Quickest Muscle car PRE 1975

EZ Nova · #1 01-25-2018, 03:56 PM

After watching the BJ on the weekend, was talking with some guys on what the Quickest ET muscle car would have been.

I said the Motion Cars and specifically Suydam's '69 ZLX as the Fastest car out of a dealer/factory around those times.

BUT

Was there any other dealers cars that could hang with a tunnel rammmed ZLX? Did a Mopar dealer have a Hemi Dart car? Or did someone "package" a '69 ZL-1 Camaro for a street racer? Motion BB Vega?

I think the BB 'Vettes were probably THE quickest cars generally from factory with L-88's. But when one includes Yenko's Dana Nickey Motion cars, then who would be the top dog....

westonz28rs · #2 01-25-2018, 05:47 PM

I think the AC Cobra might be the one. From 0 to 100 mph back to zero in under 13 seconds is pretty impressive. Now quarter mile times are subject to tuning and machine work. Just look at Jerry's Z28. Lots of work on a factory stock quarter mile record holder Camaro.

EZ Nova · #3 01-25-2018, 06:10 PM

Funny, I've been travelling the tracks for YEARS now. Toured the IHRA nation circuit for a few years. Never was really impressed with a Cobra in the 1/4 actually.

As for Jerry's car, yes that's fast and all, with the same dedication AND some aftermarket parts such as these dealers used, that little SB of his would get left behind, that's all as these dealer mods don't need to be factory stock stuff. Put that same detail and energy Jerry put into the Z28 and transfer that to Suydam's ZLX tunnelramed BB, not sure it would compare..

Just looking for the quickest cars around say up to 75/76 era? Motion were guaranteed a 10 sec. slip? Could anything really run with them with factory or other "dealer installed" parts/stuff? I've heard there was 1 454 Motion Vega, but what if Motion did the full Phase III ZLX treatment to a Vega!

**Tracker1** · #4 01-25-2018, 06:33 PM

How about a Motion Cobra?

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/hrdp-...a-dragonsnake/

But really, by your standards EZNova - those standards being modern day tech and knowledge applied to an old factory-offered Musclecar (I think that's what you mean, if not, I don't know what you mean), then 1968 SS/AA NHRA Hemi Barracudas and Darts are the cars to beat - they're still running 8-second quarters today.

And my recollection is that Motion did not guarantee a 10-second time slip. It was 11s. This is from his "warranty" :

"We think so much of our Phase III Supercars that we guarantee they will turn at least 120 mph in 11.50 seconds or better with an M/P-approved driver on an AHRA or NHRA-sanctioned drag strip. Phase III Supercars are completely streetable, reliable machines that will run these times off the street."

JoeC · #5 02-06-2018, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EZ Nova

Just looking for the quickest cars around say up to 75/76 era? Motion were guaranteed a 10 sec. slip? Could anything really run with them with factory or other "dealer installed" parts/stuff? I've heard there was 1 454 Motion Vega, but what if Motion did the full Phase III ZLX treatment to a Vega!

Motion advertised the 454 Vega as a 9 sec street car

In 1974 Ro McGonegal wrote an article on it called "King Kong is Living on Long Island"

HP to Wt is higher then a 427 Cobra , safety rating probably lower

http://www.superchevy.com/features/1...hevrolet-vega/

EZ Nova · #6 02-07-2018, 08:05 PM

YES I'm quite sure a Motion 454 Vega Phase III would be right at the top of the list. I also think that the Grand Spaulding "Mr. Norms" 1968 GSS 440 Dart would run right with the Nickey, Yenko and Dana 427/454 cars too??

The BM cars seems to have the edge in performance as they had headers and the other were manifolds. And IF someone was CRAZY enough to order a AL ZL-1 block with the ZLX 480 inch internals for there PHASE III BM Vega, well there again is a whole new animal.

Too bad Grand Spaulding never got into the Hemi swaps like Yenko did the 427 swaps? They would have some pretty wicked cars for sure.

Lee Stewart · #7 01-25-2018, 06:35 PM

1968 Hemi Dart. Dodge made 55 of them as opposed to some of the cars listed in Post #1 which were one of a kind.

EZ Nova · #8 01-25-2018, 08:13 PM

Thanks guys.

The modern tech comment was in regards to Weston's input on Jerry's Z28 being a record holder.

I'm quite aware how guys like Barton, Hess, and Wescot can get those old Plymouths to run. Buddy almost bought a SS/AH car as it would be cheaper than his NA heads up deal, and more places to run them.

Did anyone other the Grand Spaulding do Mopars? Like I noted, there are plenty of Chevy places that did the COPO style and Yenko style cars. And Motion seems to be the TOP DOG with there guarantee. SORRY I thought it was 10 sec. for some reason? Maybe that was for the Vegas???

Looking for something, IF THERE WAS, that was a factory/dealer like Baldwin-Motion that produced/delivered a car Like PHASE III BM '69 Camaro. OR like if Jimmy Addison's '67 Hemi GTX IF it came from Mr. Norms?

Lee Stewart · #9 01-25-2018, 08:34 PM

You have to remember that only GM had restrictions on engine size for mid-size and pony cars. This created the "Dealer Cars."

The 1967 "Silver Bullet" GTX is simply a GTX with an A990 Race Hemi in it - something you could not order from Chrysler.

AFAIK, Mr. Norm was pretty much it for "outside the order form" mopars. He showed Dodge that their 440 would fit in a Dart by putting one together. Sort of like what Tasca did with the 1968.5 Cobra Jet Mustang.

Plymouth/Dodge had their own high performance parts catalog which their dealers could install. Things like tube headers, hot cams, dual quads for the 383 and 440. You buy the parts through the Parts Dept. and the Service Dept would install them for you. Same thing for Ford.

**Tracker1** · #10 01-25-2018, 08:54 PM