Best 1/4 Mile Production Cars

[saturnkk]

Does anyone have a list of the the fastest Production cars were in the 1/4 mile?

I remember an auto magazine put out a top 10 list back in the 80's... I think that the Buick GNX and GSX Stage III were at the top then..? I think that they defined production car as 400 units?

Just curious if there is such a list or estimate? It would be nice to see one in chronological order too. For example:

1964 - 1966: Shelby Cobra 289 13.8
1967: Shelby Cobra 427 12.2
1968: Cevy Corvette L88 11.8

Not that that was correct in any way!

[dcdoug]

I have seen these lists in magazines before, but I'm surprised it's so hard to come up with a good comprehensive list on the internet.

Here are a few takes on this:

Seems to be all modern cars:
List of fastest production cars by acceleration - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is kind of an interesting list, but less about speed:
(Cobra is #14)
The 100 Hottest Cars of All Time - Popular Mechanics

More of a historical take on fast cars: (although they are missing a bunch. L88 vettes, etc)
World Fastest Classic Muscle Cars: Top 10 List | Craze for cars | Crazy Cars | Expensive Cars Wallpapers| Fastest Cars| Funny Cars| Car Riddles | Magazines

[Ron61]

I have seen some of those type lists in various car magazines and they always seem to have different cars as the fastest and some of them don't even list cars that others do. Must be a lot to do with the drivers the magazines have test the cars for them

Ron

[mdross1]

There have been many lists published too bad they were not fair comparisons.Remember one where the two big players were a 70 SS 454 LS6 Chevelle,and a 70 Hemi Barracuda.Problem was the Chevelle was loaded with options including a cruise gear,the Barracuda was a bare bones car with a drag gear.Amazingly the Chevelle was very close.
After that all car tests kind of lost their meaning to me at least.Too much to expect to see a test run where all vehicles are close to the same setups.

[saturnkk]

Thanks! It is a bit surprising that wasn't a "King of the Hill" type monker kept through the years starting in the 60's... even if it included 1 off type cars like the Camaro ZL-1 and such.

[Bernica]

The T-Bolts put on quite a show.....

Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Bernica]

So did the Galaxie Factory Lightweights....

1964 Ford Galaxie Lightweight

[DAVID GAGNARD]

While back in the day, I read the Hot Rod magazine testing reports,but didn't put much stock in them as they would ask the manufacter for a car to test,some sent plain jane cars off the showroom floor,some sent "ringers".......

One report stated that after the 1/4 test runs, they did a real wheel dyno check on the cars and the Hemi Cuda Dodge supplied came with 4.30 rear gears,posi trac and on the dyno made over 500 hp at the wheels!!!!! that engine was nowhere near showroom stock.....

[rpatton3]

In 1964, Car and Driver had a "ringer" GTO with a 421. A couple of years later, the same magazine had the fastest 0-60 as a FULL SIZE Pontiac 0-60 in 3.9 seconds. Pretty clever, those Indians.

[joyridin']

All the old magazines I have read that are half way accurate shows the Buick GSX with the Stage 1 or 2 455 (not sure which) as being the fastest. It beat a Hemi Cuda on the 1/4 mile due to torque.

[saturnkk]

Originally Posted by joyridin'

All the old magazines I have read that are half way accurate shows the Buick GSX with the Stage 1 or 2 455 (not sure which) as being the fastest. It beat a Hemi Cuda on the 1/4 mile due to torque.

That is what I thought too but I thought it was the ultra rare Stage III?

[GLS-BDR226]

I hope this isn't too off topic but f you grew up in the 60's what ruled the streets where you lived? In South Texas, a 1968 426 Hemi Dodge Coronet R/T ruled. Of course I'm sure it wasn't exactly stock since it had headers and slicks. And it was owned by a guy that worked in a machine shop.

There were also assortments of Camaros and Chevelles-L88, 396-375 HP, and 440 Chargers. A lot of fast cars but there were no timing lights. Street racing on deserted old country roads. Not exactly safe and recommended. But we were teenagers back then with nothing else to do.

At least from what I remember.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Originally Posted by GLS-BDR226

I hope this isn't too off topic but f you grew up in the 60's what ruled the streets where you lived? In South Texas, a 1968 426 Hemi Dodge Coronet R/T ruled. Of course I'm sure it wasn't exactly stock since it had headers and slicks. And it was owned by a guy that worked in a machine shop.

There were also assortments of Camaros and Chevelles-L88, 396-375 HP, and 440 Chargers. A lot of fast cars but there were no timing lights. Street racing on deserted old country roads. Not exactly safe and recommended. But we were teenagers back then with nothing else to do.

At least from what I remember.

We had a couple of 70 SCJ Mach 1's here that were pretty bad and one SS396 Nova....but day in day out,from stop light to stop light, a little 65 Mustang coupe with a "warmed" over 289 and some 4.10 rear gears and cheater slicks kicked butt up to about 75 mph..the guy could launch it when most other cars were just making tire smoke.........

David

[joyridin']

Originally Posted by saturnkk

That is what I thought too but I thought it was the ultra rare Stage III?

I do not know a whole lot about Buicks, but the regular stage 1 455 put out over 510 pounds of torque. Pretty much the highest in the muscle car world at the time.

I never have heard of a Stage 3. I thought much of the Stage 2 parts were over the counter to covert a Stage 1 to a Stage 2.

[Bernica]

Only GM car I ever owned was a GTO "Judge" with all the good stuff. That car would go places in a hurry and got me in plenty of trouble. Weekend nights were taking on the Challengers, 'Cudas etc. Small town back then (Renton, WA called the Industrial Strip)and I spent many occasions getting it out of the towing yard after the cops took it and told me to walk home.

[mdross1]

Back in the 60's and early 70's I along with friends from all around our area were regular drag racers.We had cars from most manufactorers,no Hemi Mopars, Buicks or factory racers but most everything else.One guy from neighboring New Hampshire had a 63 Galaxy XL two four barrel 427" highly modified always said he would take on the winners.
One surprise was a 455" Olds 442,all our cars were contenders most important to all of us was the fun factor and staying one step ahead of the LEO's.Thinking about it,Oh how I miss those times.The girl I met and married back then always loved the races,today is a different story but the memories are irreplaceable.