by Thomas Biskner
So it’s starting to creep up on us; the next generation ponycar wars. For many fans of the late 60’s domestic ponycars this is like a dream come true. In a year or so the streets will be flooded with brand new Dodge Challengers, Ford Mustangs and Chevrolet Camaro’s. Now, I was too young to be a part of the first ponycar wars so I can’t give a first hand account of what happened. But what I can do is tell you what happened after: Cars sucked.
Now don’t get me wrong there were some bright spots (the 1970-1981 Camaro/Firebirds), some low spots (Mustang II King Kobra? Com’on!), and some things the mind tries to forget (Dear God Why!?!). But what if you wanted a ponycar, and not the garbage-mobiles that were being produced around that time? Let me take you back to the mid 1980’s. I was in junior high and in no place financially to buy a car. I had always wanted a 1971 Plymouth Barracuda, but it was horribly expensive to buy a decent one, (like $5000. Today that might buy you the shell) and who wanted to suffer the humiliation of buying one of the ‘weak’ 1972-1974 cars? For a thousand bucks you could buy a 1974 Barracuda and pretend you were in a big-block Mopar. Bleh, that felt like cheating. Now those throw-aways are averaging over $10,000 on Ebay! Anyways, after a few years I got a job and by my senior year in high school I was ready to buy a ponycar. By that time I was really starting to notice the late 60’s Mustang Fastbacks so I kept that option in mind. I scoffed at this kid in my school that would sell me his almost rust free, runs and drives 1969 Mach 1 for $2500. Too much for a Mustang, I thought. Late 60’s Camaro’s were starting to heat up price wise by then, but I never had much interest in them at the time, but you could get ‘buy-one/get-one free’ deals on mid 70’s Camaro’s and Trans-Ams just about everywhere. Nope. Not distinct enough for my taste. So I started shopping around for my Barracuda, a ‘fixer-upper’ that I could afford to buy and drive at the same time. A friend found a drivable 1971 Cuda’ 383 with the trunk practically gone and in need of a complete restoration for $1500, but I thought it was too much work. So I ended up buying a 1969 Coronet 383 that was rough but workable, and decided I’d just buy my ponycar a little later down the road.
Fast-forward much later down the road, and prices have skyrocketed on just about every ponycar made by the Big 3. How about a nice, drivable 1974 Barracuda 318 for $5000? Ha. No. How about those 1960’s Mustang Fastbacks, they made hundreds of thousands of them? Sure, but if you want all the options, like an engine and the floors, it’s going to cost you $15,000, if you’re lucky. But the good news is the late 60’s Camaro’s have stabilized in price, say around $15,000 to $20,000, but I’m still not into them. But what if you want something to drive everyday, with air conditioning, and a factory warranty, and air bags? Well the Big 3 have finally (read: about damn time) answered our prayers and will offer us retro-ponies at a price we can afford. Now, that’s exciting by itself, but, it will be even better when all three cars are on the road at the same time. Let me put it this way, you can have two of the most educated, docile, friendly 40-something year old’s in the world driving those cars, but when a Mustang and a Camaro meet at a stop light, one of those cars is going to lose a tooth. It’s not the owners fault. You can rest assured most of them bought the cars because they loved or used to own one of the originals, or maybe they just want to look cool. Nope… the cars know. I own a 2005 Mustang with the V6. I know it’s just a nice driver and not a pavement killer. Every time some kid pulls up next to me in a clapped-out Cavalier or a shiny four door Civic, or even an Aztek for Pete’s sake, then suddenly it’s on! They rev there engines and try to power break (almost killing the poor things) then break loose when the light turns green. All the while I just hang back in amazement thinking, “why are you trying to blow your car’s engine through the hood?” My Mustang laughs at me, because she knows she’s the one that picks the fight. If you think I’m overreacting then just watch the first time you see one of the new Dodge Challenger R/T’s and Camaro SS’ meet at a light. Me? I’m going to enjoy the peace and solidarity while it lasts. As far as never being able to afford my 1971 Cuda’, that’s ok, maybe they’ll make a 2011.
So it’s starting to creep up on us; the next generation ponycar wars. For many fans of the late 60’s domestic ponycars this is like a dream come true. In a year or so the streets will be flooded with brand new Dodge Challengers, Ford Mustangs and Chevrolet Camaro’s. Now, I was too young to be a part of the first ponycar wars so I can’t give a first hand account of what happened. But what I can do is tell you what happened after: Cars sucked.
Now don’t get me wrong there were some bright spots (the 1970-1981 Camaro/Firebirds), some low spots (Mustang II King Kobra? Com’on!), and some things the mind tries to forget (Dear God Why!?!). But what if you wanted a ponycar, and not the garbage-mobiles that were being produced around that time? Let me take you back to the mid 1980’s. I was in junior high and in no place financially to buy a car. I had always wanted a 1971 Plymouth Barracuda, but it was horribly expensive to buy a decent one, (like $5000. Today that might buy you the shell) and who wanted to suffer the humiliation of buying one of the ‘weak’ 1972-1974 cars? For a thousand bucks you could buy a 1974 Barracuda and pretend you were in a big-block Mopar. Bleh, that felt like cheating. Now those throw-aways are averaging over $10,000 on Ebay! Anyways, after a few years I got a job and by my senior year in high school I was ready to buy a ponycar. By that time I was really starting to notice the late 60’s Mustang Fastbacks so I kept that option in mind. I scoffed at this kid in my school that would sell me his almost rust free, runs and drives 1969 Mach 1 for $2500. Too much for a Mustang, I thought. Late 60’s Camaro’s were starting to heat up price wise by then, but I never had much interest in them at the time, but you could get ‘buy-one/get-one free’ deals on mid 70’s Camaro’s and Trans-Ams just about everywhere. Nope. Not distinct enough for my taste. So I started shopping around for my Barracuda, a ‘fixer-upper’ that I could afford to buy and drive at the same time. A friend found a drivable 1971 Cuda’ 383 with the trunk practically gone and in need of a complete restoration for $1500, but I thought it was too much work. So I ended up buying a 1969 Coronet 383 that was rough but workable, and decided I’d just buy my ponycar a little later down the road.
Fast-forward much later down the road, and prices have skyrocketed on just about every ponycar made by the Big 3. How about a nice, drivable 1974 Barracuda 318 for $5000? Ha. No. How about those 1960’s Mustang Fastbacks, they made hundreds of thousands of them? Sure, but if you want all the options, like an engine and the floors, it’s going to cost you $15,000, if you’re lucky. But the good news is the late 60’s Camaro’s have stabilized in price, say around $15,000 to $20,000, but I’m still not into them. But what if you want something to drive everyday, with air conditioning, and a factory warranty, and air bags? Well the Big 3 have finally (read: about damn time) answered our prayers and will offer us retro-ponies at a price we can afford. Now, that’s exciting by itself, but, it will be even better when all three cars are on the road at the same time. Let me put it this way, you can have two of the most educated, docile, friendly 40-something year old’s in the world driving those cars, but when a Mustang and a Camaro meet at a stop light, one of those cars is going to lose a tooth. It’s not the owners fault. You can rest assured most of them bought the cars because they loved or used to own one of the originals, or maybe they just want to look cool. Nope… the cars know. I own a 2005 Mustang with the V6. I know it’s just a nice driver and not a pavement killer. Every time some kid pulls up next to me in a clapped-out Cavalier or a shiny four door Civic, or even an Aztek for Pete’s sake, then suddenly it’s on! They rev there engines and try to power break (almost killing the poor things) then break loose when the light turns green. All the while I just hang back in amazement thinking, “why are you trying to blow your car’s engine through the hood?” My Mustang laughs at me, because she knows she’s the one that picks the fight. If you think I’m overreacting then just watch the first time you see one of the new Dodge Challenger R/T’s and Camaro SS’ meet at a light. Me? I’m going to enjoy the peace and solidarity while it lasts. As far as never being able to afford my 1971 Cuda’, that’s ok, maybe they’ll make a 2011.
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