What was the quickest car (completely stock) in 1969?
 

I've been wondering this for a while, what was the quickest completely stock car in 1969?

I'm not talking about the tuner shop cars.

69 zl1 corvette?

I would think it to be the Hemi Charger. Maybe not...

I did a search and found this... I guess it's debatable...

https://www.classicins.com/the-ten-f...-cars-of-1969/

I’d rule out extremely rare cars like ZL1 Corvettes & Camaros because the chances of encountering one in the wild back then would’ve been about nil. It would have to be a car you actually might run across in Anytown, USA. The iron block COPO Camaros would certainly be a contender (if you lived in Ohio there was one in every subdivision) along with the A12 Chrysler products, RAIV Pontiacs, 428CJ Mustangs. Chevrolet 396/375 L78 cars would be a few cars down on the list because there were lots of those running around. I’m not even sure if a Hemi car would make the list because every ‘69 would’ve been just a Street Hemi.

'69 Road Runner 440 6 pack: 12.91 @ 111mph

K

69 L88 Corvette but it depends on rear gear, transmission, who's driving, and what was reported back in the day.

Tires made such a difference back then. Stock tires were a great equalizer, but they didn't last long. Then cheater slicks could make a big improvement. Most races were won or lost in the first 60 feet, especially since most streets never went a full quarter mile. stop light to stop light stuff. Man those were fun times.

I'm happy to see the 66 L72 Corvette ranked #2. Seeing it ran 12.80's with a 3.36 gear, makes me think it was a "ringer". Specially prepped cars were not beneath Zora:3gears:

In the quarter, I would have guessed a 1969 Hemi Dart.
Fastest overall I would guess a 1969 Hemi Daytona.

Unless you can travel back in time, and conduct side by side comparisons with the same driver under the same conditions, I don't think there is any way to know.

By far the BIGGEST factor is driver. That explains why there may be a full one second difference from one test to another on virtually identical cars.

The other two huge factors are tires and track conditions (which include altitude relative to sea level, temp, humidity and of course the actual surface of the track).

I remember someone posting about the first completely stock car (an early 409 425 HP car) to break the 4 second barrier 0-60. I responded to the post saying there is no way it could do so on those bias ply 6 inch wide (tread) tires. The answer? They put some slicks on it for the test. Hardly a "completely stock" car at that point.

[QUOTE=Keith Seymore;1675838]'69 Road Runner 440 6 pack: 12.91 @ 111mph

K[/QUOTE


That roadtest was a ringer. Ronnie Sox was driving!

True, that. No telling what "sweetened up" meant.

Seems like hopping up the test cars happened often, but some big block manual transmission cars back then were low 13s and maybe a little quicker on stock tires.

My favorite article of all time:
"Some devilish product planners marched out a ZL1 Corvette equipped with 4.10:1 gears, an automatic transmission, and the key to the kingdom: 10.50x15 Racemasters. That thing ran 10.70s and bellowed all day long with idiots at the wheel".
https://www.hotrod.com/features/the-...-982-1637-48-1

I must have read this article 4-5 times in the past, it never gets old!:3gears:

My office mate at MPG was there that day, at the Black Lake event.


K

Hard to verify the fastest stock car in 1969 or any other time for that matter. I look at trap speed as an indication of power to weight and is somewhat independent of starting line traction. Most small block cars of the muscle car era would not break 100 mph and even some big block cars could not do it. LS6 and Hemi cars were in the range of 103 to 105 mph and you heard of several that were close to 110 mph. These would be the fastest in my opinion. COPO Camaro's, L88 Corvettes, and other low production supercars would be in this range. Very few could exceed 110 mph without tuning or bolt on parts.

Paul

They listed the Buick Stage1 with a 455, that engine didn't come in a 69, it showed up in 1970 in the Buick.

I'm guessing power : weight wise, the Corvettes would have the edge.

There was this very cool and informative site at www.automobile-catalog.com.
The site had a complete Catalog of Cars going many years back with a car specs database. You could compare all of the specs of up to 5 cars simultaneously but it doesn't seem to be up any longer. I spent hours on this site over the years and am quite sure someone or a group of people spent tons of hours researching, uploading and building the site.

The other variable is the axle ratio - that could make a big difference.

I was able to get this site to come up and very informative. Downside is it's full of pop up ads.

a "stock" 65 Catalina did a 13.80.? Super Duty car.?

I wonder what were the quickest production muscle cars, I need to look at that list someone shared on page 1 again.

421ho

From the PSMCDR site

"These lists are the culmination of all runs since 1998 and
are posted here for your entertainment only"

Hard to beat an L88 or a 426 Hemi. I would prefer an L88 even over a ZL1 if I had the choice of either one.

Today I learned that there really is a "Britton" Michigan.

All this time I thought the track announcer was just mispronouncing "Brighton" Mich.

K

In the late '60s one of the faster true stock cars in town was a '66 Catalina 2 plus 2, 421 HO (376 hp IIRC?) 4 speed and 4.10 rear. It would just hook and go...

When I got out of the Marines in '71 I became acquainted with a young lady (Linda) who owned a '69 L88 Corvette (yes, a real one).
The rear panel was hand lettered, "If You Can Beat Me, You Can Eat Me"....

No idea what became of her or the car....

L-88 Corvette all the way. These Vettes were quick.

on top of the PSMCDR small block list is Owen Simpson's 1970 Yenko Deuce at 11.88 ET at 116 mph

2023 Pure Stock Drags at Mid Michigan Motorplex

Cast-iron exhaust manifolds and full exhaust
bias ply tires and 4 speed transmission

Nice. But not "stock" that car is making at least 450 crank to run that good. What mods are allowed in that class?

PSJohn, no mods, but fully dialed-in suspensions and the mechanicals like engine and trans are fully blueprinted and balanced.

Strange, I heard about Owen and the COPO '70 Nova, LT1 350 car with factory traction bars. I actually LOOKED at the car when it was for sale and the owner claimed it was a "COPO 1970 NOVA LT1 350, 1 of 2 sold in London, ON". Strange how much slower that car is on the list then his Yenko?

The "E-Bay Deuce"..........glad to see it doing so well.

Original thread back from 2010:

https://www.yenko.net/forum/showthre...ght=ebay+duece

baloney! that story is as old as grandma's underpants...

OK then.....I'm sorry for muddying up this informative thread....

Fresh from Vietnam I crashed with a couple buddies to get my head on straight and find my own place.
Their house was two blocks from the university campus, pretty much party central 3-4 nights a week.
Linda came by a couple times, announced by the rumble out in the street. Attractive blonde, about 5'10", The Vette was a red coupe, no side pipes and I believe aluminum slots.

'nuff said...

I liked it Bill.