When they drag race new cars for 1/4 mile times...

[87Regal3.8SFI]

...do they install slicks and then run the car? Or do they run them on whatever stock tire the car comes with?

In other words, when they found the GNX ran a 13.43 back in 1987, was that on slicks? Or the stock tires and 16 X 8 rims?

I ask because I have a guy telling me they put slicks on cars, specifically the 1970 Chevelle LS6 454 when they wanted to get a 1/4 mile time for 1970 Car And Driver report. He says they didn't get a 13 second pass off of bias plys. ( a LS6 454 Chevelle was found to run a 13.4 I believe)

[jpratt]

I would think they could run it either way depending on the magazine.

[Kma697]

Can't speak about the 70's but nowadays they run the car on the tires it came with. In 87 the GNX was run on the stock tires.

[87Regal3.8SFI]

Thanks, I myself always though they ran them as they were with the street tires on them.

[jdpolzin]

I think they run OE tires also. Thats means a GNX is a 12 second car from the factory with some sticky's on it! Thats pretty darn good!

[UNGN]

They generally didn't run sticky tires in the 60's and 70's but many times "ringers" were used that were specially prepped for the tests.

Car magazines went along with this because fast ET's sell magazines. Magazines like car craft, would test a car (and hop it up in the process), then pass it off to its sister publication Motor Trend and they would test the car like it was factory stock (or just take the Car Craft test data and print it)

The LS6 Chevelle and Hemi Cuda were both published at 13.1's, but those tests were sketchy at best for what was actually done to the cars and the test conditions.

Look at the "bang for the buck" article from 1989 where the winner was a one of 30 something hardtop TTA vs. the way more prevalent T-top car.

[notacarlo]

In that video of the GNX and Calloway head-to-head, the GNX was on stock rubber.

I think the only modification to the Calloway was a supercharger, turbocharger, nitrous, tornado, chip, slicks, professional driver, parachute, a coffee maker and a fresh coat of wax.....he still couldn't keep up.

[TexasT]

On top of that the GNX was equipped with 245 Gatorbacks. Crappy hooking at best on the '89 5.0 Mustang I had.

12s for sure on good 60s.

[faster]

Here is a link to some intersting times.

Also explains the ringers.



North America's Fastest Production Cars



Mikey

[turbofish38]

Everyone forgets that the Calloway was also twin intercooled turbos with a 350 cube V-8. Why was it so slow than?


Really you cant compare cars across a 50 year long spread because of the tires. To say a new Bugatti is fast compared to a 67 SC Cobra is insane.

[87Regal3.8SFI]

It says an 87 GN ran a 13.85 at 99 mph. Does that sound right? I always thought they ran low 14's stock.

[RatFink]

Originally Posted by turbofish38

Everyone forgets that the Calloway was also twin intercooled turbos with a 350 cube V-8. Why was it so slow than?


Really you cant compare cars across a 50 year long spread because of the tires. To say a new Bugatti is fast compared to a 67 SC Cobra is insane.

I don't think it was running much boost, maybe for warranty reasons? I wonder if the Chevy motors were "prepped" to sustain high boost? I bet you could turn them up the same as the GN's...but they may give sooner. I've heard that Vipers stock motors will give when boost is applied. dunno, guessing.

[X Ray]

[quote=notacarlo;1842415]In that video of the GNX and Calloway head-to-head, the GNX was on stock rubber.

You are correct...they were new tires on the GNX for testing…. but they were shaved to create more surface area to the track....a little cheating.

[UNGN]

Originally Posted by 84Regal3.8

It says an 87 GN ran a 13.85 at 99 mph. Does that sound right? I always thought they ran low 14's stock.

Car and Driver got a 13.9 out of one (actually it was an '86), though they admit it was on a "Brutally Cold" day. You can also tell they ran the car in OD instead of D because the 0-110 time flattout sucked, you could tell there was a major retard/bog on the 3-4 shift.

[dgoodhue]

Originally Posted by faster

Here is a link to some intersting times.

Also explains the ringers.



North America's Fastest Production Cars



Mikey

I don't read main stream magazine anymore, but their have been some ringers over the years. Its not just limited the 60 & 70's I can think of a few 90's vehicles where the factory provided ringers as well. I wouldn't be surprised if still goes on.

I have one quick story. My father friend had bought a 390 4 speed Mustang that happened to be a magazine test car. He was the orignal owner besides the demo miles. It was always suprisingly stronger for a 390, but one day the clutch gave out and my father (mechanica at the time) went to replace the clutch. The 390 throw out bearing would not fit, after a bunch of head scratching, he figure it out. It was 427 Ford Engine. He later measure the displacement of the motor to verify it.

[TurboDave]

Originally Posted by 84Regal3.8

It says an 87 GN ran a 13.85 at 99 mph. Does that sound right? I always thought they ran low 14's stock.

That's why I'm so impressed with this new Accord I'm driving now!!!
It's rated at 14.20@102 through the quarter, and a 5.8 60'.

It feels every bit of it too. For a normally aspirated V6, rated at only 268, it flat "gits it". Been a long time since I've had a car so much fun to drive, and rip off 29mpg highway laps to boot.