1970 Plymouth HEMI Cuda vs 1969 Pontiac GTO Ram Air IV | PURE STOCK DRAG RACE

[@CarsAndZebras]

Get ready for 2 unbelievable cars! 👍

[@andysteele4056]

I usually just roll my eyes at the jokes, but the Charmin Bears thing had me laughing out loud by myself for a while. Good one.

[@CarsAndZebras]

eye roll = win for CZ

[@chevyblue10]

The cornball stuff is what I love most about CZ. It's what separates CZ from all the others.

[@usasidekicks2568]

I owned the same kind 69 Goat in the early 80s. Bought it for $800.00 primered with a black vinyl top blue interior Ram Air 400 Turbo 400 and factory rally wheels. It got up and went and kept on going! The sweet spot was the way it pulled hard from 40 to about 100 with gobs of torque. I miss that car I really do

[@mrnobody3161]

In Highscool I had a 1970 Monte Carlo 400 cu inch Turbo Jet sml blk V8 with highway 🛣 gears ⚙. Buried the needle many times driving to the mountains ⛰ to 🎿and 🚶‍♂️. The Stupidity of youth, good times.

[@damienreilly8061]

They are consistent, damn near identical runs all three times except for the GTO spinning on the 3rd race. Great races and really great cars! 🇺🇲🤙

[@CarsAndZebras]

👍

[@bigthunder2860]

The HIMIS make power on top end

[@puddleduckist]

Both very cool cars, i own a 69 gto with a 455. Although the ram air 4's ran good the hemi was more powerful and not really a fair race in my opinion. But the gto still ran very strong.

[@Loulovesspeed]

Or the Cuda didn't. The 426 should have eaten that 400 GTO for lunch!

[@63MacGuy]

Fantastic video! I LOVE the finish line replay. I love GTOs but there’re not going to beat that Hemi.

[@CarsAndZebras]

👍😎

[@kennycamaro2361]

Nothing beats the Hemi… usually

[@garybattaglia4009]

I don't think I will ever look at a Pastrami sandwich the same way again....

[@CarsAndZebras]

And you shouldn’t

[@jayschmahl9206]

Great race and two incredible machines. I grew up in a family that drove Ford's, GM's, and Mopar's and the Mopar's will alway's be my first love. Back in 1973 one of my neighbor's drove a lemon twist Hemi 'Cuda...Lucky Bastard!

[@samhaines8228]

love these match-ups! great cars, run like they came from the dealership (very close to that anyway). Kudos to the owners, the event organizers and of course to the Zebra for these awesome videos!!

[@CarsAndZebras]

Glad you enjoyed it! 👍

[@Wilson-cp4gx]

I love the channel. The Poncho was 3 tenths faster than I expected, but you would expect high 11’s from a street hemi.

[@CarsAndZebras]

Both impressive 👍

[@Dogboy1960]

No you wouldn't. No stock issue "street hemi" was even remotely close to that fast. One interesting piece of the rules for this class is found in how racers must keep most things pretty close to stock yet they do have a lot of latitude concerning Compression. Allowed to go a full 1.5points over stock. That's a BIG DEAL for a "Street Hemi". With it's race specific head design these engines gave away a lot in the lower RPM range. That extra compression makes a big difference for the middle of the torque curve in the Street Hemi. The rules posted allow you a higher stall speed converter in the 727 3 speed......again another big advantage for a Hemi that makes most of it's usable power above 4,000RPM. The sooner it can get there the better for times. On better than available street tires from back in 1970 I'd expect a low 13 easily drops into the mid to high 12s.......getting down to high 11 as seen here......gotta imagine this racer is taking full advantage of rules allowing him to up that compression to 12:1 and he's probably running all of the allowed converter stall and probably grabbing as manyof the few extra cubic inches an over bore, within the rules will allow as well. Don't let anyone tell you those are stock issue intakes, heads or exhaust manifolds either. The fastest Racers in this class know all the tricks concerning porting and removing material inside for way more flow than the stock exterior suggests. Getting a low 13sec Hemi Cuda into the high 12s isn't a big effort. Getting it into the high 11s WITHOUT headers, slicks and a lot more cam........that's the Herculean effort that is pretty awesome and big part of why I'd never say, "high 11s are what you would expect from a street hemi". This racer knows his car and his stuff. He's punching way above his weight with this car and what I'd have expected.

[@davidbattaglia2336]

I appreciate both those cars and drivers. But I REALLY appreciate your astute observation with regards to the Charmin Bears. They’ve been outted!

[@CarsAndZebras]

Those dirty, dirty bears

[@davidbattaglia2336]

@@CarsAndZebras They edited that part out of the Goldilocks story. Or at least it was in Book 2: Goldilocks and the Poo-Playing Bears

[@wtdonovan]

How the hell did I miss this installment? This is so pure!

[@CarsAndZebras]

Make sure you join the “stock appearing drag racers” group on Facebook to support the owners of these cars!

[@flyonbyya]

I went for the first time this year, and although I found the collection of classic muscle in action amazing…I was quite disappointed and unsuccessful in locating the great Zebra faced one.

[@CarsAndZebras]

I was there, but I’m very sneaky. You probably recognize this matchup from this year.

[@aschuppe]

Great races! Unbelievably consistent! Those are two beautiful cars, first gen real top of the line muscle cars.

[@charlesdalton985]

Another very close one on paper. The stats, stock, put this tight. Let’s see who took better advantage of the rules and who is the better driver. I’m going to go with the Cuda, thinking the GTO might be too steep in gearing. What the heck, it’s a guess. Looking forward to this one,. As always, thank you 🌮 🌮

[@CarsAndZebras]

thanks for watching!

[@charlesdalton985]

@@CarsAndZebras Great race - as consistent as those times were, both drivers know their cars. Thanks again.

[@mjs28s]

Doesn't matter what they look like on paper. These are not 'as produced' else they would be running in the 14's or maybe high 13s if lucky.

[@69Dartman]

@@mjs28s True, but none of the cars stayed factory stock for long if the owners were playing with their cars. There are cheap and easy things you can do to any car if you know your car well and it goes up from there if you have the money and just want to go fast. Both those cars were super consistent.

[@spaceflight1019]

Just guessing, but the biggest change is that neither car is running OEM tires. The Cuda ran on Goodyear Polyglas bias-ply tires while the Goat ran on Uniroyal Tiger Paws bias-ply tires. The first item on the go-fast list back then was a set of wider cheater slicks.

[@srt8rocketship241]

Damn great old school muscle. Cuda looks cool but i want either one.

[@deebo47]

Great race! Thanks C&Z!

[@CarsAndZebras]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@timmotel5804]

Excellent. Very close. Love um both. Thanks

[@John1Brady]

Both these cars are very well "prepared"... they are FAST!

[@charlesbear5867]

Had a 68 goat, ragtop with a 400 under the hood. Wish I still had it

[@calebrose4607]

these two cars seem very consistent in the quarter mile, both running high 11s and low 12s. that's pretty quick

[@randyrobey5643]

It looked like the Pontiac driver had slightly quicker reaction times, but the Cuda was just a little faster.

[@68dart]

Awesome , No surprise here , Thanks C&Z

[@CarsAndZebras]

Thanks for watching!

[@johnwilkerson2195]

Very close race though

[@CarsAndZebras]

Definitely a great race! 👍

[@stephenwilkinson8396]

Absolutely AWESOME !!

[@CarsAndZebras]

👍

[@brianr5665]

Both beautiful cars. Kind of expected the outcome. But all an all an awesome race! Glad to be able to see it.

[@plymouthdie-castreplicas]

Incredible times... Totally love the '70 Hemi 'Cuda. The king of Mopars!

[@sergiojacquez2277]

Beautiful Cuda, but my favorite Mopar is a 69 roadrunner

[@plymouthdie-castreplicas]

@@sergiojacquez2277 Great taste, sir. The '69 model year RR is the most badass! Mainly the A12 version.

[@scrapplepig]

My car would be 70 or 71 Challenger, very close to the Cuda.

[@plymouthdie-castreplicas]

@@scrapplepig Yes, they are siblings. Love these cars♥

[@131601]

It’s unbelievable they actually run both those rare cars ! We thank them for it as well as the Zebra !

[@archiebunker6059]

Ooooh, that's a Royal Pontiac, that's why he was right on the heels of the Mopar 👍💪

[@TheKillerMarine]

Still lost GM was taking the L way back then like they do today

[@archiebunker6059]

@@TheKillerMarine Chevrolet has won more motorsports races than any manufacturer in the world.

[@CaptainFALKEN]

Not to mention Ford went in to Le Mans, something new to them, won four years in a row and then left like it was nothing.

[@jangofett8210]

That intro is fire. Reminds me of something😏😏

[@leonardwashington9997]

Back in the day..real muscle 💪 Cars keep on bringing them back👍!!

[@allanwhite9716]

Great idea adding a camera down by the finish line.

[@CarsAndZebras]

👍

[@scott70707]

Lets not kid ourselves,,,neither car is completely stock under the hood. Youre not going to recurve the dist and rejet the carb from stock and run 115 -117 mph.Stilll love the race though. Im a pontiac guy so I was happy to see the ETs and mph that close between the cars.

[@johnnystafford1826]

Both good drivers I would say, the times consistent. The Hemi just had a little more that day is all. The results could be different on another day. Damn good racing is what that is!

[@GregZentTrumpetMan]

Yeah, nfw those cars were running 115 and 117 in quarter with stock machines.

[@illegalmachine]

The PA guy said that's BK "Mr Six Pack". I was literally emailing with him last week about a cam for my 383 Super Bee!

[@matthewblank214]

That Ram Air lV is a true 445 hp motor with headers and that came from George Delorean himself,tough to beat on the street but the 428 with round ports heads was even better

[@alainverse33]

Comment des voitures de 50 ans arrivent encore à nous faire autant rêver ? Il y a du génie dans ces bagnoles assurément 😉👍 J'ai un Ram Hemi 2004 et déjà, je kiffe alors j'imagine même pas ces bijoux😍

[@davidpayne2703]

Thank You C & Z - Luv that Tor-Red Cuda

[@CarsAndZebras]

Thanks for watching!

[@mannyr.2756]

I enjoy that very much it was a really good match even though the Hemi had him on all three runs.

[@CarsAndZebras]

Definitely a good race!

[@lilredexptsc]

My god that intro killed me. You just get better and better my guy.

[@CarsAndZebras]

I was waiting for someone to pick up on it…. or maybe nobody is willing to admit they recognize it 😁

[@67GTV]

@@CarsAndZebras Cudos on the upgraded video editing, C&Z! Your humor always cracks me up. Those non-narated videos seem so empty. The finish line camera is a great add-on! Can that cameraman stand closr to the finish? It would be great to see them cross at the line. Regardless, I am no longer squinting to see the finish line. 😀🤘🍀 67GTV

[@1563smb]

That was an awesome race for sure both cars are way cool.

[@jasonkrause6778]

That GTO Gave that cuda a run for its money Both Outstanding Cars !!!

[@louiskats5116]

Goodday C & Z, Absolutely awesome, the old saying " It takes a Mopar to catch a Mopar ". The Goat tried & man low 12's is extremely respectable but a Hemi good try. Regardless of the outcome, awesome muscle cars to admire all the same. Dig the finish line camera work fantastic intresting how much of a distance less than a half second is. You are talk a car length. Your number 1 Fan in Australia Louis Kats from Melbourne Australia ☺ 👍 ❤

[@CarsAndZebras]

Definitely interesting! Thanks for watching!

[@southbound1969]

CRIKEY!

[@policeofficer94]

YESSSSS!!! You make me so happy C&Z!!

[@CarsAndZebras]

Thanks for watching!

[@spartynation7021]

Wow the pure stock guy's got there S''t together. These cars are approaching 'super stock' style performance only on street tires. Kudos on the vid.

[@CarsAndZebras]

Thanks for watching!

[@jimwhite1061]

I didn't know that 400 gto could run like that. Everyone knows those Elephant cars run good, but low 12s for that gto surprised me.

[@Welcometofacsistube]

From the dawn of time to the ends of the earth as its always been, it takes a mopar to catch a mopar

[@CarsAndZebras]

Wouldn’t be the same without you

[@Welcometofacsistube]

@@CarsAndZebras nor you brother

[@bunk-bn9eo]

I think the LS6 is the "stiffest" competition.

[@awalk56]

Delighted your narrative is back.

[@seventybuick]

Those are not stock.

[@charlesr.aliffjr.4050]

Ya think? 🙄

[@ronnietippett1075]

surprized how good of run the underdog Pontiac gave the big bad Hemi great race

[@SUMM3RY]

The gto is just BEAUTIFUL

[@gary9426]

This looks like a great matchup...should be pretty close!

[@CarsAndZebras]

definitely an interesting race!

[@davidbattaglia2336]

Love the looks of that GTO. Even as a kid, I loved the Pontiac nose. Family friends had a Tempest in the early 70's. Sweet looking car!

[@willk.illyouii5583]

The hemi"s were also cantankerous, and the 440 was more reliable on the street.

[@zubitron5]

Yeah, the Hemi was a monster when properly prepared but it took more expertise than the normal person had.

[@willk.illyouii5583]

@@zubitron5 the average idiot would blow up the original hemi showing off for his friends!!💔

[@1badhaircut]

@@zubitron5 My dad had several - the ‘66 did need some lifter adjustments but the later ones had zero issues. I’m guessing that modified and beat-on cars created that myth but from our experience- it was a friendly beast. The ONlY complaint was mpg but gas was cheap. Today, even Jay Leno complains - but that’s all for show.

[@PetrolheadAEHG]

Is this 1/4 mile racing? I can't understand how both cars are over a second faster than in the original tests, but it's incredible to see them run so close, great video.

[@paulplack490]

If the rules are the same as they were a few years ago, the Pure Stock riles allow overbores to .060 and compression increases of as much as 1.5 points. I assume it's to allow tolerances for rebuilds and milling heads/decks to get them flat, but there are obviously side benefits!

[@mailiang1]

In the day, I ran a stock 67 Goat with the 3:55 rear, and a few tweaks, at Raceway Park, NJ. It did high 13's with traps around 105-107 mph. Nice et's, but those cars ain't exactly stock.

[@ThePaulv12]

You might be interested to know what a 426 Hemi actually made. Nick's Garage did a test on his 'Keeper' (which he sold LOL) and it was as OEM as a Hemi could possibly be in 2018/19 or whenever the motor was rebuilt. It had OEM exhaust manifolds, manifold pre heater flaps and piping, OEM distributor and Carter carbs, intake comp etc. All that wasn't OEM was the +.030" overbore. So it made 492 HP @ 5800rpm IIRC. This shows the potential of the stock Hemi. So 2, 1/8th primary tube 4 into 1 headers, the Vanke mod to the intake and a rejet would likely net you 80-100hp over stock. Then you could put a Racer Brown solid lifter flat tappet camshaft in it you could be sniffing at 600hp. The lowish factory power rating of them actually adds to the mystique.

[@goneshootin61]

Much better match up than the last video !

[@CarefulWithThatAxeEugene]

Me and my husband LOVES these videos, aside from the races, we love the jokes and evil laugh lol. (We sometimes skip it if it has a FoRd in it.)

[@mileswoods]

I had a 69 GTO the same color and i still miss it TODAY

[@mrkemblegilstrap]

Great cars! Great racing. I'm extremely impressed with how well they ran. I watched it twice to try to find the cubic inches of the Pontiac. I'm a Mopar guy and am not familiar with specs on a ram air 4. 389? 421? 455 are my guesses, lol.

[@CarsAndZebras]

400 cubic inches, briefly listed in the lower right corner 👍

[@samhaines8228]

I believe it's 400 c.i.d.

[@mrkemblegilstrap]

@@samhaines8228 thanks guys! I guess I was too busy looking at the motor, lol. Obviously I don't know anything about Pontiacs, doh!

[@samhaines8228]

@@mrkemblegilstrap I don't know too much about Pontiac engines either to be honest. They seem to come in displacement sizes different from other GM manufacturers.

[@mrkemblegilstrap]

@@samhaines8228 I heard that! We had a 326(?), in a Catalina 2+2, back in the 60s. I'll never do a search on anything except Mopar because I don't want 100 million suggestions on cars I consider the "enemy ", lol

[@benkrom2737]

After launch cars seemed to stay relatively same distance from each other. Definitely torque of the hemi won this race

[@dragginwagon406]

Awesome video.

[@johntempest267]

Looked to me as though the races were settled in the first 60 ft. Two awesome cars/drivers.

[@Y3nk0]

'69 RAIV GTO = cream jean dream

[@CarsAndZebras]

😎

[@futon02]

Mr six pack has a hemi too???? JEALOUS. Great races by two of my favorite cars

[@CarsAndZebras]

Yup 😎

[@Colt-tf6xf]

It was so close, it might have been the driver. Hole shots are everything.

[@jedzcutz8921]

What we're looking at is about a quarter of a million worth of cars being driven the way they were designed....doesn't get any better!

[@haromaster6086]

always entertaining. thank you

[@ivanmarkovicxxx]

I am building a street 301T Pontiac stroker. As I understand, the 301T short-deck block was basically a retooled RA V 303 TA bottom end. I would love to come race it when it's done, but it's hardly stock any more. When I pop the hood however, it will look just like a stock 301 (with emissions removed), & shorty headers.

[@watchthetriple8224]

Good racing!!!

[@CarsAndZebras]

Definitely a nice match-up!

[@watchthetriple8224]

@@CarsAndZebras glad the guys race them instead of making them garage queens. Enjoy the videos.

[@CarsAndZebras]

Not many on the roads now!

[@bdogjr7779]

SHAKER hood scoop let the HEMI breathe🔊🇺🇸

[@TheDatadrew]

It's just not enough to lose twice in your Pontiac.... 3rd time is the charm!

[@soldierski1669]

The GTO is running essentially what it would off the dealership. The 426 is not.

[@1badhaircut]

A RamAir 5 455 was designed but never produced - probably because GM knew the party was over. It would have corrected inherent breathing limitation and given hemi-like power.

[@CarsAndZebras]

Would’ve been interesting to see!

[@bunk-bn9eo]

The parts are out there for the V. The real issue for the V was for it to really get the most out of it - it needed more cid's. We're talking close to 500 cid to really get it to breath. 455 was the most they had to play with - and yes, the timing was terrible with the 70's closing in. There is a 69 GTO out there with a RA V. Look around on KZbin or Google.

[@soldierski1669]

GM never liked PMD beating up Chevy. They took away the tripower (but not chevy) they refused the motor redesign (SD) and limited Forged Rods. The "V" would have been just better than the 4 in power, only way to make it "friendly" would be to de-tune it, those ports have no velocity at low rpms. At the point you start swinging 600+hp the rods come into play, after Forged rods you start knocking on the 850hp -ish limit if those blocks and that after snapping off lifter bores with high lift cams that support those heads. In the end, those heads needed the SD block..

[@dougsholly9323]

You just can't give up 26 ci to a hemi and win. Still solid performance... from both cars. Dipping into the 11s in the Cuda got me a little sticky below the belt too...

[@daleliske9757]

Both, absolutely great cars, my hat's off to running them both to their potential. At your Initial expense.

[@jim-er8in]

Hey Love the finish line replay so cool !!!!!

[@wattsmichaele]

Hilarious and awesome. Thank you!

[@PatrickSeanEarl]

Now that was a nice match up

[@dennisjoseph629]

Rare with bench seat and column shift. Awesome..

[@user-wy7ox2ms2t]

I can't belive that ram air iv has a column shift and a bench seat.

[@jayrowe6473]

I never thought I'd get Rick Rolled in a C&Z Video... or did I.

[@CaptainFALKEN]

Lmao at the narration. Keep it up, man. This video is awesome

[@kennycamaro2361]

Charming bears was killing me dude!

[@joebuzz2758]

Love all the commentary in these videos lol 😆 That damn bear! 🐻 🤣 😂

[@timothyburleigh68]

That little extra weight in the GTO held it back. I'm sure if you put thicker tires in the back the GTO would have got a better time. Still a impressive run.

[@LORISSABOOBMAN]

Dropped something in the Cuda motor lots of smoke blow by at the end.

[@steelpenguin1]

If you don’t get a jump on a 426 you can just forget it because they continue to walk other Muscle cars. Those Hemi’s loved to rev at high speeds. A 440-6 was actually faster off the line, the 426 had the top end.

[@gary9426]

The RAIV 400 was also a great top end motor....I think C&Z said this Poncho has run in the 11's....must have had an off day or something..getting beat three times by that Plymouth was definitely impressive!

[@kevinmcduffie1092]

They didn't walk 🚶 the Cuda 440 supercommando! They couldn't beat it! Only time I know of it being beaten was by a '69 Camaro Z28 302!!

[@randallgreen6746]

It doesn't get much closer than that.

[@michaelwallace7972]

That's not just a Ram Air IV GTO, it's a Royal Bobcat car. Think Yenko. Delivered to them from the factory, they tune up the car and then deliver it to the costumer.

[@kevinmanning4880]

Great race, both drivers are very consistent. The story about, "Blackbird" and "Silver Bullet". Black Bird did eventually beat Silver Bullet. The Ram Air V is something to be reproduced.

[@ericmurphy3680]

Good racing like both cars, I would like to see repeat of both cars, but with equal horsepower. The cuda is 56 horses more so it's always going to beat the less horsepower.

[@jimhall5472]

That Mopar is a beautiful beast!

[@tomgeorge3023]

The Hemi is about to eat a goat

[@CarsAndZebras]

Maybe

[@GarlicKnot5]

Definitely can tell the drivers know what they’re doing

[@stevesosebee5860]

I love that ‘Cuda !!!

[@joshbrekke6374]

RamAir V Tunnel Port could/would take the Hemi. By a lot honestly. Two Very Awesome cars, very consistent!

[@chevyblue10]

Out of all the cars I've seen matched up on CZ, I think I like this pair the best. I think I'll go buy a scratch off with this last dollar. Wish me luck. You'll know I won if you see me on CZ racing both these.

[@RailFanRob]

Why are the times so much quicker than the original tests from years ago...

[@jamesb.armstrong5433]

Both pretty consistent

[@XBobbyVegasX]

Dream Car alert 🤑