What is the top speed for a 1969 GTO?

Answer 1

Depends alot on the factory gearing. The standard 3.55:1 gears and factory F70/14 tires would be at the red line around 110mph, the 3.90:1 around 100, the steep 4.33:1 gears around 90. The "economy" rear end ratios (2.56,2.93, 3.23) that were available with the step down 2bbl option will give you a higher top speeds, but do not accelerate as fast and were not offered by the factory on the high performance engines. Any good running Ram Air III or IV could exceed the factory 5100rpm red line by at least 1000 rpm (the Ram Air IV would easily pull to 6500) and thus have an actual higher top speed of 20-30%, but repeatedly doing so would eventually result in a loud boom and holes in your oil pan. Wish the factory had sprung for a decent forged steel rod for these engines, instead of cast iron.

Newer high performance cars have a higher top speed due to lower numerical rear end gearing, overdrives, and aerodynamics. Many will tell you how their all stock 1960's era muscle car (of any brand) would go 150+mph, but the math (and road tests of them when they were new cars) says otherwise. Most high performance cars of the day were made to accelerate 0-60 or quarter mile as fast as possible, not cruise at top speed.