Very true, very true.
Torque is what we feel when we press down on the go pedal, not horsepower.
Horsepower is nothing more than sustained torque as rpm increases.
Engines in the 70s and 80s were designed to deliver as much torque down low as they could to give a feeling of high performance "off the line", where a lot of the stop-light drag races would occur.
Most people did not take thier cars to an actual dragstrip, so an impromptu street race was typically all over by 50-60 mph...well low in the RPM range and over with before the engine has any chance to climb into the higher RPM ranges. These smogged-out motors could not breathe well for various emission-mandated reasons, and just could not maintain any decent torque numbers in the higher RPMs, hence the lower horsepower figures.
That is why cars equipped with BOSS 351s, 428 and 429 CJs, etc...produced decent HP #s: They could continue to breathe well at higher RPM enabling them to maintain higher torque as RPMs increased. Thus, higher horsepower.
I have met many people over the years that have told stories of how powerful thier late-70s stock muscle car was, and I always bite my lip to keep from insulting them.
I am particularly referring to the late-70s Trans-Ams with the 403 Olds motors. Rated at a measly 180 horsepower, but loads of low end torque.
Those cars felt like a powerhouse off the line...lots of tire smoke and such, but by 50-60 mph, they were all done. They could'nt breathe well, so the torque just fell off in the higher RPM...no sustained torque, so no decent horsepower.
Most of these owners would never go to a real dragstrip to get a 1/4 time, so they had no clue how really underpowered those cars were.
An engine's breathing capabilities determines in large part its ability to produce power. But it is a compromise. Lots of breathing capability ( big intake valves, big ports, headers, etc...) allow an engine to maintain torque at higher RPM, yet can also hinder its off-the-line performance. These engines are well-suited for dragstrip duty, where all of the RPM range can be used. But if you just want to pop around stop light to stop light, you may never get to use the engine's potential.
OEM 351 4V clevelands are notorious for this. The 4V heads are awesome for dragstrip duty, but trade off some low-end torque for high-end torque ( horsepower).
Street driven 351 4V Clevelands are less impressive off the line than thier fame would suggest.
The 351 2V engine has smaller valves, and swapping an aftermarket 4V intake and carb results in a much more "streetable" engine. Loads of low down torque for the stop light drags...more than even a stock 351 4V. However, it still cannot sustain the RPM as the stock 4V heads can in the upper ranges, therefore produces less power ovsrall.
But if primarily driven on the street, who cares?
Too many people build thier cars for dragstrip duty, yet only spend 5% ( or less!) of thier driving time there, all the while suffering lower performance where they spend most of thisr driving time.
Whew!...