What's this? AC Cobra loses to a Buick six?

[TurboVenom]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4lNVdXYB7s

If only that guy in the Cobra would've thought of putting that Grand National engine in his car...

[RACER X #99]

How can that be the Cobra is the fastest car ever built and still is.Must be trick photography.

[xlr8or]

I think the guy in the cobra had some serious pucker factor when the front end came off the ground. That and he pedaled it a bit when he got off toward the right side wall.

[Igofastr]

Do GNs really run mid 11 quarters? Not stock they don't.

Just Googled it, GNX, the fastest of the series ran mid 13s. So, the GN in the video has had some serious tuning. On the other hand, my 427 should be easily capable of an 11 second run...assuming the driver were.

[mr0077]

The GN's are running in the mid 10's, and some folks drive 'em to and from the track, just pour in race fuel and bolt on slicks...it's almost un-American!

[SPF1061]

The GNs are totally bad A$$ mo fo's. I've got my work cut out for me when one pulls up to the lights in the other lane at the strip.

[CHRIS DAMSCH]

There both slow........

Right John!!!

[Excaliber]

Local guy here runs an 8 second GN V6, and DRIVES it to the track! Of course he takes two aspirin first and hopes he doesn't get stuck in traffic. Monster twin blowers, full drag, it's a beast.

[RACER X #99]

What ever happened to justa6, he used to run in the 10's without power adders in his Cobra?

[Randy H]

Those were good runs by both cars. My cousin had a GNX that I raced at Union Grove, the car had low miles and was stock. It ran low 13s It doesn't take much to get a GN / GNX to get into the 11s and traction is not a big problem at that speed like it is in the Cobras.

[Igofastr]

Yes, yes, yes, yes.

GNs can be MODIFIED, very cheaply, to make lots of horsepower. But, compared to modern muscle cars and most Cobras, they are just not that fast STOCK...ie, a stock GN / GNX should not beat a decent Cobra. Pour some money on the GN GNX, and yes, they will make some power. But then again, do the same to a Cobra...

Going back to the video,..the idea that A GN could beat A Cobra is not a big deal if the GN has been warmed over. That was my point. Both cars "stock" would be a walk away win for the Cobra.

[Excaliber]

Of course that begs the question...

What IS a 'stock' Cobra?

[snake oil]

You beat me to it Ernie,

I don't know what that is either.
Besides I can run 11's
10 is the trick!

[Igofastr]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Of course that begs the question...

What IS a 'stock' Cobra?

That is the question,

But define it just about any reasonable way (taking standard figures from back in the day, for example) add modern tires, and the Cobra wins every time.

Otherwise, just about any highly modified car can beat just about any stock car, and the comparison is meaningless.

[jwd]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Of course that begs the question...

What IS a 'stock' Cobra?

I would guess that since the vast majority of original Cobras had either a 260 or a 289, that would constitute a "stock" Cobra. That being the case, the stock Buick would beat the "stock" Cobra every time.

[TurboVenom]

Seems as though they were both modified. The Cobra pulled the front wheels, possibly a trans brake/automatic, the Buick is definitely automatic and there is no such thing as an unmodified Grand National anymore. Back in 87, they were instant 12 second cars with the only mods being a chip, air filter and fuel regulator. They weigh 3800 lbs. and outweigh the Cobra by easily 1000 lbs.

Interesting how that pass was on a Pro Tree! Hmm....that should tell you something.

<EDITED: I might be wrong about that pro tree. It took too long. Probably sportsman tree.>

Don't underestimate that whimpy six cylinder. Average street driven GN's are well into the 10's, (25MPG too) with track modified cars in the 9's and 8's on a regular basis. They have the GS Nationals in Bowling Green KY every May and there is where you see all the action. Literally hundreds of very fast all steel cars.

[Excaliber]

I bet that Cobra is a SMALL block (you know, tiny, miniscule size )! Why? Only a 113 mph trap speed. Clearly running slicks, due to the wheelie. I run 121 mph at 11.90. Back in the day the MAIN difference between a 289 and 427 was trap speed, though both ran in the 12's, but the 427 was WAY faster on the top end. Heck with my tall gears and brute strength I'm just getting started when the 1/4 is over. That thing is pulling VERY hard at the end, I can even run 3rd gear out the back door and STILL be in the 11's!

Thats with iron 1964 OEM Ford heads, 1964 OEM intake, flat tappet cam (not to wild) and REDUCED from 12 to 1 down to 9.6 to 1 compression. Top loader, close ratio, and BIAS ply Goodyears! I'd say my car is pretty darn close to what you could reasonably expect to see 'on the street' back in the day.

"Stock" Cobras, 289 or 427 did in fact run in the low 12's 'back in the day'. While there are faster cars TODAY, bear in mind Cobras held the manufacturers record for over 30 years!

[Naumoff]

Cobras are slow today but the V8 still sounds way better than any turbo charged car.

[Excaliber]

You got that right Tony! Not to mention the Viper V-10 'box full of bee's' sound. Some designs just don't cut it for a melodius note. V-12's and V-16's can sound pretty good.

[Russ Dickey]

Originally Posted by RACER X #99

How can that be the Cobra is the fastest car ever built and still is.Must be trick photography.

Nice one.