As we all know, after General Motors ended production of the Chevrolet Camaro during the 2002 model year and they effectively replaced it with the Pontiac GTO in 2004. Like the 4th gen Camaro, the 2004 GTO was powered by the LS1, but the Pontiac’s official horsepower and torque ratings were a little higher than those of the Camaro. At the same time, the Camaro weighed a few hundred pounds less, so in stock form, this would be a tight race.
However, neither of these cars are stock.
Tale of the Tape
The 2002 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 in the video is tuned with unspecified bolt-ons and the four-speed automatic transmission. The 2004 GTO also has unspecified bolt-ons, a new camshaft and a tune, while also being equipped with the more efficient T56 manual transmission.
So the Pontiac weighs more, but has more factory horsepower and more upgrades, along with the manual transmission while the Camaro weighs less, has an automatic transmission and likely has less power.
The video begins with the Camaro approaching the GTO from the rear on what appears to be a highway access road. As they get side-by-side, one of the car honks the horn three times and on the third, both cars hammer down. At first, the Camaro pulls to a very slight lead and stays there as the Pontiac muscle car driver works through the gears. However, as speeds climb, the Pontiac inches ahead and stays there until both cars lift.
In the end, the GTO appears to have beaten the Camaro by a length, but this was a solid run for the 4th gen Camaro with less power and less modifications.
"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.
