C5 Corvette Drags 2014 Ford Mustang GT, Winner Then Races C6 Corvette

First and foremost, let's talk numbers. The C5 is the oldest car of the bunch, yet it's also light due to sheet molded composite bodywork. As for its only downside against the aforementioned challengers, that would be the Hydra-Matic 4L60E tranny.

As implied, LS1 is the first small block of the Gen III engine family. Almost 100 pounds (45 kilograms) lighter than its iron-block predecessor, the LS1 debuted in the 1997 model year C5 with 345 horsepower to its name. Available at 4,400 rpm, peak torque is rated at 350 lb-ft (475 Nm).

The fifth-generation Corvette was retired after the 2004 model year in favor of the C6, which originally boasted the LS2 engine. The LS3 would be introduced for the 2008 model year with slightly more displacement, power, and torque.

TFL's C6 is an early car with the LS2, which boasts 6.0 liters compared to 6.2 for the LS3 and 5.7 for the LS1. In this application, it belts out a respectable 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet (542 Nm). The 'Vette is also lighter by almost 400 pounds (nearly 181 kilograms) than the S197, which matters a lot in a straight-line showdown.

2014 was the last year of the fifth-generation Mustang, with Ford switching to independent rear suspension for the recently discontinued sixth gen. 420 horsepower and 390 pound-feet (529 Nm) from 5.0 liters of displacement is pretty darn good by 2014 standards, but remember that Ford's Coyote V8 features a DOHC valvetrain as opposed to the cam-in-block architecture of the Gen III small block and the Gen IV small block.

That being said, Roman and Mica first raced the C5 against the 'Stang to see which is worthy of duking it out with the C6. Not surprising in the least, the Ford made easy work of the Chevy in the quarter mile, clocking 14.64 seconds compared to 15.70 seconds. Those ETs aren't on the same level as MotorTrend's numbers, but then again, remember that both cars have lost a few horsies since they came into existence.

Elevation also saps power as well, and the runaway on which they were raced isn't a super-sticky drag strip. On the flip side, the Corvette has the upper hand from a rolling start in these conditions. The C6 is also faster from a roll, but it's not fast enough from a dig against the S197.

Tommy's best quarter-mile time in the C6 was 14.97 seconds, almost three tenths slower than the 14.64 seconds of the Mustang. Not bad for a four-seat coupe from nearly a decade ago, right?