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Driving 100 mph in Older Cars
Posted on 1/23/26 at 10:41 am
Posted on 1/23/26 at 10:41 am
Related to the thread below on driving 100 mph, for those of you who did it in older cars (roughly pre 1970), do you remember the steering or road feel of the car?
My wife's grandmother had a 1963 Plymouth Fury that I got to drive a few times, and as I recall, because there was practically no road feel, or feedback from the suspension/steering, you didn't drive it so much as you aimed it in the direction you wanted to go. This particular car was somewhat like steering a boat; turn the wheel, and you'll eventually go in that direction.
FWIW, going more than say 80 mph would have scared the chit out of me. So if you did drive a 50's - 60 car fast, what is your memory of the experience?
My wife's grandmother had a 1963 Plymouth Fury that I got to drive a few times, and as I recall, because there was practically no road feel, or feedback from the suspension/steering, you didn't drive it so much as you aimed it in the direction you wanted to go. This particular car was somewhat like steering a boat; turn the wheel, and you'll eventually go in that direction.
FWIW, going more than say 80 mph would have scared the chit out of me. So if you did drive a 50's - 60 car fast, what is your memory of the experience?
33
Posted on 1/23/26 at 10:49 am to ronniep1
quote:
Related to the thread below on driving 100 mph, for those of you who did it in older cars (roughly pre 1970), do you remember the steering or road feel of the car?
'65 Mustang with the 289 HiPo.
around 110mph it felt like the arse end was gonna lift off the ground so I backed off
Posted on 1/23/26 at 10:49 am to ronniep1
i clearly remember my dad pushing 120-130mph on our vacation to disneyworld in the mid 1970s in our 1970 galaxie 500. 
mom was asleep but woke up during this little stunt and dad didn't try that again.
mom was asleep but woke up during this little stunt and dad didn't try that again.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 10:52 am to ronniep1
‘66 Chevy pick-up back when I was a kid, once you hit about 80/85 it felt like you were flying literally. We didn’t do it often…
Posted on 1/23/26 at 10:55 am to CAD703X
quote:
i clearly remember my dad pushing 120-130mph on our vacation to disneyworld in the mid 1970s in our 1970 galaxie 500.
mom was asleep but woke up during this little stunt and dad didn't try that again.
didn't mom realize that dad was just trying to conserve fuel so there'd be more money to spend at Dianey??
Posted on 1/23/26 at 11:01 am to ronniep1
The first time I did it was in a 1956 Chevy Bel Air, mom and dad's car. It was a V8 with a powerglide transmission.
The first in my own car was in a 1962 Corvair Monza. In those days, I didn't think I would ever die but honestly, that car felt a little shaky at 100 because it was a rear engine car. It felt a little flighty at high speeds.
The front had absolutely nothing in it and served as a beer cooler out on the lake.
The first in my own car was in a 1962 Corvair Monza. In those days, I didn't think I would ever die but honestly, that car felt a little shaky at 100 because it was a rear engine car. It felt a little flighty at high speeds.
The front had absolutely nothing in it and served as a beer cooler out on the lake.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 11:06 am to ronniep1
Imagine how much money you would save on gas if you drove 100mph in a '63 model paying '63 prices for fuel.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 11:07 am to ronniep1
I had a '67 Fury and you are correct about the steering.
It was a power assisted recirculating ball type.
Very little road feel and a grandma could turn the wheel with her pinky finger.
Cars at that time typically had front and rear bench seats like a couch. They were not designed for handling in fact quite the opposite they were meant to separate you from the road make you feel like you're in your living room.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 11:18 am to CAD703X
quote:
1970 galaxie 500
looked it up and you could get this car with a.......
460 cubic-inch (7.5-liter) Ford 385-series V8
Details on the 460 V8 in 1970:
-It was part of Ford’s “385-series” big-block family (along with the 429).
-Available in the Galaxie 500, LTD, and full-size Ford models.
-Often marketed with high torque for smooth, effortless cruising—perfect for the big Ford sedans of the era.
-Power output varied slightly by configuration, but generally 365 hp (gross)
marketed as a comfort-oriented family cruiser...that could do 125mph
Posted on 1/23/26 at 11:19 am to ronniep1
my dad had a 1977 Lincoln Town Car when we were growing up. It was just getting up on plane at 100
Posted on 1/23/26 at 11:23 am to Joe_Dirte
quote:
Details on the 460 V8 in 1970:
when my great aunt died in the late 90s she had a virtually untouched 1978 Lincoln Continental with the 460 in it. i was about 17 at the time, and i got to drive it a few times. like others on this thread have mentioned, those big old cars felt like they floated. i dont think i ever got it above 85 or so, but i can still remember that feeling.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 11:24 am to CAD703X
Drove the exact car in high school. 80mph everywhere I went. Over 100 if I was in a hurry. Car was a beast!
Posted on 1/23/26 at 11:30 am to ronniep1
I've done 100 in this plenty of times. The suspension is mostly stock, engine upgraded. I'll tell you, it's frickin terrifying. It floats, it's loud as hell, and you're supremely aware that if anything goes south there won't me much of you left to cremate.
It's fun as frick, but I don't do it often anymore
Posted on 1/23/26 at 12:07 pm to Anxiety
quote:i was embarrassed when it became my 'hand me down' car but then i realized i could blow the doors off everyone else
Drove the exact car in high school. 80mph everywhere I went. Over 100 if I was in a hurry. Car was a beast!
and i quickly fell in love with it.Posted on 1/23/26 at 12:08 pm to Joe_Dirte
quote:
marketed as a comfort-oriented family cruiser...that could do 125mph
i clearly remember my dad trying to make some variation of this argument to my mom after she busted him.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 12:57 pm to ronniep1
quote:
Driving 100 mph in Older Cars
Too many times. I shouldn't even be here.
Oldest car over 100?
55 Chevy.
Others:
73 Oldsmoble Vista Cruiser 455 Rocket*
70 GTO JUDGE
68 GTX 426 Hemi
63 Impala
66 Chevelle SS
69 Chevelle SS 396
70 Chevelle SS 454 LS6
70 Chevelle SS custom built 650 hp
70 Corvette
72 Corvette
69 Ford Torino GT 428 Cobra Jet
...and aeveral more, Those are just a few that stand out.
These were heavy cars. Especially the big blocks. High horsepower. You could let one get away from you pretty quick. You had to know how to drive.
When you nailed the throttle they just roared to life. Not like the quiet zip of something quick today. You hear the 4-barrels open up...it pins you to the seat. Bias-ply tires squalling.
* When I was 16 I took my driver's test in one like this, except it was dark green. Same side paneling. 19 ft long 7 ft wide and nearly 5000 pounds.
I not only drove that car at over 100 mph, I have ridden with my mother driving at over 100 mph in it.
1973 Oldsmoble Vista Cruiser 455 Rocket
Posted on 1/23/26 at 1:03 pm to ronniep1
71 Ford LTD. It had no road feel. To make me even stupider, I was on a small 2 lane country road. You know the kind with curves and lots of trees on both sides? I only did it once or twice but damn, I was an idiot.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 1:10 pm to ronniep1
My bro had one of those diesel Mercedes that was built like a tank. We left BR to go to Panama City for our checkout dive. I was driving while he worked. He was well connected politically in Louisiana and told me to drive as fast as I wanted but to slow down when we got to Mississippi. Cruising at over 100 in that tank and you hardly felt it.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 1:17 pm to 777Tiger
quote:
didn't mom realize that dad was just trying to conserve fuel so there'd be more money to spend at Dianey??
Never will not be funny
Posted on 1/23/26 at 1:17 pm to ronniep1
My first older, fast car was a 59 Ford Fairlane that an older friend of mine dropped an engine in it that he got out of a State Police car.
I had it up over 100 quite a few times when I was young and thought of myself as immortal. How I survived those times and others on motorcycles acting a fool, I don't know----especially the Kaw 500 and 750 2 strokes of the late 60's/early 70's. There was good reason the 750 was known as "The Widowmaker".
Those older cars had a lot of weight to them, didn't handle real good compared to today's cars and if you were lucky to have power steering, it was a good bit easier to drive----especially at slower speeds and making lots of turns.
Two times I was getting ready to drag race someone and blew the driveshaft U-joints to pieces and dropping my drive shaft under the car. From then on, I only did slow rolling hole shots.
I had it up over 100 quite a few times when I was young and thought of myself as immortal. How I survived those times and others on motorcycles acting a fool, I don't know----especially the Kaw 500 and 750 2 strokes of the late 60's/early 70's. There was good reason the 750 was known as "The Widowmaker".
Those older cars had a lot of weight to them, didn't handle real good compared to today's cars and if you were lucky to have power steering, it was a good bit easier to drive----especially at slower speeds and making lots of turns.
Two times I was getting ready to drag race someone and blew the driveshaft U-joints to pieces and dropping my drive shaft under the car. From then on, I only did slow rolling hole shots.
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