Just how quick were the 273 Commando's in the Quarter-Mile.

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69 Cuda 440

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How quick was the '273 Commando' / 'Charger 273' in the Quarter Mile ?

Be careful how you answer.

Back-in-the-Day >
My mother used to raced her 1967 Barracuda Fastback '273 Commando'
4-Speed in NHRA Stock Class.

NHRA Stock Class
1967 ...... F/S
1968 ...... J/S
1969 ...... K/S
 
Right out of the box high 15 to low 16 second quarters. Prepped for the track mid14's to low 15's. Add gears, larger carb., headers and slicks watch out.

Oldscoolcuda
 
69 Cuda 440 said:
How quick was the '273 Commando' / 'Charger 273' in the Quarter Mile ?

Be careful how you answer.

Back-in-the-Day >
My mother used to raced her 1967 Barracuda Fastback '273 Commando'
4-Speed in NHRA Stock Class.

NHRA Stock Class
1967 ...... F/S
1968 ...... J/S
1969 ...... K/S
Click to expand...

Since the Commando/Charger 273 wasn't available in '68 or '69, I wonder what class they raced in....
 
IfItsGotWheels said:
15.2 @ 92 mph?
Click to expand...

Way Off

The Barracuda {1965} weighed in at #2945 lbs.

#2945 lbs. ~ 235 HP - 12.53 Wt./HP

Now, the 1965 Barracuda '273 Commando' did come thru with a near
hollowed 'flow-thru' Muffler.

Also, the 1965 cars came through with Hurst 4-Speed Shifters.

So in fact, the 1965 Barracuda '273 Commando' was the quickest of
the Barracuda's.

1965 Barracuda '273 Commando'

Gears ............4-Speed ............. Automatic
3.23 ................. 16.05 .................. 16.30
3.55 ................. 15.85 .................. 16.10
3.91 ................. 15.60 .................. 15.85
______________________________________________________________

Regarding the NHRA Stock Classes

The 1965, 1966 and 1967 all fell into the same weight break.

NHRA Year ....... Stock Class
1965 ................. F/Stock
1966 ................. G/Stock
1967 ................. F/Stock
1968 ................. J/Stock
1969 ................. K/Stock
1970 ................. L/Stock
1971 ................. L/Stock
 
69 Cuda 440 said:
How quick was the '273 Commando' / 'Charger 273' in the Quarter Mile ?Be careful how you answer. ?
Click to expand...

No idea about the 'Dart' Charger 273, or the NHRA, or the bench racing ,or an careful answer...

I will add My First Barracuda to the mix, '65 'S' car ,904, 7 1/4 (lol) 'Sure Grip', Crossover
Single exhaust, 2 resonators,1 factory 'muffler', 'rectangular chrome exit on ? resonator ?
#2
Carter re -branded 'mopar' Carb... (from OOOOLLLLDDD flow tests, about 490 CFM)

Sierra College Blvd--- way back-- waaaay waaaay waaaay back,

Depending on a winter or summer race, (literally hundreds of races)..

'Tinfish 1' never broke the 14 second mark.... EVER .

Of course this was just a group (of 40 + racers) not affiliated with the NHRA...
'Times' were dependent on an Human pushing the knurled button on an mechanical
'chronology' device
 
Get Your Shipping Weights with the 273 4-Barrel

Plymouth ....................... 1965 .............. 1966 ........... 1967 ...
Valiant V-100 2-Door ....... #2707 lbs. ...... #2808 lbs. ...... #2822 lbs.
Valiant V-100 4-Door ....... #2761 lbs.

Valiant V-200 2-Door ........ #2714 lbs. ............................ #2827 lbs.
Valiant V-200 4-Door ........ #2825 lbs.

Valiant Signet 2-Door ........ #2811 lbs. ..... #2831 lbs.
Valiant Signet 'Convertible'. #2895 lbs. ...... #2947 lbs.

Barracuda ........................ #2945 lbs. ..... #3002 lbs. ..... #2952 lbs.
Barracuda 'Notchback' ................................................... #2867 lbs.
Barracda 'Convertible' .................................................... #2973 lbs.

Dodge ............................. 1965 ................. 1966 .......... 1967 ....
Dart GT 2-Door ................ #2895 lbs. ....... #2945 lbs. ..... #2956 lbs.
Dart GT 'Convertible' ........ #2975 lbs. ....... #3055 lbs. ...... #3076 lbs.
 
That is slow!
Click to expand...

By todays standards yes. Was not slow for the time though. Modern tire technology alone makes a huge difference. I have two personal commando strip experiences.

#1 My pops 66 commando barracuda-4spd,3.23 rear, power steering. Ran in mid 70's at 75/80 raceway in Md.

Mid 16's completely stock, low 16's without power steering belt, high 15's with electronic ignition and holly carb, low 15's with 3.91 rear then finally mid 14's with addition of headers. These poor little guys just cant breath with stock exhaust manifolds)

#2 My 65 valiant signet commando-904 with modded valve body ,3.23 rear, electronic ignition, eddy 500 cfm carb, modern 60 series rubber on rear. Ran in 2010 at Va. motorsports Park mopar madness event

15.7 @ 96 mph (Was very conservative at start as mph indicates)

Oldschoolcuda
 
For those arguing that 273 4bbl Commandos were faster than 318s, stock for stock, that is to say,as delivered to the dealers; I once bought a 71 Demon 318-2bbl-904-7.25 pegleg,single exhaust,etc.,that went hi 15s, totally stock.It trapped in 2nd gear,lol. I was 2nd owner to my brother-in-law.That Demon was quite a bit heavier than the earlier generation Darts and Barracudas.
I still have that powertrain. Sweetest shifting stock 904 I ever came across. I cloned 2 more 904s off it. Sold one, put one in my S for winter, and the original is on the shelf.
Just saying.
 
1967 Barracuda 'Fastback' 273 Commando w/3.23 Gears 'Sure-Grip'

My mother started running her's back in 1967.

It was equipped with 'Performance Group'. It had the 'horrible' Inland Shifter
with the center 'Console'.

Bone Stock with no special anything, she was hitting 16.30's. @ 83.0 MPH

After a few minor adjustments, she was down to a best of 16.16 in 1967

She 'earned' several Class Trophy's in F/PS "Pure Stock', and
easily put away the Mustang's with the 289/225 HP.

The toughest competition was from other Mopar 273 4-Barrels.
 
AJ/FormS said:
For those arguing that 273 4bbl Commandos were faster than 318s, stock for stock, that is to say,as delivered to the dealers; I once bought a 71 Demon 318-2bbl-904-7.25 pegleg,single exhaust,etc.,that went hi 15s, totally stock.It trapped in 2nd gear,lol. I was 2nd owner to my brother-in-law.That Demon was quite a bit heavier than the earlier generation Darts and Barracudas.
I still have that powertrain. Sweetest shifting stock 904 I ever came across. I cloned 2 more 904s off it. Sold one, put one in my S for winter, and the original is on the shelf.
Just saying.
Click to expand...
My '65 B-body went high 15's with a bone stock 318 (1985 LA) 2bbl/manifolds, 904, 2.94's. I know I've had faster 318 2bbl's, but never took them to the track.
 
My 66 Barracuda with a stock Commando 273/904, 7 1/4 w/3.23's (no sure-grip) and 84,000 miles ran a best of 16.01. That was in 1986.
 
1965 Barracuda '273 Commando' ~ 4-Speed ~ 3.55 Gears 'Sure-Grip'

Roger Huntington, Test Driver for Motor Trend Magazine.

Best Performance ......... 16.03 @ 85.1 MPH
 
1965 NHRA Stock Classes

Weight Breaks ~ {Weight-to-Horsepower}
A/S ......... 8.70 to 9.49
B/S ......... 9.50 to 10.59
C/S ........ 10.60 to 11.29
D/S ........ 11.30 to 11.88
E/S ........ 11.89 to 12.49
F/S ........ 12.50 to 13.99

1965 Model ............... Weight .. Horsepower ... Wt/HP ... Class

Valiant V-100 2-Door ..... #2707 lbs. ~ 235 HP = 11.51 ......... D/S
Valiant V-200 4-Door ..... #2825 lbs. ~ 235 HP = 12.02 ......... E/S
Valiant 'Signet' .............. #2811 lbs. ~ 235 HP = 11.96 ......... E/S
Barracuda .................... #2945 lbs. ~ 235 HP = 12.53 .......... F/S

Dart GT ....................... #2895 lbs. ~ 235 HP = 12.32 .......... E/S
Dart GT 'Convertible'...... #2975 lbs. ~ 235 HP = 12.66 .......... F/S
 
69 Cuda 440 said:
1965 Barracuda '273 Commando' ~ 4-Speed ~ 3.55 Gears 'Sure-Grip'

Roger Huntington, Test Driver for Motor Trend Magazine.

Best Performance ......... 16.03 @ 85.1 MPH
Click to expand...
With a 4-speed and 3.55's, that seems really slow.... I would have guessed low 15's in an early A
 
1965 'Sleeper Grocery-Getter'

Valiant V-100 ~ '273 Commando'

Remember, {-238 lbs.} lighter than the Barracuda. Nearly 3/10's quicker down
the Quarter-Mile.
 
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