Original 1971 Dodge Demon hands a beating to a Buick Grand National with far more upgrades.
If we’re talking about modern legends, the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon has proven itself to be the quickest production car in the history of the global auto industry, comfortably running in the 9-second range in stock form. The success of the 840-horsepower Challenger has caused some people to forget that this is actually Dodge’s second Demon.
The original Dodge Demon was introduced back in 1971 and it was based on the A-Body Dart. This week’s Track Time Tuesday comes to us from the Road Test TV YouTube channel and it features one of those classic Demons tearing down the drag strip. As you can probably tell, this classic Dodge is heavily modified, allowing it to run in the 10-second range with the front wheels high in the air.
Legendary 1971 Demon
Back in 1971 when the first Dodge Demon was introduced, the most powerful engine offered was a 340-cubic inch small block V8, which delivered 275 horsepower. In stock form, those cars could run the quarter mile in the 13-second range, but the 340s were easily upgraded to make big power. A good set of cylinder heads, a big camshaft, headers, intake and a big carb will put one of these cars well into the 11-second range, if not quicker. Add a stroker kit and some forced induction or a little nitrous and the 10s are well within reach.
We don’t know what has been done to this 1971 Demon, but it looks stock, until the green lights drop. At that point, it becomes clear that whatever engine is under the hood is making well over 275 horsepower. It also has to have a built transmission, a stronger-than-stock differential and sticky rear tires. However, the body looks stock, shy of the aftermarket wheels.
As for the Buick, it looks to be stock, or very near stock. Based on its performance, we are guessing that it is stock.
Track Battle
After the 1971 Dodge Demon and the Buick Grand National pull into the staging beams at Palm Beach International Raceway, the lights come down and the green lights drop. The Demon comes roaring out of the hole, immediately lifting the front wheels way up off of the ground, carrying them almost all of the way to the 60-foot beam. When the wheels come down, the Mopar muscle car pulls hard, beating the Buick by many bus lengths.
On the big end, the Demon runs a 10.10 at 131.7 miles per hour to the Buick’s 14.88 at 91 miles per hour.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
