C3 vs 69 Camaro
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Depends where you're looking to use the performance. On a track a vette should generally nearly run circles around a first gen camaro. At the drag strip, camaros with their live axle should have quite a bit of an advantage.
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 13
From: Holly MI
I have a 69 Vette and 69 Camaro. Both are big blocks. When you look at where the engines are in relation to the front axle centerline, the Vette engine is set much further back. This means you should have a larger percentage of the vehicle weight on the rear. From my experience, my Vette gets more traction than the Camaro. However, the Vette is more prone to axle hop than the Camaro.
I think when you get into the 700+ HP level, it's really going to depend on how you setup each car. A stock Camaro suspension will not put down that much power, and neither will a stock Vette. If you're read Hot Rod over the past two years, you will see that a Vette with an IRS can be setup to run with just about any "street" car.
I think when you get into the 700+ HP level, it's really going to depend on how you setup each car. A stock Camaro suspension will not put down that much power, and neither will a stock Vette. If you're read Hot Rod over the past two years, you will see that a Vette with an IRS can be setup to run with just about any "street" car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 1
Depends on what you mean by performance. I see the vette as a sports car...
The vette has better weight distibution - almost 50/50
The vette has better rear suspension - IRS vs straight axle
The vette has better brakes - 4 wheel disc vs disc/drum
The vette has lower center of gravity
The vette is approx 3300 lbs. vs ???
all but the last are significant advantages if you are building a pro-touring car. Not sure if there are advantages for a drag racer.
The vette has better weight distibution - almost 50/50
The vette has better rear suspension - IRS vs straight axle
The vette has better brakes - 4 wheel disc vs disc/drum
The vette has lower center of gravity
The vette is approx 3300 lbs. vs ???
all but the last are significant advantages if you are building a pro-touring car. Not sure if there are advantages for a drag racer.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 1
From: AL
if i had 700+ rwhp, i would cut up my 1st gen camaro for drag racing.
if i had 700+ rwhp, i would cut up my C3 for autocrossing.
can't argue with success each type vehicle has had at respective style of racing; just would cost less to success.
not that it couldn't be done nicely either way, that's just probably what i'd do . . .
if i had 700+ rwhp, i would cut up my C3 for autocrossing.
can't argue with success each type vehicle has had at respective style of racing; just would cost less to success.
not that it couldn't be done nicely either way, that's just probably what i'd do . . .
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: North Florida Florida
The aftermarket is much more supportive of the Camaro. With 700hp you may be considering some aftermarket goodies at some point. The Camaro may have bolt-in parts available, where the vette may require custom work.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Suggest a stock 12bolt camaro axle will handle more tq/hp than a stock C3 irs ... stock vs stock.
Also, suggest $35K will buy a nicer 69 BB matching vette than it will a 69 BB matching camaro ... matching BB vs matching BB.
Also, suggest $35K will buy a nicer 69 BB matching vette than it will a 69 BB matching camaro ... matching BB vs matching BB.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Either way, it's going to be a BBC with an intercooled turbo so it's probably going to be well over 700 rwhp. It will be a street only car. I just want something real fast. Traction will be a major problem. Probably going to have to run drag radials. Brakes, tranny, and rear end will all be upgraded. Love the Vettes but under hood area is tight. Need to fit a 91mm turbo, 502 BBC and as big an intercooler as possible.
As far as buying one, I'd love to get either one with a blown motor cause it's not going to be used anyway.
As far as buying one, I'd love to get either one with a blown motor cause it's not going to be used anyway.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
I own three 69 Camaros and the 73 Vette and basically agree with the above.
For road or slalom racing the Vette is much more suited (it is a sports car after-all), but on a drag strip, the Camaro is the choice,..12-Bolt rear, solid axle, more room under a stock hood, more room for headers/exhaust, and make no mistake, my 69 Camaros are muuuuch lighter than my Stingray.
Vettes are full frame and Camaros are uni-body so Camaros need sub-frame connectors with HP over 400,..no big deal though.
Vettes weren't made for drag-racing,..I'm not sure how much HP the IRS and/or the 8.4" rear end would take at the drags with slicks,..maybe 400 at the flywheel? With slicks a first gen Camaro rear could easily take 5-550 with a 12-bolt and slapper bars,..or better yet, Cal-Tracs.
Brakes? Not used during a drag race, but the Vette wins the deceleration battle hands down.
For road or slalom racing the Vette is much more suited (it is a sports car after-all), but on a drag strip, the Camaro is the choice,..12-Bolt rear, solid axle, more room under a stock hood, more room for headers/exhaust, and make no mistake, my 69 Camaros are muuuuch lighter than my Stingray.
Vettes are full frame and Camaros are uni-body so Camaros need sub-frame connectors with HP over 400,..no big deal though.
Vettes weren't made for drag-racing,..I'm not sure how much HP the IRS and/or the 8.4" rear end would take at the drags with slicks,..maybe 400 at the flywheel? With slicks a first gen Camaro rear could easily take 5-550 with a 12-bolt and slapper bars,..or better yet, Cal-Tracs.
Brakes? Not used during a drag race, but the Vette wins the deceleration battle hands down.
Last edited by 73, Dark Blue 454; Aug 11, 2006 at 09:13 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by Silver02
Can a 9" be put on a Vette?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
Do the vette, EVERYONE does freakin Camaros. NO stock type setup is gonna hold 700rwhp anyway. You can build up an IRS and suspension to take the abuse, it may not plant it or weight transfer as well as a straight axle car but..they can take it. My buddy's 66 puts about 600-620 rwhp on spray and he 60's mid 1.6s with it on drag radials and a 5 spd.
Vettes are WAY cooler then camaros anyway. 502 turbo would be an awesome show stopper in a vette. Make sure you get a 68-72 vette to do it on though.
Vettes are WAY cooler then camaros anyway. 502 turbo would be an awesome show stopper in a vette. Make sure you get a 68-72 vette to do it on though.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
If you dont want to build one [Camaro} i`ll sell you a 68 SS that may be exactly your style as a street piece. 1/4 mile raced a couple of times just to see exactly how good the sucker could be without guessing and then kicked out for lack of a roll cage. It`s in "My Corvette Photos" on the left. 
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by 71roadster
Depends on what you mean by performance. I see the vette as a sports car...
The vette has better weight distibution - almost 50/50
The vette has better rear suspension - IRS vs straight axle
The vette has better brakes - 4 wheel disc vs disc/drum
The vette has lower center of gravity
The vette is approx 3300 lbs. vs ???
all but the last are significant advantages if you are building a pro-touring car. Not sure if there are advantages for a drag racer.
The vette has better weight distibution - almost 50/50
The vette has better rear suspension - IRS vs straight axle
The vette has better brakes - 4 wheel disc vs disc/drum
The vette has lower center of gravity
The vette is approx 3300 lbs. vs ???
all but the last are significant advantages if you are building a pro-touring car. Not sure if there are advantages for a drag racer.
The vette also has a full length frame vs sub frame.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by ajrothm
Do the vette, EVERYONE does freakin Camaros. NO stock type setup is gonna hold 700rwhp anyway. You can build up an IRS and suspension to take the abuse, it may not plant it or weight transfer as well as a straight axle car but..they can take it. My buddy's 66 puts about 600-620 rwhp on spray and he 60's mid 1.6s with it on drag radials and a 5 spd.
Vettes are WAY cooler then camaros anyway. 502 turbo would be an awesome show stopper in a vette. Make sure you get a 68-72 vette to do it on though.
Vettes are WAY cooler then camaros anyway. 502 turbo would be an awesome show stopper in a vette. Make sure you get a 68-72 vette to do it on though.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 719
Likes: 2
From: Lawson Missouri
Originally Posted by Silver02
Either way, it's going to be a BBC with an intercooled turbo so it's probably going to be well over 700 rwhp. It will be a street only car. I just want something real fast. Traction will be a major problem. Probably going to have to run drag radials. Brakes, tranny, and rear end will all be upgraded. Love the Vettes but under hood area is tight. Need to fit a 91mm turbo, 502 BBC and as big an intercooler as possible.
As far as buying one, I'd love to get either one with a blown motor cause it's not going to be used anyway.
As far as buying one, I'd love to get either one with a blown motor cause it's not going to be used anyway.
It sounds like it's gonna be mean!
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 445
Likes: 2
From: Austin Texas
I have a 69 Camaro (full DSE setup and 700 flywheel HP motor) and a 68 vette.
As mentioned above, the camaro is much better supported with a variety of high quality pieces (4 links, WHATEVER). If I was going to build just a fast street car, it would be the Camaro.
For what it's worth, the Camaro does get more looks, but not by much.
One other thing for your thoughts, but a twin turbo small block would be a bit more driveable (in terms of less TQ down low) and would require less in terms of traction support. It would still give you as much HP as you wanted and you could spin the motor for days.
Bryan
As mentioned above, the camaro is much better supported with a variety of high quality pieces (4 links, WHATEVER). If I was going to build just a fast street car, it would be the Camaro.
For what it's worth, the Camaro does get more looks, but not by much.
One other thing for your thoughts, but a twin turbo small block would be a bit more driveable (in terms of less TQ down low) and would require less in terms of traction support. It would still give you as much HP as you wanted and you could spin the motor for days.
Bryan
Last edited by 300ZXTwinTurbo; Aug 11, 2006 at 09:56 PM.