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A couple of decades ago, I did some inexpensive testing of my own using a junker (Austin 1100). I changed nothing mechanically to established a baseline. The Austin 1100 was only marginally faster than parked vehicles, 40mph on a 7% grade, last off the line.
I went nuts with an air chisel and wrenches, eventually removing ~25% of it weight: no back seats, no insulation, no rear latches/window winders, even the reinforcement bracing in the rear doors/trunk lid. EVERYTHING went that it didn't need; doors were held shut with bolts, that sort of thing.
End result? Good acceleration on said 7% grade, great handling, plenty fast off the line. Fuel mileage went up 20%. That car became Fun To Drive. Would it pull 125mph? Would it pull 1.0G? Hey, it was just an Austin! I did the same thing to a Chevette with the same results.
Point is, towing a bunch of extra weight around that is never used is pointless. If the various parts removed are saved, the old 122 can be fun, yet restorable when the time comes to sell it.
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