In one corner, we have a very fetching 1970 Oldsmobile F-85 Sports Coupe. And as lovely as this white-striped, green-painted Olds is by default, it’s not a regular F-85. Nope, this one left the factory with the W31 package.
What does that mean? Well, it has the super cool dual air-scoop fiberglass hood, but it also comes with air induction and a long list of performance goodies. They all combine to give the 350-cubic-inch (5.7-liter) V8 a total output of 325 horsepower and 360 pound-feet (488 Nm) of torque. All that oomph hits the wheels through an automatic transmission and a 3.91 rear end.
In the other corner, we have a fine gem for the Mopar crowd. Yup, it’s the mighty 1969 Dodge Super Bee A12, arguably one of the coolest drag-ready production cars made in the golden era. Recognizable thanks to the black fiberglass hood and the steel wheels, this Mopar hides a 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) Six-Pack V8 behind the front grille.
As you might have already guessed, it packs a lot more punch than the Olds, with the big block capable of generating 390 horsepower and 490 pound-feet (664 Nm) of twist. It also features an automatic gearbox and a 4.10 rear end. The A12 is quite rare, too, at only 661 made in 1969, so seeing one at the drag strip is an unexpected treat.
So is the more powerful and track-capable Super Bee, too fast for the F-85 W31? Well, the Dodge wins the three-way quarter-mile duel, but the Oldsmobile puts up a good fight and loses only by a few inches.
All told, these muscle cars aren’t completely stock. Still, it’s a very entertaining race, so hit the play button below to watch the drama unfold.