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Lessmore's avatar
Lessmore
Explorer II
Sep 21, 2017

Anyone ever tow with a '60's/'70's muscle car ?

Anyone ever tow with a '60's/'70's muscle car ? I often wonder what it would of been like to tow with say a Chevy Impala SS 427, a Plymouth GTX 440 V8, a Ford Torino with the 428 Cobra Jet...and any of those big inch V8 muscle cars from the '60's to early '70's.

What were and/or are your experiences ?

I recall talking to a guy at a campground about 20 + years ago. He was towing a large, heavy tent trailer...had towed it over the Rockies...he was from B.C. Used around a '50 Ford woody wagon (beautiful) with a 472 Cadillac. Lot's of power..towed over the mountains with ease.
Tow Vehicles

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  • romore's avatar
    romore
    Explorer II
    Sep 21, 2017
    We wanted acceleration for short distances not towing and that is what they were built for. Those big carburetors and high lift long duration cams would suck for towing unless we stayed in second gear and fuel consumption would break the bank. The 472 Caddy would have towed with ease but I'll bet it was thirsty. K Charles, that is funny. Obviously your dad didn't have high expectations.
  • TakingThe5th's avatar
    TakingThe5th
    Explorer
    Sep 21, 2017
    I think the old Chevy big blocks - the 348 and 409 - began life as a truck engine. If memory serves, the 409 was advertised as a 409 hp engine with 409 lbs torque. That should get most people up the hill, but I think without computers and fuel injection we saw more engines running leaner in the thin air and overheating back then.
  • K_Charles's avatar
    K_Charles
    Explorer
    Sep 21, 2017
    My parents pulled a pop-up with a falcon. In '62 they traded in the falcon for a falcon wagon and went from a 144 cu in to a 170 cu in. Dad said that was a power house and pulled the pop-up much better.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Sep 21, 2017
    I pulled a heavy boat with a 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 455. Good power but squatted in the rear. Not sure what would have happened if I tried stop quickly.
  • dfletch's avatar
    dfletch
    Explorer
    Sep 21, 2017
    Well I had a 1970 Chevell SS back in the day. It would put out 425 HP and do a 12 second 1/4 mile. Prob could have pulled a TT but might have slowed me down to much. LOL
  • the_bear_II's avatar
    the_bear_II
    Explorer
    Sep 21, 2017
    My brother towed an 23ft Ideal TT with a 70's Mercury Monterey with no problem. One of his favorite camping spots was at 5000 feet. The climb to get there was 21 miles long and went from near sea level to 6000 feet.

    In the 60's and 70's lots of folks pulled TTs with sedans & station wagons with receiver hitches or the old clamp on to the rear bumper hitches.

    It can be done.
  • 1995brave's avatar
    1995brave
    Nomad
    Sep 21, 2017
    1973 Dodge B200 van with 360 and automatic. 360 slightly modified, 4 barrel carb, dual exhaust, and cam. It would smoke the rear tires. Towed a 1954 Willys CJ3B across the country several times, including towing up into the mountains around Colorado Springs almost monthly for some weekend fun. Never had a problem.

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