangs, chevelles and camaros with a nova and a few poor monte carlos and grand prixs thrown in there too. Nor were some of the newer then,80s cars immune from the grasp of destruction either. Another buddy worked at a garage 3rd shift weed visit on his shift who'd call us when a nice or extremely haneous wreck was brought to his yard. An early 80s Mustang 5.0 comes to memory that went into a tree sideways and split the car in half! The way it was dropped off at the yard from the flatbed was the trunk half rear of the car was touching the nose. The impact was on the drivers door and the drivers seat was almost unrecognizable it was mangled and twisted so badly,along with the teenage driver who perished in the crash. I'm eagerly looking forward to your next installment of one of my favorite subjects in life, and thank you for your comprehensive video, time for another fresh cup of joe. ▪☆☆☆▪

[@jimalexander1896]

Coming home on leave from the Marine Corps..my friend just bought a New Roiad Runner..I think it was a 383 auto trans? That car was stupid fast!..he was beating Corvette's and Mustang light to light! Good job!

[@Etherionix]

Thank you Greg!

[@4toes1nose]

Thank you

[@1962pjb]

From what I've read it took a few years for Plymouth to realize that to have a car to actually compete with the GTO it also took a new name plate to go along with it, not just a larger engine that they had available. The thinking was between 1964 to 1966 that if the customer wanted GTO performance, they could just order the 383, 440 and 426 wedge engines and later the 426 Hemi in their Satellite or Belvedere models. Plymouth finally got with the program in 1967 with the Belvedere GTX as the factory hot rod version with the largest displacement engine offered in a midsized car for that year.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

That's exactly right. The name is a key part of the total package, and Plymouth didn't really get it right until 67' and then came on very strong in 68'. I'll cover all of this in the next few episodes.

[@kennethpack1963]

My Olds 442 was Forest Mist Green with American Mag Wheels speed, and Firestone Redlin tires, had everything cost$3050.00, out the door, at Rector Cad Oldsmobile In Burlingame Ca March 1965. My 25th Birthday, 9 tickets in 6 months, walked for a year....

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Wow, thanks. I can picture the car, it sounds like it was cool.

[@jeromestern8225]

Execellent stuff. I loved the "car and driver"-test. Please more of it - especially with such extra background-storys.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Hi Jerome, do you mean the Car and Driver test from the 1966 Episode?

[@jeromestern8225]

Hi Greg, yes that's the Episode I'm refering to.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

I have big plans for the 1967 episode.

[@jeromestern8225]

That's great. I'm sure this one will be as interesting and well researched as the ones before. And sure I will watch it as soon as possible. @@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles

[@jimstephenson7959]

Love your auto AND aviation vids, Greg.

[@juancarosio4266]

Thanks for another great video! Looking forward to the rest!

[@1badhaircut]

Great video - I will always prefer the 65 Buick GS conv my mom had - the style was that unique “Gen-1” musclecar - automatic with every option and I can still hear that quiet rumble - as a kid it was my job to wash and wax it which was my honor to do. Still think it was the best-looking car ever but probably because it was part of the family - so of course that’s the car I’d want to find someday.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Thanks for your kind words. Yes, the 65' Gran Sport was quite a car. Comfy, powerful, and with room for the whole family and plenty of trunk space.

[@utcbiopharm]

Awesome overview, well done!

[@bigDbigDbigD]

i really enjoy your presentations, both style and content!

[@edwardsmith6609]

GREG !!?? Oh Brother, Where Art Thou ? Seriously needing a fix, and you got the Cowbell. I know you obviously have other endeavors and a life too boot....love the channel and the content !!

[@edwardsmith6609]

Best Wishes and Godspeed

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Hi Edward. Yes I'm still here, I'll try and get a new video up within the next 24 hours.

[@nickcosentino5368]

I gave credit to Demolition Man for referring to Olds as a 4-4-2. Just sayin. Your content is detailed, and I really enjoy it. 👍

[@radioguy1620]

Mustang with the GT group was only 225 dollars more and included better sway bar ,foglights stripes dual exhaust and very good disc brakes, owned two. all GTs had 4 bbl carbs ,base had 225 hp and mine ran great. over 30000 were built

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

I agree, the Mustang GT with 271hp was a fun car, and with a 4speed and 4.10s it could drag race with the big boys just fine, and beat them on a road course.

[@adamskikijowski9139]

Very educational. We didn't have this stuff in the UK.

[@HarryParentII]

The difference in the way the automatic shifters felt is because pre 1965 the transmission was shifted by a n internally mounted cable as after that the shifter was a bunch of mechanical linkages with room for lots of slop due to the lack of factory closeness of tolerances.

[@VirginianSpencer]

Love this series. So much depended on the way a car was optioned back then that putting too much weight on "road tests" is futile. Driver skill also played a significant part with the huge potential for losing traction. BTW, you picked the correct "standard" - GTO. :)

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

I agree about the testing variables. A 14.5 car can easily be a 16.0 car with just a bit too much tire spinning in the first 60 feet With no traction control and bias ply tires, these things were tough to launch really well.

[@789pokey]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles, you also had to power shift (no lift) to get the good times. A lot of people seem to underestimate driver skill in manual trans drag racing.

[@789pokey]

A good stock road test gives, at the very least, engine, trans ratios, axle ratio and weight. Take the numbers from a reputable mag and hope they used the same driver.

[@TheGrover1968]

I had a 67 Riviera 430cid with its Buick Superturbine 400 trans that made it very lively. A few years after I sold it, I saw it at a car meet .The owner had replaced the 430 and switch pitch 400 with a smog era 455 and TH400. I was disgusted. I wish I would have offered to buy the 430 and BST400 from him. I also had a 65 Olds Delta 88 with the switch pitch and a friend had a 65 Coupe Deville with the switch pitch. Sadly I'm afraid nearly all switch pitch trans have disappeared from existence

[@danmcnarry]

I was confused by your reference to the Jetaway transmission as being a 2 speed. It turns out that if I Google it I can find a reference in Wikipedia but here's the catch, Oldsmobile marketed the Jetaway in 1956. That transmission was a 4 speed and referred to as the Hydramatic when installed in cars like my 1962 Cadillac. (I eventually changed that to a 5 speed TREMEC TKO 600. But as you say, that's a story for another day). I really enjoy your videos and appreciate the amount of research you put in to them.

[@stevethomas760]

Around ‘84 there was a Z16 Chevelle in the want adds in the paper. “Fair condition” , no running gear for 25K. I’ve yet to see a fair condition car that actually was. Talked to the owner of Dan Blocker’s Z16 at a car show here in Atlanta some years ago. Felt like a kid with a new bicycle just sitting in the seat.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

I'm not sure I have ever seen a Z16 Chevelle. They were, and are super rare. Of course there were plenty of SS396 Chevelles in 1966, and those are great too.

[@stevethomas760]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles Greg, '96 I was at a world of wheels here in Atlanta when I saw one. Owner, Milton Robson, was there "want to sit in it"? Couldn't get over the rope fast enough. It had been Dan Blocker's car, yellow/ black vinyl top. He then told me "I know where there is a black one that I might buy". At the time it was a 75K car. Guy obviously had some $$ for toys.

[@warlord195711]

Some of us measure distance in inches, but volume (especially car engines) in cc and litres. I managed to work out the conversion factor, and 400 cu in is 6.55 litres, which is huge by European standards, where a 3 litre engine is a big engine (unless you own a Rolls Royce or Bentley). I hate to think what the fuel bill for these cars would be in the UK.

[@eriksiddons4730]

Cant wait for 1966

[@christophermccausland8228]

The 65-66 Skylark is my favorite car of all time. I love the slick styling, with or without the GS option, a convertible is preferable but a coupe is just fine. The GS 401 nail head is a better engine than the 430 in 67 that replaced it, in my opinion. It is more reliable and has plenty of power for these cars. I have owned a 67 Riviera and a 69 Electra 225 convertible and both had the 430, which had a lot of low end torque, but not exactly a drag strip combination with the weight of these cars and the highway gearing. It was also harder to buy performance parts for these engines, even OEM parts, like the carb, which my Riv had a Rochester Q Jet from a later model Caddy, and I had a fun time finding the correct replacement for in the 90's. I loved the rolling barrel speedometer, and the low and wide stance of the Riv, it seemed to be as wide as it was long, and it was longer than my brother's 71 El Camino, basically a coupe longer than a wagon. The Electra needed a complete floor pan, it was completely rusted out sitting in the mud next to a shop whose owner I knew. It just took some starting fluid to fire up and drive home. I rebuilt the motor, but eventually had to sell it, no place to store it, and lack of funds and time. I also had a 71 Centurion with the 455 that was originally purchased on the title as a NJ State police pursuit car. It still had the CB mount and was all Black inside and out. Paid $100 and a new battery for it from an old man who came to the gas station I worked at and just wanted the battery he just bought back. That was a fun car, ridiculous torque for a car on the same platform as the caprice small block. I had a 76 Skylark with the Olds 350 and a 95 and a 97 Le Sabre. I bought the 97 from my brother as a daily driver, who talked me into selling it back to him. His friend totaled it after hitting a deer on I-80 driving back to PA from LA. I got the 95 with only 62k miles on it from a co worker whose grandparents had given him 5 years ago for $500. That was my daily driver also, until my niece was desperate for a decent car for work. She is still driving it today with well over 100K miles. The 97 only need the trans rebuilt before I sold it with 260K miles.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Thank you for that excellent post. In many ways I like the 401/425 more than the 400/430/455. Of course my reasoning is largely subjective, but all the engines from actual muscle cars were good, and all have their strong points.

[@robervin4384]

Man! I REALLY enjoyed this, thanks. I appreciate cars, tanks & aircraft, etc.....erhh, mechanical modes of conveyance. I've never been a pony car or Vette/T-bird guy but dig the intermediates & full-size muscle cars. You are better than cable bro!!! Thanks for taking the time. Really enjoyed your Ta-152 video as well; Hell - all the vids be honest. Thanks again.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Thanks Rob, I'm especially glad you enjoy my Muscle Car videos. Those are not too popular, but I like making them.

[@HochgeborenKlown]

Great series, like all your others...

[@corvette724]

Besides, i activated the Bell, what i`m usually not doing, but from your channel i don`t want to miss something.

[@markr5132]

Fantastic video and I think 99% correct. The Z16 car 1/4 mile trap speed is off and should be 105 + - 1-2 mph as these motors were very strong. However your video's are in a class by them selves, no body comes close to there high degree of facts, and your high level of logic in terms of interpreting and applying them to the subject matter!!

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

I'm happy with 99%, especially if you only disagreement is in regards to 1/4 mile times. Those are always debatable, I did use published numbers, but of course there are other times out there. Thanks for watching, this is one of my least popular videos.

[@markr5132]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles Again, your video content is off the chart the best by a mile. I just have had a 65 396/425 vet, 70 Camaro 396/350 70 lT1 Vette etc etc.. except for exhaust manifold the Z16 has the same engine as the 396Vette, mine was stock and could do 109 threw the traps. I don't know if you have been in a Vette/Z16 one of these but with their from the factory 10 1/2" flywheels (427 had 11") they rev like a small block-very impressive.

[@terryboyer1342]

Great vid Greg! My sisters gearhead boyfriend had a 66 Chevelle 396 4 speed that he had cammed etc. What a rocket! Her girlfriend had a 66 Wildcat (engine?) that everyone drooled over. Those were the days! I always loved the GTOs myself.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Thanks Terry. The Wildcat was both an engine and a car, forever creating confusion in the Buick world. The Wildcat car has the "Wild Cat engine" but they put that same 401 Wildcat, and 425 Wildcat in many other cars.

[@Jewclaw]

Yes! I love your videos so much Gregg! Anytime I see you posted I always have watch. Your videos are full of great information and one can tell a lot of time goes into research. Which is why I know it’s a little too much to ask that you post more often

[@druballard8929]

Awesome videos. You did a great job! Keep them going!

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Thanks Dru. I really appreciate the comments on my muscle car videos. I love these cars, but I think their popularity is fading. I'm noticing that youtube demographics show that very few young people watch my muscle car stuff as compared with my aircraft stuff.

[@johnclarke6647]

‘65 Goat. I had one with a 421 HO and it would turn 12.89 with cheaters on it. I had it balanced by Don Nicholson and it would easily turn 7,800. It would fly. I ran out of balls before it ran out of throttle. The worst part of it was that flimsy rear end. I cannot tell you how many times I replaced the spider gears.

[@789pokey]

John, and the '65 posi was improved over the original '64.

[@major_kukri2430]

Been waiting forever for this.

[@lorrinbarth1969]

Yeah, cars during this period liked to leak oil. I bought my first new car in 1967. I was always determined that any car I owned would not leak. I did a lot of gasket changing.

[@csj9619]

4 on the floor, 3 on the tree, 2 in the goo (boo) Actually, my uncle Ed had a '66 Impala 327/Powerglide and it wasn't a dog.

[@RobertoMattes]

Hey Greg. What about a video about the Hurricane in WWII? Nice video! Cheers from Brazil

[@Spacklatard]

1:25 Wow! 2 speed auto? My flabber is totally gasted, although it simplifies a few things I expect.

[@thomassmith1076]

I owned a 1964 belvedere 383 4bl 4speed it ran consitently low 15s best high 14s I later had a used 1964 426 wedge dual quad , 4 spd ran 13.2s it had aluminum front fenders . I lived in detroit and the dealer said it was a factory test car?

[@roderickwho1983]

Thanks. Fascinating stuff. Helps me make some sense out of those early Bruce Springsteen songs, and is a great aid to decypher some of the stuff Dave Kindig bangs on about ;-)

[@keithalexander7953]

Thanks, Greg!

[@sebclot9478]

What happened to that new video on P-47 maneuverability? It was super long and technical, which I loved.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

It's being replaced by several videos.

[@corvette724]

Greg, your Channel is awesome. So we bought an Dodge Coronet and an Chrysler Windsor i opened a new Playlist, called Muscle Cars, and your Vid is the first one in this list. Cheers, Axel

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Thanks for your comment. My father had a Windsor with a 383, I haven't seen one in decades. I'll get going on Part 3s in a month or so, I have to get some more airplane stuff up first, and some modern car stuff.

[@corvette724]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles your Dad had one too. This is awesome, we in Germany say, the world is small. If you may recognize, at my channel is a lot of airplane stuff too. Super Connie, P 51, AT 6, Biplane...feel free to use this stuff in your Vid´s, my friend.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

That's quite an impressive channel. I enjoyed several of your videos, including the PA-28, Liberator tour and others. That view of the waste gunner section in flight was a great point of view I haven't seen before, and I just like the PA-28s. I find that to be a nice airplane to fly around in.

[@corvette724]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles we had so much fun in the PA-28. But my greatest impression were the P 51 and the Super Connie. Most Fun we had in the Bücker Biplane. Greg, we stay tuned, cheers from GE near heidelberg, Axel

[@radioguy1620]

Check out Muscle car of the week, they show several 65 and 66 galaxies with the 427

[@radioguy1620]

In 67 my checking showed 89 cars of all body styles so eqipped.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

The Galaxy isn't a true muscle car, it's a full size car. Even so, 427 powered Galaxys are very rare.

[@matrox]

I never liked Mopar in the early mid 60s because they looked stodgy except for the very beautiful Chrysler Crown Imperial . I didn't start looking a Mopar until the 68' season with the Charger. Ended getting a 69' Ply RoadRunner 383 after High school in 1975.

[@andytothesky]

Unrelated to the subject of this video, but could you do a video on the engine control units used by the Fw 190? The Kommandogerat and Motorbedeingerat and how the worked?

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

I'll get to that. It's actually pretty simple.

[@Jewclaw]

Gregg your videos are soo good! Please just keep posting, I know you don’t have many subscribers but the ones that do subscribe are such loyal followers! Please just keep making videos

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Thanks Kolo. I have many more videos planned, and will keep the channel going. I don't really worry much about my subscriber count. I am aware that I am not making videos for the masses.

[@dogeness]

noooo why'd you delete P-47 Thunderbolt Pt. 4? I wasn't finished watching it :'(

[@onkelmicke9670]

same

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

It's coming back, better than before, better, faster, stronger.

[@sir0herrbatka]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles Ok, great!

[@keithalexander7953]

I had a fever dream where I watched an hour and a half video by Greg on methanol-water injection.

[@maximuswedgie5149]

1965 dodge had a performance package: the A990.

[@seeking70]

I had a 65 GTO and sadly sold it. Pretty sharp car for its day. Mine didn't have the original engine and was a money pit for me by the mid 70s.

[@ThreenaddiesRexMegistus]

I hit the like button before watching : always reliably informative. So the Malibu could have been regarded as one of the original sleepers? I remember the 327 Chev as a great motor and still a great performer. But having around 400ci is a safe and effective way of getting useable horsepower. Nice explanation of big vs small block! Interesting info regarding the pitch-converter . Modern V8 engines with all the fuel-injection and ECU systems have somewhat spoiled us but allow a good big one to be as practical and economical as a small one.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Thanks Dave. I don't get too many comments on my muscle car videos, so it's nice to see them when I do.

[@samcooke2742]

A terrific video, so much period detail distilled into a little time. Obviously a labor of love. I have to ask what your personal experience of the 60's was- were you a 60's hot rodder, or is your knowledge mostly the result of research? I know you didn't fly P-47's in WWII.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

LOL, no I didn't fly 47's during the war. I'm not nearly that old. Of course nearly nobody alive is that old anymore. I grew up in the 70's and early 80's. During the early 80's muscle cars were dirt cheap, and I liked them. That meant that not only did I drive them, many of my friends did as well. It also means that our repair budgets meant we spent a lot of time at Pick A Part. In those days, there were tons of 60's cars in Pick A Part. It was common to see these cars in various states of disassembly and as a young kid on a budget I was very interested in what would interchange, what models too look for to find factory performance parts and so on. So not only was I interested in these cars, my budget forced me to learn. Of course it helped that my dad knew A LOT about cars, so I had a bit of a head start, and a lot of enthusiasm.

[@samcooke2742]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles Thanks and good luck, especially with Fiats. They are crazy cars. My life with 850's and 124's was a wonderful, high-maintenance relationship.

[@oaktadopbok665]

Here in the midwest, we pronounced it "poe-lair-uh" like the north star, polaris.

[@wojciechgrodnicki6302]

Good morning.

[@PavethaWay]

We need to series to last all the way to 1972

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

I'm going to 1969, then I'll decide if it was popular enough to continue.

[@xgford94]

Unknown Pateron engine-I’m wondering if they have ever investigated the type of stroke system it uses Otto/Atkinson, it may be an attempt to get a JET-A compatible piston engine for light aircraft

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Are you asking in reference to muscle cars, or is this in reference to the Mystery Engine video?

[@xgford94]

Greg's Airplanes and Automobiles the Mystery Engine Video, I could not login to KZbin from the link(don’t know why) so left a comment on the last public video

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Hmm, I don't know why you can't comment on that one. A few people have, although not many, so you may be onto something there. Anyway, it could be experimental in terms of cycles and fuels, I don't even know if it's a 4 stroke. The thing is, somebody made this thing, and it was a big effort. I am hoping to find out who, and what they were trying to do. I'll add some of the pictures in the next public video I put up.

[@w41duvernay]

Why is there no 1967 or 1966 episode this this or following years to this? Chrysler didn't come out with a new musclecars until the later 60's years as well.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Because I haven't made it yet. This series isn't too popular so it's not that high on my list.

[@percynjpn4615]

But the question remains: are all those performance specs from the manufacturers, or from NACA? This is very important.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

LOL, I wish NACA would have tested muscle cars. Sadly, the specs we have are from magazines that didn't do things all that well, which is why specs are all over the place for some of the cars.

[@luvr381]

Good morning, Greg.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Good Morning! Although I'm in Taiwan at the moment and it's currently 8:17PM.

[@luvr381]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles Safe travels! Hope you enjoy your trip.

[@curtismuma1931]

I can't hear you!

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

I can hear you!

[@marcusborderlands6177]

Turn up the volume! It makes him louder!

[@johnbeauvais3159]

What happened to the P-47 video?

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Parts 1 through 4 are still up. Part 5 is being remade with two other videos that will precede it to simplify things.

[@johnbeauvais3159]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles Thank you for the response, I was quite enjoying it and the video just disappeared from my feed. Was worried KZbin took it down for a marking on a tail or fuselage or something.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Thanks. I'm looking forward to getting it back up with the other related videos.

[@crankychris2]

2 speed automatics had no 'passing gear' for highway passing. That cost GM plenty of sales as auto minded enthusiasts purchaed Ford or Mopar 3 speed automatics instead.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

True, which is why G.M went to three speeds for their automatics in muscle cars for the 1967 model year. I will say that the lack of a passing gear in the Buick 401 wasn't too bad because of it's variable pitch torque converter.