Given the automotive industry never really recovered after the downsizing trend, it's pretty hard now to think about a car with a 427 cubic inch (that's the equivalent of seven liters) V8 engine sitting at the front, and yet that's what this Chevrolet Corvette has hiding under the hood.
That long, wavy, beautiful hood. You will excuse the sudden rush of sentimentalism, but a lot of people - myself included - regard the Corvette - and this particular iteration above all - as the best-looking thing with four wheels to ever come out of America. Sure, muscle cars have an undeniable appeal with their manly and in-your-face attitude, but if it's actual beauty we're talking, you can't do better than a 'Vette.
While all this talk about looks is subjective, there's nothing debatable about the engine of the L88 model. The Chevy Big Block was rated at 430 horsepower, and even though that's enough to begin with, the common opinion is that it actually produces more than that. And given the performance put on by this silver '69 Corvette, we see no reason to doubt that.
However rare the 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 is, its opposition in this Pure Stock Drags competition isn't exactly commonplace either. They're all GM products from around the same era, which means certain similarities are to be expected.
First up is a 1970 Camaro Z28, with a small block and similar chances of winning, if you'll excuse the obvious spoiler. For the next race, the L88 goes against a rare 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS396, a rare beast in itself with an L78/L80 engine producing 375 horsepower. Less power, more weight - you do the math.
The third encounter is the most exciting, pitting the 'Vette against a 1972 Oldsmobile 442 W30. Officially, it makes 300 horsepower from its 455 cubic inch (7.5 liters) V8 engine but watch the video and you'll see it definitely churns out a lot more than that. Finally, we come to the last contestant, which so happens to be another rare bird, just like the '60 Corvette L88. It's a 1969 Camaro ZL1 with a big block of roughly the same size (427 cubic inch, in this case) and precisely the same power output of 430 hp.
But talking about these cars doesn't do them justice, so go ahead and smash that play button to watch and hear them in all their glory.
"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie) Full profile
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