Thanks! I actually have a newer Corvette with a blower on it (550hp at the rear wheels), so I know the safety requirements for regular cars. I wasn't sure how NHRA classified the replicas.

I don't want to buy a car with a std single hoop behind the drive and then realize I can't even run in the 12s because NHRA wants a full cage around me :)

I'm in the market for a car now. Not looking for a race car, just something I can cruise around town in and take to the track when I get the urge :D

Thanks again for the info. Anyone else?

You know it's interesting to note that the original Cobra with a 427 had around, what, 425 horse? It ran a 12.2 1/4

That time is fairly common among Cobra replica's today, which often have MORE than 425, in many cases, MUCH more. Yet even thses high powered cars have a diffcult time, by and large, getting into the 11's.

WHY is that? Traction may be one issue. Wieght? Quite possibly, the orginals in MOST cases wieghed less than they typical replica today. At the drag strip, wieght is HUGE factor.

Based on my experience, 100lbs = .10 in the 1/4 for cars weighing around 3000lbs. It's obviously oversimplifying the gains/losses, as it doesn't take into account unsprung weight accounting for more savings.

What's a typical replica weigh? I thought it would be around 2700lbs curb weight.

I think 2700 (or more) would be in the ball park. Some MAKES like FFR are almost always lighter, but equally most of those are small blocks (often near stock).

Original 427's? Hmmmm,,,,, 2200-2300?

Could be more than the just the weight here, you don't suppose someone "fudged" the 1/4 mile numbers back in the day? Perhaps it was close to 12.5 or higher? Pretty common to fudge either the car or the numbers "back in the day".

The cobra in that article most likely had a 428 in it not a 427,and about 355 hp.

This is neat thread and something I have wondered about too.My friend has a 64 vette with I SWEAR !! a napa 400 short block,some kind of cam he picked out at advance auto,hasnt changed the oil in 2 years or ever ran an air cleaner.The motor looks like it is in a dump truck since its never been cleaned and still has the oem points dist.NO race equipment what so ever,no traction assist or line lock,factory 4 spd with a comp plus shifter with 355 gears.I told him he was nuts when he said it ran 11.60's 2 years ago and said i would have to see it,then he ask me to drive it.The thing launches like a rocket even with street tires,I finally got to see him run it with 8x25 {I think} mickey thompsons,11.80 the first pass and 11.74 the next ! Im not making this up.Guys at the track couldnt believe it ,I popped the hood for fun to watch the faces when everyone came to look at this hot engine,it was a hoot.
Then I am thinking,,my bad ass car 500+ will run 11 to 12's ?sometimes it is hard to see .
It goes without saying traction and weight transfer play a big part ,as well as the skills of the driver.I think the biggest factor is this :He drives the HELL out of his vette,I mean more brutal than most of us could imagine if we were mad and tried,you cant be afraid of breaking stuff and still go really fast I think thats why we'll all be a second off the potential.
do i tend to embellish or is it just my imagination ?
Tim

You can have 500 hp or 800hp BUT ya have to get it to the ground !! If not I am flying by you with a little ol V6 Turbo Buick :D