1970 Pontiac GTO Drag Races Modern Dodge Charger Scat Pack – It’s Closer Than You Think

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Well, this unlikely drag race between a 50-year-old Pontiac and a modern Dodge might provide an answer. Specifically, we’re looking at a quarter-mile duel between a 1970 Pontiac GTO “The Judge” and a post-2015 Dodge Charger with the Scat Pack bundle. Granted, the latter is no Hellcat or Challenger Demon, but it still packs more oomph than a classic muscle car.

Fitted with the already iconic 392-cubic-inch (6.4-liter) V8, the Charger Scat Pack spins its rear wheels to the tune of 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet (644 Nm) of torque. This 1970 Pontiac GTO features a 400-cubic-inch (6.6-liter) V8 good for 370 horsepower and 445 pound-feet (603 Nm) of twist, so the Charger is the clear winner when it comes to oomph.


However, there are a few other factors to consider. While the GTO sports a four-speed manual gearbox, the Charger is fitted with an eight-speed automatic. But more importantly, the modern Mopar tips the scales at a whopping 4,400 pounds (1,996 kg), which makes it more than 600 pounds (272 kg) heavier than the 1970 Pontiac GTO. That must count for something, right?

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Well, moving onto the race itself, the GTO is off to a great start and takes the lead early on. Something I wouldn’t have bet my money on since the Charger’s eight-speed auto is supposed to provide quicker off-the-line sprints. But despite the slow start, the Mopar catches up and moves just a hair in front of the GTO right before the finish line.

The Charger Scat Pack takes the win, but it’s a really narrow one. At 12.19 seconds from start to finish, the Charger was only 0.03 clicks quicker than the GTO down the quarter-mile. And that’s an impressive feat for the 51-year-old Pontiac. As far as trap speeds go, the Charger hit 115 mph (185 kph), while the GTO was just a tad slower at 114 mph (183 kph).

 

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