Here's the video:
Now granted, this video doesn't point to either one being better, but I don't think it's a fair fight either. Let me explain.
The majority of this race is held on dirt and gravel. The spongier, heavier General Lee will do better on this because its loose suspension will adapt quicker, and the extra weight will help it dig in for better grip. Also, powersliding is key.
The Trans Am is nearly a decade newer and was built tighter with sway bars to minimize body roll and suspension travel, mastering windy roads. The tire choice also plays a decent role in this rivalry. If there were more highway in this race, the Trans Am would've come out on top.
This made me wonder what would be the best movie muscle car for all-around performance. I need to put some limitations on this though. We'll say classic muscle car '64-'85 in a movie from '64-'90.
Now I've been thinking about this for a couple days, and I had a hard time coming up with anything that could beat my choice. I think that the '72 Trans Am from "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" (with Jeff Bridges and Clint Eastwood, 1974) wins the best movie car title. It has the good handling you get with a 2nd gen T/A, great looks, and a 455 V8 pushing you through the turns (a little sideways never hurts). Granted, his off-road excursion ripped a good deal of the plastic or rubber body cladding off, but that didn't really affect the car at all. That car is pretty amazing, and therefore is my pick.
Wow! You seem to know a lot about muscle cars. May I ask why they fascinate you as such? For me, it’s sports cars like the Bugatti Veyron and Lamborghini that hold my attention. I particularly like the Bugatti Veyron because its design is just ingenious. I saw on a documentary before that it’s designed to be part-car and part-airplane. It even has a rear air brake, something found in airplanes as well, to keep it from taking off.
ReplyDeleteErwin Calverley