440 Cubic Inch Plant

 "It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas."

-E. Blues

The cop motor in a 1974 Dodge Monaco made 260 hp @ 4,000 rpm and 345 ft-lb at 3,200 rpm (SAE net).  8/12 miles per gallon.

Lugging around 4,449 lb. it did the 1/4 mile in 17.6 seconds at a whopping 82 miles per hour.

That's sure disappointing.

The second Bluesmobile, a 1990 Ford LTD Crown Victoria, used a 351 cu-in engine that made 180 hp @ 3,600 rpm and 285 ft-lb @ 2,400 rpm.  With a fuel economy of 13/19 mpg.

It tared at 3,858 lb. and ran the 1/4 in 17.4 sec at 80 mpg.

A 1996 9C1 Caprice's 350 cubic inch engine puts out 260 hp @ 5,000 rpm and 330 @ 2,400 rpm.  17/26 miles per gallon.

1/4 mile is 15.5 seconds at 89 miles per hour weighing 4,090 lb.

The Beast makes 355 hp @ 5,300 rpm and 384 ft-lb @ 4,400 rpm from a much smaller (and lighter) 364 cubic inch motor.  15/24 mpg.

The 1/4 mile goes by in 13.9 seconds a 101 miles an hour.  Curb weight is a svelte 4,162 lb.  (4,113 with Camaro rims).

This comparison is why I don't, generally, pine for the good old days.