A new Mustang GT and $10 k spent on it would be faster with 90 fewer cubes and you would still have $20-25 K left over.
If that was'nt enough, they ran the Hellcat with drag radials while the Hemi ran with the old style bias ply tires.
The competitive car from Ford would be the Shelby Mustang GT500 which in 2014 costs $55,110 + $3,495 for the SVT Package (Torsen differential , 19" front wheels w/265/40-19 and 20" rear wheels with 285/30-20). Total = $59,430 with destination. It will run 12.1 @120 MPH. The 2015 Hellcat costs $59,995 and will run 11.2 @125....sounds like a bargain given that the Mustang needs to make up 0.9 tenths and 5 MPH.
Drag radials mean a lot on the challenger .The 12.1 is the slowest time I heard for a Shelby. Put drag radials on the Shelby or regular tires on the challenger and see what the numbers are when they both where the same shoes. I could put $10 K in a new GT and give them both fits with a 5 liter engine at the track .
You are mistaken on the quarter mile times for the 13 and 14 GT 500s. The best 100% stock time is 11.25 at almost 128 mph. The pre 2013 GT 500s had maybe 400-450 rwhp with the old 5.4 Condor engine and the smaller Eaton blower. Also the package you added in there is an option. It has nothing to do with power to the rear wheels. The 13 and 14 GT 500 and the Hellcat have the same power to weight ratios. The newer Shelby has about 600 rwhp and it weighs about 600 pounds less than the Hellcat. These 13 and 14 cars have the 5.8 Trinity with the 2.3L TVS blower. Click here for a list of the GT 500 times stock and modified: http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/showthread.php?871937-2013-Shelby-GT500-Drag-Times-Thread In addition the GT 500s come from the factory with Goodyear F1 tires which are like driving with frozen hockey pucks in lieu of rear tires. The Hellcat comes with Pirelli Zeros which is a lot better tire for rear wheel traction. They have what they have but the GT 500 on a drag radial will be right there with the Hellcat. The advantage of the Hellcat will be the 8 speed auto trans with the paddle shifter. The GT 500 only comes with a 6 speed manual with a foot operated clutch. Only a good stick man will be able to keep up run after run.
Once you modify a new musclecar,you have no resale value. Not that there is a good return on a new musclecar anyways,but if you want to lose some serious money,mod away! Now that I am older,the difference in how the Mustang and Challenger ride,is day and night. If I had the money,and they would sell a hellcat for window of 59500,it would be a no brainer. The Challenger has to me always been the best looking,know it is performing too!
Rolwings did this race at the Mile High Nationals and he ran a 12.1. The 71 looked like it was dragging an anchor, I doubt he ran a 10.80 in real life outside of a Dodge commecial
As far as value goes, run both cars through Barret and see which one sells for the most. Second, it took them 44 years to top the Hemi in that 71................wow.
The Hellcat is an impressive machine. I just wish more of it were built here. It matters to me where stuff is designed, engineered and built along with where the profits go. Thankfully there is quite a bit of US engineering and development that has gone into the Challenger and the other LX platform cars, albeit based off of much M-B E-class architecture. There is no mistaking that it is definintely American in character! The ZF-designed 8-speed automatic is amazing - do a search to see. The units used by Chrysler group are built here and do have Mopar-specific changes done to it. I'm more of a CTS-V Coupe guy, although even I'm not crazy about how that looks. I like it for the fact it is understated but still luxurious, a coupe and available with 556 hp. (There also have not been any ignition switch issues with it, from what I know.) A CTS-V is sort of a modern version of my 69 GP. The Challenger is BOLD (probably too much so for me) but does back it up - AND HOW!
Motor Trend tests the Hellcat: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...#ixzz38n1wS4iO I think the Hellcat assembly line is located in our brother country, Canada.
A new 5.7 RT Challenger will run with or better the stock times for a 70-71 426 Hemi Challenger. A new 6.4 (392 ) SRT Challenger will run down in the 12s. Tire size and type sets the limit for the Hellcat 6.2 just like it does for the 2013 -14 GT 500 5.8 Trinity cars. With the right tires and conditions both will run around 11 flat. My hat is off to Dodge for really getting back into the muscle car market.
