When does a car lose it's title as a "street car"

["Turbo-T"]

The car wont get out of its own way, just spins the tires to smoke. Now he want a milder motor so he doesnt tear up tires.

Tell him to retard the timing until it won't spin the tires.

 

[jasjamz]

Street cars do not have fuel cells, ladder bar or four link suspensions, kirkey seats. They have power steering, don't overheat in downtown traffic and you don't have to put it in neutral at a red light.

My friend tells the street racers "If you have a street car like us, fill up with 93 oct and follow us until we say its time to race!" We have yet to be taken up on that offer. They admit then that they cant do that...

I love it when the locals build a 13 or 12 second car that can't be driven 30 miles. Cracks me up!

 

[corsair231]

You should be able to throw the keys to other people whom might not necessarily be considered "car people" and let them drive it in an emergency situation just as they would their own daily driver vehicle.

If this is one of the requirements then my '90 Laser is not a street car. With the exception of a slightly larger turbo it is 100% stock. The deal breaker is that my wife can't drive a manual transmission car. :biggrin:

She apparently has no desire to learn either.

 

[faster]

This topic is one that will never have a right or wrong answer because obviously everyone's opinions will always differ, but since you asked I'll give you mine.

First, the car must be able to be driven on pump gas and also must be able to drive long distances without overheating issues as well as any other issues that would cause the car to be considered unreliable. It must have a full exhaust that muffles so that you don't have to worry about being pulled over by the Po-Po because the car is too obnoxious. You should have all the creature comforts (A/C, radio, comfortable seats, etc.) so that the driving experience is not only enjoyable/tolerable for you, but your passenger(s) as well. You should be able to throw the keys to other people whom might not necessarily be considered "car people" and let them drive it in an emergency situation just as they would their own daily driver vehicle.

Anything with a cage looses it's abilty to be comfortable while driving but does not disqualify it as a street car. It would for me, meaning, I would never buy a car with a cage in it to operate on the street nor would I put one in it or atleast I hope not.

Tune, idle, driveablity, the abilty to run Pump Gas and over drive primarily determine a TRUE street car to me and does for many others. Not many can afford $15 a gallon to go out cruising but if you can then I guess it doesnt mean ur car isn't streetable. Just expensive to operate. Everyone is on different budgets I guess.

Obviously cars with 4500+ stalls are not really street cars even if they can be driven on the street.

AC/Heat is nice but not absolutely needed. Heat probably more so then AC gererally. Wearing heated socks with boots, gloves and 3 pairs of jeans with thermos to stay warm kinda takes away from the streetability imo.

Not to mention it's hard to see without defrost with a passenger in the car. More exhaling. Windows will fog and rolling down the windows when it's 40 degrees out when cruising really isn't a viable option.

In Florida AC is more of a must then a luxury. In New England it's heat not AC. Of course climate plays a role in determining the streetabilty of ur car from that perspective.

And a safety cage is only safe with a helmut and harness. If ur head strikes a steel bar inches from ur head after being T-boned two things are gonna happen. Either ur gonna split it open on the bar or risk snapping ur neck due to its close proximity to ur head. Pads wont help ur neck from snapping. Ur head is better off striking the window and breaking it then a steel or chromoly bar. So bars/cages are reserved for racing not street cars imo but doesn't exclude them from being used on the street as long as you dont get into an accident I guess.

This topic is one that will never have a right or wrong answer because obviously everyone's opinions will always differ, but since you asked I'll give you mine. "Copyrighted"

These two previous posts sum up my opinion.

Mikey

 

[ttypewe4jim]

1987 Buick Regal Street Sleeper - Features - GM High-Tech Performance

end of the debate... that is a true street car

 

[malibuick231]

1987 Buick Regal Street Sleeper - Features - GM High-Tech Performance

end of the debate... that is a true street car

Who in the hell can afford to drive 200 miles a week on c16.

 

[Sam Colalillo]

Nothing like taking your son to Baseball practice in his moms street car:biggrin:


All kinds of things are said Kevin,

Let me give you some examples.

* A guy runs a 10 once in his life, and now he has a solid 10 second ride.

* Someone runs a nine a couple times and now they have a 9 second street car.

*Someones takes thier wives car to baseball practice and to the local Ice cream stand. Then run deep into the 9's, claiming it is a street car.

* Some say it cant have a roll bar, or a spool to be a street car.

* Some say no way am I racing with out the proper safety equipment. Peoples lives are to valuable.




One thing is certian everyone will have their own opinion on this. Some people will ridicule others for what they like. Others will compliment eveyone for thier passion of cars.

Well anyway, Kevin here is my answer. It is a street car, check out this video cruzn the strip

Cruzn the strip

 

[Sam Colalillo]

I considered my 66 Chevelle a street car.

Creature comforts - none. Manual disc brakes, manual steering, no heat but did have wipers, horn and lights. Oh yeah, did have motor operated glovebox door though. Padded racing bucket seats were actually more comfortable than the GN seats on a long trip. 12 point cage with no back seat. Biggest headache was driving it on a winding back road where you had to constantly be looking around 6-71 supercharger.

Man that was really nice car. I remember seeing it in one of my car magazines when I was younger. Another example of a nice street car in my opnion. Wow I still love chevelles

 

[jasjamz]

Remember how old that article is.....

Who in the hell can afford to drive 200 miles a week on c16.

I know one of that cars previous owners. I witnessed him drive that car on the highway for an hour to Great Lakes Dragway. He mad one low ten second pass to make sure his octane was up to par and proceeded to make two 9 second runs at over 140. He wasnt a wheels up launcher. Drove it home too. He put 93 in it and drive it to work when he had the urge. That was like 50 miles each way also. He has other nice toys too so it didnt get driven everyday. At that time. 93oct was under $2.00 100oct was like $3.00oct and 110 was under $4.50 per gallon and all available out of the pump. 5 gallons of 116-118 was like $42-$45 from the local speed shops. So, you could fill up with 116 for like $150. Now its like $60 to fill up with 93. I know if he still had it, a dual nozzle kit from Razor would have been on it and still a 9sec car driven alot!

Oh, and STREET CARS can still carry the same amount of passengers it could from the factory... bye bye Nova!

 

[Heavy D]

Intresting reading what everyone thinks a "street car" is. For me its simple, if its got tags and insurance and you can drive it, its a "street car"!

If I want to drive 10 hours to Bowling Green with ac and a stereo, I'll throw the car on the trailer behind the dually!

I will continue building my caged, tubbed, fuel celled lite weight race car thats street legal cause thats what I like. See you on the boulevard, I hope you brought enuff!

 

[86brick]

I know one of that cars previous owners. I witnessed him drive that car on the highway for an hour to Great Lakes Dragway. He mad one low ten second pass to make sure his octane was up to par and proceeded to make two 9 second runs at over 140. He wasnt a wheels up launcher. Drove it home too. He put 93 in it and drive it to work when he had the urge. That was like 50 miles each way also. He has other nice toys too so it didnt get driven everyday. At that time. 93oct was under $2.00 100oct was like $3.00oct and 110 was under $4.50 per gallon and all available out of the pump. 5 gallons of 116-118 was like $42-$45 from the local speed shops. So, you could fill up with 116 for like $150. Now its like $60 to fill up with 93. I know if he still had it, a dual nozzle kit from Razor would have been on it and still a 9sec car driven alot!

Oh, and STREET CARS can still carry the same amount of passengers it could from the factory... bye bye Nova!

Rob's car was awesome and IMO just about as fast as you could go with it still being a true street car. It was also a nice sleeper with the stock T rims and column shift. I wonder who owns that car now??

Here's a video of it~

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN9MTjD-wNU[/YOUTUBE]

 

[jasjamz]

Yep Brick That exactly how it ran here, smoooth and Fast!

Heavy D. Why would a street car have a fuel cell in the trunk? Big tubs mean No back seat, if its a Regal it should seat 5. Glass bumpers, hood, no A/C or heat right. Thats a "Streetable Race Car". Big difference. Not knocking your thing but I think thats the cloudy area... Street Car or Streetable Race Car, who fits where?

 

[KevinB]

Thanks for the opinions everyone!

My conclusion is this on how people come up with their opinions:

If said person has a 11 second car....there is no such thing as a street 10 second car.

If said person has a 10 second car.....there is no such thing as a street 9 second car.

etc, etc....


Of course everyone will always defend their car


My opinion on what has been said so far:

-Street cars can have fuel cells. Are you telling me my 15 gallon cell with sending unit is not a street piece? My fuel pump requires a good sump setup. I do not like the sumps welded to the stock tanks.

-Street cars can have cages. I like going to the track. In recent years, I would not take the chance of racing a 10 second or faster car without one. Especially after seeing a few wrecks and roll overs. Safe cars can be street cars. Now a funny car cage in a car....maybe not.

-Street cars should be able to sit in traffic all day. Should also have working lights, wipers, and other basic safety equipment.

-You do not need a/c to be a street car. My daily driver doesn't have a/c lol.

-Car does not have to be a daily driver to be a street car.

-Factories made millions and millions of cars without overdrive.

-I think the argument about anyone being able to jump in a car and driving without instructions is invalid. Any car with an aftermarket ratchet shifter would be out.

 

[jasjamz]

I dont see many use a cell that holds 15 gallons. I should of stated the small guys. Overdrive, I agree. A/C agree but heat... try a car with no heat up north, thats a no no. Good thread Kevin!

 

[coach]

Intresting reading what everyone thinks a "street car" is. For me its simple, if its got tags and insurance and you can drive it, its a "street car"!

If I want to drive 10 hours to Bowling Green with ac and a stereo, I'll throw the car on the trailer behind the dually!

I will continue building my caged, tubbed, fuel celled lite weight race car thats street legal cause thats what I like. See you on the boulevard, I hope you brought enuff!

Finally, my brother from a different mother!!! This will be argued until the end of time, but I ask, "Who should be allowed in the argument???" Guys making comments on cars that they themselves have never owned nor driven should stay out. If you had a caged, tubbed, wheelie barred, parachuted, pro street car at one time, OK. If you knew a guy ,who knew a guy, whos neighbor had one, shut-up. When someone mentioned that to be a street car, you had to be able to let your mom or grandma or sister drive it in an emergency, that rules out any car on race gas, or ALKY. So where does that leave us. It leaves us with stock 13 sec GN's and LS cars. No way my mom woould know what fuel to put in, nor would my lead footed gram stay out of passing gear on the way to the store. So when she run my ALKY tank out, BOOM go my head gaskets.

See there, problem solved. A street car is made by the manufacture and we can change paint color, and rims and stereo. TA-DA!!! End of argument.

Take care,
Coach

 

[jasjamz]

Finally, my brother from a different mother!!! This will be argued until the end of time, but I ask, "Who should be allowed in the argument???" Guys making comments on cars that they themselves have never owned nor driven should stay out. If you had a caged, tubbed, wheelie barred, parachuted, pro street car at one time, OK. If you knew a guy ,who knew a guy, whos neighbor had one, shut-up. When someone mentioned that to be a street car, you had to be able to let your mom or grandma or sister drive it in an emergency, that rules out any car on race gas, or ALKY. So where does that leave us. It leaves us with stock 13 sec GN's and LS cars. No way my mom woould know what fuel to put in, nor would my lead footed gram stay out of passing gear on the way to the store. So when she run my ALKY tank out, BOOM go my head gaskets.

See there, problem solved. A street car is made by the manufacture and we can change paint color, and rims and stereo. TA-DA!!! End of argument.

Take care,
Coach

I guess you didn't read the first post. He asked for everyones opinions. Who are you to say who should and shouldnt post on this thread? One should always support their opinion with facts, reasons, or examples as many did in this thread. The type of fuel a person uses has nothing to do with the ease of operation of the car. I think you made a poor choice of words in your last post but it's a free country.

 

[Grumpy]

So when she run my ALKY tank out, BOOM go my head gaskets.
Take care,
Coach

Alky lasts for a day or to.. Someone goin to use it in an emergency an run out a gallon in an hour ??? We beat Melissa's car up all the time an still wouldn't go threw a gallon very fast :biggrin:

 

[odell4o8]

street car

My street car dont have air cond, it has a manual trans, manual brakes, manual steering, rides a little ruff, idles at 900 rpm, ever cop i meet on the road looks at me and it could use a paint job. i drove the dam thing to flordia back in 1974. i have owned it for almost 40 years its a 66 vette roadster with hard top, other hand my 87 regal that i call a race car, has manual steering and brakes,auto, trans, but you have to shift it. it has insurance and plates on it and i do drive it on these county roads somestimes,
good luck, an have a nice day oc,

 

[Heavy D]

Yep Brick That exactly how it ran here, smoooth and Fast!

Heavy D. Why would a street car have a fuel cell in the trunk? Big tubs mean No back seat, if its a Regal it should seat 5. Glass bumpers, hood, no A/C or heat right. Thats a "Streetable Race Car". Big difference. Not knocking your thing but I think thats the cloudy area... Street Car or Streetable Race Car, who fits where?

Because thats where the fuel goes in my street car!.....

Yes its a Regal, or was. When Buick built it, it sat 5. The one I'm building seats 2..

Your right, it will be a streetable racecar as I stated!.....

No cloudy area at all if you use my definition...

 

[jasjamz]

Because thats where the fuel goes in my street car!.....

Yes its a Regal, or was. When Buick built it, it sat 5. The one I'm building seats 2..

Your right, it will be a streetable racecar as I stated!.....

No cloudy area at all if you use my definition...

I agree with you 100 percent a Streetable Race Car. I love those too. I've seen your post and know the direction your heading. Being in Chicago, you know how loose the term "street car" can get. (KOTS@ US-41) Hope you paint it that paint scheme too, looks good!!

Grumpy, I have yet to use a gallon in a day. If you had the pump flowing that much you should have expected something to happen. :biggrin: Man the far fetched things people type on here