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Car & Driver magazine posted a 14.9 ¼-mile and 148 mph top speed in a '91 test of a 9KT 5-door, 5-speed. Later, they tested a '93 Aero 5-speed and managed a 14.8 ¼-mile and 149 top end.
Keep in mind that Aeros have much taller gearing, but sport a larger Mitsubishi turbo. The '91 was known for its quick spool-up, which gave it a spunkier, peppier feel. I know, because I had my '95 and its '91 predecessor together for about a month and it was interesting comparing the two. Which was faster? Hard to say, but I'd give the edge to the Aero overall. Once that big turbo is spooled up, it is a flier. But a quick crack-off from 30-60, the '91 would probably have the edge, but not for long. And my Aero beats the '91 in gas mileage by 15%.
I have a '66 Corvette 427 (hydraulic-lifter 390 hp) 4-speed sitting in my garage next to the Aero, and it has always been a desire of mine to put the two out on the road for a comparison. I won't go top-end with them as I don't trust the Corvette's reproduction B.F. Goodrich 7.75-15 tires, but some rolling drag-races would be interesting, I'm sure. Honestly, I think the Corvette might take the Aero in a drag race with its massive 7L engine that pumps out 460 ft/lb of torque, but couldn't begin to keep up with it on top end (149 vs. maybe 130 with the Corvette's short 3:36 gearing). But if it could rev past 6k, it might have the power to pull it past the Aero, even with an inferior .49 coefficient of drag.
A 435 hp. solid-lifter version would be a different story, but it would be difficult for even it to out-run an Aero. An old Motor Trend test that I have here showed that it could do a 13.5-sec. ¼-mile and 135 mph top speed with 4:11 gears, and a tri-powered '67 435hp 'Vette did 145 mph with 3:55 gears. With taller gears, I'm sure it would top an Aero's top end and at least keep up in acceleration. Keep in mind that we're comparing a 3200-lb. car with a 7L engine that might squeeze 12 miles to a gallon of gas on an average day, with a 3200-lb. car with a 2.3L engine that'll do 23 mpg on a bad day. Times change.
Your old Hemi is another story, however. Road tests of the time showed that the Hemi housed in a Cononet-sized body could do 14-sec. ¼-mile times or better and hit 145-155 mph on top end. They were the real powerhouses of the era, along with L-88 Corvettes. I never saw a test on an L-88, the 550-hp racing option available in Corvettes from '67-'69. The only way you could order this engine was with heater-delete and radio-delete options, which kept the riff-raff and boy-racers away.
posted by 24.39....
, Sun, 2 Sep 2001 23:51:40
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