Stugots, you are now speculating rwhp? Let me give you the scoop on the TT Diablos. First, they are not factory, second there is only a handfull of them. They were made for Platinum Motors by a company named Historic Racing in CA. These setups were among the most pathetic setups i have ever seen. Using parts that Ricers wouldnt use on Civics. Ill name one for starters, they used an Electromotive TEC-1 unit. Leftover parts that were on hand. They run very little boost, and frankly inmo, are very overrated. The 500K cost is absurd. Historic will perform the same crappy conv for you for 45K. Mark Carney happens to own a 1994 VTTT and it made just over 690rwhp on pump gas. Jason Heffner did a twin supercharger bolt on kit, running less than 5psi which put down 550rwhp. A Viper owner just purchased a 1999 Diablo Roadster that had a simple bolt on SUpercharger conversion, and it made 535rwhp, running on 4.5 psi boost. He is car guy, and according to him with just fine tuning there is another 50-60hp in it easily. These are all just bolt ons, running very little boost. In Japan, there is a worked Diablo SV, internals, etc, put down 1178rwhp.
lastly i have never said that a Diablo cannot lose, what i have said is that most Diablo Owners never drive the cars to their true potential, most Diablo owners never mod their cars. Stock for stock, a DIablo is faster. A Diablo is not made for 1/4 mile racing, 1st gear is way too tall. No doubt a modified Viper can win, but then again, you can modifiy anything to beat anyone. As for a Mustang winning, well, i could careless. Ask yourself, becuase if it can beat a Lambo, it can surely beat a stock Viper. Would that sway your decision as to which to own? I would hope not. Id also love to know what you will be doing to make your N/A Mustand run 125mph trap speeds to beat Lambos for $2500.00, because thats what it would take.
Also, on the Diablo front, remember you are talking about a car that was designed in the late 80's, and has been virtually unchanged throughout the years,, except for little improvements here and there. In 1991 when Car and Driver turned 207mph, ran a
12.x@125mph, 0-150 in 18 seconds, there was NOTHING that could touch it.
When it comes to Firebirds, Trans Am, Mustangs etc, i dont care if they ran 9's in the 1/4 bone stock, personally i would NEVER want one. A car must have a combination of speed, exclusivity, looks, handling etc. Those cars lack all the above except for maybe speed when modded.
Lastly, i do consider myself to be a little different than most exotic owners. For me, there is never enough power. I have owned Corvettes, Porsches,Lotus's, Ferraris, Lambos, Nsx's and even a toyota Mr2 turbo. I have modified everyone of them. I love my lambo most, but my Porsche could blow it away, even with the lambo running nitrous. You can ask Doug Levin about my Porsches. They were the only cars blown Viper guys where afraid to run back in the day in Sunny South Florida. I also like to experiment on cars most people are afraid to try anything on, such as lambos, and now my new Esprit. I love many cars, albeit not Vettes, Mustangs, or F-bodies.
Thanks for the props on my Diablo. It is currently featured in the latest edition of Modified Luxury and Exotics. It has a small partial cover shot and a 10 page article on it.
