Age old Battle between Ford – Chevy still Rages on…
A few weeks ago, I was at a car show and a couple of young guys were in a heated discussion over whose car was better, Ford Mustang or Chevy Camaro?
Well, this battle has been going on for decades. Back in the early 50s Ford Flat heads were on top, because a lot of race cars were built with the flat heads. There were a lot of parts to be had by someone who wanted to build a cheap fast car. Later some bigger engines were put in cars such as Cady, Buick, Chrysler, Olds, Pontiac, etc.
Not until 1955, when Zora Arkus-Duntov (see link for more history (http://www.hotrod.com/features) designed and built the Chevy 265 cu. In. small block did everything change. It is the motor that put Chevy where it is TODAY. Ford at that time did not have a motor to compete with the 265. Later Ford built the big block 406 and Chevy built the 409.
That’s when the battle started. Multiple carbs, aluminum front ends… Factory cars went at it tooth and nail. Then Chrysler jumped in and it was a 3 way battle. And every weekend at the local drag strips they put them to the test.
Then the real race started, 427 Fords and Chevys and 426 Chryslers, then Hemis with Ford and Chrysler, then altered wheel base, full body cars, and then Mustangs with 427, 428 and 429. Chevy to put 427 and 454 in Camaro and Chrysler counted in Cudas with 426 Hemi and 440 cu. In. motors.
It was a Battle Royal at every drag strip and on most local roads across the country. The Trans Am circuit was even more competitive with Ford and Chevy, Chrysler and AMC in the mix. I campaigned in Trans Am a 1967 Camaro in 1969 & 1970. We had the fastest unsponsored car in the field.
Then the government came in and destroyed the greatest car competition in history.
The NASCA guys still kept the Battle going. The Chevys, Fords, Chryslers and even Toyota have carried that Spirit of competition to a new level. That age old Battle between Ford and Chevy still Rages on…
But it will never replace the Battles that occurred in the 1960s and 1970s. I wish those two guys could only go back in time and see how it was back then.
Keep Them Rolling!
Bill