Dodge Hemi Challenger vs. Ferrari

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D4dpsC8eVE&feature=related ^ | 12/27/2008 | GunsandBibles

[GunsAndBibles]

You're behind the wheel of a 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger in a Vintage Grand Prix race. You're chasing a Ferrari, hitting speeds up to 160mph. This is NOT a video game! Ten minutes of outstanding arm chair racing. My first vanity, I apologize, but this video was Sofa King cool, I just had to post it! So who do you think wins?

[Gone_Postal]

the cuda also came with a 360 with a 4bbl carb I believe it was a HOLLEY 650 DBL PUMPER

[Gone_Postal]

A lot of people poo-poo’ed the AMX

The pictures I posted are not my car but they resemble as closely as I can find

not me in the early 70's I built a 68 AMX it was purple when I found it had to replace the drivers door...the Javelin door fit...had a AMC 390 engine and 290 posi rear ...
also had to order a lot of little things like tail light covers, the AMX decal.
In the dash was a little placket that had the production number..don't remember the number but it was only 3 digits
painted it pearl white lacquer...with about 15 coats of clear...that car was hot had Crager SS wheels all around F70's in the front and L60's in the rear...(as all the cars I built back then had).....it was a show stopper

[Does so]

"...I thought in the vintage races, you could run about anything you wanted to..."

It depends on the club hosting the event—and there are many vintage clubs. The clubs who are most-strict won't allow you to modify a factory-stock car to be competitive for its own sake. Some clubs will accept your car if your car has competed historically in actual sanctioned racecar events. Documentation is really important.

"...Not to bust anybody’s bubble but that is not a 426 Hemi. This car is an old Trans Am car..."

Beats me which is which from the video, but the sound is V-8, fer sure.

I've spent some time instructing on the track in similar conditions, but in PBOC events.

My '91 4-cylinder, 16-valve, BMW Q-ship does lose in the straights against the latest Corvettes, but most V-8 and V-10 drivers don't use their brakes to best advantage on the track. Therefore, depending on where the finish line is located...WRT the final curve...it's possible to out-brake—then out-corner bigger-engined cars to cross the finish line first.

Anyway, "winning" isn't so important in the practice sessions.

At 4:10 and 4:20 in this video, the Ferrari driver may be signaling the bigger car to pass.

That's what I would do if I had a valuable (and hyper-documented) Ferrari in a vintage PRACTICE event.

I carry that experience to my daily driving: You'll never see me being followed by a gasoline, propane, or cement truck!

==8ºO

[org.whodat]

Me thinks I actually owned two challengers, One a 340 and the other a 440.

Fool, neither were road race cars, did not and never did have the suspension.

Now did you ever sit your rump in a 440 challenger and cut the Xmas tree. I have!!!

[Phsstpok]

Listen to Bill Cosby's 200 MPH for a great take on Shelby's cars and how fast they go.

Oh wow!

It's a free site.

[GunsAndBibles]

Then how dost thou explain thy Ferrari being left in the dust, knave?

[GunsAndBibles]

“That’s what I would do if I had a valuable (and hyper-documented) Ferrari in a vintage PRACTICE event. “

Good point!

Although the Ferrari fades awfully fast at about 5:50 in the video, and then never seems to catch up. Watch the rear camera.

[diogenes ghost]

"the cuda also came with a 360 4bbl.."

Well, yeah, kinda.

The 360 4bbl 245 HP was only offered in '74 when the 'Cuda was on it's deathbed.

Less than 17,000 units produced, production was stopped at mid-year.

A feeble end to a great model.

The "MOPAR Hemi Challenge" at the NHRA Nationals at Indy every year is just awesome.

Usually around 25-30 firebreathing eight second '68 Hemi Darts & Cudas battling it out for bragging rights as the baddest SuperStocker in the land.

What a show!!!

[diogenes ghost]

What yellow car are you saying you had?

[Gone_Postal]

I had a 66 sports Fury I was going to put together...was looking for a 426 Hemi never got one for that car, however I did find a 392 Hemi ...it was a rag top, had painted it flake blue. never finished the car and sold it....

[Gone_Postal]

The "MOPAR Hemi Challenge" at the NHRA Nationals at Indy every year is just awesome.

Usually around 25-30 firebreathing eight second '68 Hemi Darts & Cudas battling it out for bragging rights as the baddest SuperStocker in the land.

What a show!!!

I would love to start going to car shows again....all this talk about these vintage muscle cars is really starting to make me want to build another one.....

My dream was to restore a 65 Mustang

[Kickass Conservative]

The Charger was A LOT faster than the Mustang. They did everything they could do to slow it down. The sold a helluva lot of both cars after that movie came out.

Check this link for the story.

http://www.hottr6.com/triumph/BULLITT.html

[awelliott]

Oh, yeah. That thing was consistently cornering inside the Ferrari. There are a lot of American muscle cars that can dance with Dino on the straights but very few that can do what we saw on the film. Now I gotta go drive my car. Dang it.

I hear you - at least I have a 5-speed with a CAI (gives it a little growl), so it isn't a total bummer. LOL

BTW, I checked out the owner's site - the only thing that's Challenger is the sheet metal, so the superior handling isn't so mysterious. He built a tube frame and suspension from the ground up, then added the Challenger body.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

It was a 1969 Dodge R/T Charger Convertible
with the 440 Cubic inch magnum engine.

[diogenes ghost]

"It was a 1969 Dodge R/T Charger Convertible."

I knew a kid in HS that sawed the top off a '51 Chevy with a hacksaw - he wanted a convertible & got one.

I assume you had a hacksaw too.

'Cause that's the only way you ever had a Charger convertible, the factory never made them.

[dalereed]

“American cars of that day topped out at 130mph going downhill.”

We lost our “D” Roadster record at Bonneville in 1954 when Voight & Colb showed up the last day with a Desoto that they pulled out of a new car, put a cam and hilborn injectors on it, dropped it in their 32 roadster and went 176 average.

[dalereed]

The 1957 Corvette that we won the SCCA race at Riverside in 57 was clocked on the back straight @ 156.

[diogenes ghost]

"I had a '66 sports Fury(Sport Fury, actually)."

In '66 I ordered a Sport Satellite Hemi 4 spd, when it came in I test drove it then handed the dealer my check & he tried to up the price $300 over what had been agreed on. So I turned it down, went across street & tried to order a Hemi Charger. Dodge dealer said Hemi production had been suspended for rest of year due to cracking heads. I wanted to show Plymouth dealer I really WAS buying a car so I drove off Dodge lot in a new 318 Coronet 440 Conv.

I finally got a Hemi in '69 - limited production Charger 500 (NASCAR variant) only 392 of that body style built, 32 with Hemi's.

I still have it, less than 20,000 miles on it, I'm the only original owner in the world of a Hemi 500.

Differences from regular Charger are 1)flush grill, rather than recessed with flip-up headlights. 2)Pure fastback rear window that follows roof pillar, instead of recessed at angle. This causes trunk lid to be VERY small. 3) The "A" pillar has a large chrome cover on it, eliminates airdam effect of normal pillar.

The Charger 500 is the rarest of the five special-bodied NASCAR variants; others were Dodge Daytona, Plymouth Superbird, Ford Torino Talledega, Mercury Cyclone Spoiler CJ.

[org.whodat]

Bounce around a whole lot don't you??? Never base you opinion of something on what you see on film. Do you think the moves are real??

[diogenes ghost]

"..Desoto that they pulled out of a new car..."

The early hemi went through many changes, that '54 was probably a 354", my mom had a '57 New Yorker conv with a 392 Hemi. That started my love affair with hemi's, still smitten.

A friend of mine has a '68 Hemi Dart SS/AH, held the Nat'l ET record briefly this year. He also has a Firebird he runs at Bonneville, holds at least one class record & has gone 300 with it, but missed "300 Club" by not making it on return run.

Lordy, he spends some big bucks on those cars, & he's not even much of a gearhead, just a rich guy with neat "braggin' toys".