I learned to respect those Z cars, because I was an RX-7 guy, and that Z straight-6 just makes a shitload of torque. In that same general area, too - Monterey, mid-80s, up to '91. About the only cars out there that would kick my ass were the damn Z cars. I used to hate them, but now respect them. Retrospect, in a way.
I had a '79 RX-7, and an '87 RX-7. First year for the first two gens. The '79 would whip the '87s ass, hands down. 5.0 Mustangs were a joke to the '79... <laughs>
One day I'll build one up one of the Zs. I came very, very close a few years ago. I look forward to it.