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definition of a "street car"

Jerry Hall said:
Yes, the Demons, and the Redeye's. I'm a old iron guy too, but we were talking street cars. Even though my Hemi Dart is only a low to mid 10 second car it's still not a street car.
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"Only" he sez…. :)
 
Well I consider my 68 R/R a street car, 440 A/T and 323s mild comp HFT. Can hop in and drive 500 miles. The 73 Duster 470 TF 240s and a Comp 282SFT not so much. Just put some seat belts and have a helmet coming. Will take it to our local track and see what it dose later this month. I think the rules say if faster than a 12.99 it will need some cage work. Might get kicked off so then it will no longer be a street car if I cage it. JMO. The track is not sanctioned but loosely follows NHRA rules.
 
In my humble opinion, there are two ways to get a fast street car
One is to get a nice light ex racecar, with good traction and big tires, and covert it back to strret use with mufflers, a big radiator, lights tags and insurance (as a "collector" car). It can be as fast as you are willing to put up with, as far as motor and gearing. It WONT be comfortable or quiet, but you wanted fast, right?
The other way is simple: immense power. This is what is now being offered on the showroom floor now, but even more is available aftermarket, and the cars can be remarkably fast, and comfortable, and streetable. Hot rod magazine, a few issues back had at least ten builders who could provide at least 1000hp. With fuel injection and fuel management, and a couple turbos, its almost easy now.
Fast old racecar is the direction i took. For 10-20 grand, high nines-low tens are possible. I cant afford the hundred grand for a zl1, a redeye, or a gt500, but a 496-572 with a 300hp nitous kit is doable.
 
It is really what one is willing to put up with.


eldubb440 said:
must be able to be driven dependably on a daily basis
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IMO, that’s dead nuts ball on crackin perfect for the individual. How others see it is subjective.

I see a true street car as something that does indeed get driven everyday. Something that is nothing more than a factory car with bolt on parts and a cam. While no one would know if the internals are rebuilt or stroked, which is nether here or there, the over all attitude of the car and it’s demeanor is not so narly (sp) sounding. Oh, and no roll bars/safety cages, needed or not.

Something your Mom or Grand mother could get into and not complain about. (Save the exhaust sound? LOL!)

To me, a street car is not a hotrod looking car. Stock suspension sitting level, stock diameter tires, wider is fine, not overly wide tires in the back with bicycle tires up front. Not needing a sky high (as compared to stock) stall converter.

Now my “Hot Rod” car looks the part.
And I can be driven everyday. But it’s not my street car. It suffers from a mileage loss compared to stock in a noticeable manner and amount. A slight reduction in ride quality, etc....
 
IMHO if a car retains the stock suspension it is a street car.Torsion bars & leaf springs. These cars can go into the 8's! When the car is back halved it's more of a race car driven on the street,aftermarket "K" frames I'm on the fence but aftermarket control arms are ok. It's a debatable subject and really don't matter. Again look at the full tube race cars that run drag week, my hat is off to them. Wish I could afford to do that:(:rolleyes:
 
Street Car - 11.50 and slower (No Roll Bar), DOT Tires, Full Interior (rear seat too), Real Glass Windows, Not covered with sponsor or contingency stickers, Able to drive at least 100+ miles on a tank of pump gas, Foot Brake (No trans brake), No two-step, delay boxes, or other electronic driver aids, Licensed and insured, working head and tail lights.

Otherwise, its more a race car driven on the street, and that's OK with me too :)
 
451Mopar said:
Street Car - 11.50 and slower (No Roll Bar), DOT Tires, Full Interior (rear seat too), Real Glass Windows, Not covered with sponsor or contingency stickers, Able to drive at least 100+ miles on a tank of pump gas, Foot Brake (No trans brake), No two-step, delay boxes, or other electronic driver aids, Licensed and insured, working head and tail lights.

Otherwise, its more a race car driven on the street, and that's OK with me too :)
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I think you have that about right. But i guess there are a lot of racecars driven on the street!
 
There are some Coyote Mustangs that are street legal and even retain factory a/c running mid 7's in the quarter.
 
HEMI-ITIS said:
But it IS street driven!!







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Ya Crazy Bastard you!!

al5.jpg
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Hemi-its (1).jpg
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hebrew_hammer.jpg
 
Stroker68 said:
See the term thrown around a lot right? Gonna be alot of different opinions I know. Thought it would be interesting to hear them. Another member brought up the question is it street car or race car driven on street? Got me to thinking and that's not always a good thing. Where does a guy draw the line? Maybe it's just what your willing to put up with. Thoughts?
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There is no correct answer really. A purposely built race car with no title that doesn't have the legal equipment to drive on the street isn't a street car.
 
I think a prerequisite for a street car is a factory hood (with no hole in it). And no parachutes to supplement braking either. And a full exhaust system to boot. One more thing, a transmission that operates in drive (auto) or needs to be shifted with a clutch pedal (standard). And full factory seating and glass so you can pick up girls. Legally tagged and registered following state laws. Mean Street Machine:

 
End of the week, cut me loose
Headin' into town tonight
Fuel injected, flat back chrome
It's enough to start a fight
Lookin' for girls, lookin' for love, lookin' for a little fun
If you're lookin' for trouble, just get in my way 'cause
I'm lookin' out for number 1

Saturday nights' the best
Only way around
Is my MEAN STREET MACHINE

Out on the streets it's the same old scene
Watch it as the night crawls by
Well dressed, hard pressed, pretty boys
Lookin' for a reason why
It's a one way street, a one way ride, and one way to the top
It's a one shot chance at the finish line and
I ain't gonna stop

Too many nights, too many times spent hangin' on the same old strip
Dreams seem easy but they never come free
It's an old familiar trip
Round and round and up and down
Never worry 'bout the people I see

Locked in a groove and there's no way out so
I'm tearing up the street
 
Last edited:
If the law allows it, it’s a street car! The streets are owned by the government so they get to define “street car”.
 
Dibbons said:
I think a prerequisite for a street car is a factory hood (with no hole in it). And no parachutes to supplement braking either. And a full exhaust system toboot. One more thing, a transmission that operates in drive (auto) or needs to be shifted with a clutch pedal (standard). And full factory seating and glass so you can pick up girls. Legally tagged and registered following state laws. Mean Street Machine:

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No hole in the hood? Like 69 sixpack cars, or factory shakers, ( ford and mopar)? Or maxwedge cars? And why does the trans need to operate in drive? I love my manual valve body trans. And a transbrake is serious fun. Why does this make it not-a-street car.
This is an arizona street car

20190223_155915.jpg
 
Factory "holes" are fine, I mean modified hoods. Street cars should enjoy the pleasure and factory settings like drive. I love the slapsticks. Street cars don't need transbrakes. We have to draw the line somewhere. Just my opinion, I'm old school.
 
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