If you’ve ever wondered whether the 1969 Chevy Corvette 427 might beat a 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula in a drag race, then your video we have here for you nowadays holds the answer.
The particular race is a classic case associated with red versus blue, though not really in the sense that expression would be construed recently. Here, the red vehicle is the Corvette 427, a white-roof convertible with the 7. 0L L36 Chevrolet Big Block V8 underneath the hood. Gasoline is poured within through a four-barrel Rochester carburetor, even though the power output is the lowest associated with any Big Block C3 Corvette, it’s still quite respectable. Chevy claimed 390 net horsepower utilizing the measuring system of the time, where the motor was tested with an open wear out and no ancillaries such as alternators or even water pumps attached. In contemporary terms, that figure likely gets somewhere in the mid 300 hp range.
Although it is only four years younger, the particular Pontiac Firebird Formula seems much more modern. The model here is based on the second-gen Firebird, which was launched in 1970. The Pontiac cradles a 7. 5L 455 OF V8, in regular form, so it isn’t really the super duty variant. Real-life horsepower is likely around 250 internet, or just under 300 gross.
With a 50 horsepower disadvantage, matters might not be looking all that great for the particular Pontiac. A higher final drive proportion doesn’t seem promising either, thinking of this race is all about acceleration. Yet wait.
With motorists on board, the Firebird Formula is definitely 36 pounds lighter than the Corvette 427. And its smoother transition through roof to tail probably indicates less disturbed airflow at the rear of the vehicle, so there should be less aerodynamic pull – an important consideration on the 2nd half of the strip.
Each cars are regular competitors within the Pure Stock Muscle Car Pull Race (PSMCDR)series, so we can believe similar amounts of driving talent through each lane. As its name indicates, the PSMCDR series is available to muscle cars built in the Oughout. S. or Canada between 1955 and 1979 and sold having a warranty of at least 12 years/12, 000 miles. Only a few modifications are usually permitted, making for a great way in order to the vehicles in nearly share form.
So that is faster? Well, the cars raced one another three times, and the Pontiac won two times. However , all races were really, very close.
If nothing else, this particular video makes us miss the great ol’ days of unhinged GM functionality.
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