Story Notes: In With A Bang · 11:42pm January 1st
Happy new year, everypony! If anypony’s wondering how I spent the new year, wonder no more. I was at a demolition derby and truck drop. Because nothing says ‘out with the old’ quite like destroying a bunch of old cars. 
The Amish Taxi is the Buick mentioned in the story that eventually won. Second place was the white Impala behind it in the below image. The Buick crumpled like a tin can, but it was still running. That's how you win!
Lexus SUV in the minivans class. SUVs could compete in this class if they weren't V8 powered. V8 SUVs had to go with the trucks.
Youth class full-size cars (both cars shown in the foreground are Panther Fords, 319 is a Mercury Grand Marquis while 7 is a Ford Crown Victoria).
Finally, the truck that was dropped to ring in the new year:
I bet that Buick had a 3.8L, a nearly unkillable motor (it looks like a Regal, but I'm not entirely sure).
If I'd ever wanted to derby a car/truck, I would have picked something with GM's straight six. Lots of torque, and the motor will keep running while out of coolant, out of oil, or on fire. Other straight sixes are probably nearly as good in terms of durability.
5762085
That was my first thought too. Indestructible engine for sure!
5762094
Maybe I should demo my Jeep. It's got a lot of problems, but the 4.0 running isn't one of them.
(The brakes don't work, but in a demolition derby that might not matter)
5762347
That depends on if any of the other problems are worth fixing or not. If not, then have a little fun with it and... send it out with a bang. The real question is: pony paint job, or no?
5762348
You find me a pony to paint it, and I'll let her do whatever she wants
5762349
I'll call Toola Roola...
Thanks for writing!
5762085
"If I'd ever wanted to derby a car/truck, I would have picked something with GM's straight six. Lots of torque, and the motor will keep running while out of coolant, out of oil, or on fire."
5762094
This would be the 6-71?
5762505
You're welcome! Also, the engine being referred to is:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_V6_engine
The car is (was - not much left of it now) a Buick Park Avenue.
5762620
Ah, thanks. ...Though wouldn't that mean you and Admiral Biscuit are talking about two different engines, since he called it "GM's straight six", not a V? Or am I missing something?
5763112
I think he means this one: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Turbo-Thrift_engine
5762505
The engine I was thinking of was GM's stovebolt six/turbo-thrift engine. Came in various displacements from 1929 to 2001, and you can bet with that pedigree they got good at making them.
I'm basing its durability on personal experience: I owned an old farm truck with one and it survived . . . well, all the things I mentioned. In fact, it survived that truck and is now in another truck which would probably fire right up if I put fuel in it and gave it a jump start.
As an additional benefit, it's coupled to a Saginaw side-load three speed transmission which is also (based on experience) indestructible.
5763282
5763325
Ah, thanks.
(And sorry about the delay in replying.)