After watching the clip above, you may be wondering why the 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle SS was running against the Dodge Challenger Demon in a drag race. But having such cars take each other on can actually prove to be quite insightful, because a battle between old-school Chevy and new-school Mopar cars can help demonstrate just how far automotive technology has come within the last few decades.
The unmistakable Dodge Demon profile is very similar to that of the classic ’60s and ’70s muscle cars that are still dearly loved which, along with its monstrous output, may explain its appeal. With a whopping 840 horsepower and 770 pound-feet of torque, the Dodge Demon is said to reach 60 mph in just 2.3 seconds. Powering the Demon is a 6.2-liter Hemi V8 engine paired to a massive 2.7-liter supercharger; we are not sure what powers the Chevelle in the video, though.
Most of the 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle SS models came equipped with a Big-Block Chevy V8 engine that put out 375 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. Those numbers were pretty impressive during that era, but not so much in the present day. Even if you take the most powerful variant of the Chevrolet Chevelle SS – the LS6 engine that delivers 450 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque– it’s clear that these two cars don’t actually measure up, despite the output from the Chevy already being plenty to work with. Even so, the Dodge Demon launch in this video is nothing short of exhilarating.
We’re wondering if Chevrolet will ever create a Camaro powerful enough to exorcize a Demon at the drag strip, but the Camaro ZL1 1LE remains the unquestionable muscle car king of the road course.
Spoiler Alert:Â When the light turns green, it seems to be crystal clear that the Demon will beat the Chevelle in a heartbeat. The Challenger flies down the drag strip and, before you know it, finishes the quarter mile in 10.18 seconds at 128.6 mph. The Chevelle trekked behind and completed the race in 12.64 seconds at 105.36 mph.
Comments
it’s a ’72 Chevelle (unless the front clip was swapped out)
Since when is five decades a few?
When is five decades a few? On your 50th birthday.
I hear ya!
This is old as dirt tesla will murder em both
Yes those are 72 turn light bezels
Yeah yeah yeah everybody knows a Tesla well be more than adequate against the other two. However, you’ve got to have a little grit under your nails and maybe even a little bit of oil in your blood to appreciate internal combustion and what we Old-Timers had to go through to get these old cars to where they are today. One day soon we’ll have Dragsters with electric motors in the lower threes I’m sure… Yes and I may be the first to say that we all knew it would happen sooner or later. But for me, I want to squeeze every last bit of burnout rubber (from pistons valves and turbos) on the track as possible.
Camaro this Corvette that. Why doesn’t gm continue with a new Chevelle? And to hell with boring electric cars. They are way to quiet. There’s a ton of us that prefer the way of gas and nitro. Not to mention the glorious noise. Nothing comes close to the sound of a cammed up V8
Guess no one has seen tesla murder the dodge challenger hell cat O and tesla is an American company.
A couple of the guys in here are correct. That’s a ’72 Chevelle front end. The people who wrote the article need to get their data correct. Not all ’71 SS Chevelles had a 454. Chev offered a number of engines in ’71 vs ’70. Two small blocks, a 400 big block with 300 hp and the 454-365hp with 465 ft lb torque. I know, because I own one that my brother bought brand new in August of ’71. With F-60×15s, it was a hi 14 second car at best. It now runs in the 11s while retaining its matching numbers. I could change a few things and run 10s with it, but the car is too valuable to prove anything. I’d rather just enjoy it in current form. Who knows what the ’72 in the video has. A ’72 454 had 270 hp because it was the first year they went to net ratings. Regardless, a slightly modified Chevelle is no match for a Demon. I would think that a supercharged fuel injected hemi powered Demon with transbrake should out run a classic Chevelle. 10.18 is quick by any standards, but the car is advertised to run 9.60 1/4 mile. I’ve witnessed Demons with re-tuned ecms etc, run low to mid10s. Impressively quick, but as an avid bracket racer, I can honestly say, there’s quite a difference from 9.60 to 10 18 to mid 10s