To be a street car or not to be a street car?

[Fast240Z]

I would like to hear from everyone what you think makes the difference between a street car and a race car. Does race car suspension under a street car make it a race car? Does just the fact the car runs single digits make it a race car? Does the fact a race car has a plate, mufflers and head lights make it a street car?

In other words, what's the differance between a street car and a streetable car. We have all seen those cars at the bridge show up on trailers. Just because you can drive a car on the street does that alone make it a street car? What criteria should a car meet to be considered a true street car?

Let me hear it.

Mark

[boostdshadow]

Stock suspension, Street tires, muffllers w/tailpipes, and the ability to actually drive it on the street without overheating or getting pulled over by every cop within 5 miles. Just my opinion.:)

[Strokd85]

I'll go with the FFW "True Street" definition.
THey cruise the cars 30 miles and then make 3 back to back passes.. No refueling, no changing tires, opening the hood, etc..
tagged, insured, lights, horn, turn signals, etc...
That to me would be a "street" car..

I could make mine a "streetable" car, but I wouldn't run out all the time to pick up groceries in it... :)

[HybridSS]

I drive mine to work on occasion. And it cruises great on the highway. But thats always a tough question to answer and what one person will put up with and call streetable is different from the next guy.

I am probably giving up alot of ET by staying with the 6 speed...but it does add alot of streetability. I can drive it long distance...which i do on occasion. So for now its staying in. I may get the 1-2 gear set proshifted to help with the ETs later on.

[Scott]

Street car means you can and do drive it on the street.

Trailor queens are just that whether they race at the bridge or not.

Full cage, no cage, auto trans, manual trans, big block, small block, power adder or N/A if you can drive it to and from your destination it is a street car in my eyes. E.T. has little to do with it. If John Force could legally drive to and from the bridge / track I would call his a street car.

But like Derek said you must have working lights, signals, etc..

"Streetable cars" is just a play on words that you can thank race promoters for. Anything can be streetable to some degree.

[qitstrn]

If you can get away with driving it around and not getting pulled over for illegal items all the time then it's a streetcar. I give you and HybridSS along with others alot of credit for your cars. It's only because you are so fast people want to say its not a street car. If you had the same set-up and it ran like shit because you didnt know what you were doing do you think people would say thats not street legal. Just haters. You can take a street car to the track but you cant take the racecar onto the street. I'd take a 9 sec street car anyday you lucky bastard!!!;) :)

[Strokd85]

I think the term should be changed to "Trailer Kings", cause we rule... :D

[Scott]

Originally posted by Strokd85
I think the term should be changed to "Trailer Kings", cause we rule... :D

Hey man that was not aimed at you or others that trailor cars to the track. It was aimed at those people that show up at the hot spots with trailored cars.

[Sneakin Deacon]

i think street cars would better be qualified as, if they got pulled over, they might just get an exhaust ticket and thats it...

[Strokd85]

I know Scott, no problems here. I just find the term funny..

[HybridSS]

My car as it sits is not as street freindly with the Welds and ET streets. When I put on the SS rims and wide tires it drives great and could be taken on trips around the state or longer if I needed to. So Id say my car is very "streetable."

But I like Scotts definition of streetcar. Get in...drive it to where your going, have fun, drive it home.

[Half Fast]

Originally posted by HybridSS
But I like Scotts definition of streetcar. Get in...drive it to where your going, have fun, drive it home.

+ A/C, all power luxuries, stereo, and it doesn't give you a droning headache after 150 miles. :D

[Billy]

I would say if its tagged, insured, has lights, windshield wipers, and other things needed to be driven on the street as well as being able to be driven around on pump gas with out over heating it's a street car to me.

[T/S #25]

What does pump gas have to do with it being called a street car or not?

[qitstrn]

Originally posted by T/S #25
What does pump gas have to do with it being called a street car or not? I agree. If you have the hair on your sac then you run race gas.;)

[Billy]

Originally posted by T/S #25
What does pump gas have to do with it being called a street car or not? Because that's what I consider a street car. Not saying it will never see race gas, just that it can be run on 93 if one were to do it. I want to be able to pull up at a Shell and get gas not have to pull over on the side of the road and get the can out of the back to fill the car up.

[race495]

Originally posted by HybridSS
My car as it sits is not as street freindly with the Welds and ET streets. When I put on the SS rims and wide tires it drives great and could be taken on trips around the state or longer if I needed to. So Id say my car is very "streetable."



That is pretty much what I would consider a real "street" car.

If you can go into the garage, crank it up and drive it to NYC without a worry (well, except for it getting stolen:lol: ) then it is a real street car.

If it is a challenge to drive it 40 miles, then it is a race car that is forced out on the street.

Oh, and all of the original power amenities still in place should be a consideration. If you can't get it done with the power steering and A/C then don't call it a street car.;)

[qitstrn]

I can drive my car to miami and back. That is streetable. Going to newyork? What alot of people dont realize is most people that have fast cars dont want to put the wear and tear of everyday driving. Most importantly taking a greater risk of some jackass crashing into your pride and joy. Not to mention I thinkwe have a few senior citizens driving around in florida.

[race495]

Originally posted by qitstrn
I can drive my car to miami and back. That is streetable. Going to newyork? What alot of people dont realize is most people that have fast cars dont want to put the wear and tear of everyday driving. Most importantly taking a greater risk of some jackass crashing into your pride and joy. Not to mention I thinkwe have a few senior citizens driving around in florida.


LOL! I didn't mean you actually had to do the drive. I meant that you wouldn't even worry about your car making the trip.

Hell, I won't let my car out of my sight, let alone driving it near NYC! :lol:

[2NASSTY]

FAST240Z,

Nice thread topic and Wicked car. Jaws dropped all over the place at last months track event.

Here is my description of a "Street Car";

Can be driven on pump gas.
Can be driven cross country on any given day of the week.
Can take the kids to school & buy groceries any day of the week.
Can take your wife or girlfriend out and have room in the back for those spontaneous moments.

[351coupe]

I use pump gas.I drive mine every day to and from work.I take my daughters to school.I go to the grocerey store.I take the dog to the vet.Can hump my wife in the back,if she'd ever get in the damn thing.But...........It's loud,the neighbors allways complain.Have to put gas in it every 40 or so miles.It's on ETstreets.It's loud,shakes the house when I pull in the garage.Can't drive it to NYC.But.........I will allways drive it on the street,even when it becomes an 8second ride,I'll still do all the things I still do now,there for I,and I stress I,will allways consider it a daily driven "street car"..Oh,did I mention it was loud?LOL

[Fast240Z]

Originally posted by 351coupe
...Can hump my wife in the back,if she'd ever get in the damn thing...

Hell mine never came with a back seat!

Mark

[97blkz]

Back seats suck anyways! I'm with the it needs Radio /ac(if it supposed to have it)/ and an Interior, no raw metal sticking out! And yes it needs to be able to run on pump gas !

[Fast240Z]

Ok, so what I hear is if it runs on pump gas and you have the balls to drive it on the street than it's a street car. I'm up for that. My Z is alot nicer and easier to drive than my old Chevelle I had back in the day. That thing ran hot, was always braking down and it only went 12.0. It did have a radio.

Sure my car is not what some people think of as a ture street car, but if I had to prove a point I could drive it from Sunshine to Orlando drag strip and rip off a single digit pass. It wouldn't be the most comfort filled ride but the last 1/4 mile would be fun.

I think a street car is what you make it. As long as it is legal(i.e. lights, tag, insurance etc.) who cares if it has a/c or a radio. 34 years ago if you wanted one of those bad ass L-88 Corvettes you didn't get a radio or a/c. You only got the bear minimum to go fast.

Mark

[Billy]

Agreed. :D

[race495]

Originally posted by Fast240Z

I think a street car is what you make it. As long as it is legal(i.e. lights, tag, insurance etc.) who cares if it has a/c or a radio. 34 years ago if you wanted one of those bad ass L-88 Corvettes you didn't get a radio or a/c. You only got the bear minimum to go fast.

Mark


Yeah but 34 years ago you only had bias ply tires to ride on too:lol:

Luckily we have the technology we do which allows us to have a fast, true street car that has all of the creature comforts.

[SlicksMH]

My say is if it has a lic-plate it's a street car, now if you but slicks on it, it's not a street car but you can have the best of all worlds, we came out with a new M&H- DOT and it has the racing compound it's called the P205/60-13 = 7.5/22.8-13 and I just got them in my warehouse.:)

John@M&H

[flybyuin2.2]

its hard to say what's considered a street car anymore, too many opinions, altough my old Trans AM was a streetable car, the cops said "NO" as i didn't have a rear seat because of the cage and got a ticket for improper equipment since its a 4 seater not a 2 seater so he said:roll: but makes sense, if it runs on pump gas and has all the accesories it came with from the factory its a street car, if its gutted, tubbed, running race gas than i consider it streetable.

[launch]

Great topic here. I would have to agree with most that if it can be driven daily and all legalities met its a street car. 1.3 60ft time is a hell of a street car 240. I've seen you run at the track. Hope you keep it there cause I'm not gonna run.

Launch

[BigBadBuick]

Originally posted by boostdshadow
Stock suspension, Street tires, muffllers w/tailpipes, and the ability to actually drive it on the street without overheating or getting pulled over by every cop within 5 miles. Just my opinion.:)
I agree as Boostdshadow and I have both participated in Muscle Mustangs true street events, and we know how frustrating it is to drive your car to gandy, and then get asked for "cars and moves" from people that brought their's out on trailers. That's pretty much when I decided to sell my mustang but hey Boostdshadow, I guess by your description, your car's not a "street car":razz: Nice tailpipe.

[Fast240Z]

Any new thoughts? If you have been reading any of the car magazines, you have seen the not so new trend towards G-machines. These are cars who can do more than just go fast in a straight line. Discuss?

Mark

[Sneakin Deacon]

ummm....its a street car if the officer says so... :lol:

[Suicidal Racing]

g machine are nice i would build one if i was into autocross and stuff like that

[???]

well, your at the races then.....






yours is a race car and mines a street car.......what am i getting?


i think that sums it up.

[???]

but really it comes down to a lack of an overdrive and if its runs on pump gas....to me

once to go auto, tall gears and big stall(in search of E.T.) then its just not fun to drive in the street unless your breaking the law.


and of coarse what's fun to drive is different to everyone. some people like driving slow in cars that are fast. just for the looks and stuff, I guess.

[24-7]

Originally posted by Fast240Z
...Sure my car is not what some people think of as a ture street car, but if I had to prove a point I could drive it from Sunshine to Orlando drag strip and rip off a single digit pass....






That is a street car right there. If you can drive it to the track, make some passes and drive it home.

[DaTruth]

Originally posted by race495
That is pretty much what I would consider a real "street" car.

If you can go into the garage, crank it up and drive it to NYC without a worry (well, except for it getting stolen:lol: ) then it is a real street car.

If it is a challenge to drive it 40 miles, then it is a race car that is forced out on the street.

Oh, and all of the original power amenities still in place should be a consideration. If you can't get it done with the power steering and A/C then don't call it a street car.;)

I totally agree. My car is a street car under this definition.

[Strokd85]

My car is not a street car.. just so we're clear... :D

[Ian MMF]

Originally posted by 24-7
That is a street car right there. If you can drive it to the track, make some passes and drive it home.

That pretty much sums it up. If you have a car, and can drive it to a race track that is more then 30min from your home, rip off some passes and still drive it home then it's a street car to me. The thing is that you have to race it in the condition you drove it there. No changing tires once your at the track or puting race gas in or anything like that. I know of a kid who drove to brandonton which is about 2 hours from where he lives, ran one pass of 11.0 @ 133 on radials with no changes what so ever, got kicked out cause of no cage and drove home with no changes. That to me is a street car.

[Scott]

Why did we bring up this old thread ? Mark does not even have the Datsun anymore.

[Fast240Z]

Originally posted by Scott
Why did we bring up this old thread ? Mark does not even have the Datsun anymore.

Well, Scott it's not always about me. As much as I would like it to be about me, it's not. I am just wondering about what we thought about the topic. There has been a little talk about this subject on the HotRod web site. People are crying that most of the cars who competed in the pump gas drag were not real street car and were just race cars in disguise. What do you think?

My personal feeling is comfort items like AC and a factory smooth ride don't need to be present. If your car is a rusty old 55 chevy or a 2004 Mustang, if you drive it then it's a street car. Two major things must be met: it must run on pump gas and be completely street legal.

Mark