Cars And Zebras give us a tongue-in-cheek commentary as two vintage muscle cars hit the pure stock drag strip.
If you’re looking for a serious take on pure stock drag racing, then the Cars and Zebras YouTube channel might not be your first choice. The channel doesn’t take itself all too seriously, and its content is as funny as it is informative. Their latest release is no different. It’ll give viewers a giggle while also providing plenty of insight into two awesome muscle cars from yesteryear.
A Ford Torino 429 Super Cobra Jet And A Plymouth GTX Go Head-To-Head
The racing action in this video takes place in Stanton at the Mid-Michigan Motorplex and features a 1970 Ford Torino 429 Super Cobra Jet going up against a 1968 Plymouth GTX. The initial focus is on the maroon Ford Torino 429. This is a fine example of the vintage muscle car and is so clean it would be at home at a classic car show.
This particular model of the Torino is 1 of only 129 that Ford produced, making it a very rare pony indeed. This car originally retailed at $3,870, which would be $30,006 when adjusted for inflation. That’s a lot of car for such a modest price.
This Cobra will be challenging another classic in the shape of a 1968 Plymouth GTX. This green Mopar muscle car has chrome trimmings and is in fine condition for a car of its age.
This particular model is a 440. It’s not the more sought-after Hemi, but this old pony can still kick. The GTX was originally cheaper than the 429 SCJ, with a factory price of $3,371, which in today’s money is $29,141.
It’s the best of three under clear Michigan skies for these classic muscle cars. The Ford Torino 429 Super Cobra Jet gets off to a good start and takes the first race with a time of 13.74 seconds and a top speed of 104.87 mph against the GTX’s time of 13.78 seconds at 101.01 mph.
This Cobra gets bitten hard as the racing action continues. The GTX wins the next two duels, and its best time comes in at 13.54 seconds at 105.67 mph.
How Much Horsepower Does A 1970 Torino 429 Super Cobra Jet Have?
Despite coming in second best on the day, the ultra-rare Ford Torino 429 SCJ packed impressive horsepower for its time. Officially it churned out 375 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque.
This puts it almost level with the Plymouth GTX, which also had 375 hp and slightly more torque with an estimated 480 lb-ft.
