The test audience was right in saying that the scene (which can still be seen in the trailer) pushed the bounds of believability past the breaking point.
That piece of crap on wheels undoubtedly had to be heavily modified to even pull off the stunts that made it into the finished film.
While I do agree that a Stock 70's Chevy Vega notch back could not perform the driving stunts seen in "Blue Thunder", a modified Vega with stiffer shocks, weighted down rear end, gas tank protection, upgraded engine, better steering gear and driver protection could easily perform these stunts. A friend's 72 Vega GT hatchback, with some of these aforementioned modifications, easily could outrun similar type cars in it's prime. I witnessed this personally, and It was the terror of the streets until it was sold to a racing concern a few years later.
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