The Need for Speed?

          Well, that is an interesting question indeed especially in this day of catalytic converters, emissions controls, CAFÉ fuel averages, and crash safety. But you know, we gearheads are clever blokes! In 1968 when the USA EPA and Department of Transportation issued guidelines on automobile safety and emissions standards, we all thought that was the end of performance in cars, period. Unleaded fuels, catalytic converters, and 5MPH bumpers became the norm and we saw our favorite cars de-tuned to comply with this new standard. Sad but true, we lost a generation of cars that had the spirit and stuffing knocked out of them. BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE, automotive engineers and gearheads weren’t going to take this final insult to heart, they rolled up their sleeves, warmed up their slide rules and started to recover some of that lost performance and design style.