It’s an age old question – high power, or low weight? While matching both is obviously the best option, it’s often a choice between which of these two performance routes you want to go. Now, we’re seeing how that all plays out in the following video, which pits a 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass W31 and a 1972 Pontiac GTO 455 HO in a head-to-head drag race.
Recently hitting the web thanks to the Cars And Zebras YouTube channel, the video includes a walkthrough for both GM machines, as well as three rounds of racing.
Kicking it off is the 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass W31, a special performance model equipped with a high-output 350 V8, not to be confused with the weaker 350s found in standard Cutlass models. Dubbed the “Ram Rod 350,” this engine featured cold air induction, a high-lift cam, heavy-duty valve springs, and flat-top pistons, the combination of which yields a rating of 325 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. This machine was also exclusively equipped with a four-speed manual transmission and had no power brakes, the latter of which was the result of low engine vacuum. Buyers could choose between 3.91 or 4.33 rear gears. In 1968, the W31 package cost only $406 extra, bringing the total car price to about $3,207, or around $29,275 today, adjusted for inflation.
In the other lane is a 1972 Pontiac GTO 455 HO, one of the last great GTO models before the eventual decline of the muscle car era. Under the hood is a 455 cubic-inch V8 with round exhaust ports, an aluminum intake manifold, and an 068 camshaft, making 300 net horsepower and 415 pound-feet of net torque. This GTO also features a four-speed manual transmission and 3.55 rear gears. Despite its power, The GTO is heavier than the Cutlass, weighing 4,042 pounds with the driver.
Placed side by side, the Olds and GTO face off in three rounds of straight-line racing, and look pretty well-matched. Check out the full racing video right here:
Comments
Interesting – I happened to own the second 1968 W31 Ram Air off the assembly line. At that time , I was an engineer at Oldsmobile. I did do some E Pure Stock drag racing with the car and ended up owing Uncle Sam some tax $ as a result.
I was a bit disapointed at the times in the video, as I was consistantly in the low 13’s at 102.5 to 104.5.
I’m guessing the difference was tires – I was running 70 aspect ratio Goodyears that had just come out and provided a very good launch
I would be very happy to own either the W31 or the GTO. Such a difference from today’s SUV world.
I’m the original owner and have kept this Ramrod all these years….still in my garage here. It is not restored withjust a repaint 10 years ago. Never driven in a Michigan winter. It has run a best of 13.30 @ 105.