Cars from about 1974 to about 1990 were all pretty much dogs with very few exceptions. Fuel injection really started to "fix" the horsepower lack (and emissions) and then computer controls and DOHC designs etc. got us where we are today, which is pretty amazing really. I sometimes muse about starting cars with carbs back in the day, there was a trick to it depending on how warm the engine was, chokes and all that.
Our Cessnas had manual chokes and a fuel mixture knob and magnetos. Starting them was a trick also. Full rich, prime,check around, call out "CLEAR!" and turn the key. Maybe it started.