Few things are as enjoyable as a straight-up drag race between two classic muscle cars. The Cars and Zebras YouTube channel, once again, does not disappoint. This best-out-of-three drag race sees two of the top-dog muscle cars from the 1960s and 1970s through down on the quarter-mile. Will hotter gears be enough for the 1969 Chevy Chevelle SS to snatch the win from a 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda? Spoiler alert: both cars run way quicker than stock.

1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda

For 1970, the 426 Hemi gets a hydraulic-lifter camshaft. However, the engine is still underrated at 425 horsepower at 5,000 RPM and 490 pound-feet (664 Nm) at 4,000 RPM. Power goes to the rear through a three-speed Torqueflite automatic and 4.10 rear gears. The Hemi Cuda tips the scales at 3,745 pounds (1,699 kg). In 1970, the Hemi option cost $875 ($6,470 in 2022 money) over the base car.

Back in 1970, an identically equipped Hemi Cuda ran the quarter-mile in 13.69 seconds at 105.63 mph (169.99 km/h). Only 666 Plymouth Hemi Cuda were ever made, making this one of the more exclusive muscle cars.

1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Super Sport 396

At first glance, the 1969 Chevy Chevelle may look outgunned, but it has a 396 cubic-inch L89 V-8 with aluminum heads and intake, Holley 780 carburetor, hydraulic lifters, and all other performance goodies, available. The engine was rated at 375 horsepower at 5,600 RPM and 415 pound-feet (563 Nm) at 3,600 RPM. Power hits the rear wheels through a Turbo 400, three-speed automatic, and 4.88 gears. As equipped, the Chevelle tips the scales at 3,690 pounds (1,674 kg), with the driver.

An L89 spec like this would set you back $647 (4,785 in 2022 money) on top of the base car. The SS package cost another $350 ($2,590 in 2022 money). With only 412 units of the L89 SS made in 1969, this version of the Chevelle is even rarer than the Hemi Cuda. The Chevy was also purpose-built for Pure Stock Racing so it may not be as one-sided as it seems.

The Drag Race

Each of the three races was very close, but round one goes to the Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396, which manages 11.76 seconds at 117.98 mph (189.87 km/h) versus the Plymouth Hemi Cuda’s 11.83 seconds at 118.32 mph (190.41 km/h).

Round two confirms just how evenly matched these cars are. Chevy runs on red, giving an automatic win to the Cuda, which regardless, was quicker this time, running 11.77 seconds at 117.95 mph (189.82 km/h) versus the Chevelle’s 11.85 seconds at 111.0 mph (178.63 km/h).

Round three, again, saw both cars running way quicker than advertised. The Hemi Cuda got a red light, which automatically gives the Chevelle a win. The Cuda’s torque allowed it to rocket off the line, but Chevy’s hotter gears allowed it to catch up in the end, running 11.67 seconds at 118.73 mph (191.1 km/h) versus the Plymouth’s 11.73 seconds at 118.85 mph (191.27 km/h).

To put things in perspective, both, the current 2021 Chevrolet Camaro SS and 2022 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack manage a 12.4-second quarter-mile time. The 1969 Chevy Chevelle SS 396 and 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda were quick not just in their time, but also today.