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Old 06-22-2012, 03:05 PM   #14
ChrisBlair
Buick 455 Fan
 
Drives: 1970 Buick, 2012 1SS LS3
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Boston MA
Posts: 5,957
Hi guys

Don't forget when you're talking HP numbers from 2012 to HP numbers from 1969:

Up to the early '70s, the cars were rated at gross horsepower

Then they went to what they termed net horsepower

Today we rate in brake horsepower

Comparing 1969 hp numbers to today's hp numbers must take this into account. Either find out how much brake HP the '69 made, or how much gross HP to 2012 makes, and then you can compare apples to apples

UPDATE:

OK, I dug out my August 1994 issue of Classic Auto Restorer magazine, featuring the 1969 ZL-1 Camaro

430 brake HP. They listed it it as:

0-30 1.9 sec
0-60 5.0 sec
0-100 11.3 sec
Top speed 126 mph (7K rpm)
1/4 mile 13.16 sec @ 110 mph

That's with nylon-cord Wide Track GT Goodyears. But the tires aren't all that horrible. Guys running FAST (Factory appearing, Stock Tire) were running low elevens almost a decade ago

But bear in mind too that ZL-1 drag cars were running 10.05 @ 139 mph, in 1969

Also don't forget that the cars weren't as seriously under rated as the legends would have it. Car makers always had a range of HP depending on each individual engine. Be sure they picked the best number shown 'on the graphs' when they wanted to show off HP numbers
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