In the 60s and 70s, the Drag racing culture was huge. People lined up to witness races between two cars. It was all about acceleration and dominance in the straight-line. Right from Ford to Dodge, many cars were part of Drag Racing in the past. Let us see some of the underrated Drag Racing cars.
Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt
The Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt was exclusively designed for drag racing in 1964. It was part of the NHRA events. Not more than 100 units of this model were produced. It was packed with a 427 cu in V8 engine with 4-barrel carburetors. The torque and horsepower were massive. It came with a 4-speed automatic gearbox with an overall top speed of 150mph. The entire technology was based on NASCAR vehicles. When it was launched, the vehicle was sold for $3,000 USD. It is not known whether the original Ford Thunderbolt is available in collector markets.
Chevrolet Biscayne Z11
A factory-built vehicle from Chevrolet which dominated drag racing. This model came with big-block V8 engines with heavy-duty suspension, carburetors, racing clutch, and solid-lift cam. The Chevrolet Biscayne Z11 dominated the NHRA races in the early 60s. It delivered raw performances with its massive technologies. Made of lightweight parts, the Biscayne Z11 was ideal for racing. Dodge Dart L023 made a record sale through the collector market when it was purchased for $1 million USD.
Dodge Dart L023
The Dodge Dart L023 was an extension of the regular Dodge Dart. This was a stunner with Chrysler’s V8 hemi engines. Dodge Dart L023 was launched only for a single year in 1968 with 80 units. The vehicle offered 130mph speed with great endurance. The technology like heavy-duty rear axle, manual brakes, transmissions, and camshaft were enough for the vehicle to dominate races. It was sold for around $4,500 USD during its launch time. Dodge Dart L023 made a record sale through the collector market when it was purchased for $1 million USD.
Studebaker Avanti R3
The Studebaker Avanti R3 was made on R3 code engines in 1963. It was in production till 1964. Avanti R3 was made on V8 engines which were customized later for racing purposes. The engines featured a paxton centrifugal supercharger, 4-barrel carburetors, forged pistons, and valves. The recorded speed in tracks was 170mph. Legendary designer Raymond Loewy was the one who built this. It had luxury features like Bucket Seats, Full gauge cluster, and Dashboard.
Dodge HEMI Dart
The Dodge Hemi Dart was another exclusive package launched in 1968 for racing. This was launched for NHRA super stock drag racing. Known for the Chrysler Hemi V8 engine, it delivered around 130mph. It was made around fiberglass components and thin steel parts. The vehicle had technology like heavy-duty clutch, cooling systems, and Dana 60 heavy-duty rear axle. Made on Dodge Dart A-Body platforms, the vehicle had great styling with designs like hood pins, badging, wide stance, bucket seats, and door panels.