Car enthusiasts have always been fascinated with fast cars, and nothing is more exciting than watching a drag race or a lap time battle between some of the most powerful American muscle cars. In this article, we will compare three of the most powerful American cars ever made, the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, and the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye. These cars are designed for speed and performance, and each one of them has its unique features and capabilities.
The contenders
Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
The Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is a new nemesis and Ford’s answer to one of our favorite cars and coincidentally the fastest car to grace the throttle house test track back in Old Canada. The GT500 is the new dog here, but it’s not without rival. The GT500 starts at $70,000 US dollars, but that’s not even its final form because for only $18,500, Ford will remove the rear seats for you and give you a carbon fiber wing that’s adjustable and they’ll give you carbon fiber wheels that are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport cup twos and a carbon fiber instrument panel.
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE is a car that needs to be taken very seriously, and today we’re driving it in the 2019 onwards 10-speed automatic. The ZL1 1LE has more torque than the Mustang, unfortunately any power rivalry between the two pales in comparison to something even more beastly. The ZL1 1LE is a car that Chevy has invested millions in making what is effectively an oversized coupe actually drive like a sports car.
Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye
The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye is the most powerful Challenger you can get. It’s actually the same engine but it has a deviated septum and it can’t breathe in 808 horsepower worth of air. It has 797 horsepower and 707 pound-feet of torque, and yet somehow is the least powerful of the three. The Redeye is not a track pack, unlike the other two cars here. It turns a 4,500-pound clumsy muscle car with too much power into a 4,500-pound great muscle car with too much power.
Exterior and Interior Design
The exterior design of these cars is aggressive and sleek, with muscular lines and aerodynamic curves. The Mustang Shelby GT500 has a more traditional look, with a long hood and a short rear deck. The Camaro ZL1 1LE has a more modern design, with a lower profile and a sportier look. The Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye is the most muscular of the three, with a retro-inspired design that pays homage to the classic muscle cars of the past.
The interior design of these cars is just as impressive as the exterior. All three cars have a sporty and comfortable cabin, with plenty of high-quality materials and advanced features. The Mustang Shelby GT500 has a driver-focused interior, with a 12-inch digital instrument cluster and a 8-inch touchscreen display. The Camaro ZL1 1LE has a more traditional interior.
After the roll race, it was time to see how these American muscle cars handled on the track. The Throttle House team took them to Willow Springs International Raceway, a fast and challenging track where they would be put through their paces. But before that, they had one more challenge: a drag race.
In the drag race, the Hellcat Redeye took an early lead, but the GT500 quickly caught up and pulled ahead for the win. While the Redeye is an incredibly powerful car, the GT500’s advanced transmission and lightning-fast shifts gave it the edge in the straight-line race.
Next up was the roll race, where the cars would start from a rolling position instead of a standstill. This race was much closer, with the GT500 and the Camaro ZL1 1LE neck and neck for most of the race. However, in the end, the GT500 pulled ahead for the win once again. The Redeye, with its heavier weight and less advanced transmission, struggled to keep up with the other two cars.
Finally, it was time for the track test. The Throttle House team brought in professional race car driver Randy Post to set lap times in each of the three cars. The Camaro ZL1 1LE went first, setting an impressive time of 1:23.96. Next up was the Hellcat Redeye, which struggled with its weight and lack of grip on the track, posting a time of 1:29.98. Finally, it was the GT500’s turn. With its advanced suspension, carbon fiber wheels, and Michelin Pilot Sport cup twos, the GT500 was able to post a blistering time of 1:22.39, beating the Camaro by over a second.
In conclusion, the 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 is the clear winner of this three-car comparison. With its advanced transmission, lightning-fast shifts, and carbon fiber upgrades, the GT500 was able to outperform the Camaro ZL1 1LE and the Hellcat Redeye in every category. However, all three cars are incredibly powerful and impressive in their own right, and any one of them would be a thrilling ride for any American muscle car enthusiast.
You can check out the video below, which was made by the Throttle House YouTube channel