My first stick was a '76 TR7 around 1983, some Big rig with a trailer turned a corner at the intersection drove right over the front, smashed that thing flat up to the firewall, I was afraid to look down to see if i still had legs. But didnt have a scratch.
i also had a '77 chevy caprice station wagon once, 350 v8 with a 4-barrel....bein a station wagon, it was geared more for the open road, and thus, wazn't quick off the line, but man, once u got it up to speed on the highway, the torque really kicked in....i got it up to 115 once, jus playin around, and it still had plenty of pedal to go, so....vroom! 
