One fast '54! La Carrera Panamericana

[NFP]

So have any of you heard of a race titled "La Carrera Panamericana"?

Holy chit I have fallen in love again! http://www.panamrace.com/

This is a real deal mulit-day open road race made up of vintage racers! Was first brought to be in the early '50s to attract people to mexico as they had finished a new highway system and wanted to increase tourism. I'm not going to bore you with the fine details, just check out some of these vids and see for yourself!
:beer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq47APUxZ4Q

Below is the Buick that turned me onto this whole concept, may have a small block Chevy at heart, but that is one fast Lead Sled!

The Buick on La Bufa (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGcg-80r5iA#)

The Buick finishing a stage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0XwcJeVgjA#)

Accident LT Carrera Panamericana 2007 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCneMvkcNaw#)

The Buick ready for La Carrera Panamericana 2007 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30ctZtFYwHA#)

[Rodster]

Been watching these for some time.Yes,a neat looking '54 with a small block Chevy.
Rod

[sean Buick 76]

What it needs is a Twin Turbo Buick 350!

[bhambulldog]

That's cool. :TU:
I noticed,the portholes on the 54 Buick have been turned upside down. So, that, they appear to "scoop", rather than "extract".

[d2_willys]

From 52 to 54 the Lincoln Capri's were king of La Carrera Panamericana! Came in 1,2,and 3 one of those years. Makes me feel good about owning my 54 Lincoln Capri

[bhambulldog]

From 52 to 54 the Lincoln Capri's were king of La Carrera Panamericana! Came in 1,2,and 3 one of those years. Makes me feel good about owning my 54 Lincoln Capri
54 Lincoln? Every time my dad sees one he says, "there goes a Road Race Lincoln" They're beautiful cars. I'ld like to see pictures:kodak:

[rmstg2]

That's cool. :TU:
I noticed,the portholes on the 54 Buick have been turned upside down. So, that, they appear to "scoop", rather than "extract".

Good eye, I noticed that too

Bob H.

[rmstg2]

So have any of you heard of a race titled "La Carrera Panamericana"?

Holy chit I have fallen in love again! http://www.panamrace.com/

This is a real deal mulit-day open road race made up of vintage racers! Was first brought to be in the early '50s to attract people to mexico as they had finished a new highway system and wanted to increase tourism. I'm not going to bore you with the fine details, just check out some of these vids and see for yourself!
:beer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq47APUxZ4Q

Below is the Buick that turned me onto this whole concept, may have a small block Chevy at heart, but that is one fast Lead Sled!

The Buick on La Bufa (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGcg-80r5iA#)

The Buick finishing a stage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0XwcJeVgjA#)

Accident LT Carrera Panamericana 2007 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCneMvkcNaw#)

The Buick ready for La Carrera Panamericana 2007 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30ctZtFYwHA#)

Bill Vukovich ( spelling ) was the hot dog racer in the old Lincolns back in the mid 50s

Bob H.

[philip roitman]

So have any of you heard of a race titled "La Carrera Panamericana"?

Holy chit I have fallen in love again! http://www.panamrace.com/

This is a real deal mulit-day open road race made up of vintage racers! Was first brought to be in the early '50s to attract people to mexico as they had finished a new highway system and wanted to increase tourism. I'm not going to bore you with the fine details, just check out some of these vids and see for yourself!
:beer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq47APUxZ4Q

Below is the Buick that turned me onto this whole concept, may have a small block Chevy at heart, but that is one fast Lead Sled!

The Buick on La Bufa (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGcg-80r5iA#)

The Buick finishing a stage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0XwcJeVgjA#)

Accident LT Carrera Panamericana 2007 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCneMvkcNaw#)

The Buick ready for La Carrera Panamericana 2007 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30ctZtFYwHA#)

If I wasn't goin (leaving to):3gears: :3gears: :3gears: :3gears: :3gears: :3gears: :3gears: to BG tomorrow I would be at Madison Ave. Sportscar Driving chowder society Tues. The founder of the new race will be there selling his video,and telling stories. (Sardis NYC) Chowder guys sorry but racing comes 1st.

[buickjunkie]

the video make me want to find a 54 Special :laugh:
Bruce

[NFP]

She is ready to race! Flag goes down tomorrow and so I'll be tracking this car thruought the entire race. Follow along if you wish, heres a blog page for the car: http://www.blogger.com/profile/13824099864516469171

[rogbo1]

the video make me want to find a 54 Special :laugh:
Bruce

Me too! Here's one I didn't buy a few years ago, still kicking myself.
It was on ebay and didn't pull the trigger for around $12k.
Called a few months later when I had sold something else and
it was sold.:ball: Love the videos along with the Hollies! :TU:

[r0ckstarr]

What is the difference between the Special and the Century? In the comments of the crash video, someone says that it is a Century.

[bhambulldog]

What is the difference between the Special and the Century? In the comments of the crash video, someone says that it is a Century.
54 Special had 264ci 2v
54 Century had 322ci 4v, Also, fancier interior than Special or Super

In 54 only Roadmaster had 4 holes in the fenders.

[HilbornNailhead]

What is the difference between the Special and the Century? In the comments of the crash video, someone says that it is a Century.


Four different levels, Special, Century, Super, Roadmaster, in that order. Don't know enough about the '54s, but I in '57 the Special and Century were smaller bodied (hard to notice, but they have smaller grilles, and I believe bumpers), and the Super and Roadmaster shared the same size. The Special was the bottom of the line with the 250HP 364ci engine, the other three came with the 300HP 364ci engine. In my opinion, the Century was the one to have, lighter weight with the most HP offered.

[bhambulldog]

Special and Century were smaller bodied (hard to notice, but they have smaller grilles, and I believe bumpers), and the Super and Roadmaster shared the same size.
This applies to 54-56 as well.

[John Codman]

This applies to 54-56 as well.

Yup. One major mechanical difference was that the manual shift models of the '54 and '55 Special got the light-duty 3-speed, the Centurys got the HD transmission. The reason for this was that (as was said earlier) the '54-'55 specials got the 264 engine; all other models got the 322. In '56 they all got the 322, and the light-duty 3-speed wasn't strong enough to stand up to that engine. Ask me how I know. :grin:

[John Codman]

54 Lincoln? Every time my dad sees one he says, "there goes a Road Race Lincoln" They're beautiful cars. I'ld like to see pictures:kodak:

The '54 Mexican Road Race Lincolns had (I believe) a Latham chain-drive axial flow supercharger. When I was a kid, a family nearby had one. I am wondering if the road race had rules similar to NASCAR that required manufacturers to build a specific number of units before the cars were certified as stock for the race. Does anyone know?