1970 GTO 455 vs 1968 Chevelle SS 396 - PURE STOCK DRAG RACE (best of 3)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2024
- 1970 Pontiac GTO 455 H.O. vs 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 L78 375hp (Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race)
The first car is a 1970 Pontiac GTO. The 455 had GREAT performance, but was also very streetable. Definitely a comfortable car you could drive every day... AND take to the drag strip. I wish I could buy one! The other car is an absolutely fantastic real-deal barn find. A father/son Pure Stock drag racing combo found this car... literally, in a barn. It had 46,000 original miles. They cleaned it up, gave it a tune-up, and here we are. Everything about that 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 L78 is a dream come true. Sure, there's a little wear on the paint, but I wouldn't change a thing about that car! I'll even let them park it in my garage! Oh yeah, let me mention again it's a L78. It originally had 4.56 (!!!!) gears from the factory, but the father/son combo swapped that for 4.10.
Remember, both cars participate in the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race series, so please check out their website: www.psmcdr.com
Also make sure you check them out on facebook!
The rules for PSMCDR are listed below:
For 1955 to 1979 musclecars built in United States and Canadian assembly plants with a minimum warranty of 12 months and 12,000 miles.
Any car running faster than 11.50 will be disqualified and will not have a qualifying time recorded.
Any convertible running faster then 13.50 will be disqualified and will not have a qualifying time recorded.
Casting numbers must be correct for the year and horsepower claimed including intake manifold, heads, and exhaust manifolds. Blocks do not have to be "numbers matching," but they must be the correct displacement. Overbores up to .070" are allowed. Stock cranks only.
All Engines - 1.5 extra points allowed over advertised.
The camshaft must be correct for the year, model, and horsepower claimed for the type of lifter (hydraulic or solid). Roller cams NOT allowed.
The valve train must be factory stock for the year, make, and horsepower claimed.
The ignition system must be stock, including the distributor, cap, coil, and wires. Points may be replaced with any electronic conversion that fits under the stock distributor cap.
The carburetor must be correct for the year, make, and horsepower claimed. Jetting and metering changes are permitted. THE CHOKE ASSEMBLY MUST BE IN PLACE AND FUNCTIONAL!
Cast-iron exhaust manifolds are mandatory and must be correct for the year, model, and horsepower claimed. Internal modifications to the exhaust manifolds are NOT allowed. Under no circumstances will headers be allowed, including those cars that came with headers delivered in the trunk. Pipes must be routed as they were originally for the year, make, model, and engine combination. Mufflers must be stock looking in design, that is, oval in shape. No glasspacks or straight pipes allowed unless installed as original equipment. Maximum muffler inlet and outlet size is 2.5 inches. X & H pipes allowed.
The radiator must be correct for the year, make, model, and horsepower claimed. No lightweight, aluminum radiators allowed.
The camshaft must be correct for the year, model, and horsepower claimed for the type of lifter (hydraulic or solid). Roller cams NOT allowed. Duration at .050" lobe lift must be within 1% of factory specs. Lift at the valve must be within 2% of factory specs. Maximum stall limited to 2200 rpm.
The transmission must be correct for year, make, model and engine of the car. 3-speed manuals may be upgraded to the correct 4-speed if originally available.
The rear axle must be of the same manufacturer as the car. Any gear ratio is allowed.
Reproduction tires or radial tires only.You are allowed to run tires one size over stock.
Factory wheels only.
For business inquiries, please email: carsandzebras@gmail.com
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Additional tags: factory stock, factory stock drag race, factory stock racing, pure stock drag race, super car drag race, super car racing, super car, super stock, super stock racing, nhra, nhra stock, nhra super stock, pure stock muscle car drag race, muscle car drag race, modern muscle drag race, stock drag race, top fuel, pro stock, funny car, top dragster, classic car, classic car drag race, fast drag, factory appearing stock tire, muscle car, muscle car drag race
#gto #chevroletchevelle #musclecars
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Couple of great cars! Either owner want to store their car in my garage?
Cars And Zebras : I just loveeee this channel!!!!!!!!!!!
Glen Campbell the man ,..Rest in Peace, RSC !!!
Did you seriously just make fun of Glen Campbell?!
😄
I bought a 68 Chevelle SS396 in the summer of '68. 4 speed, power nothing. Went to Sears and put new fangled radials on it, otherwise it was stock. It was fast, but what it did best was gobble up the miles with the engine just loafing along. I drove from Oklahoma City to Hanover NH (about 1600 miles) in 31 hours straight through. Now days, with all the freeways you can make it is 25. Turned out to be terrible in the New Hampshire winter even with 4 studded snow tires. I did love that car. Sold it when I was sent to Vietnam.
Much respect to these guys for racing these VERY expensive classic cars.
My first car was a 1970 GTO. I bought it in 1978 for $500 with the 455. It smoked like crazy so my dad and I rebuilt the engine and put in oversized pistons and you could smoke the tires. Ended up selling it a few years later for maybe $3000. Still kicking myself to this day for getting rid of it. Probably worth 100 grand now. Muscle cars were cheap and plentiful in the 80s though.
I bought a 68 Chevelle back in 1986 for $1000...it was my first car
@@bobsilver3983I bought 1970 chevelle 396 actually 402 for $1200 in 1987 sold it 2 years later I regret it
My dad's buddy growing up had a '64 GTO. Blew the engine and took it to the dealer for a replacement. Well... the dealership checked one box lower than they were supposed to and ended up dropping in a high power 421. That car was a terror lol.
Best engine Pontiac made. I had a few 455 Pontiacs....good for the street, but.....THE PARTY IS OVER AFTER 6,500 RPM!
See that? I'm a car nut from way back, but never heard of the Humbler...Learn something new everyday :)
I know right ?
Same here. In Texas they would not give you an inspection sticker. But those were the days my friend.
My firebird had one? But it wasn't stock, the muffler rusted out!
Yeah I followed muscle cars very closely back then and never heard of “The Humbler”. Was also wondering about those old mufflers going bad with The Humbler stuck on it!
No stainless exhaust back then right guys!
The Humbler was simply a marketing phrase for the GTO, not a model, and not attributed to the exhaust cut out option.
I owned a 1968 396 375 HP back in 1970,what a car couldn’t keep tires on the thing being a nineteen year old. I would give my left ball sack for that ride today,I remember being at the red light and hearing that amazing sound of the cam
My dream car growing up was a 1969 G.T.O, Starlight Black. Couldn't afford it back then, though.
I'm a baby boomer and bought my first car right after I graduated from high school. It was 1968 GTO. I would take it to the drag strip on weekends and it ran consistently 13.60's @ 102mph on street tires. I loved that car but had to sell it a year later. I racked up to many speeding tickets and had my license taken away. Boy, how I wish I still had that car.
I have that car in a convertible model. They only made 158 of them with the 12 bolt GM rear end 4-speed Hurst and 455. Very fun car, super slippery!
My first car was a 1969 Chevrolet SS396 rated at 375 up with that Holley 4 barrel. The original owner of mine had traded a little quarter mile time for some luxury upgrades like power brakes and steering, and ac. It had auto on the console, neat little inverted horseshoe shape gear shifter ( P, N, D, R) that you squeezed. Anyways, still enough torque to almost fish tail the rear end when it shifted into second with the 70 tires it had all around so I popped a couple of 60s on the back.
I always had a thing for Pontiacs. I owned five. Two '68 Tempest, 2 Grand Prix 400 '71 and one Grand Am '85.
Man o man o man !!!!
I haven’t watched the race yet but once upon a time a buddy owned a Chevelle just like the one featured today.
Thanks for bringing these muscle cars to us.
thanks for watching!
Back in 1970 i had a 69 Coronet 440 RT and my friend had a 69 Barracuda with a 383. We raced and i blew him away. So, he went and bought a 455 GTO just like this one. We raced and he won by a length, but he red lighted. I always wondered if i could have won because my RT had a sticky lifter at the time we raced. I blew my RT up a few days later so have always wondered and it drives me nuts. lol... ps- we didnt care about gas mileage because gas was less than 30 cents a gallon for 'high test' which was about 100 octane then. Thanks again for another great drag race video!
The first race was the best where both cars did what you’d expect. The SS was able to have the same run in round #2...very realistic. Thanks for posting!
The '68 SS396 has a place in my heart. It was 1970, I was 11 and my babysitter's boyfriend took me for a ride in his (which looked exactly like the one in this video.)
He put a dollar bill on the dash and told me I could have if I could grab it when he took off. He hit the gas and I learned what G-force is. I was in love (with the car...and my babysitter.)
eracer1111, 1970 Chevelle had a 402 engine and not a 396. '70 Chevelle looks much different than a '68 also.
@@sergeantmasson3669 which is STILL a 396. A 396 bored.030 over. Still, a 396.
@@erikislas6201 Chevy402 is NOT a 396. Last Chevy 396 was in 1969.
@@sergeantmasson3669 whatever, genius.
@@erikislas6201 stats/facts too difficult for your Chevturd intelligence level to comprehend? I'm not a genius but I learned a few things after 50+ years as a master level factory certified auto/truck tech and 30+ years successfully racing in NHRA, NASCAR, and NETRA.
That's a gorgeous GTO, but I've always been a Chevelle guy.
My Dad is a Chevy guy, and when I was a little kid, along time ago, I asked
why do some Chevys have the blue emblem but others have the SS.
He tried to explain it was a trim level, and probably seeing a blank look on my face,
he said an SS is a fast Chevy.
Later I had a 68 Malibu, and I still wanted an SS.
When I was 30, I found a 68 SS-396, L-78, 4 speed, kept it for 10 years.
It's been gone for more than that now, but I want another.
So cool to see our old Chevelle getting after it
I would sport either car in my driveway. But to have for the long term the GTO. With the 455. Great collector.
Same results we always had as well as the Goat vs the Camaro. The GTO was always the heaviest ride around but still a lot of fun.
Great match between two rivals!
Either car can win with a good driver.
Fun to watch rolling history in action!
I had a '70 GTO with a 455, 4 speed. I sold it in 1998 and I still regret it ! 😔
I had a 1970 Judge hardtop with a 455 automatic 400 turbo transmission and 3:73 posi. Rochester 4 barrel
Biggest problem with that GTO 455 is it came with log exhaust manifolds like the Bonneville. Not the ram air manifolds the Ram Air 3 and 4 got. That big motor is choked up.
It is SO cool to see a South American as a spectator of such races with American cars.
I own a 1968 Chevelle SS396 (Barrel Tach) Muncie 4SPD car,, I love it !! had it 25 years...
however now it's a 496 Stroker 608HP/620TQ, I don't worry bout Pontiacs pulling up next to me.. >:}
A stock 396/375 big block also has no worries with Pontiacs pulling up next to them.
@@LT1HILLINGHOE L78.."you know damn right!!" Lol...
Hated that damn barrel tach!
fellow 68 chevelle ss396 owner here. the only thing we have to worry about are each other!
I don't know about that...I've been street racing Pontiacs since 1988. RAII & IV take good care of the 396 in any configuration. The 421 SD was unbeatable, but a few years older. Pontiac engineering was just a bit better than their counterpart Chevy. I love my Chevy's too, but Pontiac always had something up their sleeve.
I initially voted the Pontiac to win. I've run both engines, the 455 did great for me. Very surprised at the results here. Great video !
I wasn’t surprised. I’ve always loved Pontiacs and GTOs, but the GTO had fewer horsepower (assuming both Chevy and Pontiac under reported their actual horsepower, as was common back then), weighed more and had, more importantly, lower rear end gearing. Plus, automatic transmissions were called slush boxes back then for a reason, and the Chevelle had a four speed manual. All of which adds up to advantage for the Chevelle.
the rear end was the big difference. the GTO needed better gears!
@@BenLapkeGTOs didn't lose to chevys too often. 396 Chevelles were always a win.
The TH400 was an advantage for the pontiac.
70 GTOs were just too heavy.
I have a 67 with a glide.
I can build a 455 with the same compression ratio and. Same solid lifer cam. And it wouldn't be close!!!
Got out of US Navy active duty in Jan 65. I had 2 new GTO's. a red 65 ragtop, 389, tri power, 4 speed, 3.90 posi gears and a red 67 ragtop, 400ci, 360hp, 4 speed, 3.90 posi gears. Sandwiched in between these two was a marina blue 66 SS 396 hardtop, 325hp, 4 speed, 3.73 posi rear (yup, 3 new cars in 3 years). Got to say my 65 was the fastest of the 3. Wish I still had any one of these 3 !
Back in 1970, I drove a brand-new Duster 340...a total blast ! My best friend scored a 1970 Ram Air IV goat...had been raced...blueprinted heads. We both drove up to our local drag-strip for a wee thrill on Sunday afternoons. That GTO was a beast when he had it in top tune....but I think that was a bit tricky at times. I would imagine the 455 would be more streetable, a more mellow drive, but still a contender at the drag-strip. My Duster had a pretty uncomfortable ride - super stiff suspension - rode and handled like a truck - (but boy did it GO !). The GTO by comparison was super smooth, handled like a champ - (and the lumpy cam was awesome). - gorgeous musclecar !
I forgot to mention - excellent videos !....love the crazy humour ! 😂
Just seeing them in person, the 455 is way smoother and very streetable. I’d love to drive both to compare! 😎
pontiacs have tuned coil suspension but that 340 is an animal !they usually kicks some serious ass in 1/4 mile with a stick
I had a 73 Duster 340-4 speed. It was mostly stock but I ditched the smog pump and put headers and dual Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers on it. Once I opened up the exhaust on it that car would really move even for a low compression 340. Those 340 Duster's and Dodge Dart Sport's were probably the quickest cars you could still buy in 1973 other than an SD455 Trans Am because they were so lightweight and the small block Mopar 340 still made pretty good power even with compression down in the 8's. I think it was rated at 240 net horsepower...which probably translates to 290-300 gross horsepower...definitely really decent power from a small block built in 1973. That car was a blast to drive
The 455 is definitely a much better street engine than the 400 Ram Air IV. The 455 ran really smooth but had massive torque. The RAIV was more of a race only engine like the earlier Pontiac 421 Super Duty had been. If I was gonna buy a new GTO in 1970 the RAIV would be really tempting to order but I would've opted for the 455, a 4 speed, and 3.55 gears for a good balance of quickness and top speed
First car I bought in 78 was a 68 GTO. Didn't like the factory color Baby Blue. But I learned to accept it. Had plans to paint it Midnight Blue until a friend wrecked it
Thanks for sharing some much technology on these cars! Amazing to still learn more after all these years! Great race from both cars Love them both!!
i painted the dark grey in those new GTO wheels by the thousands
I owned a 69 L78 Chevelle SS, no AC, just Power steering and power brakes, 4 speed. With open headers and a 850 Holley she was hard to beat on the Street. Way to much power for a 16 1/2 old kid.
I’ve always wanted a L78... couldn’t imagine one at 16 😏
They claim hp rating was more like 425hp, L78 was called the mini L88. Traction was always a big problem
in the 60,s to mid 70,s in the boston south area a lot of fatalities always occured after last call on the weekends. on sunday we would go check out the tow yards and find so many muscle cars twisted in a "U" SHAPE . sometimes you would see flys coming out of them from brain material and blood usually the passengers would get crushed by the phone pole.
marion cobaretti i live on the Quincy Boston line, my whole life. I can relate to your post.
Same here, grew up in Revere Ma and now live in Groveland Ma ,it's about 30 minutes north of Revere.
Took a ride in one brand new, Judge 455 ram air, cousin's boyfriend who had just come back from Nam owned it, he got on it at about 80 and it just pinned you right in the seat, it was doing 130 in a blink, told him thanks, that's enough for me ,lol!
no such thing as a ram air 455, had to have been a ram air 4 400 which is a superior motor
the Judge. Was a fabulous car. 👌
@@joey22306 First hand experience, one of my cousins was dating a guy that had just come from back Vietnam and he bought one brand new took us for a ride, 455 ram air and what a ride.
The Pontiac 455 likes to lean on a higher gear ratio that keeps it in the sweet part of the torque curve. I had a 1971 Trans Am 455 H.O. that ran 12.90’s with the factory 3.08 gears.
I had a 396 ci--350 hp 68 chevy convertible, 373 posi 4 speed. Never had as a problem running pure stock on the street against 428 ci judge 429ci mustangs mainly by hole shots, no jumping just smart hole shots and never once lost. Could run hemi head to head until high end when those 2- 4s did their job . Awe the good old days, wish I still had that car.
The 455 still had cast iron crank and cast connecting rods. Take that past 5500rpm and you would oval out the connecting rods. The 400 Ram Air IV was the motor to get. 370 with a big cam and steel connecting rods (and crank??). Way underrated.
455, any day. Take it past 4200 and the valves float, stay away from the red line and just enjoy the 500 ft lbs of torque, around 3300.
You are correct. HO Racing Specialties who were the gurus for Pontiacs, say in their Blueprint Assembly manual that for competition to use a 400 CI engine, Ram Air IV best configuration. Pontiac 455s have a lousy bore stroke ratio and don't like to rev. Car Life magazine in their April 1970 issue, did a shoot out between a Ram Air III equipped '70 GTO and a '70 455 GTO. The Ram Air III was quicker in the 1/4 mile and had a higher top speed. That was a Ram Air III, not a Ram Air IV. They said that the 455 car was more at home in the traffic and easier to drive.
Same con rods in everything Pontiac made except the SD 455.
Early forged rods weren't all heat treated. Crap shoot. Then the only forged rods were 73/74 SD's.
RA IV's had forged pistons, everything else was basically passenger car equipment, excepting the round port heads.
I bet that GTO is a great daily driver
I never knew about the humbler either, good breakdown of the cars. That GTO is awesome but I love my chevys.
🙌🏾🙌🏾
My 70 GTO Judge had that lever under the dash.
I dig the originality of that Chevelle
👍😎
Beautiful car, I hated to see the cancer starting though. I hope he gets it fixed to preserve that beast !
Absolutely love that GTO and the humbler feature never heard of that before this video awesome. Thank you
Thank you, Cars and Zebras. Another great video .....!
thanks for watching!
The race went about like thought. The torque of that 455 gave the GTO and early advantage but the top end of an L78 means it's coming on strong at the end.
1967davethewave the GTO needed better gearing also.
@@63MacGuy For a low RPM 455 3.55's are about optimal. I own a '69 GTO with a 455 and I run 3.55's. Anything lower slows mph, anything higher slows E.T.
yeah, from what I hear 455s like the 3.55 gears. That Chevelle probably could run 4.56, and that car from the factory actually had those gears. But the current owner swapped in the 4.10
@@CarsAndZebras Yes, the 396, especially with the rectangular port heads, are high revvers and have that top end power. The 455 redlined at 5200 while I'm pretty sure an L78 redlines at 6500 but will probably pull hard to 7000 with those heads and the solid lifter cam.
The 4 speed manual in the SS makes a huge difference. I think if both cars were identically equipped (rear + trans), the GTO is faster, but then I've always been a Poncho guy.
Doesn't get any better than this! Would have been cool to see that GTO with the ram air IV...much better engine than the 455!
you can check out my other video with the ‘70 Judge Ram Air IV. pretty quick car! 😎
The 455 was definitely better for everyday street use. The Ram Air IV was awesome but it was a bit too radical for daily driving duties. The RAIV was marketed more towards drag racers I think. But the 455 was no slouch either in the 1/4 mile with 500 lb/ft of torque
I voted for the GTO. I had a friend in the early 80s with a 197? GTO Judge...more than likely, it was modified a bit, but it buried everything that showed up on the street.
That was Glenn Campbell in that Chevelle commercial.
he died last year , sad how he went slowly
Great artist, guitarist and performer. Will be missed
Commercial was a 69 Chevelle but this video is about 1968 Chevelle
@@413x398 , remember the Dodge girl commercials, 68, 69? Her brother was in our army training unit. He said she was paid $1,000,000 for them.
@@senatorjosephmccarthy2720 A hundred dollars back then equals about $743 today so she was paid $7,430,000?
The mph for the 396 is interesting.. I would have liked to see the 455 with a stick and same rear gears..
No Poncho heads come close to the rec port heads on a solid lifter BBC, the only stock heads that were better were the Hemi and Boss 9 heads in that order. Even the smaller valved oval ports out flow all Pontiac factory heads.
@@Dayandcounting the design philosophy for the Pontiac cylinder heads was to always max out low to mid lift flow and velocity, which was the reason they cranked out the torque. Biggest reason that the cams in the performance Pontiacs relied more on timing events over high lift. ( cams were usually under .500" lift )
@@hoost3056 The big torque is mostly a result of the long stroke. The optimization was more a result of the fact they weren't rev friendly V8. A problem Pontiac never fixed, but an oiling design flaw meant they were all prone to oil starvation ~6k revs.
@@Dayandcounting Right on man!
I think that was one of your BEST videos. Just cars (almost 😄) thanks !!!
Love a 70 GTO ... I own a 69 Camaro ,, would love to add a GTO to my collection ...
I’ve got a 70 GTO myself. So I was definitely pulling for the Pontiac. He should’ve had that chevelle
L78s are tough to beat in that second half of the track, that’s where they really come to life
I had a 70 lemans sport with a 400. I was told it had a racing cam, it was pretty fast, I was young and didnt take good care of it but it gives me many good memories. The torque was awesome. When I was 17 and had 4 other people in the car it would push us back in our seats. Love Pontiac !!
@@MidnightinSavannah
410 vs 355, thats the difference!
The 3.25" 421,428,455 crank was a mistake by PMD, that's why 400s were always and still are better for racing.
More RPM, Less Drag, No oiling & heat issues.
RAMAIR III GTO 400 1969-1970 would have been a better option.
@@MidnightinSavannah
Bull
2 nice cars with owners not afraid to run them down the track. thanks
That Chevelle is actually an original barn find with only 46,000 miles on it.... pretty crazy.
The SS 70 Chevelle was perfection. Only made one year with four headlights
Paul Grimm so the previous years, 1964 through 1969 Chevelles had LESS than four headlights? You must be from Iran.
With premium fuel @ 35 cents a gallon, fuel mileage wasn't a concern....actually poor mileage gave you more bragging rights.
fuel prices almost back down to 35 cents around here! 🤣
About $2.50 a gallon ....still isn't bad.
$1.61 here in Nashville, Ga.
@@l.d.roberts2194 $1.47 in Indy
My '68 GTO 400 with 4:11 differential and 3 speed manual got 10 mpg combined. We drove it along Route 66. It handled and accelerated great.
That GTO commercial was sick!! Love this channel my dude..
It was actually aired for the first time during the Super Bowl. Pretty neat. thanks for watching!
first time i ever heard about the humbler. i bet the cops hated that option
@@CarsAndZebras That's wicked cool bit of Pontiac's Trivia. Thanks bro.
@@marioncobaretti2280 Marion I didnt have the humbler on my Goat. Had 455 headers 2 chamber flow masters . Cops usta bust my balls all the time but those were good times.
@@CarsAndZebras I recollect hearing that as the result of the Ad, GM received many complaints as to noise pollution and soon after pulled the option.
Interesting and great race. Two pretty good drivers too.
Great match! Ill take the GTO thank you!
thanks for watching!
Me too!
The Pontiac 455 was not the best engine available in 1970, the 400 cu. in. Ram Air IV was far superior!
I had the 70 GTO with 455. I think the 455 was atleast as fast but not as dependable. I had crank bearing issues. Maybe the Ram Air had better internal parts!
@@MichaelMitchell-eo6cb The 455 had larger main bearings than the 400 and at higher rpm they could suffer oil starvation and of course cause damage. Many 455 crankshafts were machined to 400 specs which cured this issue.
When I was 18 I bought a used grand prix with a 400 and when I floored it, it scared me 😂
@@randalgibbons8822 funny stuff!
You wouldn’t be the first to have that happen! Do you still have the car?
@@lcee6592 No I was too busy partying. I also had a '69 Chevelle and had no clue about anything, that car didn't have a straight piece of metal on it when I was done with it. I would kill to have that car today. I had a '68 Impala custom 2 door that was a power house also, the guy I sold it to dropped a 400 in it. Those were the days lol
Another excellent race. However, I really do like it when you tell us what the temperature is that day also. Quite often it matters for the traction of the cars. Just a good thing to know. Thanks again.
This is a street shoot out I experienced almost on a daily basis...I didn't have GTO, but several 71-73 HO Trans Ams. At my school and the local Cruise areas, there was no shortage of 396 Chevelles , usually 66-68 models, with a few 70' models in the mix. Interesting trivia, even though at that time they were only 10 years old, the Chevelles ALWAYS had worn out front ends! Wheels leaning over, uneven wear....terrible! Anyway, NEVER was beat by a Chevelle that was stock. I duked it out in Marietta late one night against a real Yenko Chevelle back when no one knew what they were. Pontiac 455 HO stock was strong, mine was Herb Adams prepped with a custom Cam...it was a monster, and handled like a Corvette, and THE most beautiful interior of any car built back then...that functional shaker opening was awesome!
Great video! I was a GTO fan myself back in the day but funds dictated I bought a used 1971 LeMans GT37 w/350cid.
I’d love to have that Le Mans.
Had a 70 Lemans with a 350. A quick car with a lot of torque. Handled great.
Crap, realized I made a mistake. I stated I bought a 1971 LeMans GT37 when it was actually the T37 which is a lower trim. That said it was a true coupe, green with a black painted roof. I think it is also the lightest weight offered with a V8 although a straight 6 is no lightweight engine and is longer which changes the balance. Next car was a 72 Monte Carlo with/350. Both of the above base engines with 2 bbl car and single exhaust. Never modded the 71 LeMans but the Monte Carlo got a cast iron Corvette intake, Quadrajet carb, headers and a shift kit. Not the fastest 0-60 but had great highway gears and actually beat the "fastest car in town" on a highway roll to the low 100s. That was a 69 Chevelle 396 that had blown its engine replaced with a similar engine to mine. Had like 4:11 gears and redlined around 110mph. He was likely in 3rd and shifted to 4th on that run while I was in 2nd to the mid 90s. Fun memories for sure.
@@robertjohnson4401 Yes, 1970 was the first year of that bodystyle that ran through 1972. The 70 grill being a unique and different in design but otherwise the cars were very similar. 70 engines were on the gross power scale. In 71 GM released both gross and net and from 72 on they were net rated. An example would be the standard Chevrolet low compression 350cid with 2 bbl and single exhaust. IIRC it was rated 250hp gross and a shocking 145hp net. Thing is, it was the same engine with 2 different ratings but made the same actual power.
I drove both cars back in the day and I don't remember mileage ever being in any conversation. I remember the manufactured gas shortage lines where availability was discussed but not mileage. Once they got the price over a dollar, there was no more shortage.
My Dad had a 1968 Chevelle SS 396 and that was the best hands down!
I remember bracket racing in the 70’s, factory cars rarely broke the 14 second barrier.
I had a 68 SS 396 375HP rated 425HP in a Corvette...Only vehicle I had problems running with were the 66 SS Novas with the 327 350HP...Those ran well once the wheel hop was controlled. Beyond 67 the Goats felt a little Boatish.
I'm so glad was a teenager during this time. Dam I miss Pontiac and these cars and the lifestyle that went along with them.
Pick up an old LeMans, build a 455 for it, and go have fun. I got a complete grandma fresh, but not running with a little rust '65 LeMans in 2012 for $1500, and in '14 I picked up a '68 LeMans for $300 as a rolling shell. $3500 later it has an Edelbrock headed 461(stroked 400 block) and a 3.08 geared 8.2 posi rear, covered by a $60 satin black tractor enamel paint job.
You don't have to buy some rare and exotic stuff, get the every day vehicle and put a big engine in it. I have lots more fun with my garden variety muscle cars than I do with my 1 of 276 455 HO Formula and other rare/valuable Pontiacs I have.
Both cars are great but for everyday driving I’m taking the gto.
👍
Lived in South Texas and owned a 68 (Rubber Bumper) GTO. It could not beat a mod 68 SS but when the race was over the girls all loaded up in my car since the AC was cold. Now let's talk about hummers.
GTO all the way, no matter what. Made to race corvettes on the freeway anyways...
You're gonna lose every stop light to stop light race, buddy
@@smashdogg1241 stop light racing is for poor morons.
I own a ‘68 Chevelle that would blow the doors off either of these...of course, there’s not much original by way of the motor on mine....gotta love those GTO’s though. You just don’t see them so much and this particular GTO seemed to be extra rare. What beautiful cars
Im a mopar guy but love all of these old muscle cars... true drivers back then. Not like today where grandma can drive a high HP car.
I think that was Glenn Campbell in the Chevy commercial.
It was..
Man that lower revving engine in the Goat really robs some of that trap speed. They’re both gorgeous but I’d take the Pontiac I think.
Me too, the Chevelle is a stormer for sure, but the GTO screams comfort and style and room! The Goat for me!
For this race I care not who wins, they're both beautiful cars and I'd love to have either. Now, roll that back to '67s for each, and I'd be rooting for the Chevelle. My first two cars were 67 Chevelles. The first was the 300 Sedan, straight 6 and a pillar around the doors. Now the second, and I kick myself in the ass for selling it, the second was an SS. Nothing, and I do mean nothing I've driven gave me the chubby I got when starting the SS, everything rumbled. God I miss that car!!!
Great video, thank you.
I had a 1970 GTO built up to 500 hsp. It would get sideways in third gear and bark them in 4th. The place that rebuilt the motor put in the wrong dipstick tube, a straight one so the oil was always reading good when it in fact was always low and it blew up.
Guys, I have a '68 Chevelle SS L78 and had it for the last 25 years. Long gone is the black vinyl roof. Some A hole slashed it in Veteran's Stateum parking lot so it became a hardtop white like the rest of the car. I have a Muncie rock crusher 4 speed with a Hertz shift kit, custom headers and good ole Holly double pumper. I knocked down a lot of cars in my day but today she's just my fair weather sweetheart. Some of the big Hemmis were tough but I never lost to a Ford. I'm sitting in my baby right now as I write my comment. Picked the Chevelle to win hands down over the Pontiac.
Need to check some serial numbers on that chevelle . Lol. Just joking , my dad had one when I was a baby and it was stolen right out of the drive way one night . Parts were later found after a chop shop was raided 20 minutes away . He raced that car along with friends and never lost a race . His buddy at the time who drag raced at national trail speedway near Columbus said he had never seen an automatic transmission set the way that one was . Every time I went to a car show with my dad I’d always point over at a chevelle and joke about the fact those windshield wipers might of been from his . Lol.
In case you dont know the L78 was offered in the 66 Corvette and was rated by Chevrolet at 425 hp....the same exact engine was then rated in 68-70 at 375 hp to probably help with insurance premiums and government regulations
When they said the GTO had 3.55 gears and the Chevelle had 4.10 I had a feeling it would win even though the GTO had so much torque.
Yeah a 4:10 makes a really big difference. That's why most car nuts try and swap their rear diffs with Ford 9" 4:30s.
@John Rayburn In a drag race I would much rather run a turbo 400 auto. Consistent et's, predictable and it puts the power to the ground better than a 4 speed. A powerglide is even better.
It would of been fun to see them race with both having the same rear gear ratio.
@@pwr27986 Also if both ran the same transmission. Pontiac had the advantage with the TH-400 vs the M22 in the Chevelle.
I knew the Chevelle was going to win when I saw the GTO had a 3 speed auto and on top of that the Chevelle had a 4 speed manual. I definitely think that GTO would get the win with a manual
My girlfriends Uncle bought a new 70 GTO in South Jersey with that option, only one I ever saw.
A friend in Detroit had a 68 SS 396 and it was BADASS.
Chevelle is as good as it gets. To me it’s also the best looking ever!
If they built a 1968 Chevelle today I would gladly pay 24,500 for one. Especially with a 375 hp 396 big block.
My girlfriends Uncle bought a new maroon GTO with that exhaust cutout, only one I ever saw.
My 67 GTO hunted 396 chevys just for kicks. Allman brothers backed me up.
Had a 66 and 70. 66 had 389 4 SPD, kicked ass vs the 70 with 400 and 3 spd.
Funny thing about those ads, Glen Campbell in the 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle SS went home with a lady by his side, the guy in the 1970 Pontiac GTO 455 H.O. seems to have left the drive through alone. Results may vary.
I'll take the Pontiac thank you!
Too funny but I love it.thanks for posting
At some point I plan to have a custom humbler installed in my ‘69 Firebird, because I just love the idea of it, and why not? 😂
My 68 chevelle was awesome when I was in high school in the 80s.....👍👍👍👍👍👍
I'm going with the SS 396. There was a song about it. Therefore, it had to be badass. Plus, my cousin had a 1970 one .
@Mark rapacki SS396 by Paul Revere and the Raiders
I don’t care which one is faster the GTO is imo the most awesome car ever built I love it
I had the 68 Chevelle SS with a mild cam. Ran real strong. Never lost a race in it.
Unbelievable what a cam swap can do in a 396
B.S
@@glennkometscher7928 That's what's in ur teeth, boy.
GTO still way sexier
both pretty cool. GTO a little flashier, Chevelle more subtle.
With that sexy front "cap" design in front, my nod goes to the Poncho. But I'm a Pontiac owner, driver from way back. I've had 3 GTO's. A '66, a '68 and '67 in that order. I drove the '66 to 133,000 and sold it when it started to smoke a bit and bought a pure black '68. Had to sell the '68 in '73 right after the oil embargo when gas prices skyrocketed. I then had a '77 Grand Prix during the mid-eighties. It was a beautiful thing and the last of the big Pontiacs. They got the axe the following year, 1978 and were an immediate mid-sized car! During the years '85-'86 I bought a '67 as a "toy" car. I drove it for a while and sold it. That was the end of my Pontiacs. If I buy another, it'll be a '66. I'm forever in love with that body style!
I love both but the Chevelle looks like a granny car compared to the Goat.
slagletoby I second that.
@Billy Bob you know what..." The are all perfect"
They didn't offer the 455 HO in the 70 GTO. Only in the Trans Am and Grand Prix had it. Top engine was the 400 cu in Ram Air IV. 1971 the 455 HO replaced the 400 Ram Air III and IV engines as the top engine.
Cars are a close match up, so the win always goes to the better driver
I've been to some races in Stanton back in the 80s
I had a good idea that L78 would win but man that Goat is sooo much sexier!
The Chevelle had major traction issues in that third race. Right lane was obviously the better lane.
seemed like that was the general issue last year
The driver in GTO sucked that was clear
I'd love to have either car but I think the red car will win..
GREAT VIDEO!! THANK YOU.
I had them both. I bought a new ss 1968 396 4 speed and then a 1970 gto ram air 4 judge. wish I still had them.
At least this variation of the GTO is somewhat scarce..
fun fact the humbler was so rare because Pontiac didn't approve it with GM, they just did it. That particular commercial only aired once. When GM saw it they lost their minds because they were already under pressure from insurance companies. They didn't want that "image" touted openly. So they forced Pontiac to stop making them and pulled the commercial. They did have to honor orders already placed for the humbler, but no new orders could be made. One of the many reasons why Pontiac were the bad boys of GM for the 60's and early 70's
I'm going to go equip my Chevy cavalier with a humbler and see if I can get a Hummer at the drive-in
you probably could. might have to pay for the hummer, but you could probably get one.
Not even with a gun in your hand
I think you have to give hammers not sure
@@cooperparts well I've never tried that don't think I will now I'm 50 years oldwe used to call those Hummers in the backseat of a car if they're called hammers I'd like to meet her
Ugly drunk and they take teeth out
Both cars were over the top! GM was having a field day back then. If you wanted a car that could take the turns, you got a Camaro or Firebird. These two 4000 lbs would kill you on a turn. And braking was even worse. I remember lol. So much fun, 103 Octane back then.