Not Original, but not Restored either....What is it?

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I wouldn't bank on anything on one of these factory sponsored (laundered through dealers back then) race cars. They could have been anything! Most had no VINS. Dale Smith wa a genius with getting bodies in white, old engineering test cars, etc. etc. to supply the racing programs through the back door of Bldg 64.

My guess is that's a 68 car that was updated with 69 sheet metal like most of the factory sponsored cars. They didn't build new cars every year for Stock Eliminator, if they could get by with an upgrade kit and had been successful with the previous setup. Takes a lot to develop these things. They're FAR from stock as built on the line. Some were able to be returned to original production level and resold, but usually too far gone. I wouldn't want one of them back then. Now is a different story.

The Dale Smith program for successful Stock drag racers consisted of a car and 2 engines. They then sent out conversion kits each year so the latest model cars were running all the time. 69 front clips easily fit on the 68's, not sure what they dd about the taillights. Smothers Brothers yellow and red car at the 68 Nationals was a 68 HT with a 69 front end. We saw that car being converted in the experimental garage. It als had a 69 deck lid and taillights. Had to use new cars for 1970 due to the extent of the changes not only to the exterior and body, but also the Instrument panel.

Vance Brady's 1970 was upgraded to a 71, and I think Casey's Uncle Jack already had the 71 W31 motor (that's right) to convert his for the 1971 season when the hammer came down cancelling the W31 due to low compression and lack of performance edge with that combo. Brady converted his to a big block and continued to run that same car well into the 70's. It's still around downriver Detroit area (Bad Girl).

The 81 Gbodies were upgraded many times as the basic style stayed constant until roughly 1987/8. Those weren't real Hursts racing M/SA or lower, just like many of the 68's and 69's weren't real Hursts, either. Not all, but some. Like I say, could be anything.

Mike Delahante (Bob K's friend) had one of the 80's 307 cars from this program. My boss at the time at Ford was offerred one by Dale to get him to convert from Mopar to olds, but turned it down. He ran one of Jack McCormack's cars from wheel

city here.

 

The transverse muffler was used on all of the '67,'68 and '69 birds. This is one of the reasons stock GTO's made more power than Firebirds of the same vintage. However the pure stock rules allow dual mufflers to be added to F-cars and X-cars (Nova, '74 GTO etc.). This is probably worth 15-30 HP depending on the size of the engine.

 

Actually, that car is a true '69. The '68 was a '68. HOWEVER, Dave is correct on the "using the same car thing". Jack was sponsored by Victor-George Olds in '68, Lines Olds in '69, and Cooper Chevy-Olds in '70-'72. Because the dealership sponsorship was changed between '68 and '9, they were physically different cars. BUT, the '70 car was converted to a '71, and then to a '72 -- under the same dealer sponsor. How's THAT for a hijack !!! :bglasses:

PS - Tom, get the transverse muffler on that heap ...... :grin:

 

Thanks Casey. veeeeeeery nice car. :TU:

Dave, I think you saw where I was going with the question. For others, there is a thread on ROP about a 69 F-85 W-31 on ebay and I wondered whether it has the correct hood or not.

Regardless, great info.

Jeff, Thanks for the clarification.

 

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Of course I knew where you were going! I know where you're going before you do! What was built in production, what marketing says was available, what dealers say is available, and what hot rodders (in white shirts or greasy ones) did with the cars is purely coincidental. Can you believe i got in trouble for wearing a light blue dress shirt (with a tie) to work in 1969 at GM? In the dirty, stinky assembly plant?

Lots of the "urban legends" have arisen from bullshit artists in the sales and marketing area (again, not all, don't get anal here) about the factory screwing up, slipping illegal things out on cars (there was a much easier way to do that),...all are fun on these internet chat lines (what did we all do before this?). But the fact remains that some of the cars out there are legit cars and casting suspicions on things that may seem out of place need to be researched a little deeper sometimes. There's lots of conflicting info out there.

In 1970, the W cars required a specific hood to work with the ram air system. In 1968 and 1969, it didn't. Whatever hood came on that model designation was what you got with no option to change unless you change the model. I still don't recall ever seeing a 68 or 69 Cutlass Supreme with the W31 option. But the sources say a few were built. Ever see a 70 W31 in a 4257 or 4267 body designation? (Cutlass Supreme for you folks in Rio Linda)? If they had them in 68-69, why not in 70? I never heard of one.

Sounds like Uncle Jack's cars would be great Pure Stockers. You don't think anybody does that today, do you? :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

 

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: where's the wayne and garth "I'm not worthy" emoticon :grin:

 

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Try to pay attention, I may say something important some day. :Smarty: :beer

 

no more chebie

sold the impala today,now ive got money for the bundy moblie.