[FWDLK] 56 Quarter Mile Times

Here are some observations on the published magazine articles regarding the D500 and 300b from 1956. Racer Brown tested the 300b and the D500 for Hot Rod in 56. Both cars were Powerflite cars. It is noted that the Dodge was faster 0 to 60 and by .2 at 8.8 sec, the Chrysler was faster to 80 by .5 at 15.1 sec. These are direct comparisons and from there only indirect comparisons can be made. For some reason he defers to a top 1/4 mph of 83.6 for the Dodge automatic with no actual ET mentioned using the cars best mph from track records (not any of his own test) and he obviously knew the et because he says that a recently delivered stick shift car was about 1 1/2 sec faster in the 1/4 while only reaching a top speed of 84.6 mph. On the 300b automatic he has his own test of the quarter with a 17 sec run at 84.1 mph. Rear Ratios were 3.73 for the Dodge 3.54 for the Chrysler. Both these cars were laden with a host of options. One more supporting time test for the D500 Dodge was a Powerlite car that while only able to run a 0-60 time of 9.6 turned a 17.2 1/4 mile with no MPH noted for Sports Car Illustrated. With no special tuning a stock single 4 automatic D500 was nearly a match for the 300b and if a stick shift car was 1 1/2 sec better that means 15.5 sec quarter range for a single 4 barrel car. Imagine a professionally prepared racer D500-1 or for that matter a 300b stick with all the advantages of reduced weight and optimal rear ratios and it would be easy to see these cars were far and away the best 1956 had to offer, and why it would be difficult to improve substantially on there performance for many years. Tim in Golden 56 D500-1