I told myself before I read the article. “It’s got to be a hemi...”
‘69 Roadrunner.
I take it the Shelby Cobra was excluded because many / most were made in England with Ford motors ….
Because otherwise:
“The fastest production Shelby Cobra in the quarter mile was the 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Cobra (often referred to as the S/C or “Super Cobra” model), which achieved a best documented time of 12.2 seconds at 118 mph.
Key Details:
• Model: 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C (semi-competition version, street-legal but race-prepped; only 31 produced).
• Engine: 7.0L (427 cubic inch) Ford V8, dual four-barrel carburetors, rated at 425 hp (conservatively; dyno tests often showed 450+ hp).
• Transmission: 4-speed manual.
• Weight: ~2,350 lbs (extremely light for the power).
• Source of Record: Road tests by Car and Driver and Motor Trend in 1966–1967, with the 12.2-second quarter-mile being the fastest verified time for a street-legal production model on street tires.
Context on Variants:
• The standard 427 Cobra (non-S/C) typically ran 12.4–12.5 seconds.
• Earlier 289 cu in models were slower (~13.5–14 seconds).
• Some tuned or race-prepped Cobras (non-production) ran into the 11s, but those were not street-legal production cars.
Thus, 12.2 seconds @ 118 mph remains the benchmark for the fastest production Shelby Cobra in the quarter mile.”
I had a 1970 Dodge Super Bee, it was damn fast…
I can still remember some of the goodies installed;
Edelbrock high rise intake manifold
Holley carburetors
Iskenderian camshaft
Triple valve springs (shaved heads)
Hooker headers
Lakewood ladder traction bars
Muncie stone-crusher transmission
Hurst shifter
There’s more, but it’s been so long now…
Full sized vehicle that would pin you into the seat when you put your foot down.
Greenies ruined the fun, they’re still at it, never liked them, still don’t….
My personal choices for BEST might not mean the fastest, but they were pretty quick. They would be Pontiac GTO & Buick GS models.
Street ready, no. Our cars always beat street hemis. Now, on the track? different story.
I’d say probably the 454/450 horse Chevelle of around 1970.