1963 Corvette weighed 3150, the fuel inj engine rated at 360 hp. The Dodge Dart for 63 weighed
2640 with the small engine, and I am sure more like 2900-3000 with the bigger 413. The Ram Induction
413 was rated in 1963 at 410 hp with the 11:1 compression. Perhaps 50 hp more and 150 -250 lbs
less, does seem to favor the Dart, unless it was a heavier body. Some question whether the song
says "Super stock Dodge..." or "Super stock Dart winding out in low.."
Road and Track, in 1963 reported 14.9 1/4 mile times with the Vette, and one online report said the
413 Darts for 1962 were "turning mid 14s in the quarter mile". So say . 14.5 or 14.6 maybe. Pretty
close numbers.
So, depending on how the car hooked up (in the song, the Vette had slicks, maybe a decisive
adavantage) and driver skill, it could probably go either way, but the 413 probably had a small
advantage. Perhaps the IRS on the Vette put the power down better. I drove E-jags in that era and
with that great IRS and limited slip, even with lots of torque, light car and skinny tires it was very difficult
to spin the tires, it just hooked up magnificently, a squeak and GO! Never drove a Vette of that era, no idea
if their IRS was anywhere near as good in laying down traction as the E Jag. I know that solid axles with leaf
springs generally were NOT good at that without traction bars and other help.
Bill