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The 50-plus year battle between the Mustang and the Camaro is alive and well.
Quintessential is a big word, but it accurately describes the game of one-upmanship that’s been going on between Camaros and Mustangs for more than 50 years. And we’re happy to continue the saga with our latest Auction Dilemma. This match-up looks at a 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE and a 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. Both offerings are at eBay.
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The marketing team at Chevy has an endless love for alphanumeric soup (Seriously, there’s no better name available than ZLE 1LE?). Yet, confusing names aside, a Camaro in ZL1 trim is one of the few cars under six figures that can hold its own against the Shelby GT500. Further, the reduced-weight 1LE option only helps the Camaro. This Mosaic Black Metallic 2018 ZL1 1LE boasts an incredible 36 miles on the odometer. It’s unlikely the seller forgot about this beast and instead was waiting for an opportune time to put the car on the market.
Under the hood sits the all-mighty 6.2L supercharged V-8 making 650 HP and 650 lb-ft of torque. An impressive accomplishment as Chevy has stuck with the overhead valve configuration while Ford moved into overhead cams years ago. A six-speed manual handles rear-wheel power. Additionally, Motor Trend reports that a similarly equipped Camaro hit 60 mph in 3.6 seconds.
Inside, pictures reveal a black cabin with factory wrapping still covering the red-accented front seats. Cabin equipment includes a Performance Data and Video Recorder, infotainment system with navigation, Bose audio system, and a carbon-fiber instrument panel insert.
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Of course, the Shelby name is legendary among racing fans and car enthusiasts. Tack on the GT500 moniker, and there’s Mustang history dating back to 1967. Unfortunately, today’s GT500s don’t come in the Candyapple Red of yesteryear, but Twister Orange (like this 2020 model) does an excellent job of catching eyeballs. And while not showroom new like its Auction Dilemma counterpart, this 2,752-mile Mustang comes pretty close.
Muscle cars are about bragging rights, which this GT500 has in the engine output department. It boasts a supercharged 5.2L V-8 making an eye-popping 760 HP and 625 lb-ft of torque. The GT500’s rear wheels are controlled by a seven-speed automatic. Yet, despite the significant horsepower advantage of the Ford, the GT500 hits 60 mph in the same time as the ZL1 1LE Camaro, according to Car and Driver. Proof that you need torque to back up horsepower.
The interior centers around black leather-trimmed Recaro seats and a host of onboard equipment. These goodies include the Technology Package (navigation, Bang & Olufsen audio system, and power driver’s seat with memory), Alcantara sport steering wheel, and programmable digital display.
If you prefer the bowtie to the blue oval or vice versa, you probably have a preference between these Auction Dilemma examples. Yet, each car makes a compelling case for supercar performance without the supercar price tag. The listing for the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE has an $86,995 asking price. The auction for the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 has three days left with a $70,200 high bid.
Sources: eBay, gmauthority.com, Ford
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Dave Goldberg is a lifelong auto enthusiast and holds a BA in Journalism from The George Washington University. While he leans towards European wheels for his personal driving, Dave gets excited about everything from Acura to Zagato.