Two classic automotive legends take to the drag strip to decide the answer to an age old vehicular rivalry.
For many in the car community, the rivalry between Ford and Chevy is an aspect of our culture that breeds competition and camaraderie. One after another, fans of both brands line up to gaze in awe at the vast technological advancements the two have made to one-up each other. This rivalry goes as far back as anyone can remember; with both brands starting just eight years apart, the constant competition has been brewing since most of the current population was born. This rivalry hit a peak in the mid-late '60s and '70s, with Chevy waging an almost impossible battle to steal the market that Ford created with the Mustang.
Watch American muscle cars take down European exotics here.
One vehicle that made a point out of stepping up to the plate was the famous Chevrolet Impala. This luxury muscle car was made for going fast with style and a powerhouse that everyone couldn't beat. Being an SS model, the vehicle we are looking at right now has an incredible 427 ci Chevy V8, which pushes out 385 horsepower with its 10.25:1 compression ratio. That powerhouse may seem like a lot but will it be able to push this 4880lb car hard enough to keep up with the '71 Mustang that now awaits the battle in splendor?
One thing you should never forget about American cars, never underestimate them. This '71 'Stang may seem like little more than an ugly '70s commuter car, but the 429ci Ford V8 is pushing 370 horsepower and 450 ft/lbs of torque.
Both cars line up to the starting position, eager to show off what they can do. Then, the lights turned from red to yellow, and they were off by the time it hit green! It was neck and neck for the first half of the race, but the Ford pulled ahead by at least one car length. In the end, the Mustang took the win with a 13.27 quarter-mile pass which is a tenth of a second faster than the Impala's 13.37-second run. However, round two seemed to change direction as the cars swapped lanes, and the Chevy stomped out Ford's previous victory with a hundredth of a second lead at 13.37 over the Mustang's 13.38 pass.
Finally, the time to decide the ultimate winner was upon us, and as the two cars raced down the track for the last time, it was glorious. Both drivers had trouble keeping traction but, eventually, managed to cut each other pretty deep, with the Impala laying down a 13.71 second quarter mile pass. Try as he might, the Chevy couldn't keep up with the '71 'Stang,
