When it comes to classic muscle cars, few models are as iconic as the 1973 Chevrolet Corvette and the 1969 Pontiac GTO Ram Air III. These two vehicles represent some of the best that American car manufacturers had to offer during the late 1960s and early 1970s. But how do they compare when pitted against each other on the drag strip?
Let’s take a closer look at the specs of each car. The 1973 Corvette is powered by an LS4 454 V8 engine that was rated at 275 horsepower. The 1969 GTO, on the other hand, features a Ram Air III 400 V8 engine that was rated at a whopping 366 gross horsepower. The Corvette’s engine is mated to a TH400 3-speed automatic transmission, while the GTO features a 4-speed manual transmission.
In terms of rear gearing, the GTO has a 3.90 ratio while the Corvette is geared at 3.08. The weight of the Corvette with the driver is 3945 pounds, while the GTO tips the scales at 4034 pounds, including the driver. It’s worth noting that only 6143 1969 Pontiac GTO Ram Air III cars were produced with the 4-speed, making this particular GTO a rare find.
But how do these two cars perform on the drag strip? According to the rules of the 1955 to 1979 muscle cars built in United States and Canadian assembly plants with a minimum warranty of 12 months and 12,000 miles race, any car running faster than 11.50 seconds will be disqualified and any convertible running faster than 13.50 seconds will be disqualified as well. Additionally, casting numbers must be correct for the year and horsepower claimed, including intake manifold, heads, and exhaust manifolds. Stock cranks only, and all engines receive an extra 1.5 points for CR allowed over advertised.
The camshaft must be correct for the year, model, and horsepower claimed for the type of lifter (hydraulic or solid), and roller cams are not allowed. The valve train must be factory stock for the year, make, and horsepower claimed. The ignition system must be stock, including the distributor, cap, coil, and wires. Carburetors must be correct for the year, make, and horsepower claimed, and jetting and metering changes are permitted. Cast-iron exhaust manifolds are mandatory and must be correct for the year, model, and horsepower claimed, with no internal modifications allowed.
Both cars are also required to use reproduction or radial tires, and are allowed to run tires one size over stock. Factory wheels must be used, and the radiator must be correct for the year, make, model, and horsepower claimed, with no lightweight aluminum radiators allowed. The camshaft must be correct for the year, model, and horsepower claimed for the type of lifter (hydraulic or solid), and the transmission must be correct for year, make, model, and engine of the car, with 3-speed manuals able to be upgraded to the correct 4-speed if originally available. Finally, the rear axle must be of the same manufacturer as the car, with any gear ratio allowed.
With these rules in mind, it’s clear that both the 1973 Corvette and the 1969 GTO have a fair shot at victory. While the GTO boasts more horsepower on paper, the Corvette’s lower weight and better rear gearing could give it an edge on the drag strip. It all comes down to which driver can coax the most performance out of their vehicle.
In the end, though, the true winner is anyone lucky enough to own one of these classic muscle cars.
