Vintage shots from days gone by!

Campbell's Bluebird, crashed 1960

 

Spirit of America's first LSR attempt, note no vertical fin.

 

Cobra Coupe at Bonneville, 1965.Driven by Breedlove, it set 23 new records.

 

And also no nose wheel steering. That was added the following year (3-degrees in either direction). Steering the first year was by independent breaking on the rear wheels, breaking on the left wheel led to a left turn, etc. And it did not work worth a darn.

 

This brings back some memories. The state of Utah laid out a 5-mile circle for us, and Craig and Bobby Tatroe traded driving duties, alternating every few hours, for 12 hours. Bobby was the driver of Walt Arfon's "Wingfoot Express" rocket car (25 JATO bottles), which was also sponsored by Goodyear (as was Craig's "Spirit of America" jet car). The Cobra had the standard 289" Ford small block with four Weber carbs. This engine ran like a top, we didn't have to add a drop of oil even after running it wide open for 12 hours.

 

Craig holds the door open so Bobby can get out, change of drivers time. A Goodyear tech checks the tires, a tech from Shelby (who loaned us the car) checks the oil, and in the background, we pump fuel from 55-gallon drums by hand. I'm on the left and the guy on the right is Paul Nicolini, the guy that pretty much fabricated the original Sidewinder dragster that Chrisman drove.

 

George, where did you get this image, was it on Pinterest? Any info on it?
THANKS -Gary UPDATE. Never mind, found it. Bruce Wheeler Collection, taken at Stanford Conn.

 

It is the ex-Dick Seaman 1927 Delage Grand Prix car - 1500cc straight eight. The car has been rebuilt several times and still survives.

 

Wow, never seen this altered wheelbase version before.
Looks like a fish outa water!
To think the car was an original 327/350 horse/3 speed/ column shift car.

 

I think this is the car that eventually was sold to record producer (and now convicted murderer) Phil Spector.

 

YUP. The whole story is crazy. . Phil deserves the gas chamber.
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/death-deception-and-the-4-million-cobra-feature