First of all, I wonder if this even happens. Have you ever personally witnessed the moment when a car that has only ever idled from show booth to trailer finally got unleashed and driven in earnest? Does it lead to immediate disaster? Is it a glorious symphony of roaring engine and melting tires?
With the 1972 change in how horsepower is measured (gross versus net), the modern car is even closer to the muscle car’s horsepower.