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Summary

  • The rivalry between the 2023 Nissan Z and the 2023 Toyota GR Supra was interrupted by the presence of the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE, an American muscle car.
  • The Camaro is different from the Supra and Z not only in terms of origin but also in its classification as a pony car, while the others are considered authentic sports cars.
  • In a drag and roll race organized by Sam CarLegion, the Camaro SS 1LE outperformed the Nissan Z in both rolling start contests and the quarter-mile drag race, while the results were mixed between the Camaro SS and the GR Supra.


Since time immemorial, there have been countless rivalries in the automotive world, and, by extension, sports and racing arena. Some occur on the road, while others happen on the track. Some are endurance contests such as the one in Le Mans, while others are over in 10 seconds or so, just like drag races. A 2023 Nissan Z wanted to reignite its rivalry with a 2023 Toyota GR Supra, but a 2022 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE was blocking its way.

The Supra / Z rivalry is just one of countless rivalries, which also come in different forms. For instance, there was the racing rivalry between Ford and Ferrari in the 1960s, a contest that reached the cinemas in the 2019 film Ford v Ferrari. There is also a silent contest between American muscles and European sport cars.

Such rivalries are mostly healthy competition, with fans trying to hype their favorite cars, brands, or racing teams. Rivalries may bring drama, but is such drama that help bring more money to the table. Interestingly, there was some drama involved in the drag and roll races that Sam CarLegion organized.


Chevrolet Camaro Is The Odd Car Among The Three

Chevrolet Camaro
Sam CarLegion via YouTube

The Chevrolet Camaro seems the odd car out of these three protagonists. First, the Camaro is a true American muscle car, while the Toyota GR Supra and the Nissan Z are Japanese machines. Moreover, the Camaro is a pony car that competes against the likes of the Ford Mustang. Meanwhile, the Supra and the Z are authentic sports cars. Interestingly, all three cars have fancy pasts, each boasting a legacy of its own.

In terms of the future, both the Supra and the Z can’t see their ends yet, as they have just arrived a few years ago. Toyota unveiled the Supra in 2019, while Nissan revealed the Z in 2021. The Camaro is the oldest among the three, as Chevrolet introduced the pony car in 2016.

However, the Camaro will soon bow out, with Chevrolet discontinuing the vehicle after the 2024 model year. Chevy is offering a 650-hp LT4-powered ZL1 Collector’s Edition to commemorate the end of the pony car.

RELATED: 5 Reasons We’d Buy The 2023 Toyota Supra Over The Nissan Z (And 3 Why We Wouldn’t)

Supra Vs Camaro Vs Z: Tale Of The Tape

While the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE that Sam CarLegion brought to the Dunnville Autodrome in Canada isn’t as powerful as the Collector’s Edition, it is still a very potent pony. Essentially a 2SS 1LE Camaro, this red 3,788-lb Chevy comes with a 6.2-liter small-block V8 engine providing 455 hp of max output and 455 lb-ft of peak torque to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. This makes it more powerful than its Japanese rivals on the field – the Toyota GR Supra and the Nissan Z, both of which are 2023 models.

As for the Japanese sports cars, the Z offers more output while the Supra yields more torque. The 3,507-lb Nissan Z features a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine that delivers 400 hp of max output and 350 lb-ft of peak torque. A six-speed manual gearbox sends this power to the rear wheels.

Meanwhile, the Supra limited edition – weighing around 3,343 lbs – comes with a 3.0-liter B58 inline-six turbo engine churning out 382 hp of max output and 368 lb-ft. A six-speed manual transmission delivers this power to the rear wheels. Interestingly, Toyota has a history of underrating this engine, and this means the Supra could be getting more than 400 hp on the crank when taking driveline loss into consideration.

Camaro SS Overwhelms The Nissan Z

Nissan Z v Chevrolet Camaro
Sam CarLegion via YouTube

Sadly, though, Sam CarLegion’s drag-and-roll races were not a three-way contest. Instead, Sam CarLegion had the 2022 Camaro SS 1LE race against the 2023 Nissan Z. The winner would face the 2022 Toyota GR Supra in another set of drag-and-roll race.

In the first matchup, the Camaro SS 1LE outlasted the Z in both rolling start contests (32 mph and 43 mph) and also in the quarter-mile drag race. The gap between the two cars was wider in the 32-mph rolling race than in the 43-mph contest.

In terms of acceleration, the Camaro SS was the quicker car, as it zoomed from zero to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, while the Z clocked 4.5 seconds. The quarter-mile race had the Camaro clocking 12.5 seconds, while the Z crossed the finish line in 13.0 seconds.

RELATED: Did This Nissan Z Drag Race Video Expose The Sports Car’s Big Flaw?

Mixed Results Between the Camaro SS and the GR Supra

Chevrolet Camaro
Sam CarLegion via YouTube

With the Camaro SS overwhelming the Z, the Supra had to postpone the chance to suit up against its rival. The Camaro SS was aching to leave the Supra behind by relying on its power. Nevertheless, the Supra was lighter.

Sam CarLegion’s video showed only the 43-mph rolling race between the Supra and the Camaro SS, which the latter won with a large gap. But in the quarter-mile drag race, the Supra edged out the Camaro, completing the distance in 12.4 seconds, while the Chevy was 0.2 seconds slower at 12.6 seconds. The Supra was quicker in the sprint to 60 mph, logging 3.9 seconds compared to the Camaro’s 4.2 seconds.

Source: Sam CarLegion on YouTube

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