We are looking for any of the original parts/pieces from the 430 that was built for "Ingenue", the Buick Dealers Group funny car. We do have the original blower and manifold, but are missing the front cover. If anyone here has any information on the whereabouts of the original front cover, or ANY pieces from the car for that matter, it would be greatly appreciated if you would contact me so we can talk. You can send me a private message here, or email me. My email address is w_o_t_speedshop@yahoo.com Thanks in advance, Al.
I am good friends with a previous owner of that car here in CT. He never had it running, although I think he did add to the original cage with intentions of getting it going. Actually when he bought it, his first intentions were to put a BBC in it and bracket race it. After a few conversations and a little influence, he decided to track down some more parts for it. I went with him to New York to get the intake and maybe the scoop from a speed shop, I also met a former driver who was running a prostock drag car at E-Town. His name will come to me eventually. -(Coney Island Ralph Landolphi?) I have a black and white copy of a side veiw of the car with the top up in the garage. PM me and I can get you the ph # of the guy I know, he might have some better leads. I wondered what happened to the car after Guffy sold it. The car originally was based out of NJ and raced the East coast. Rumor was that three cars were built, one on the East Coast, one in Calif, and one in the Detroit area. I have not seen any pics of the other cars, but there is one or two pics with another drivers name on the car-not Coney Island Ralph. I think at some point, the 430 was pulled out and a 392 base Hemi was installed (pretty sure of this) May be aboe to get some info on the Hemi stuff if you have any interest on that-I know it isn't the Buick motor, but some guys like to collect as much as possible...
Thanks for the reply!! We have removed the bars that were added, as our intentions are restoring it as close as possible to original. Our understanding is, Coney Island Ralph was to be the original driver, the next driver was Rapid Red Lang who put a 392 hemi in it. The car went back to it's original builders and they put a 430 Buick back in it. Steve Malise was the owner at that time, and he had a new top gas dragster of his own to drive so he let Bruce Bohen take the buick and drive.....I am not sure just what happened to the buick from this point until in 1999 when my friends here in Michigan got the car. I would love to find out as much history on this car as possible, so your lead is greatly appreciated.....pm will be on it's way! As for the three cars, only one fuel funny car was built. The two other cars were Ron Pelligrini's Super Bird S/FX car, it was based out of Chicagoland, Ron owned Fibreglass ltd., the company that built the bodies! The S/fx cars were a lot like a funny car, and some considered them funny cars, but it had a functional door and the front tilted forward not a whole flip-top body. Ron sold the car and proceeded to build a 68 GS funny car, that was totalled in a wreck at I believe Martin Dragway in Michigan. A 3rd car has yet to be 100% confirmed. We have no one that has proof of the so called third car. There was a GS that had just a fibreglass frontend, but it was steel doors and rear body. Ron does not remember what all was built as far as body parts or bodies, but as far as anyone knows there was only the one flip-top fuel funny car and one full fibreglass S/FX. Thanks Al.
