Fastest Musclecar?

[Chevy454]

This is gonna hard to pin down. What sources should we use? Old road tests? Original onwer stories? Current owner's experiences?

I noticed a few things on the list above, which has made it's way around the internet and in many mags. First off, the trap speed on the '68 Biscayne test, which is listed as 105, is wrong: it trapped over 108. Oddly, whoever made up the first list didn't read the article (which we have) which states this fact, but instead they posted the incorrect 105 number, and this got error got regurgitated. Also, there was an L-72 Chevelle tested that ran a 13.31@108+ which is absent from the list. The same mag that tested the previous 3 cars (SS&DI) tested an L-72 Camaro, but started with headers, which pushed it easily into the twelves (the Biscyane and Chevelle test were done bone stock without turning even a wrench). So, it seems an L-72 equipped steel bodied car was good for REALLY low 13s at better than 108mph, and a Corvette would put it into the 12s with a huge mph. Also worth noting is the L-88 Corvette in the test, which was equipped with 3.36 gears and an automatic. Talk about mismatched equipment...there's nothing much worse than a huge cam (power range was listed as 4,400-7,000) coupled with a low stall (2,200rpm) converter coupled with hi-way gears. It's impressive it still ran a [email protected] imagine if it was a 4-speed with some decent gears? Oh, and it would be safe to say a ZL-1 Corvette would have knocked a tenth or two off of the ZL-1 Camaro's time just due to the lighter weight.

Now, carry on!

[Norm reynolds]

Rob I have to agree with you That it is real hard to say what was the fastest
The hemi dart was not a factory built car. There was a lot of cars built at the factory that
Would move . but as far as what was the fastest out of the box ??? Depends on who did the testing.
First you could have a killer car and have some one that does not know how to drive it
So you would see this car at the track or on the street and think it was a dog I have seen this far to many times.
As I all ways see it #1 is the driver #2 how well it was tuned # 3 weather conditions
These three factors are just as important as what was under the hood
So what was the fastest ?? Today a dodge 440 can beat a camaro 427
Tomorrow the camaro blows off the 440 . The next day it could be a Buick grand sport or Pontiac gto, and so the debate will go on. I have been to a few factory show downs years ago and the end result was never the same. So what was the fastest
ALL OF THEM [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
Norm

[Jeff H]

You also have to remember that a lot of the press cars were "tweaked" to make them look good to potential buyers. I've heard of 383 Mopars that really had 440s in them for the press to test out. I'm sure it's just a rumor though, we know that everybody was playing by the rules back then. [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/wink.gif[/img] It's hard to use magazine tests, but I guess there isn't much else unless you have original owner time slips.

[MotownMadman]

The manufactures tweaked lots of things, for example, Pontiacs flagship was the GTO, they wanted the public to believe that to be there quickest car, then along comes the 400 Firebird which was quicker due to less weight. Pontiacs answer? They installed a block on the throttle linkage of the Firebird to stop it from opening all the way, thereby giving the GTO the advantage and Pontiac the ability to continue to claim the goat as there premier musclecar. How many of you guys heard that one before? Motown [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[Seattle Sam]

Somehow those elapsed times should be adjusted to account for increased tire and track performance.
For example, that 66 Shelby, at 118 mph, should certainly run somewhere in the 11's.

If you sort that list by MPH, all the cars below should be capable of a sub-thirteen second ET (based on the fact that my full body-full interior 65 Chevelle runs a 12 at 104 mph with my "full body" in it)...Hmm, the thirty fastest production cars - 3 Fords, 10 Chryslers, 14 Chevies, two Ponchos (one with a Chevy motor)and one Buford. That means half of the fastest cars are Chevy powered..not bad!
-Sam

ET
Rank Year Model ET Speed Engine Trans Rear
2 1966 Cobra 12.2 118 427-425, 8V 4 man 3.45
1 1997 Viper GTS 12.05 116 V10 450 HP 6 man 3.07
3 1990 ZR1 Corvette 12.8 113.8 350-375 LT5 6 man 3.36
4 1966 L72 Corvette 12.8 112 427-425 4 man 4.10
5 1969 Roadrunner 12.91 111.8 440-390, 6V 4 man 4.10
20 1969 L88 Corvette 13.56 111.1 427-430 auto 3.36
10 1969 ZL1 Camaro 13.16 110.21 427-430 4 man 4.10
11 1997 Corvette 13.2 109.3 350-345 LS1 6 man 3.42
18 1969 Charger 500 13.48 109 426-425 4 man 4.10
12 1997 Camaro Z28 SS 13.2 108.8 350-300 LT4 6 man 3.42
8 1992 Viper RT/10 13.1 108.488 V10 400 HP 6 man 3.07
14 1968 L71 Corvette 13.3 108 427-435 4 man 3.70
38 1967 L71 Corvette 13.8 108 427-435 4 man 3.55
15 1970 Roadrunner 13.34 107.5 426-425 auto 4.10
27 1964 Polara 500 13.7 107.37 426-365 4 man 3.23
7 1970 Hemi Cuda 13.1 107.12 426-425 4 man 3.54
9 1970 LS6 Chevelle SS 13.12 107.01 454-450 4 man 3.55
13 1990 Pontiac Firehawk 13.2 107 350-350 6 man 3.54
17 1996 Camaro Z28 SS 13.46 106.48 350-310 6 man 3.42
22 1969 Boss 429 Mustang 13.6 106 429-375 4 man 3.91
33 1971 Cuda 13.72 106 440-390, 6V auto 4.10
37 1968 Firebird 13.79 106 400-335 HO 4 man N/A
24 1970 Torino Cobra 13.63 105.9 429-370 SCJ auto 3.91
21 1969 Super Bee 13.56 105.6 440-390, 6V auto 4.10
16 1970 Buick GS Stage I 13.38 105.5 455-360 auto 6.34
46 1962 Corvette Fuelie 13.89 105.14 327-360 4 man 4.10
28 1996 Corvette Gran Sport 13.7 105.1 350-330 LT4 6 man 3.45
43 1969 L78 Nova SS 13.87 105.1 396-375 auto 3.55
25 1968 Biscayne 13.65 105 427-425 4 man 4.56
31 1969 Dart 13.71 105 440-375 auto 3.55

[Chevy454]

Sam:

No big deal, just being "picky" I guess, but the '68 Biscayne actually trapped 108, but is always incorrectly listed as 105. Just looking out for another L-72 car! [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Seattle Sam]

Thanks Rob, I missed that point earlier, makes the Biscayne the MPH equal of the L71 Corvettes! I'm sure you could get one into the 12's with 10" slicks!
-Sam

[Norm reynolds]

found this on the web muscle car shoot out
http://www.yearone.com/bristolbash/b...tshootout.html show what a ZL-1 does with a poor driver [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/crazy.gif[/img]

[Norm reynolds]

hrere is some more info
http://www.geocities.com/fadrags/

[COPO PETE]

QUOTE....."Shows what a ZL-1 camaro does with a poor driver" [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] That's funny!!!.... OUCH TERRY !!!!!!
Peter