I think a lot of the import bashing is the simple fact that any kid who adds a cold air intake, a chip, and a muffler to his civic now thinks it is a hot car. Honestly, it is no different than when I was growing up and an aluminum intake, headers, and glass packs gave us the same invincible attitude, which lasted right up until the moment some grey beard in a rod handed us our butts at the stop light drags. So, in a sense, many of us are simply perpetuating the training cycle to put youthful enthusiasm in its place for a brief moment. After these "training lessons" I suppose the same thing happens now as then; either they hang it up and walk away from cars as a hobby or they decide they need to know more and work harder to have a faster car.
I don't think that I would say classic muscle cars or imports are any better at any thing compared to the other. Sure, cubic inches make it easy to go fast in an old American car, but you add EFI, twin turbos and the like to a V8, and power suddenly comes in absurd amounts. The same applies to chassis and suspension and it only takes some simple changes to allow a muslce car to turn and stop comparable to all but the most exotic of imports. By the same token, I'm waiting to see some Toyota V8 converisons on the street someday soon. I think they are going to challenge some dearly held beliefs about power.
Unfortunatly you just missed out on a chance to own a Cuda just like you described. The Johnson Hot Rod Shop's G Force Cuda was recently sold, at a considerable financial loss to the builders, outfitted very much like the ride you described. So they are out there, just keep your eyes peeled and your check book open.
