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Early 70s Pro Stock photo thread

46K views 111 replies 26 participants last post by  Pro Stock John  
#1 ·
I havent found a thread anywhere, so I figured Id ask start one.


As a natural progression from the 60s era AFX, Funny car and gas class stuff I grew up checking out on magazines, Ive been really thinking about collecting the right parts for a "period correct"Pro stock type car. Being a Ford guy mainly, Id do a Maverick or Comet, but I admit the Mopars of the day were tough!



Thanks!
 
#3 ·
I've been looking at the same thing----Even have a tentative set of rules for a nostalgia P/S group that, if I can get some financial support for it, should work out pretty well. My interest is in the Mopars of the era. The OP may want to contact a few of the old P/S guys that are still around as I'm sure they'd help. I know Dick Hedman is here locally & liked the idea when I spoke to him.....
 
#4 ·
Ive spoken to a bunch of old racers, they always have the best stories. Ive started collecting parts to give my 65 Comet a late 60s/early 70s feel, but my father has a 71 Maverick, a cleveland, top loaded, dana 60, few sets of gyros etc that could become a car quick. Something I was surprised to learn, the Mavericks and Comets were delivered with stock bench seat and truck dana 60s in them to make weight
 
#9 ·
So this my friend Harold Dutton the "Drag Hag" Maverick. This car won the very first NHRA Pro Stock race ever.

Image


As for proper equipment to duplicate it.... This car had a Boss 429 and Top Loader. Gonna take some $$$$$ to do one right. I do agree with you that cars of this era look great...
Will
Pinto for the Win!
Moredoor Maverick ! ...Trevor



Im a member of a few old prostock pages, besides a bit of drama from one or 2 guys, theyre good pages


I know the drag Hag well, my father has photos and articles on it. An era correct car wont be cheap, thats for sure, The saving grace is Clevelands were popular, and now they make the Boss 9 and Cammer stuff, so feasibly you could do one without having to hunt the old stuff. I did just pick up pair of gyros for my 65 Comet


The Pintos looks so killer in Pro Stock Form!!! I never liked the likes of the 4 door Comets and Mavericks, but it worked and obviously put a hurt on a bunch of competitors cars haha
 
#8 · (Edited)
So this my friend Harold Dutton the "Drag Hag" Maverick. This car won the very first NHRA Pro Stock race ever.

Image


As for proper equipment to duplicate it.... This car had a Boss 429 and Top Loader. Gonna take some $$$$$ to do one right. I do agree with you that cars of this era look great...
Will
 
#13 ·
I'm about ready to sell/trade off my Hemi Dart body for the project. If anyone knows of a Colt or '70-'72 Duster that's available, please PM me. I've been "jonsing" for an old P/S car for awhile. The car IS complete & could, technically, be used as an early P/S car but there's a particular old P/S Duster I'd like to and I can only afford one car at a time.
 
#14 ·
With today's technology & crate motors from various engine shops doing a nostalgia P/S car wouldn't be all that tough. Most of the stuff to make a genuine old P/S car is SO OLD not too many people want it or can use it. Hell, I got a Weiand tunnel-ram for my Hemi free as the machine shop had no use for it---I skeletonized it like they used to and ---viola' ! A period correct intake. Now all I have to do is find some old Dominators & I'm set...…..
 
#15 ·
While we're on the topic of "builds" here, why not some ideas for some "phantom" (cars that could have been built) P/S cars. I'll start--------
A BUICK :shock: Skyhawk (think Chevy Monza) with a 455, Stage 1 or 2 headed engine using 2-4bbls. Not cheap, but with today's technology not a hard car to build.
This is kind of waaaaaaaaaaaaaay off the the normal path, but you get the idea & the possibilities.
 
#17 ·
There are a few. I had one as well. A 1977 Pontiac Formula Astre.




 
#18 ·
 
#19 ·
 
#26 ·
So I looked at a thread in TOBT and saw Buick actually had a P/S program in the works! And now some shops are actually developing stuff based off it for Buick racers. However the Buick guys seem a little short-sighted & aren't even playing with the idea of using these engines in a Skyhawk. They're bragging about their ability to run 10s in a GS. Can you imagine if those engines went into something really built light & for racing? THERE'S your competitive Buick! Now if only AMC guys would step up as much!
 
#33 ·
ANY old race car is gonna be tough to verify. I recently passed on one cause the seller, a friend of mine, wouldn't budge on the price. He offered to help prove its validity & I would have bought it. But to get it to certify by today's standards was so out of my budget I had to pass. And this car may be no different.
It may very well be one of Glidden's old cars & I'm sure you could find people to confirm or refute it, but once you have it AS IT SITS, if it can't pass tech you have a high-dollar lawn ornament. Sorry, that's not for me. Those of us that want the old P/S cars to actually use have to make concessions, hunt REAL hard for them & hope we can make them work...……….that or simply build a clone which I think I'm gonna be stuck having to do...….
 
#34 · (Edited)
True enough.

As for your friend, I may know know the type. When this type(if I may play armchair psychologist for a bit) buys something, it is nearly worthless; but when they sell it, it lays golden eggs.

Re. The Glidden Pinto.
If you're looking to squirrel it away in a museum, it's potential gold. If not, it would not only be a shame to cut it up to meet today's SFI cert(s).

Then, as you state, there is the cost; prohibitive for your needs/budget.

On a related note...

I had a chance to pick up a V&H PSM about 10 years ago(Lawson Replica Kaw.). I passed on it as it was really butchered.

On motorcycle chassis requirements..

Of course there are almost no requirements for motorcycle chassis - so a "run whatcha brung" ethos seems a constant in the sportsman motorcycle classes.

On desires, drive, and access to funding anything..

Like everyone with a bit of disposable income, if something interesting passes my way AND I can justify its possession somehow, I will likely own it.

Best of success with your build!

PS. If you start a build thread, I will follow.
 
#35 ·
Good point on the SFI. Personally, I'd be inclined to put together a mild 351C with a tunnel ram, something that could run a 10.0 anywhere, and bracket race the bejeesus out of it. What would that Glidden Pinto weigh? 2400 with a 200 lb driver? You could build a basically stock Boss 351 that makes 450-490 hp, put a 4k converter behind hit, and 4.56 gears and run low tens all day. Be the coolest car in the pits.
 
#37 ·
But, Chilly Willy is a Gasser, not a Pro-Stock. Good story though.

On a side note, Chilly Willy is still around.
 
#38 · (Edited)
!

If you start a build thread, I will follow.[/QUOTE]


Thanks. We're kind of "negotiating" right now. If it works out, it'll be your basic Hemi Duster with some suspension upgrades (un seeable) to insure it'll hook & go straight.

There's a guy in NJ that's running one of S&M's old Dusters and he seems to get "it"---car looks original, has some updates so it can be used and turns reasonably good times. For that matter the whole Midwest Nostalgia P/S Assoc. seems to have the right idea although looking at their rules they seem a bit restrictive to me & seem to knock-out almost any pre-'73 P/S cars. My rules/ideas allow them to compete & be competitive with each other despite the vast difference in build. I'm hoping the local track buys into it when I present it...…...
 
#40 ·
I believe the Glidden pinto is stock length nose, but again, without measuring, whos to know. Which brings up another point...




These old pro stocks (and every other race car to this day Id guess) have tricks done to it no one will ever notice unless they have a stocker next to it. Obvious Smokey Yunick comes to mind haha


One reason why I love old race cars...youll find SOMETHING thats not quite factory when it "should" be
 
#48 ·
My friend Allyn Lee has had a good look at some of the factory-backed Mopar Super Stock stuff from that era, and some of it was pretty eye opening. SS/D Hemi e-bodies that required substantial ballast just to make weight mins, even with a full cage. Or, only had 48% of the weight on the front wheels. 340/360 Dusters and Volares that weighed less with a Dana and a full cage than a dead stock slant-six with no options. One of the trickest pieces ever built was Leal's 64 Hemi Belvedere. Apparently the entire car is set 7/8 of an inch forward on the wheelbase, and one side is 3/4" longer than the other, along with the wheelbase being extended a similar amount. Certain body welds run the full length of the seam, instead of spot welds, eliminating heavier cage components, and so forth. It was a pretty big deal then, but not so much today, given how a lot of S/S cars are built.