I had a 1977 Cutlass Salon with a 350 Rocket big block in it, original. I bought it off a kid that poured money into the drive train, then got a job and bought a new car. It chirped 3rd (auto) just because. Looked like a heap, but burned everyone off the line.
I Love sleepers.
at a stop light, in my ‘68 with a 351 cleveland, i had an Epic stop beside me…
He gave me a wink and a nod, and, taking that as admiration, decided to show him off.
He actually waited for me at the next light, laughing his head off, pointing to his back seat…
… where was a big honkin’ engine. It took the trunk and all the back seat.
He goosed it 2 or 3 times, lifting the whole thing off the ground.
I think the F.A.S.T. cars are a good representation of a sleeper. That being said, I like taking a big old grandma’s car, like my '77 ltd that I had in highschool, keeping the hubcaps, and building the crap out of the engine, tranny,etc., because nobody associates something that’s more mundane lookinbg with speed. While we can do a stock resto on a musclecar, they still represent the fastest that was available at the time. So maybe something a little more pedestrian.
The farm truck on the street outlaws program is a great example of a sleeper-mid 70’s pickup with a camper shell, and FAST.
I remember seeing a Craigslist add a few years back for a 1970 Sport Fury. Factory 440 6 pack 4 speed. That, would be a factory sleeper. However at the time of the craigslist ad it was a wasted hunk of rusty sheet metal missing the power train.
Two factory cars that I have seen.
68 2 door Galaxie with vinyl top. 428 CJ, 4 speed, 3.50 axle.
70 2 door post Falcon, 429 SCJ, auto with column shift, 4:30 drag pak, bench seat, dog dish
Epic? was that the same thing as an Opel, that was sold here in the states?
Does anyone remember the Cobra Jet Full size that was just called the Cobra Jet? Looked like a giant Torino fastback. Saw one when I read meters and was the most awesome full size sleeper. Just a small cobra jet scoop, dog dishes and jet black. Looked like something a bootlegger might have driven around back in the late 60’s. Awesome factory sleeper that looked like it should:big, understated, and mean. The only other time I ever saw one was a year later in Hemmings Muscle Machines, that I could swear was the same car.
I have no idea, sorry. It was in Hull, across the river from Ottawa in '75.
just a small square family car for fiscally challenged families.
ps… here you go https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Envoy_(automobile)
350 is not a “big block.” Now if you said 455, that would make more sense.
Farm Truck used to be a sleeper. But it isn’t anymore now that it’s awake and everyone knows what it is.
True. The cat’s out of the bag on Farm Truck. I DID like the episode where he tore the kid w/ the RX7 a new one. As far as the 350 rocket goes, I had a friend that had a '71 Cutlass two door w/ the same engine. Red w/ black vinyl top. The 350 Rocket was a pretty strong engine. Built it would have been a VERY good sleeper car, but even stock was a lot of fun.
Yes the early 70s Olds 350s were strong. I had one in a 72 Cutlass. I currently have three Olds 350s. Two are in actual Oldsmobiles and one is in a Pontiac. The mid-and later 70s are weak. So that 350 in the OPs comments really had to be built up. But regardless, it was NO “big block.”
What do we have these days? The Chevy SS & the Taurus SHO?
My '76 Pontiac Ventura Landau had the Olds 350 in it and did 150 MPH.
She looked like this:
It was a nice take on the sleeper luxury rocket.
I remember those. Great idea for a sleeper. A friend of mine had a Volare w/a 383 Magnum. Fun cars, both. How about a Mustang II with a 347? A base model, not a Cobra.
Or a Plymouth Valiant with a modern HEMI?
Yeah . A 3g hemi in a valiant would be sweet.
To quote Jim Wanders on his 403 trans am Pontiac gave him,“That thing won’t pull a sick whore off a toilet!”
I hope nobody takes offense. They’re Jim’s words in Hemmings.
I’m building one as we speak. Or a barnfind. It’s a 62 Chevy biscayne, primer gray with surface rust top, tan hood. 3 spots of rust on the outside. Was a 6cyl 3 on the tree turned into a floor shift. I bought used pitted emblems for the fenders featuring a 409…most would assume I just threw them on. But it has or will have a Jack Gibbs built 409 stroker(472 cubes) with a viper 6 speed, hidden behind an original bellhousing. Out back a 9 inch with 3.70 gears. C3 Vette front discs, rear disc all hidden behind 79 impala 15 inch rusty steelies with poverty caps. Under the hood is noticeable, super clean engine with dual master and hydro boost.
The inside is sun faded homemade door panels with a floral pattern headliner. Of course bench seat with touch seat covers. So if you ever see a 62 Chevy that has 409 emblems…you might think twice.
I would anyhow. I’ve driven a couple of 348 Tri Powers and they were pretty stout. I can just imagine a 409, or better yet 472 cubes. Sounds like fun.