I was brought up on V8's with rear wheel drive.
My first real car was a 70 Challenger R/T, 383, 4spd, 3.91's with no PS, PB, or anything (in 78, 79 or so). With L60's, a hi rise Edelbrock and an AFB, it ran 14.40's at about 96.
I was ready to buy my first (and only, as it turns out) new car about '86. GM's Firebird's and Camaro's were either 305's w/ 5 spd, or 350 w/ auto. Both slow.
Chrysler had these GLH "cars". (With respect, FWD 4cyl. didn't cut it.)
I waited a year.
The 87 Mustang, like 'em or not, was the ticket. I bought an LX, 5 spd, w/ the no cost option 3.08 gears. (2.73 standard) In Spring air, at Atco's sea level altitude, it went 13.95 @ 97 mph, after several 14.00's and a couple 14. teens. It was stock down to the 10* timing, and the air silencer was still on it. I still have it. It runs 11.40's now. (in good air) Not quite stock.
That early on in the Fox body thing, nobody on the street knew what they were capable of. I had a ball beating the other new cars of the time. I had a sticker on the back that read, "The Heartbeat Stops Here". I had to take it off. Too many challenges. Too much risk.
Don't get me wrong, I've had several old Mopars that were awesome. My current one, a Duster clone, runs 11.80's and isn't quite sorted out.