Let’s go racing! It’s the Clash of the Titans as the legendary Chevy Camaro ZL1 takes on the tire-shredding Dodge Challenger 440 Six Pack! First, the background and stats…
1969 Chevy Camaro ZL1
The 1969 Chevy Camaro ZL1 was a Central Office Production Order, or COPO car. The ZL1 option, COPO #9560, included an all-aluminum 427 cubic-inch Big Block engine rated at 425 horsepower (rated at well below terminal RPM, with actual peak output closer to 500 horses), 450 pound-feet of torque, stronger axles, disc brakes, cowl induction hood. All but twelve of the Camaro ZL1s came with the three-speed Turbo Hydramatic automatic transmission. Camaro ZL1 production totaled only 69 units. When they do trade hands, it is for well north of $500,000. Our hero car is equipped with the three-speed automatic trans, and a 4.10 rear gear. She tips the scales around 3,400 pounds.
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
The challenger for this race is a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T. This Challenger was equipped with the extremely potent 440 cubic-inch engine topped with three two-barrel carbs, AKA the Six Pack. Output from the 440 Six Pack was 390 horsepower and an impressive 490 pound-feet of torque. Backing that massive mill was a TorqueFlite three speed slushbox. The rear diff was stuffed full of 4.30 gears. The Challenger R/T didn’t have the weight benefit of an all-aluminum engine, and tipped the scales at 3,571 pounds.
Now that we have both cars bona fides, let’s see how things turned out. On the single pass throw-down, the Camaro ZL1 got out of the gate a split-second after the Challenger, but by mid-track had reeled in the Challenger and was headed for home. By the far end of the strip, the mighty Camaro went a half-second (a virtual eternity in drag racing) quicker than the R/T’s very respectable 11.68 elapsed time. The Camaro ZL1’s speed through the traps was 122.78 mph versus the Challenger’s 116.4. Neither of these cars is a slouch by any measurement, and both of those times would be faster than most modern cars. It just goes to show what a monster the ZL1 was and continues to be.
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Comments
I just skipped to the race, don’t need to see middle school sex jokes..
Boomer
During my 70s high school days, the 70 Chevelle ruled over all of the big 3 Detroit players. Fri and Sat night races in trucker mile business area. It was so isolated and so well set up for straight line street racing. We all sat around watching match after match. The Chevelle was the champ. There was a wicked Silver 70 El Camino SS big block with black stripes that gave the Chevelle a run for the money. Traction off the line was the issue even with traction bars. Back in the day Mopor was not as popular as they are today. Maybe the right saying is not a big following since they were late to the HP at this time. They had mid 60s wrapped up but in the early 70s no… Fast but not the top dog. Same for Camaro over Challenger and the sister Barracuda. The most surprising was the 70 429 Mach One big block, that was beast too.
Good ol days… but I will say, today’s HP is unmatched compared to the old muscle era. HP over the top today.
They are stock, are not they?
Can’t believe they are so fast.
These cars are generally not show room stock.
These guys who race in the muscle car series tune to a high degree and even some will cheat a little like the factory did back in the day.
no reflection on these two but when you see old cars run often they have gained benefits in tuning.
Stock many of these cars had tons of trouble getting the power to the ground.
Also remember HP numbers before 71 were gross HP not net like today.
Some of these guys run remarked blocks with more CID. Few are torn down.
My 65 GTO did well with a 400 from a limited Firebird 1969.Rated at 360 HP.A head on finished it off and moved on to a Plymouth Road Runner.It was my route 87 Northway runner to Lake George NY.I beat this 383 4 speed on a regular basis and it took it very well.For all the 60 + cars I have had since 1967 it held up the best.I went through many 4 speeds in my cars and the Cast iron one held up the best owning GM and Ford 4 speeds.
They’re modified.
The stock cars were probably 13 second 1/4 mile cars, if that.
Two of the badest ride’s on four wheels bad to the bone
I also missed the race but the car is just fire. I’m waiting for new announcements.