Greetings all. I am looking for images of Hayden Proffitts 63 Impala Z11 super stocker. Hayden only owned the car for a few months in early 63 before defecting to the Plymouth camp when Chevrolet handed down the racing ban. I have these images so far. I am looking for more and possibly some color (or colorized) images of the car. The car was set up at Bill Thomas racing and Hayden took it to the Winternationals so if there is anyone who has a collection of photos from that event I would love to see them. Here is what I have so far.
Here are some color images of the car. The first is his 62 A/stock belair with the Z11 in the background. Here is a color image of Hayden under the hood.
Here's an article from Popular Hot Rodding on the Proffitt car after it was handed off (or sold?) to Butch Leal. BTW @Fuelaltereds4life , that's Butch on the far left in your third photo
I remember when he was Larry Leal, not (Neal) as in the article. He came north to race with his 62 409 !
Butch Leal and Hayden's cars were prepared in tandem at Bill Thomas. Leal's car was Monaco Blue and Hayden's car was Ember Red. Hayden sold his car to a racer from Texas in early 63. Butch Leal also jumped ship to go race a MOPAR around the same time.
a friend had a very unique, hard to pronounce last name that legally changed it to Proffitt - a true fan
I had forgotten about Butch Leal's Tbolt, I think you're right about brand loyalty because these drivers made a living racing and went where the money and sponsorship was. Hayden made almost $100,000 driving for Chevrolet in 62, when the corporate racing ban was enacted the money dried up almost over night and Hayden needed to pay the bills so he moved on to Plymouth driving for Yeakel Plymouth center. He had the Z11 for maybe 90 days in 1963 before selling the car to Clyde McKnight of Ft. Worth Texas.
The Jalopy Journal
