Question about American Muscle Cars from the 60s-70s

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: KenGr
Oh, yeah, the hemiDart. I remember it. The concept of a "stock production model" that even had reduced gauge sheet metal was a stretch even for the manufacturer friendly NHRA. I think this car was the last nail in the coffin for real professional stock drag racing. It became steadily harder for the average car owner to compete with the sponsored stock cars with balanced and blueprinted engines and other mods that were hard to uncover. "Stock" cars began to show up that met the requirements for total weight but, when front/rear balance was checked they were rear biased.

NHRA then came up with SuperStock and Pro Stock to give the cheaters a chance to race each other, eventually spawning funny cars.

Today technology makes it easier to build a fast car but I remember the few 10 second street legal cars I saw in the 60's and 70's. The one I remember best was built by a true wizard who had owned several national championship cars. It was a Chevy Vega powered by a Chev 427, normally aspirated. It was completely street driveable and legal and would approach 10 seconds flat. 10 second cars are not a small undertaking.

You are mostly correct. But Chrysler made no bones about the 1968 Hemi SuperStocks (not stock class). They made it clear it was a crossrammed race hemi in a lightweight A body. They are still the class record holders doing 8's now.

But superstock started in the early 60's (1961 I think). Funny Cars evolved out of the older FX classes. A/FX B/FX C/FX. A class Factory eXperimental was basically a class where the manufacturers could go all out for drag racing. Pontiac was very dominant here as was Chrysler. And it was the Altered Wheelbase A/FX Mopars that started the Funny Car class. Deep shifting the wheelbase locations and the start of fibreglass lift off bodies caused the NHRA to panic. These exhibition cars were into the 8's at a time when most other classes weren't into the 10s. They were so popular a new class was formed. Funny Car, because people said the cars looked "funny".

But don't kid yourself. Every manufacturer was stretching the rules for Stock and SuperStock. Mopar just stretched them as far as they would go. The altered wheelbase cars showed up first in SuperStock. The rules allowed a 2 inch leeway. Chrysler took advantage of that. Then they went deeper and got caught. Pontiac was drilling hundreds of holes in their race cars to lighten them up. Remember these were large cars not small ones. Ford went and developed a race car for SuperStock too. A fairlane with the 427 hi po engine. They lightened the chassis too in a similar way Mopar did. They called their beast the Ford ThunderBolt. It was the first 11 sec "stock" car.

 

[Tom]

The fact you could order them from the factory doesn't make them stock in my book. Lots of manufacturers had special order options that were actually purpose built race cars, modified or prepped for particular classes in NHRA or NASCAR.

The car you talk about wasn't considered stock by NHRA either. It was not permitted to run in stock class.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: Dead Parrot Sketch
The fact you could order them from the factory doesn't make them stock in my book. Lots of manufacturers had special order options that were actually purpose built race cars, modified or prepped for particular classes in NHRA or NASCAR.

The car you talk about wasn't considered stock by NHRA either. It was not permitted to run in stock class.

It was made for SuperStock, not Stock. That is why it wasn't running in Stock class.

Special order options are one thing, the Hemi Dart/Barracuda was a package car and one of the last Mopar made. A COPO 427 camaro or chevelle is just an engine option. The Hemi A bodies were a completely redsigned car with the intended purpose to crush all competition in its class.

Besides, I understand what you are saying. They are way too radical for me. And don't be too surprised if a few were driven on the street back then.