Three legendary US nameplates are going at it over the quarter-mile as if there's no tomorrow. Ironically, they're not drag racing on American soil but in the United Kingdom. Two of them are original, while one, in particular, is a modern masterpiece still looking as classy as the day it greeted the world decades ago. Can you guess who's who?
If your answer was "the Shelby Cobra CSX 10000," you'd be absolutely right, because we're talking about a replica, not an original. While that will certainly devalue it in the eyes of enthusiasts, it still has real Ford blood coursing in its veins.
It's powered by none other than the famous 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engine from modern-day Mustangs. The powerplant can generate 454 hp (460 PS) and 420 lb-ft or 569 Nm of twist at the rear wheels. The kicker is that it only weighs 2,204 lbs. or 1,000 kilograms, fuel and all.
As I said earlier, this might be a replica, but it's no cheap knockoff. Rated at $246,051 or 195,000 pounds sterling, it's 5.4 times more expensive than a 2025 Ford Mustang GT, which is 45,560 US dollars.
Not to mention that the Dark Horse Premium trim is $68,375 or 3.6 times cheaper than the Shelby replica and comes with a roof over your head. The Dark Horse boasts the 4th-gen Coyote V8 engine and delivers 500 horsepower and 418 lb-ft (567 Nm) of torque.
Next, we have a 2019 Ford Mustang GT (S550) with a 5.0-liter Coyote V8 that can output 454 hp (460 PS) and 383 lb-ft or 520 Nm of torque. This model-year Mustang GT was more powerful in the US, rated at 460 hp or 466 PS and 420 lb-ft or 569 Nm of torque.
It was also much cheaper in North America, with a starting MSRP of $36,450, whereas, according to Mat Watson, who hosted the video, a new 2019 GT model in the UK would have cost $69,399 or £55,000.
Last but certainly not least, the Dodge Viper GTS is an American icon. It has an 8.0-liter V10 powerplant with 450 hp (456 PS) and 490 lb-ft (664 Nm) on tap. This RWD beast is also light, weighing 3,516 pounds or nearly 1,600 kilograms.
There were three races in total, and as you might have guessed by now, the Shelby replica won in 12.5 seconds due to its power output and weight. The Dodge Viper came in second place with 12.7 ticks on the clock, while the Mustang GT did it in 13.6 seconds.
Soon after, a half-mile roll race followed, during which the Viper's V10 kicked in and took it all the way to Victory Town, USA. Next came the Shelby, followed by the Mustang. During the braking test from 100 mph or 161 kilometers per hour, the 2019 Mustang GT was the first to a complete stop, followed by the Cobra CSX 10000 and the Viper.
Codrin just loves American classics, from the 1940s and ‘50s, all the way to the muscle cars of the '60s and '70s. In his perfect world, we'll still see Hudsons and Road Runners roaming the streets for years to come (even in EV form, if that's what it takes to keep the aesthetic alive). Full profile
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