Simply how weak was the American efficiency automobile within the Nineteen Seventies? Very weak. New emissions and fuel-economy rules sucked the life out of the American V-8, and it wasn’t till the rise of recent engine administration programs that our efficiency vehicles bought a little bit of muscle again. A dyno check of a 1979 Ford Mustang Cobra reveals simply how grim issues bought.

YouTube channel Late Mannequin Restoration just lately did a principally beauty restoration of this early Fox-body Mustang, and relatively than stick a a lot hotter V-8 below the hood, it stored issues inventory. On its dyno, the automated Cobra managed simply 125 horsepower and 211 pound-feet of torque on the wheels. That is not horrible since Ford rated this 4.9-liter (badged as a 5.0) engine at 140 hp and 250 lb-ft when new. But additionally, sheesh. At present’s four-cylinder Mustang makes effectively greater than double that.

That is simply 25.5 hp/liter, or 15.6 hp/cylinder. This Cobra’s computerized transmission most likely is not doing it any favors, both. And remarkably, this wasn’t even the lowest-powered V-8 Mustang: Ford provided a 4.2-liter V-8 within the 1980 Mustang that made simply 118 hp.

Issues would not be so darkish for therefore lengthy, although. By 1985, Ford managed to recover from 200 hp out of its Mustang V-8, and it has been a gentle climb ever since. At present’s Mustang Darkish Horse makes 500 hp out of a V-8 of the identical displacement. And if you happen to owned a Mustang Cobra again in 1979, issues may’ve been worse. Late Mannequin Restoration as soon as dynoed a ’79 Mustang Ghia, and its naturally aspirated 2.3-liter four-cylinder made simply 64 hp.