Ford GT Drag Races Dodge Viper, This Isn't a 10-Second Race

Mine is a simple one. Except for the elusive Saleen S7, I'd want a Dodge Viper, a Ford GT, and a Chevrolet Corvette. Two of them are lining up for a quarter-mile (402 meters) drag race. Anyone who knows about these vehicles can instantly imagine how it will all end. After all, there's an age gap to consider. And with that age gap comes a difference in performance levels.

This early '90s Viper packs a serious punch thanks to an 8.0-liter V10 engine. When it left the factory, it should have had a maximum output of 400 horsepower and 465 lb-ft (630 Nm) of torque. Power goes to the rear wheels via a manual, 6-speed gearbox. The car weighs 3,285 lbs (1,490 kg), par with the twin-turbo Toyota Supra MK4. But it's much heavier than an FD RX-7, for instance.

Still, weight is the only category where it does better than its opponent for the day. The Ford GT has to deal with an additional 198 lbs (90 kg), and its engine is smaller in terms of displacement. But it's not a naturally aspirated power plant such as you'll see in the Viper. The supercharger helps bump performance figures up to 550 hp and 500 lb-ft (678 Nm) of torque.

And there's one more thing: the Ford GT has an RMR layout. The rear tires should have more grip with the engine sitting behind the driver. You might have seen the two at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles. And it's great that they come out and play now and then. Even if you run a museum, that doesn't mean the cars inside should become garage queens. The standing quarter-mile is up first. If there's one area where the Viper is a winner, it's the sound-check.

Don't get me wrong, I love the supercharger whine, but a V10 ranks one step over it. The Viper is off to a formidable start in the first run, but it's all over once the Ford GT hits third gear. Ten years of automotive development will do that to a car. And it could happen in most cases, even if you pitch a '90s Ferrari against a 2000s Lamborghini.

It's no ten-second race; both vehicles need slightly more than 12 seconds to cross the finish line. But the gap is ultimately not as shocking as you may have expected. The rolling race again shows how capable the Viper is, even in stock form. But with no ABS, it will take a lot of work for any driver to outbreak the Ford GT. Still, the only thing that this challenge proves is that the latter is simply faster in a straight line. It's likely more comfortable, too. But what about the fun factor?

Also, remember you can buy one of these Vipers for less than $50,000. After you spend $10,000 to $20,000 on the car, you stand a good chance of taking on the Ford GT at the drag strip. But you might need an extra set of balls to keep the throttle pinned to the floor. And there is always the version where you can enjoy how Dodge made the car while acknowledging that smiles per gallon are worth more than seconds to the finish line.