Ted- What you said surely sounds like the mid 70s to the mid 80s when factory performance cars were beyond dismal. But that wasn't the publics' fault, Detroit gave us some real bad apples to work with and geez, if you didn't own a van, you weren't cool. Anyways, what you said was most definitely NOT the 60s to early 70s where I grew up. We had Nickey and Mr. Norms churing out street hereos daily and they upped the "going rate" out on the streets. It was most certainly "keeping up with the neighbors" big time back then in the Chicagoland area. There's never been another time that I can remember when there were so many awesome cars on the road.  

We are talking high school days when there were some deals to be had and even the big cars were faster.  My first purchase was a 66 delta 88 convertable.  It had the mild 425 in it, so I cammed it up and put on an aluminum four jet manifold and carb.  The thing looked like heck, but it was fast for what it was.  I don't think many in my neighborhood had access to top line speed parts, but we put on and used the best we could.  You say, "Only occasionally did you see somebody who knew how to build and tune or who had access to a Boss 302, LS-6, Six-Pack, 428 CJ or other top-line muscle legend",  but not even the teachers could afford stuff like that.  My car didn't look good, and was heavy.  But it had enough motor in it to qualify as a sleeper.  I will take your point though.  I guess it's all relative.  Gas was cheaper back then too.  

Ok Ok this issue here is one that i have given much thought to.  First off i am 25, that makes me a prime canidate to be driving a ricer. Secondly, i wasnt around 25-30 years ago.  On the other hand, my father, mother, and two older brothers were all building and racing since the 60's and 70's. The first picture i have of me is sitting on the airbreather of my mother's chevell in diapers holding a wrench.  I remember the days of loud exhaust, big blocks, air shocks, ass end sitting up 5 inces above the front, hood scoops you couldn't see around and tachs that were way more important than the speedo.  Now i personally don't like rice burners, my grandfather worked for GM for 30 years, my family has always built chevy, my father misses his '67 stang, and i have a thing for pontiacs, my 79 G.P. being the absolute love of my life, even though i do love my 78 *** and my 96 T/A wasnt all that bad.  I think the real question is "Can it go fast?"  Here in the midwest i have never seen a really fast ricer on the streets, of course i've never seen a really fast 5.0 either.  By fast i mean can it run 11's?  Personally, i don't care what lines up beside me, as long as they arent waisting my time.  can some ricers run im sure they can, but american heavy metal will always rule the streets, and hopefully the tracks  

I'll do you one better,

Now: neon lights covering the entire car Then: dummy spots

Now: stainless muffler bolted to stock cat and pipes Then: lakes pipes

Now: Rap or techno blasted loud enough for the world to hear Now: oldies blasted loud enough for the world to hear

Now: stickers everywhere Then: topless titty girl painted on the deck lid

Now: car to low to drive Then: car to low to drive

Now: gaudy seat covers and painted plastic Then: gaudy poorly fit tuck N' roll

here's one that relates to what you said:

Now: shopping cart wings Then: continental kits

Ricers get it from muscle car guys who got it from lead sledders who got it from the weirdo who painted his horse drawn wagon pink and blue whereas tuners got it from hot rodders (a bones or challengers or whatever) who got it from gow jobbers and customizers who got it from the guy that left the wagon at home and rode the horse hell bent to town its all relative take care -Brian

Real import guys really are few and far between.  There are far too many ricers out there that just annoy me to death.  However I am lucky enough to have two friends who are import guys and not ricers.  These guys have built up their cars (anything and everything I've ever done with my domestics. . .only in import form).  They also take care of them.  Both have import cars (one an awd eagle talon the other a crappy little fwd eclipse) but neither have an annoying tin can acting as a muffler.  They dispise the ricers as much as we do.  Both of these guys respect my 68 Cutlass and my 88 IROC and try to learn about domestic methods of making power.  I also learn from them as much as I can about the import cars. . .not because I'll ever own one, but because its nice to know what you're about to smoke at the stoplights (not that I would do anything like that)

Real import guys are like the Ford, GM, or Mopar group. . .you may hate one brand, but you gotta respect the guys who really know what they are doing.

Just my two cents