When it comes to legendary American performance cars, the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Corvette are perennial rivals. Though they cater to different crowds, they’ve crossed paths for decades — at stoplights, drag strips, and car meets.
The Corvette, introduced in 1953, was America’s first real sports car, blending speed and style with a European flair. The Mustang burst onto the scene in 1964 as an affordable, sporty coupe that kickstarted the muscle car movement, winning over drivers with bold looks and rumbling V8s. This rivalry plays out again in a retro drag race courtesy of TFLclassics on YouTube between a 1968 Mustang GT/CS and a 1968 Corvette Stingray.
The Mustang is powered by a 289 cubic inch V8, putting out about 195 horsepower, paired with a 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission. While it’s not the most aggressive Mustang ever made, it still carries classic Shelby-inspired styling touches — hood pins, side scoops, fog lights, and a racing stripe. In the other lane sits the 1968 C3 Corvette Stingray, equipped with a 327 cubic inch V8 (5.4 liters), rated at 300 horsepower, and backed by a 3-speed manual transmission.
The two muscle cars line up, and while the Mustang’s automatic gives it a better launch, the Corvette’s extra power and manual gearbox quickly close the gap. In the end, the Corvette crosses the line first, clocking a 17.22-second quarter mile, while the Mustang follows with a 19.04-second time.
