1320 Scat Pack Challenger Mercilessly Tramples Mustang GT
Two of the world’s most iconic muscle cars, a Challenger and a Mustang, take their age-old dispute to the drag strip.
The Mustang has been an American icon since it was announced to Americans back in 1965. They were light weight, they were fast, and most importantly — affordable. Teens and young adults pined after them like bears to honey. Then the Dodge Challenger was announced four years later, ready to scoop up any skeptical Mustang buyers. The Challengers were also light, also fast, and also affordable — but there was a major difference in style that earned the Challenger more points to muscle car fans. Even though the intent behind the first generation was to compete with Mercury Cougar and Pontiac Firebird, Ford’s fear of the challenge was mere happenstance. Mustang was the jock everyone loved, and then it was the Challenger who became the new kid that unknowingly challenged the Mustang’s masculinity.
That notion holds up to this very day, and is shown explicitly through Wheels ‘ YouTube video of the two generational rivals at a drag strip. The cars poised for battle are as such: a 2019 Ford Mustang GT, and a 2019 Dodge Challenger 1320 Scat Pack. The engine in the GT is Ford’s 5.0 liter Coyote V8 that makes 460 hp and 420 ft lbs of torque. For a car that weighs just over 3,700 lbs, those aren’t bad numbers. They’re definitely track worthy.
The Challenger, however, is a force to be reckoned with. The 1320 Scat Pack could be considered as Dodge’s apology for discontinuing the Demon, their drag-ready 840 hp beast of a production car. It’s no wonder the Scat Pack is another drag-ready Demon shadow—the number “1320” is a huge hint. For those who don’t regular the drag strip, it’s the number of feet in a quarter mile. This version of a Challenger does come with some Demon characteristics, like street legal drag tires and the destiny to be raced. Power wise, the V8 in the Challenger makes a gentlemanly 485 hp, with 475 ft lbs of torque. If you go back and compare the numbers at face value, the Mustang’s odds aren’t looking good.
The cars are lined up, and tensions are high. The Challenger warms up the tires and churns up some smoke, while the Mustang crawls up to the line. Something that might end up costing him his victory. As the light turns green for their first of three races against one another, the two take off seemingly head to head. It looks to be a close race until the Dodge pulls forward and scores the first victory. It ran an 11.98 at 113 mph, while the Mustang earned a 12.27 at 112 mph.
For the second race, the Mustang’s driver was a tad slow to react, so the Dodge pulled forward and left the Mustang a good distance behind. The Challenger was a little slower the second around, with a time of 12.16 at 112 mph. The Mustang was slower but faster, with a time of 12.32 at 115 mph.
For the final race, with Dodge carrying two wins already, the Mustang hangs back to burn a little rubber before lining up against the Challenger. At the light, the Challenger lunges forward with an amazing launch, and leaves the Mustang behind. The time for the Challenger’s final run was a quick 11.97 at 113 mph, while the Mustang sulked with a time of 14.50 at 96 mph—the slowest of all three runs. It could have been the driver’s fault, the choice in tires, or the choice in car. All we know, is that the video doesn’t look good on the Mustang’s track record.
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