We’ve all done it: Gotten drawn into a “What-If” argument pitting our favorite muscle car in a hypothetical 1/4-mile match-up against that of some other self-professed expert who clearly doesn’t know just how fierce your grandpa’s ’70 455 Olds Vista-Cruiser really was. Since most such cars are long gone — or worth more than a new Mercedes and thus wrung out on a drag strip even less often than that Benz — such arguments are largely academic. We have our models on the shelves and our war stories to tell, but no objective evidence to support our assertions of Boss-eating Biscaynes or Chevelle-trouncing Coronets. Well, until you bust out some documented figures, that is! Then — BAM! — just like that you’re an internet hero.
So here you go — documented, annotated, timeslips collected and collated by E.T. published in major magazines of the day — to settle authoritatively (if not quite indisputably) which classic muscle machines ranked as the 50 fastest. Its great ammunition — and just a fun read. A few of these are obviously ringers — or at least seriously strip-prepped prior to testing — while others are bone stock down to their bias-ply rubber. Still, the elapsed times (and even more enlightening trap speeds) tell us much about the capabilities of these legendary machines — especially some of those ‘wink-and-a-nod’ horsepower ratings.
So check the list against your diecast collection — if you order your shelves by speed, you may have some re-arranging to do!
[Editor’s Note: that this material was originally sourced from http://legacy.earlham.edu/~byersjo/top50.htm. Since this appears to be a site no longer maintained, we re-print this info here for posterity with citation.]
1. 1966 COBRA 427 ENGINE / 425 HORSEPOWER 427 2×4 BARREL AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 3.54 REAR PERFORMANCE / 12.20 @ 118 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / CAR AND DRIVER 11/65 |
2. 1966 CORVETTE 427 ENGINE / 425 HORSEPOWER 427 4 BARREL AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 3.36 REAR PERFORMANCE / 12.80@112 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / CAR AND DRIVER 11/65 |
3. 1969 ROAD RUNNER 440 SIX PACK ENGINE / 390 HORSEPOWER 440 SIX-PACK AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 4.10 REAR PERFORMANCE / 12.91 @ 111.8 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / SUPER STOCK MAGAZINE 6/69 |
4. 1970 HEMI ‘CUDA ENGINE / 425 HORSEPOWER 426 HEMI 2×4 BARREL AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 3.54 REAR PERFORMANCE / 13.10 @ 107 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / CAR CRAFT 11/69 |
5. 1970 SS454 CHEVELLE ENGINE / 450 HORSEPOWER LS-6 454 AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 3.55 REAR PERFORMANCE / 13.12 @ 107.01 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / CAR CRAFT MAGAZINE 11/69 |
6. 1969 ZL-1 CAMARO ENGINE / 430 HORSEPOWER 427 ZL-1 AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 4.10 REAR PERFORMANCE / 13.16 @ 110.21 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / HI-PERFORMANCE CARS 6/69 |
7. 1968 CORVETTE 427 ENGINE / 435 HORSEPOWER 427 3×2 BARREL AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 3.70 REAR PERFORMANCE / 13.30 @ 108 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / HI-PERFORMANCE CARS 5/68 |
8. 1970 ROAD RUNNER 426 HEMI ENGINE / 425 HORSEPOWER 426 HEMII 2×4 BARREL AS TESTED / TORQUEFLIGHT TRANSMISSION AND 4.10 REAR PERFORMANCE / 13.34 @ 107.5 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / SUPER STOCK MAGAZINE 12/69 |
9. 1970 BUICK GS STAGE 1 ENGINE / 360 HORSEPOWER 455 STAGE 1 AS TESTED / AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 3.64 REAR PERFORMANCE / 13.38 @ 105 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / MOTOR TREND 1/70 |
10. 1969 CHARGER 500 ENGINE / 425 HORSEPOWER 426 HEMI 2×4 BARREL AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 4.10 REAR PERFORMANCE / 13.48 @ 109 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / HOT ROD MAGAZINE 2/69 |
11. 1973 TRANS AM 455 SD ENGINE / 310 * HORSEPOWER 455 4 BARREL AS TESTED / AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 3.42 REAR PERFORMANCE / 13.54 @ 104.2 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / HOT ROD MAGAZINE 6/73 * DENOTES NET HORSEPOWER |
12. 1969 CORVETTE L-88 ENGINE / 430 HORSEPOWER 427 L-88 AS TESTED / AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 3.36 REAR PERFORMANCE / 13.56 @ 111 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / HOT ROD MAGAZINE 4/69 |
13. 1969 SUPER BEE 440 SIX PACK ENGINE / 390 HORSEPOWER 440 SIX-PACK AS TESTED / AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 4.10 REAR PERFORMANCE / 13.56 @ 105.6 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / HOT ROD MAGAZINE 8/69 |
14. 1969 BOSS 429 MUSTANG ENGINE / 375 HORSEPOWER BOSS429 AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 3.91 REAR PERFORMANCE / 13.60 @ 106 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / HI PERFORMANCE CARS 11/69 |
15. 1970 CHALLENGER R/T ENGINE / 390 HORSEPOWER 440 3×2 BARREL AS TESTED / AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 3.23 REAR PERFORMANCE / 13.62 @ 104.3 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / CAR CRAFT MAGAZINE 11/69 |
16. 1970 TORINO COBRA ENGINE / 370 HORSEPOWER 429 SCJ AS TESTED / AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 3.91 REAR PERFORMANCE / 13.62 @ 105.9 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / SUPER STOCK MAGAZINE 3/70 |
17. 1968 BISCAYNE 427 ENGINE / 425 HORSEPOWER 427 4 BARREL AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 4.56 REAR PERFORMANCE / 13.65 @ 105 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / SUPER STOCK MAGAZINE 4/68 |
18. 1964 POLARA 500 ENGINE / 365 HORSEPOWER 426 4 BARREL AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 3.23 REAR PERFORMANCE / 13.70 @ 107.3 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / HI PERFORMANCE CARS 4/64 |
19. 1969 GTX ENGINE / 375 HORSEPOWER 440 4 BARREL AS TESTED / TORQUEFLIGHT TRANSMISSION AND 4.10 REAR PERFORMANCE / 13.70 @ 102.8 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / MOTOR TREND 1/69 |
20. 1969 DART 440 ENGINE / 375 HORSEPOWER 440 4 BARREL AS TESTED / TORQUEFLIGHT TRANSMISSION AND 3.55 REAR PERFORMANCE / 13.71 @ 105 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / CAR CRAFT MAGAZINE 5/69 |
21. 1971 ROAD RUNNER ENGINE / 390 HORSEPOWER 440 SIX PACK AS TESTED / TORQUEFLIGHT TRANSMISSION AND 4.10 REAR PERFORMANCE / 13.71 @ 101.2 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / CAR CRAFT MAGAZINE 1/71 |
22. 1971 ‘CUDA ENGINE / 390 HORSEPOWER 440 SIX PACK AS TESTED / TORQUEFLIGHT TRANSMISSION AND 4.10 REAR PERFORMANCE / 13.72 @ 106 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / SUPER STOCK MAGAZINE 4/71 |
23. 1971 CORVETTE ENGINE / 425 HORSEPOWER LS-6 454 AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 3.36 REAR PERFORMANCE / 13.72 @ 102.4 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / CAR LIFE 8/71 |
24. 1971 SUPER BEE ENGINE / 425 HORSEPOWER 426 HEMI AS TESTED / TORQUEFLIGHT TRANSMISSION AND 4.10 REAR PERFORMANCE / 13.73 @ 104 DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / MOTOR TREND 12/70 |
25. 1968 HURST OLDS ENGINE / 390 HORSEPOWER 455 W-30 AS TESTED / AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 3.91 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / SUPERSTOCK MAGAZINE 8/68 PERFORMANCE / 13.77 @ 103.91 |
26. 1968 FIREBIRD H.O. ENGINE / 335 HORSEPOWER 400 H.O. AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / HOT ROD 3/68 PERFORMANCE / 13.79 @ 106 |
27. 1967 CORVETTE ENGINE / 435 HORSEPOWER 427 3×2 BARREL AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 3.55 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / HOT ROD MAGAZINE 5/67 PERFORMANCE / 13.80 @ 108 |
28. 1971 BOSS 351 MUSTANG ENGINE / 330 HORSEPOWER BOSS 351 AS TESTED /4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 3.91 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / MOTOR TREND MAGAZINE 1/71 PERFORMANCE / 13.80 @ 104 |
29. 1966 SATELLITE ENGINE / 425 HORSEPOWER 426 HEMI AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 3.54 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / CAR AND DRIVER MAGAZINE 4/66 PERFORMANCE / 13.81 @ 104 |
30. 1968 CORONET R/T ENGINE / 375 HORSEPOWER 440 4 BARREL AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 4.10 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / SUPERSTOCK MAGAZINE 4/69 PERFORMANCE / 13.83 @ 102.27 |
31. 1968 CYCLONE GT ENGINE / 335 HORSEPOWER 428 COBRA JET AS TESTED / AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 4.11 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / MOTOR TREND MAGAZINE 8/68 PERFORMANCE / 13.86 @ 101.69 |
32. 1969 NOVA SS396 ENGINE / 375 HORSEPOWER 396 4 BARREL AS TESTED / AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 3.55 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / HOT ROD MAGAZINE 7/69 PERFORMANCE / 13.87 @ 105.1 |
33. 1969 SHELBY GT-500
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34. 1970 4-4-2 W30
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35. 1962 CORVETTE ENGINE / 360 HORSEPOWER 327 FUEL INJECTION AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 4.10 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / HOT ROD MAGAZINE 1/62 PERFORMANCE / 13.89 @ 105.14 |
36. 1969 BARRACUDA ENGINE / 375 HORSEPOWER 440 4 BARREL AS TESTED / AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 4.10 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / SUPERSTOCK MAGAZINE 8/69 PERFORMANCE / 13.89 @ 103.21 |
37. 1969 MACH 1 ENGINE / 335 HORSEPOWER 428 COBRA JET AS TESTED / AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 3.50 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / CAR LIFE MAGAZINE 3/69 PERFORMANCE / 13.90 @ 103.32 |
38. 1967 GTO ENGINE / 360 HORSEPOWER 400 RAM AIR AS TESTED / AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 4.33 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / CAR LIFE MAGAZINE 10/67 PERFORMANCE / 13.90 @ 102.8 |
39. 1970 TRANS AM ENGINE / 345 HORSEPOWER 400 RAM AIR IV AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 3.91 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / HOT ROD MAGAZINE 2/70 PERFORMANCE / 13.90 @ 102 |
40. 1969 CHARGER R/T ENGINE / 375 HORSEPOWER 440 4 BARREL AS TESTED / AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 3.55 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / MOTOR TREND MAGAZINE 1/69 PERFORMANCE / 13.90 @ 101.4 |
41. 1969 COUGAR ELIMINATOR ENGINE / 335 HORSEPOWER 428 COBRA JET AS TESTED / AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 3.50 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / SUPERSTOCK MAGAZINE 9/69 PERFORMANCE / 13.91 @ 103.9 |
42. 1972 CORVETTE LT-1 ENGINE / 255* HORSEPOWER LT-1 350 AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 4.11 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / HOT ROD MAGAZINE 8/72 PERFORMANCE / 13.92 @ 104.01 * DENOTES NET HORSEPOWER |
43. 1970 CHARGER R/T ENGINE / 390 HORSEPOWER 440 SIX PACK AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 3.54 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / SUPERSTOCK MAGAZINE 8/68 PERFORMANCE / 13.77 @ 103.91 |
44. 1968 GTX ENGINE / 425 HORSEPOWER 426 HEMII AS TESTED / AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 3.23 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / CAR LIFE MAGAZINE 2/68 PERFORMANCE / 13.97 @ 103.5 |
45. 1971 MUSTANG MACH 1 ENGINE / 370 HORSEPOWER 429 COBRA JET AS TESTED / AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 3.50 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / SUPERSTOCK MAGAZINE 2/71 PERFORMANCE / 13.97 @ 100.22 |
46. 1970 CYCLONE SPOILER ENGINE / 370 HORSEPOWER 429 COBRA JET AS TESTED / AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 3.50 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / SUPERSTOCK MAGAZINE 2/70 PERFORMANCE / 13.97 @ 100 |
47. 1967 4-4-2 W30 ENGINE / 350 HORSEPOWER 400 W-30 AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 4.33 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / SUPERSTOCK MAGAZINE 8/67 PERFORMANCE / 13.99 @ 102.4 |
48. 1970 CHALLENGER ENGINE / 425 HORSEPOWER 426 HEMII AS TESTED / AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 3.23 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / ROAD AND TRACK MAGAZINE 8/70 PERFORMANCE / 14.00 @ 104 |
49. 1966 SHELBY GT-350 S ENGINE / 440* HORSEPOWER 289 HI PERF AS TESTED / AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 3.89 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED / MOTOR TREND MAGAZINE 8/66 PERFORMANCE / 14.00 @ 102 * ESTIMATED HORSEPOWER WITH PAXTON SUPERCHARGER |
50. 1964 COBRA 289 ENGINE / 271 HORSEPOWER 289 HI PERF AS TESTED / 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 3.77 REAR DRAG TEST PUBLISHED /CAR LIFE MAGAZINE 8/64 PERFORMANCE / 14.00 @ 98
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