Don't go by "Prototype" or "Pre-Production' performance figures!

The other day I read two road tests of a 2011 "392" SRT8 Hemi Challenger. The "Pre-production" example tested by Mopar Performance magazine ripped off a blistering 12.38 1/4 mile time. The "Regular"  392 Hemi Model tested by Motor Trend was more than a half-second slower at 13.0. A "Prototype" 2011 V6 Mustang tested by Car and Driver ripped off an incredible 13.7 second blast,-quicker than the previous years V8 GT model!  C/D tested a later production example and it ran a 14.5 second 1/4.  Not bad for a V6, but nearly a full second slower than the "prototype." This is nothing new. In 2005, Jim Wangers admitted what we already knew. The GTO that rocketed to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and through the quarter in 13.1 on 7.75-14 bias-ply redline tires that were ablaze for half the track, in C/D's May 1964 issue was a ringer. Royal Pontiac had pulled the 389 and replaced it with a blueprinted 421.  This happened many times in the intervening years. The manufacturers wanted to sell the cars, so they made sure the ones tested by the press were like the Army ad-"All that they could be." Others that weren't in the "Press Fleet" often tested substantially slower, for a variety of reasons. Here's some of the more entertaining stories. In 1969 Chrysler introduced the 440 Six-Pack. Their tests at the factory proving ground showed the car running the quarter in the high 12s and very low 13s, which they advertised in national magazines. The test mule was driven by Pro Stock drag racing champion Ronnie Sox ( of "Sox & Martin" fame.) It also had 4.30 gears and was shod with slicks. Think "Joe Average" with street rubber and 3.54 gears might go a tad slower? In 1973 Hot Rod tested a 1973 Pontiac Trans-Am that ripped off a sizzling 13.15 e.t.  It was an early prototype that had the Ram Air IV cam with 308/320 duration and .470 lift. They also recalibrated the governor on the Turbo 400 to bump shift points from 5,000 to 5,800 rpm, opened the "Shaker" hood scoop, bumped the timing, and swapped the stock tires for M&H slicks. No wonder production models that had the much milder RAIII cam with 301/313 duration and .414 lift, closed scoops, stock trannys and street radials ran about 14.05. In 1977 Car and Driver tested a "Prototype" 1978 Dodge "Li'l Red Express" pickup that ran a faster quarter mile time than both the L82, 4-speed, 3.70 geared Corvette, and the 400, 4-speed 3.42 geared WS6 Trans-Am tested the same month!! This little red truck had a 360 V8 with W2 heads, a Holley Street Dominator single-plane aluminum intake manifold, topped with a 600 Holley Douple-pumper carb, the camshaft out of the old high-performance 340, and catylyst free dual exhaust. No surprise that the production models that had stock 360s with iron intakes and Thermoquads, stock cams and heads, and catylitic converters ran like a second and a half slower!! In 1979 Every Z/28 tested by the buff magazines ran about 15.60.  Popular Hot Rodding tested a Z/28 Camaro that ripped off a blistering 14.11 e.t.  With a 170 hp L48 350?!! Turns out this Z/28 was sold by Mecham Chevrolet / Pontiac in Arizona-the home of the "Macho T/A". It was given the "Macho T/A" tune-up-Hooker Headers and real dual exhausts with two catylitic converters, a re-jetted carb and recurved distributor, and a "mild" Crane Cam of undisclosed specs. Yeah!!  So before you sprout road test results or challenge someone to a race, make sure of all the factors! Mastermind