Bench Racing
Return of the Muscle Car

by Ryan King
9/1/05

There seems to be a rift growing between performance enthusiasts today. The old rivalries between Ford, Chevy and Mopar are almost nonexistent and in their place are rivalries between Domestic and Import supporters and a new, more insidious and debilitating rivalry to the Muscle Car faction, between people that believe that Classic Muscle Cars can’t perform up to today's standards and those that believe that Modern Muscle Cars are just a mere shadow of their Classic fore bearers.

First I want to point out something: The Muscle Car isn’t dead. In fact, the Muscle Car is just beginning to come into its own again. If you have any doubts or objections to this, I can list a number of Modern Muscle Cars coming out of the factories today as well as their performance numbers to support the claim that they are indeed Muscle Cars.

The fact remains, however, that the cars that came out of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s are the benchmark by which all other performance cars are judged. Again, if anyone doubts that claim, I can list a number of Classic Muscle Cars that have the performance credentials to back up that statement. In fact, its long been known that the single benchmark for vehicular performance came from the ‘60s: the Shelby Cobra.

I’m sure, that, for some, the only way to prove this point is to do a side by side comparison.

So, then, how do today’s Muscle Cars stack up to those of yesterday? Let’s take an individual look at those cars coming out of the factories right now and compare them to their Classic Muscle Car counterparts. I wasn’t able to come up with performance numbers for every Modern Muscle Car produced right now, nor was I able to come up with numbers for the most wicked of performance cars to come out of the factories during the ‘60s, but I was able to come up with a great cross section of both to match up against one another to provide a solid comparison between the two eras.

Dodge Durango Limited: Don’t laugh...too hard. There was a time when station wagons were laughed at. Now that V8, rear wheel drive cars are sought after so ardently, even the station wagon is performance fodder. Why should an SUV be any different? It’s like the station wagon version of the truck and the Muscle Truck has been around as a factory offering since the ‘90s. But what to use as a Muscle Car Era comparison for the Durango? Well, since there were no “Muscle Trucks” during the ‘50s, ‘60s or ‘70s, the only obvious choice is a station wagon.

I wanted to use a Hemi Belvedere wagon as the new Durango uses a Hemi, but I was forced to go with the only wagon comparison I could find, a 455 powered 1968 Oldsmobile Vista-Cruiser. As this was the first “event” of the “day,” I was interested to see how it would turn out and whether or not the results of this match up would be an indicator of the rest of the match ups. With the two tests side by side I was able to see that the classic wagon was more than a match for the poor Durango. At a “blistering” 15.8 @ 87 MPH, the Durango is smoked so handily by the old family car that it never had a chance coming into the competition. The Olds dominates with a 14.7 @ 93, defeating it by more than a second.

Was this comparison a sign of things to come or a false indicator of classic dominance?

Ford Thunderbird: Obviously the Thunderbird has a legacy and Ford grabbed that legacy smartly with the re-creation of this legend. The new look harkens back to the ‘55-’57 Thunderbird that may very well be one of the most gorgeous designs ever created. Since this car brings to mind so clearly that classic, it only made sense to pit it against a car of that vintage, a 1955 Thunderbird.

With performance to match it’s look, the modern T-Bird hustles down the quarter with a strong 15.2 @ 92 soundly trouncing the 17.1 @ 78 effort of the ‘55.

Maybe the first test was only a fluke.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited: A Jeep is a serious off-road vehicle to be sure, but that doesn’t mean it can’t also be a serious on-road vehicle as well. With the same powertrain as the Dodge Durango Limited and roughly the same platform, you might think they’d be pretty evenly matched, but they aren’t even close. Since I didn’t find any other vehicles to test against, I was again forced to turn to the the mighty ‘68 Olds Vista-Cruiser. The mighty Hemi with the same rated output as the Durango seems to find the extra spirit when in the Jeep and propels it to an amazing un-SUV-like 15.1 @ 88 MPH, but it just wasn’t enough to defeat the “big block” powered family hauler.

Does the plot thicken or is the Olds Vista-Cruiser merely a ringer?

Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Hemi: How bad ass is the new Hemi? Pretty damned. In the new 1/2-ton Dodge Ram, it’s capable of propelling the car to some un-truck-like performance numbers. Although moving a big, heavy Dodge Ram the engine itself runs better than any small block that came out of a Chrysler factory during the Muscle Car Era. But since this is a small block in a big truck, I don’t feel a big block in a “Muscle Car” will provide a fair comparison. Instead, I’ve found the test numbers from another Mopar out of the Muscle Car Era with every bit as bad an attitude as the big Dodge: A 1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda. When the performance tests of these two bad ass Mopar’s lined up against one another, the air was thick with suspense, but when the smoke cleared the 290 horse, 340 powered AAR Cuda with its 14.3 @ 99 run handily beat out the Ram with its 15.1 @ 89.

It appears there might be some truth to the idea that the Muscle Car did indeed die in the ‘60s, but with 14 more matches to run, its way too early to tell.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 SS: This is another tough one to find a match for. After all, why give a heavy truck with poor traction a big engine when a lighter car would perform much better? The simple answer is tightening emissions restrictions on cars that don’t effect trucks. But the car companies certainly didn’t have the emissions restrictions back then that we do now. Also, America didn’t have a fascination with using trucks as commuter cars like it does now.

After giving it some considerable consideration, I think it is only right to make the only SS Chevrolet made today earn its name. The match I’ve decided to provide is the baddest SS car Chevrolet ever made: The 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6.

Even with rock-hard bias-ply tires that people wouldn’t consider safe for a trailer today putting the power down (okay, so maybe “putting the power down” is a bit of an exaggeration), the big Chevy managed to record a brutal 13.1 @ 107. And when the dust cleared from the Chevelle’s pass, the Silverado SS flashed through the quarter with a 14.9 @ 89 losing horribly to the mightiest SS of all.

Chrysler 300C: Recently the Chrysler 300 was revived, but truly only as a shadow of its former self, with a front wheel drive chassis powered by a tiny V6. With its new for 2005 make over, the Chrysler 300 gets back to its roots with the new 5.7L Hemi V8 and rear wheel drive...the way a true Muscle Car should be and the way the Chrysler 300 began. But don’t kid yourself, I can tell you right now, this is not your father’s or grandfather’s 300.

The best numbers I found for the Chrysler 300 during the Muscle Car Era came from a 1966 with a 365 horse 440 big block and they were no match for the new 300C and its Hemi. The poor old Chrysler did its best, putting down a 17.3 @ 84 and the 300C did the rest, blistering past it with a 14.5 @ 97.

Does this match mark a new trend in this comparison?

Dodge Magnum R/T: Ah, the station wagon...cooler then it ever was. Back in the day, almost no one wanted to be caught in one...it was like a social death sentence. Fast forward 40 years and the view on station wagons has changed considerably. People make hot rods out of them...car companies make Muscle Cars out of them...and a comparison between the Magnum R/T and the Olds Vista-Cruiser looks like it will make for a good contest.

When the two cars left the line, the Olds charged ahead, but by the eighth mile mark, the Magnum’s Hemi started pouring on the power and the gap between the two big family movers was shortened. By the 1000 mile mark they were neck and neck and when the finished line passed by, the Magnum had taken the lead, just beating out the Olds with a 14.4 @ 98 to the Vista-Cruiser’s 14.7 @ 93.

Don’t fret Classic Muscle Car lovers, that doesn’t mean the Olds is old and broke...after all, there still is no replacement for displacement, but there is definitely a replacement for rock hard bias-ply tires ;)

Dodge Charger R/T: When Daimler-Chrysler finally came to their senses and started installing the Ram’s 5.7L Hemi in cars, they just couldn’t seem to stop themselves and came up with a car just to put it in. To this end, they decided to revive the old Charger name. This car does more then just share a name, it shares an engine heritage, the Hemi. It was obvious to me that the only match up that would be appropriate was with one of these classic Chargers, specifically a 1969 Charger 500 powered by a 426 Hemi.

Once known as the Elephant Motor, it seems many kids consider this engine to be “old” and a “dinosaur.” The reality, is however, that this design is the most powerful engine design ever created. This is made plainly clear with the 7500 horses being made in today’s Top Fuel Hemis.

What happens when two factory Hemis pull up to the line? I’d like to pretend that there was a competition here. I’d like to pretend there was a chance for both cars, but the truth is in the results. The classic Hemi was just too much for the new car, although the 5.7L Hemi in the Charger R/T put up a valiant effort with a 14.1 @ 100, it was no match for the monster Hemi’s 13.4 @ 109.

Chevrolet SSR: For those who don’t know, the SSR is obviously an attempt to meld the slick looks of ‘40s Art Deco, the functionality or there-lack-of of an El Camino and the performance and drivability afforded by today's technology. When the first version of this “truck” debuted, it was housing the 300 horse 5.3 Vortec V8. The problem was that it was a heavy, all-steel car and even 300 horses couldn’t propel it fast enough to do much for its performance. Fast forward ahead to its latest version using the LS2 out of the Corvette with a 390 horse rating: It has now earned the dashing red R in its name. I feel the only worthy comparison for this modern Muscle Truck is a 1970 El Camino SS454. After the two biggest burnouts of the competition, the two “trucks” pulled to the line. When the race was over the SSR’s 13.9 @ 102 was no match for the mighty SS454’s 13.4 @ 108.

Dodge Ram SRT-10 Quad Cab: Big. BIG. This son of a gun is big. And its got a big engine. An 8.3L 500 horse Viper V10. And although it comes solely with an automatic, this 4-door half-ton truck has big performance.

Because of its tremendous performance, I felt it was important to pick out another big block performer, and I felt it was also only aprapo that the car be a Dodge. And I felt it was also only appropriate for the most famous Dodge Muscle Car to stand up for the classic’s honor, the 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T. With a 440 Six-Pack and an automatic, it will make for a very good comparison to the new “RT.”

When the smoke from the vehicle tests cleared the Challenger just barely edged out the SRT-10 Quad Cab running a 13.6 @ 104 to 13.7 @ 103.

At this point it seems as though the comparisons between the Modern Muscle Cars and the Classic Muscle Cars is falling solidly on the side of the Classics, but the test isn’t nearly over yet, with 8 more comparisons left to be made.

Dodge Ram SRT-10: Make no mistake, of all the Muscle Trucks since the beginning of the creation of the Muscle Truck genre with the GMC Syclone, this is the baddest. It’s got the engine of a Viper, too bad it had none of its performance practicality. Even with the heavy truck body surrounding the mighty V10, it still can’t keep the engine from ripping up the pavement. To find a suitable test mule to pit it against I went for the best run made by a Chrysler car I could find. The 1969 Plymouth Road Runner was a boxy car, but built to the hilt right from the factory. Sporting 4-speeds and the mightiest engine design ever created, I felt this was the only Chrysler car worthy of competing against the big, bad Dodge.

Without a doubt, the standard Ram SRT-10 is the fastest of the Dodge lineup (not counting the Viper, which is in a whole other class). When the light on the tree turned green, they were gone, running neck and neck, mono-e-mono but as the two approached the finish line, a winner began to emerge, running a 12.9 @ 111, the Road Runner wouldn’t be beaten, putting away the big SRT-10’s extraordinary effort of 13.6 @ 105.

Ford Mustang GT: By now everyone from California to Mongolia knows about the new Mustang. But familiarity doesn’t change its stellar performance or stunning looks. With a mild (by comparison to the other cars in this test) 300 horses on tap, it was more than a challenge for almost every car in this competition, that includes its match race. I looked over many different tests of a lot of different classic Mustangs to compare it against, but I kept coming back to its inspiration: The 1969 Mustang. With 429 cubes of motor under the hood, the ‘69 Boss 429 was the best choice for a challenge. When the tire smoke cleared from the line, the cars ran neck and neck, the big block pulling away from the line first, but the Modern Mustang Marvel was hot on its hooves. By the time they reached the 1/8th mile mark they were in a dead-heat race and the little mod-motor wasn’t about to give in. Reaching deep down it spun harder and by the end of the track managed to put a single tenth of a second on the roaring big block, sealing its fate but providing one hell of a race. Both cars were stout, giving 13-second performances with the big block running a 13.6 @ 106 to the GT's 13.5 @ 103.

Pontiac GTO: Coming up with a comparison for the GTO was pretty simple. There were numerous versions of the GTO between its 1964 inception and its 1974 demise. My choice is the 1968. Even though later models had larger engines, the ‘68 GTO with its 428 4-Barrel was the best performer I found on record. And with the all new 400 horse Corvette LS2 under the hood of the GTO, it needed every bit as much competition as I could find. True to their heritage, the two cars tore off the line like serious performers, but when all was said and done, the ‘68’s 428 was no match for the 6.0L LS2 making 400 real horses, losing 13.8 @ 104 to 13.3 @ 107.

Chrysler 300C SRT8: The classic Chrysler 300 had no chance going up against its tamer modern counter part the standard 300C, and I can tell you it has less chance going up against the SRT8. It seems the concept of the performance luxury car has changed drastically over the decades. So drastically in fact that the performance of the standard 300C isn’t enough...which suits me just fine. The bigger, badder brother of the 300C managed to put down a run that obliterated the ‘66 so badly, they may as well have not even run. So they didn’t. Instead I put the 300C SRT8 up against another bad ass Hemi car...the most legendary bad ass Hemi car ever, the 1970 Plymouth Hemi’Cuda. The SRT8 managed a scorching 13.2 @ 108 and the luxury performance market may never be the same, but it wasn’t enough to beat the ‘Cuda as its Hemi pushed it through the traps at 13.1 @ 107.

Chevrolet Corvette: The new for 2005 C6 has hit the ground running. While it’s looks are debatable, its performance isn’t. With a 6.0L (377 CID) LS2 V8 putting out 400 horses standard, it’s performance is stellar. Backed by a 6-speed manual, it has been recorded rocketing to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and screaming through the traps at a breathtaking 113 in 12.6 seconds. And the answer to the incredible C6 Corvette? How about an unexpected choice: a 1966 425 horse Corvette Roadster. Why this car? It’s the standard production Corvette with the quickest recorded times during the Muscle Car Era. How fast? Fast enough to nearly match the new ‘Vette’s gargantuan effort with a 12.8 @ 112. And that was on bias-plys. That’s a testament to just how awesome the ‘60's Muscle Cars were.

Dodge Viper SRT-10: Of course, we could look at a slew full of Hemi-powered Chrysler offerings to put the Viper up against, but I already pitted the fastest Chrysler run I could find against the Ram SRT-10, so what would be appropriate for the Viper? If you know the history of the Viper, you know Carroll Shelby had a hand in its development and you know why the Viper was developed and its heritage...the undeniable King of Muscle Cars, the Shelby Cobra. It just makes sense to make the comparison between the modern snake and that Monster of Muscle. So how does the “new” Viper stand with its predecessor? Pretty well, but the undeniable King of Muscle Cars still hasn’t given up its place on top after 40 years. That’s how outrageous it is. When the new Viper SRT-10 passed the finish line it was awe inspiring with an 11.8 @ 123, the diminutive Cobra was right beside it with a time of 11.8 @ 115 on bias ply tires. The Cobra has proven time and again it is simply the greatest Muscle Car ever built...or is it...

Chevrolet Corvette Z06: Awesome. Simply awesome. 500 horses from a normally aspirated 427 cubic inch LS6 engine that can be driven every day.

So what from the Muscle Car Era can answer this pinnacle of modern Corvette performance? After much deliberation, I’ve chosen to go with the 1969 ZL1. Other than the L88, no limited production Corvette has had more tire-frying performance ever. Not even the 500 horse Z06. Why? Because no ‘Vet engine has ever had this much power with this little tire to plant it.

When placed side by side, the two Corvettes both exude bad ass, but the ZL1 screams it from the hill tops while pounding its chest like an angry animal. Rated at 430 horses, the 427, all aluminum big block, was way underrated and for good reason. Once the exhaust manifolds were removed in favor of 1 3/4” headers the motor was capable of putting out well over 500 horses. That’s right, over 500 horses. From the factory. But Chevy didn’t back racing at that time and insurance companies wouldn’t insure something like that. Apparently there were a lot of people who liked rough high idles in their daily drivers back then because the ZL1 (and the L88 cast iron counterpart) was a street car. Sadly, in street trim with small bias-ply tires, the old ‘Vette made a hard run of 13.5 @ 111. Of course, you already know that the ZL1 ran slower than the ‘66 Roadster in the standard Corvette’s comparison and the Z06 most definitely runs harder. How much harder? 11.7 @ 127. So fast in fact, that it has taken the title as the Mightiest Muscle Car of all time...or has it...

Ford GT: Last we come to the Ford GT. Why? Because no other car in the history of American production automobiles can match it’s acceleration. None. Nope, none. A Hemi powered Mopar can’t match its acceleration. A ZL1 powered Chevy can’t match its acceleration. A Cobra can’t match its acceleration. A new Z06 can’t even match its acceleration. It is simply impressive. And just think, that engine is about to come out in a sub-$40,000 Shelby in about a year. Still, how does the GT compare to the classic Shelby Cobra? With the stellar 11.8 @ 115 run under the Cobra’s belt, the GT was going to have its work cut out for it. But you know what? We already know it won. And it put down a Hellish 11.2 @ 131 to do it, absolutely obliterating the King of Classic Muscle Cars. I was truly left flabbergasted. There was no doubt that the GT takes the crown as the Mightiest Muscle Car ever produced.

So, do you still doubt that the Classic Muscle Cars of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s are the benchmark for performance?

Do you still doubt that today’s Modern Muscle Cars aren’t still Muscle Cars and that they carry on the tradition proudly?

Those “Old Cars” aren’t merely dinosaurs from a bygone era, but legendary dragons that still breath fire. And although it has taken 35 years of development for these “New Cars” to catch up with (and in some cases surpass) the classics, they are indeed worthy of the title of Muscle Car.

–Ryan