Highest HP n/a factory pony car in history?
 

Given impending stringent CAFE standards, Ford and Dodge both moving to forced induction, and unless there is a HP surprise from the upcoming LT1, it would appear that the 2014 Z28 could be the highest HP n/a factory pony car in history.

That depends entirely on where GM takes the Z/28 for the 6th gen. Rumor is the C7 Z06 will be keeping the naturally aspirated 7 liter but it will be LT based. That engine could end up in the 6th gen Z/28.

Yes, it would certainly appear that way.

But also keep in mind you're not only limiting your 'class' to naturally aspirated, but also pony cars.

There are certainly more powerful pony cars, and more powerful N/A applications.. just when the two are teamed together you get *for now* the most powerful application....

Though, I would be inclined to guess some of the 64-70 era pony cars were RIGHT on the edge of a modern 500-550 hp rating...

Not even close! The 70 LS6 454 Chevelle was the highest "rated" horsepower car of the muscle car era and that was 450 gross horsepower. If the Z/28 was rated in gross horse power, the number would be closer to 600 than 500.

Stock out of the showroom, I would say "yes" to the new Z/28.

However, the original all aluminum 427 ZL1 used in the 1969 Camaros equipped with long tube headers, no mufflers, and tuning (no cam change, though) was reported to put out 630 horsepower. I don't know what the current LS7 7.0L would put out in that configuration. I think it would be close, but I think I would give the edge to the 1969 ZL1.

Michael

Maybe, but who knows ... maybe there will be a 2017 LT7 powered Z28 with 600 hp out of a naturally aspirated 7L. If they only sell 1000 of them per year, the effect on CAFE will be next to nothing.A lot of the 'underated 500 hp' monsters from the late muscle car era would be rated at something like 400 hp today. SAE gross vs SAE net.

Yep, some of those cars were "underrated" on an "overrated" system so to speak. :biggrin:

Seriously though, I would love to know what some of the classics would be rated under the current SAE standards for certification.

Yeah, some of the games played back then would be down right laughable under todays standards. Many of the things you could do to 'free up' power were considered fair game for the 'wink and nudge' power ratings. After all, the power was, arguably, there ... you just had to remove the factory restrictions to get to it. Open exhaust with headers, and no air cleaner, power steering, or water pump, on a cold February morning ... sure, the car made 511 hp under those conditions, and was thusly 'under-rated' at maybe 425, to keep the insurance companies off your back (among other reasons). But good luck getting those numbers out of a normal production engine under normal conditions with everything hooked up as it was from the factory.

Hey thanks, that was exactly what I was talking about, great article.

Thats what it was "rated" at. I believe I read online somewhere that the LS6 in the 70 Chevelle was making close to around 510HP, don't recall where I saw that though.

The article I linked to dyno'd a 70 Chevelle LS6 with a TH400 and it put down 285 at the wheels.

yeah I saw that. I could have sworn I read somewhere though that had they rated it at what it should have been rated it was like 510. Ill have to search for the article lol. I know I read that a L-88 Corvette was actually making like 560, I hope im not confusing them hahaha.

When I read your link I was depressed lol, thats extremely disappointing to see that, even at 20% driveline loss thats still only a 342HP engine lol.

Yeah, it's a little depressing but reality usually is.