Originally Posted By: mpvue
Originally Posted By: Samilcar
Consumer Reports did a comparison test on 2009 sports cars this month (Mustang, Camaro, and Challenger) and all of the 0-60 mph times were around 5 seconds. The same models that they tested in 1968 all ran around 10 seconds. We're living in the golden age of performance cars. Get 'em while you still can.
a lot of that is tire technology and better suspensions. the net hp is better now than it was in '68.
NET being the key word. HP in the 60's was measured in SAE GROSS, which is a much more "generous" specification, since the engines were run without accessories and with open exhaust.
Modern SAE NET is a much better indicator of power output, since the engine is tested essentially as it will be fitted in the car.
For comparison:
My '87 GT T-Top was ~3300lbs, and rated at 225HP/300lb-ft using the (older) SAE NET specification. It went 15-flat on a street tire at 100Mph, 14.2 at 99.9Mph on a drag radial.
A 1969 Camaro 375HP (GROSS) 396 SS ran 14.77 at 98.7Mph.
And it was lighter.
Mph being a good indicator of actual power output, it is no wonder why I see a lot of (absolutely gorgeous in many cases) older cars that hit the drag strip and run in the 14, 15, 16 and 17 second range.
With a few mods, these cars could be made much faster, but off the showroom floor, as rated from the factory, they SAE GROSS rating scheme really makes many THINK that these cars were a lot faster than they actually were.
There were a few exceptions however.
TASCA (a Ford dealer in the states) sold a version of the BOSS 429 known as the "TASCA Super BOSS". It was fitted with the 494ci CAN-AM version of the BOSS 429 engine with an upgraded cam and intake, and running the NASCAR version of the heads.
This thing ran bottom 11's on the stock GoodYear Polyglass tires.
TASCA's flagship car, which was run by the dealership spent its entire life drag racing. The old girl recently received a change in ownership, freshened, fitted with an 1150 domi and MSD ignition.
She made 735HP to the tires and went mid-10's on Goodyear polyglass junk.
So while there were some setups that would leave one wanting at the drag strip today, there are others, like the car above, that would genuinely cause some wide-eyes.
And again, I'm talking STOCK examples here. I am well aware that any of the small and big block engines from that era can be worked to achieve some very good ET's.
