The 2020 Shelby Mustang GT500 has more power than the Camaro ZL1 – that much is indisputable. With a supercharged 5.2L V8 engine making 760 horsepower, the Mustang has the 650-horsepower supercharged 6.2L LT4 engine found in the Camaro beat hand over fist. Despite this, though, the two vehicles are fairly close in performance in the real world.
Because the Camaro ZL1 and Mustang GT500 are so close, it only takes some small modifications to make a ZL1 quite a bit faster than the Mustang. Take this video of a Camaro ZL1 with a methanol injection kit and aftermarket pulley racing a 2020 Mustang GT500, for example. With these common bolt-on mods, the Camaro is clearly faster than the bone-stock Grabber Lime Shelby. It’s not clear how much power the ZL1 is making, but it’s probably putting out similar power than the GT500 does stock, if not some more. The ZL1 also has more 25 more pound-feet of torque than the Mustang from the factory.
The first race sees the Camaro ZL1 pull out a rather sizable gap on the Shelby after the Chevy driver gets a better start – a lead he never relinquishes. The two then line up again, however, with the Mustang getting a better start this time. The Mustang actually holds its own very well against the modified Camaro ZL1 in this race, with the Chevy only passing the Ford once they reach 150 mph or so.
The Camaro ZL1 comes stock with a six-speed manual, but this car is equipped with the optional 10-speed automatic. This is another crucial component to its speed, as the Mustang GT500 is only offered with a quick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch automatic that would be a clear advantage over a six-speed manual.
See how these two modern-day American muscle cars stack up in the video embedded below.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Camaro news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
LIES… the ZL1 with the big 6.2 has a hell of a lot more aftermarket work done to it, good try am sure it’s pushing 850 or more against the stock 5.2 760. It’s all good the Shelby owner real win is investment it will go up in value way faster than the ZL1 no matter how much money he spend on it
butt hurt much ?
Not at all if you spend your money Moding out a vehicle it suppose to out run a factory model, had he not Mod it out he wouldn’t have race the GT500 in the 1st place any idiot knows that hahaha
I own a 2018 ZL1 slightly modified, not to 850 hp.
More like 725 hp.
I still kick that snakes A$$… his but would hurt…
And that Stang would get planted by a Zr-1… doesn’t change the fact that your ButtHurt emotionally over seeing the snake get its ass booted by the Vette ! I love it ! passion for cars is a great thing to see, today’s youth just don’t seem to have the same love of Motorsport as past generations… In the end they are all simply awesome, you really can’t go wrong with any of them…The GT500 is outstanding and so is the C8 vette ..
The GT500 will hold a higher value for sure…but in the grand scheme of things the GT500 owner will still lose more cash overall ..
Can anyone share more details about what “lightly modified” really means?
Street racing, a new low, and-lets be frank you have had many lows.
Get your heads out of the sand. What do you people think buyers—or builders— of 600+ hp cars are really doing with them? Taking a sedate drive to the grocery store?
BTW, for the clueless, a pulley change will really wake-up the conservative boost level GM builds into the LT4’s blower. The methanol injection will help reduce spark knock, and the PCM subsequently retarding the engine timing in response.
I think most of the GMA community does not buy performance vehicles. They have things to say about them but buy mostly CUVs for various reasons. I reckon there are a few Men here that actually buy performance cars even with families. Car Guys are a dying breed.
A pulley change is one of the first things people do who buy SC vehicles do if they are into modding.
I pray that you guys were not on a open highway that was not closed. Stupid is as stupid does……
Nothing stupid about it. Stupid would be going full speed to rear end a car in front of them mate. No one was harmed in this video so relax. Some of us Men do enjoy our lives. They saw some open road and gunned it. I do this every time I am on the interstate and used to do it all the time on the German autobhan. Which people like you would call stupid because you know of what you are told.
Looks like fun:)
So basically you have to “lightly” modify the stock ZL1 so it will beat the stock GT500, hmmmm got it. How about a “lightly” modified GT500 with the same mods, and then run straight up? Or just have them run straight up? Oh, a pulley change and methanol injection is more than “light” mod. What’s that 105-110 octane basically with more boost. Sorry mod for mod the GT500 smokes the LT1
The auto ZL1 base price is ~$66k. The GT500 base price is ~$74k. This is quite simple for a rational and logical thinker:
Sure, putting them against each other stock for stock seems to be the right thing to do , but the ZL1 owner has ~$8k to “play with” in order to spend the SAME amount of cash as the GT500 owner. It’d be like taking a ’73 Vega, modding it into a 1/4 mile monster (~$55k), going to the strip, smoking an $85k 2019 Demon (original MSRP–much more $$$ now) and complaining that the Vega is modded. As a performance guy, a fair and practical comparison comes down to the amount of money spent.
Is that the way GM fans think the Camaro has a cheaper interior and a old push rod engine that where the $8,000 was saved. The Shelby has a SuperChargered high tech 5.2 that started with the Voodoo engine, A high tech transmission and worlds better interior at the end of the day you get what you pay for, I hope the $55,000 Vega can run 6sec in a quarter mile or it was a waste of money too
The 5.2 isn’t new, it’s Coyote based in-turn is a Mod V-8 which debuted in the 1990 Town Car, no real men buys muscle cars for interiors as if the Shelby has a Rolls interior. As for transmissions based on the “outstanding” job they did with the DCTs in the Focus/Fusion means one thing…
Frequently Ordered Repair Documents…
“Old push rod engine”? LOL! Just like when the $130k 2019 ZR1 beat the $500k Ford GT around VIR’s Grand Course West by 1.5 seconds with that “old push rod engine? Having both a highly modified ’11 Camaro SS and a bolt-on C7 Grand Sport, money matters when hitting the track.
You’ve already proven that you’re just here to troll and act tough from the safety of your couch when you started using ad hominem in your prior comments to other members. Good luck man.
P.S. I suggest putting a halt to signing in an out several times just to like your own comments. It doesn’t make your statements any more plausible. “Worlds better interior” is 100% subjective. I have watched many video reviews and the consensus has been split between the interiors of the Mustang and the Camaro.
THAT IS A NEW DESIGN PUSH ROD ENGINE!!
THAT ENGINE IS COMPLETELY NEW DESIGN OVER THE CLASSIC V8S THAT STARTED IN 1955 WITH THE 265 cubic inch V8 OVER 65 years ago!
It is still a pushrod engine no matter which way you cut it. In 65 years, GM’s pushrod V8’s have evolved (as any form of technology should), but they are still pushrods. Just the same, from the LS3 to the LT1, GM’s V8 went from port injection to direct injection, etc.. Technology evolves.
There’s not much more to say.
GM has not always built PUSH ROD engines, back in the 60s Pontiac motor division built a straight 6 cylinder overhead cam witch was sold in the Tempest ! AN in the 70s Chevrolet division built a 4cylinder over head engine an put that engine in the new model Vega!! It had problems ,it was an all aluminium engine with silicone impregnated cylinder walls! The bad idea was the CYLINDER WALLS with silicone never let the rings break in! IM TALKING FROM EXPERIENCE I bought a 1974 GT! That was the year GM WENT ON STRIKE, ALL GTS WAS TO COME WITH A 2BARREL YES A2BARREL, THE STRIKE CAUSE THE GTS to come with a 1 barrel! The engine ran fine but the rings never seated! GM rebuilt the ENGINE TWICE, I TRADED IT OFF!
I do not see where I said GM has only made pushrod engines throughout their history.
It is no secret that GM has made other engines than just pushrods and you don’t even need to go back to the 60’s. The LT5 in the early 90’s ZR1’s, the Northstar family of engines, the Quad-4’s from the Grand Am’s (and others), the Ecotec’s, etc., etc., etc., are/were all DOHC. The General has used a plethora of different designs over the years and will continue to do so.
I see you never went too an NHRA drag races! Top fuel dragster an funny car make over 10,000 horse power an guess what INFAMOUS, THERE ALL PUSH ROD ENGINES–HUMMM!
I used to work at a Ford dealership and know for a fact that the Chevy 6.2 is more reliable and easier to mod than the Shelby 5.2. Yes in bone stock the Shelby should smoke the Camaro. That being said, the Camaro in no way has a “cheap” interior. The Camaro actually has a little more room. The biggest flaw the Mustang has is the rear axle. I have seen so many of them wrecked because the driver couldn’t control it.
For those obsessing with street racing please be advised that it’s been around since automobiles became prevalent. Part of the reason is the historical lack of tracks to run on a situation that has gotten worse over time since the 60s as cities expanded into suburbs and demanded the tracks close due to noise traffic etc
Hence a return to street racing
It kinda does my heart good to read the sniveling about street racing from the Prius and SUV eunuchs and feminists. Reap what you cup makes sowed.
As to the contest between the two cars in the videos it was a usual situation
I dont recall ever racing a competitor on the street with anything that was what it appeared to be or was badged as As Smokey said.
If you ain’t cheatin you ain’t trying
The funniest part is the ones that cry about street racing are the same guys get busted for soliciting prostitution on the same streets. Figure speeding cars will scare all the women away….
I can take a fox body with half the money and beat the camaro! Doesnt prove anything! Just like this race!
What’s great about it that there has been a rivalry since Ford’s an Chevys been on the street , everyone that has a Ford or a Chevy knows that!
I hope that rivalry never changes an never goes away, that is the most honest tradition EVER!!
But rest assured it took that Shelby dude’s ego down a peg or two
Seems everybody thinks DOHC multivalve engines are more advanced than pushrod engines. FIAT, Peugeot and ALFA used them in their race engines in the early 1900’s. About the only thing new in automotive tech is computer control.
Those guys blew through an intersection at 150 mph! 😒
Anyway, I hope the ZL1 guy never told the other guy about his upgrades, heh heh, sucka!
I am a Chevy fan from way back. This past July, I took my 17 yr.old grandson to the U.S. Nationals at Indy. First race at 9:15 am was top fuel rails. When they left the line, he told me he was scared because of the sound and feel of two 10,000 horse power cars running together, under 4 seconds at 325 miles per hour in the 1/4 mile. Ah the smell and taste of Nitro methane.
Later on the manufacture stock class ran. As I recall, there were two Dodge Demons, 6 Camaro ZL1’s , and 4 Mustang GT 500.
The Dodges went down first, both losing to a Camaro and a Mustang. Then it was Camaro vs. Mustang. In the end, it was Mustang vs. Mustang. The Fords were winners. Professional Drag racing on a professional track, the way it should be. On the drive home, my grandson told me he wants to drive a top fuel car. I told him he had a lot to learn. We are now building an S10
Did I understand correctly that the ZL1 has 25 more lb-ft of torque than the GT500 from the factory, & then gets the mods on top of that? No wonder it got a jump.
Im gonna answer this from Vin Diesel… Quote from fast and the furious….. “I said only pussies run nitro meth.
LOL! The ZL1 is not running on nitro methane. It has a methanol injection kit in order to lower IAT’s.
For a car site, there sure are a lot of GMAuthority.com members that do not have the slightest idea about cars and performance modding.
You guys are racing upwards of 170mph on a public roadway??!! Irresponsible not to mention dangerous behavior in my view. Find a closed course for Chrissakes!
They pay tax and can use a public road in my opinion! Especially a straight one! We need an american autobahn. Technically they pay more tax for their vehicles. More gas used, higher sales transaction, and in some states higher registration.
Before we get an “American” autobahn, drivers need to learn lane discipline. I learned to drive in Germany in the late 60s. One didn’t go into the left(passing) lane unless passing and never lingered there as is common here in the states. On
For those who are a little dramatic I think y’all clicked on the wrong article. Y’all should be reading about the new names of Cadillac’s electric CUVs or other FWD GM CUV’s. The good thing is that no one was hurt in this video! I see more people driving dangerous by impeding the flow of traffic in their CUV or Van in the left lane attempting to pass a semi with at +0.5 MPH speed differential! Grow a set folks!
Gear is what makes the difference.o yeah,the driver too.
Methanol can be anywhere from lowering IATs to running a high volume port injection injection to compensate for E85 or race-gas.
I highly doubt someone with the wherewithall to buy & mod new ZL1 is going to Mickey Mouse the meth just for IATs.
Put E85 or race gas in the Mustang and tune it. See how they fare. It’ll be embarrassing.
NOT APPLES HERE!!!!
Make the same modification to the
Ford and then race!!!!!
Same fuel!!!
Use the real owner’s to drive!!!!
That would be more fair!!!
LET US SEE THE OUTCOME NOW??
At 2:24 was that a cop sitting on the left? The video was out of focus just a bit!
If Ford Had Been Smart,They Would Have Chosen the KBell 2.8 Charger,Choice of Most of Terminator Owners,& W/ the Extra Boost A Pump from KB,Made 790 h.p. W/ No Other Mods.Never Saw One Loose A Race to Anyone !!
If you look at the picture of the camaro hood open .. you will see it was built by Hennessey.. im pretty sure that camaro has a lil over 800. Hennessey got stage kits . Pretty sure that camaro is has 800..