Last week, we covered a video that showed a 1970 Camaro SS racing a Studebaker Challenger R3 in the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag series at Mid Michigan Motorplex. Now we’re back with more Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag series action from the midwestern dragstrip – this time involving a 1968 Plymouth Barracuda 340 and a 1969 Pontiac GTO.
The aforementioned race between the Camaro and Studebaker was extremely close and this matchup seems as though it will be different, as these two cars are fairly equal on paper. The Barracuda is a 340 Formula S model equipped with a 340 cubic inch V8 engine, which was factory rated at 275 horsepower and 340 pound-feet of torque. This particular model also features a TorqueFlite three-speed automatic transmission and a set of rather tall 3.23 factory gears.
The Pontiac GTO, meanwhile, is equipped with the 400 cubic inch Ram Air III V8, which is rated at roughly 366 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque. This car pairs the big bore V8 with a four-speed manual transmission and a set of 3.90 rear gears.
While the Pontiac GTO seems to have the advantage here with its more powerful engine and shorter rear gears, the Plymouth has a slight weight advantage. According to the video uploader, the Pontiac tips the scales at 4,046 pounds with the driver, while the Plymouth comes in at 3,592 pounds driver included. Tests from the 1960s indicate the GTO was capable of hustling through the quarter-mile in 14.1 seconds at 98.2 mph, while the Plymouth could muster a pass of 14.93 mph at 96.6 mph.
These two cars seem pretty evenly matched, but which one would you put your money on? Place your theoretical bets, readers, and check out the video embedded below to see which of these American muscle cars will reign supreme.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more GM-related drag racing news, Pontiac news, and non-stop GM news coverage.
Comments
Cars n Zebras; fart, fart, sex sex , 69 GTO, sex sex, Plymouth fart sex, let see them race…..
So….apparently you are too stupid to even watch the video?
One of my best buddies ordered a new 1970 Dart Swinger, 3 speed on the floor with a bench seat, 3.23 gears. I was with him when we raced and beat a 66 Chevelle SS396. After that, my whole attitude on the 340 engine changed!
The 340 was quite an awesome engine!
Bad driver in the GTO. I had a 67 GTO never lost to a Baracuda. Bah. Really poor driving. Lemme atem. Janet
Shut up loser
My 70 GTO with HO 400 was slow to wind up but given the chance she would run the wheels off of most Plymouth Dodge or Fords any day.
My Brother purchased a 70 Chevy Nova with the L78 375 HP 396, 4 speed with the SS option, rally wheels and an A.M. radio early in 1970. . I believe the price point was significantly below the GTO and the Barracuda. His biggest problems were keeping the car straight and finding someone to run him. Tire and suspension technology aside the acceleration of this little Nova was incredible. The two beauties shown here are a great compromise between aesthetics, speed and rarity, however, if you wanted to go fast in the Day there were better options at lower price points.
And that is why they call the 340 the giant killer.
I think that the race was one sided, come on put and standard shift against a automatic. The automatic will win every time. Put a standard against a standard and automatic against a automatic to make it fair. Just my opinion, please dont criticize my opinions.
So it’s okay for you to criticize videos, but no one can criticize you? How hypocritical. But by all means, keep crying about “fairness.” No one is forcing these owners to drag race. They do it because they enjoy it… manual transmission and all. Funny how they don’t complain but then couch drag racing experts like you always seem to.