Debate Time: Big Block Chevy VS Plymouth ‘Cuda

For certain, I know which one is more appealing to the eye. This isn’t saying one is better than the other in any way other than appearance. The 1967 L88 Corvette wins hands down for head-turning looks and appeal. The sculpted body lines and crowns; this is not an apples-to-apples comparison; it is a comparison of each brand’s best muscle car.

1967 L88 Corvette

The 1967 L88 Corvette was rated at 435 HP and boasted a 427 CID big-block Chevy. We all know that the factory rated these numbers quite low due to insurance issues of that day and age. In 1967, there were only 20 L 88 Corvettes built.

According to Vette Values, there is a list of items that make the 1967 L88 Corvette a special car.

What Makes the 1967 L88 Corvette Special?

The 1967 L88 is widely considered the ultimate expression of the C2 Corvette—rare, powerful, and built during the peak of the muscle car era.

• • Final year of the C2 generation

• • Only 20 produced

• • Iconic big-block styling

• • Includes several one-of-one configurations

L88 Engine Specs (Overview)

The L88 engine was built for racing conditions, requiring high-octane fuel and delivering significantly more power than its official rating.

Real-world output: often estimated at 500+ horsepower depending on setup.

I have personally seen an L 88 427 Engine dyno @ 550 HP, and if I remember right, the torque spec was about 540 FTLB.

Current Hagerty Price Guide Values (April 2026)

1967 Corvette L88

Only 20 examples were produced for 1967, making it the rarest and most valuable production-year L88.

• • #1 Concours Condition: $2,600,000

• • #2 Excellent Condition: $2,200,000

• • #3 Good Condition: $1,500,000

• • #4 Fair Condition: $1,300,000

Let’s get something straight: I put no stock in what a few testosterone-fueled millionaires will bid the buy price up to at an auction. Ii get the excitement of the moment thing, but the 1967 L88 Corvette will get this kind of cash in a straight sale. Thank you to Vette Values for their stats.

In this corner stands the 1970 Hemi ‘Cuda. It definitely will hold its own in a battle of HP and will. Nobody can deny this car its fame. Every car guy knows the word “Hemi” by heart. The Hemi ‘Cuda inspires respect and fear in any car that comes up against it.

For me it’s between the 1970 ‘Cuda and the 1970 Dodge Charger for sheer cosmetics and the look of the car. Now for the pound-for-pound specs of this top contender. This contender definitely punches above its weight.

426 Street Hemi Dyno Results

Dyno Test

A machine shop located in Massachusetts hooked up a street Hemi rebuilt to factory specifications to a dyno and received the following results:

• • 459.3 HP @ 5,000 RPM

• • 494.4 HP @ 5,950 RPM

• • 498.3 ft. lbs. torque @ 4,500 RPM
    These numbers came from Ultimate Muscle Cars. I don’t know if these guys are strictly Hemi guys or if they are a general muscle car site; in any case, thank you, guys. I truly love both of these cars, and I myself will probably never have either one unless I suddenly strike it rich.