Camaro shows off the power advantage, driving around the supercharged Mustang on the top end.
This classic Camaro vs. Mustang battle comes to us from the Wheels YouTube channel and it features a new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 taking on a 2011 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. In a battle of supercharged muscle cars, we see how the better driver makes the difference at the starting line, but the stronger engine decides the winner on the big end.
The Competitors
The vehicles in action in the video above are a late model Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and a 2011 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. As you likely know, the Chevy is motivated by the supercharged LT4 V8, sending 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels by means of a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Shelby is powered by a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 that packs 550 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, but in addition to having less power, the Mustang also has a manual transmission.
With the Camaro having considerably more power and an automatic transmission that makes for easier launches, you might expect the ZL1 to lead this one from beginning to end, but the Chevy had to come from behind in this race.
The Action
While we don’t have any details on either of these cars, the GT500 clearly has aftermarket wheels and with those unique rollers, it might have stickier-than-stock tires. On the other hand, the Camaro appears to have stock wheels and tires. On top of that, while the Mustang driver cleans the tires off before heading to the starting line, the ZL1 driver carefully avoids the water box and does not clean off the tires at all.
After the two stage and the green lights drop, the driver of the Mustang gets a much better start and a much harder launching, jumping out to a lead of about a car-length in the early stages of the race. However, the Camaro uses its extra 100 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque to quickly close the gap and take the lead right around the half-track mark.
From there, the ZL1 cruised to victory, running an 11.92 at 118 miles per hour to the Ford’s 12.18 at 115 miles per hour.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
