Tesla Model S Plaid Beaten in Race by Modified 69 Camaro

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In a match race of the century, we have a recent video of a drag race between a Tesla Model S Plaid and a Chevy 69 Camaro. Clearly the Chevy 69 Camaro has had some modifications done, including using Nitrous, but even so, this is the first time I've seen the Tesla Model S Plaid lose in any kind of race. Let's check in on the action.

Skip to 6 minutes in the video to see the race. In this race, we have a Tesla Model S Plaid racing against a 69 Chevy Camaro with big modifications and nitrous. Here were the final times of the race which was done for 1/8 of a mile:

Tesla Model S Plaid: 6.191 seconds at 115.56 miles per hour
69 Chevy Camaro (Heavily modified): 6.153 seconds at 115.6 miles per hour

Some things to note:

The Tesla Model S Plaid is a 4 door sedan, made for multiple passengers and even family driving with kids in the back seat. The 69 Chevy Camaro is a 2 door vehicle and was beefed up in order to be able to win this race. Still, it's the first time I've seen a car even come close to the Model S Plaid and even beat it in a race.

The creator of the race thinks that the 69 Chevy Camaro had around 1900 horsepower compared to 1020 for the Tesla Model S Plaid. The 69 Chevy Camaro won the race by just .038 seconds. This goes to show that the Model S Plaid is a marvel of engineering and raced "as is".

What do you think of this race? Was the 69 Chevy Camaro modified with more than just nitrous? Are there any other cars that could compete with the Tesla Model S Plaid?

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Jeremy Johnson is a Tesla investor and supporter. He first invested in Tesla in 2017 after years of following Elon Musk and admiring his work ethic and intelligence. Since then, he's become a Tesla bull, covering anything about Tesla he can find, while also dabbling in other electric vehicle companies. Jeremy covers Tesla developments at Torque News. You can follow him on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram to stay in touch and follow his Tesla news coverage on Torque News.

Submitted by DeanMcManis (not verified) on July 26, 2021 - 5:10AM

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When it comes to racing, there is ALWAYS someone quicker and faster. But historically, ICE (internal combustion engine) performance cars always exact a price for maximum performance. Gas powered cars historically gave you the option of being economical (cheap to buy and operate) and reliable, but with a cost of being slow/rough/loud. Or being smooth and quiet, or being fast and loud, and maybe unreliable. You could pay much more for a high performance car that was also reasonably quiet and luxurious, but it probably was very expensive to buy, run, and repair. EVs changed that paradigm forever. An EV like the Tesla Model S Plaid is quicker through the 1/4 mile than a $3 million dollar Bugatti Chiron, but it seats 5 in near silent comfort, and can run low 9 second 1/4 mile races back to back, over and over without costly repairs, and under normal operation it is as cheap to drive and run as a Honda Civic. For this race the factory stock, street and smog legal Tesla Plaid ran a nearly identical time as a highly modified drag race car with nitrous and racing slicks that was probably taken to the drag strip on a trailer. Plus other Plaid models have since run 6 sec flat at @120 MPH in the 1/8 mile. Still, there are a small handful of highly modified drag race cars that are quicker, but that is clearly missing the real point here. The Tesla is a super high performance car, that you can drive anywhere, inexpensively, comfortably, quietly, every day, for many years, and recharge at home overnight as you sleep. It doesn't cost millions to buy, or thousands to maintain, and operate. Tesla allows you to have your cake and eat it too. Which is important because what is the real point of having your cake if you can't eat it?

Submitted by Caleb (not verified) on August 10, 2021 - 6:31PM

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To start you act like the Camaro is cheating. Let’s not forget its 52 years old!!! Also I doubt he spent 150-160k on it either. Don’t get me wrong both cars are brilliant and beautiful, but you can’t beat good ole American muscle cars. Never underestimate a gas motor and a gear head. Why you ask, because you can modify it. Can’t do that with the precious Tesla’s!

Btw… yes I’m one of those gear heads with a modded muscle car. I will admit mine isn’t as fast as either one of those but… I’m working on it because i can!

Submitted by Jeff wich (not verified) on November 6, 2021 - 8:43AM

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I am the owner of that 69 Camaro. To set the record straight, it has a pump gas big block Chevy motor with a 200 shot of nitrous. The combo Makes 625 HP +200 shot of nitrous. Can post the dyno sheet to prove it. I drove it to the track and drove it home.

Submitted by Jeff Wich (not verified) on November 6, 2021 - 8:57AM

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Jeff,the Owner of the Camaro in question. I would also like to add That my Camaro has more “cool“ in it’s left front Lugnuts then all the Tesla‘s Plugged into the chargers In the parking lot behind the Walmart!