1970 Plymouth Cuda Races 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS.

Which classic American muscle car do you think will win this head-to-head?
When it comes to debating what is the best classic American muscle car, a lot of times Mopar and GM argue about the ‘Cuda vs. Chevelle. Both are certainly solid performance machines and enjoy loyal followings to this day for that reason. Just don’t expect the GM crowd to praise Hemi’ Cuda ever, nor that Mopar fans will say anything good about the Chevelle. That’s what makes the drag race between the 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda and the 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS so compelling.

First of all, the Mopar muscle car. Instead of the standard 383, this one has the 426 Hemi, the engine everyone wants. Factory output is 425 hp at 5,000 rpm and 490 lb.-ft. torque at 4,000 rpm. Supporting that is a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission, so there’s no room for driver error when shifting gears. Furthermore, there are 4.10 gears in the rear, so this ‘Cuda’ is definitely a threat on the track. However, with a weight of 3,745 lbs. including the driver, all the power and strong gearshifting is required for this Hemi ‘Cuda to really move.

As for the Chevelle ’69, it’s an SS with a 396 L89 V8 under the hood, so it’s built to race right out of the factory. GM rates this muscle car at 375 hp at 5,600 rpm and 415 lb.-ft. torque at 3,600 rpm. Don’t start claiming ‘Cuda’s the winner, because this Chevy is so much more than factory specs. With the 3-speed automatic Turbo 400, it matches the Mopar wonderfully. Then there is the 4.88 rear gear set, which makes this car not so much a street machine as it is a hand clutch. Finally, with the driver inside, the Chevelle SS ’69 leads the scale at 3,690 lbs. for another advantage over Plymouth.