Lil’ John Buttera Chevy II

Gentlemen, does anyone have any more pictures or any info on this rad lil’ John Buttera Chevy II drag car from 1966?

 

I would say a FunnyCar

 

hope they did nt need a shoe spoon to get in and out of that thing . . .

 

Did you ever see a photo of Lil' John? HRP

 

Do you have evidence that points to it being an R&B built car? The chop was radical but many early FC’s were.

 

Stock height top looks so much better than chopped in my opinion.



Or without a top.

 

John originally built the Novette with his son Chris. There is no indication that the Novette morphed into the funny car in OP. Instead, it became the Angry Nova.

https://www.streetmusclemag.com/fea...on-mcgiltons-1963-chevy-ii-is-one-angry-nova/

 

The funny car was YEARS before his sons project, so there’s no way it could have morphed into the funny car

 

I see the Novette was built in the 1980's. A quick search doesn't show another Nova attributed to Lil John.


Can you provide any web links for the funny car?
Where did your two photos come from?

 

No, that’s why I was asking

 

The reason I asked if it was an R&B car from John’s days in Kenosha, WI is because John’s dragster, FC and hot rod builds after he relocated to California seem to be very well documented.

 

Fist pic posted ,
Looks 60s by what's shown ,
I do not know if a Funny & if all had lift up Body's, I was just saying , looks like front of engine setting @ front seat location, driver head @ sail panel,
Very low , chop top for less air drag .

 

First picture I posted is from 1966
The first funny cars did not have flip up bodies

 

Possible.... If Jungle's car was possibly debuted after the 66 season, which it was, then......Hmmmm One year from solid to flip....... John's car had to be flip, or get in from the top.

 

Where did the photos come from?
When were they taken?
Where was each taken?

 

Heres Lil's nova he built for his son. Killer little car
https://www.motortrend.com/magazines/hot-rod/issue/571534/

 

It was a door slammer, so pre Funny Car days. But cars like his led to the Funny Cars.

 

It had working doors.

 

You're correct!

 

One of the Hot Rod Drag Racing Pictorial retrospectives from the late ‘70s-early ‘80s had this shot and a caption stating Little John built this as an early Funny circa ‘65 - but no other info, or any mention of it being a Rollain and Buttera car - but that time frame would indicate it most likely was.

 

@MrGasser , do you have ANY info that actually ties the drag car in post #1, to Lil John?

 

The term Funny car was not a common term
Known used a class until 69 ish,
Off top of my head ',
I am sure the 1st pic of post
Was before the F-C class ,
People would show up @' track , what every was Weighed , engine size ,fuel , body style and modifications
& assigned a class for that day ,
Different track Diffrent classes ,
There where only about 4-5 National events before
70, NHRA, ADRA Ext associations were confusing in those days,
In many cases , there would be a FED 7 sec running a 14 sec other lane
@ Pristine race day in finials ,
Many Rule change & a stranded set of Rules started in 70ish '
National event races

 

Back when the Nova was built there were numerous cars being built that didn't fit into any NHRA category, and were simply "Match Racers" and "Altered Wheelbase Cars". They would challenge each other, or as this type of car became even more popular they'd simply run for a prize that various big tracks offered. Mazmanian's old "football gasser" which he chopped too far to run in the AA/GS class became one of these match racers. He could have run it as an Altered, but chose not to.
A number of these cars initially just pushed the limits of Gas Class rules and got moved to the Altered Class, but they soon became so extreme and so common that even the Altered Class didn't apply. Fans loved them, and that's part of what made NHRA finally make a class for what fans called "Funny Cars".
Of course we all know that spelled the end of the various Gassers that dominated NHRA drag racing for a very long time.

 

OK @MrGasser here's some outstanding info from GLD/Union Grove history page, via Ron Thums:

"Renowned chassis-builder John Buttera (of R&B Automotive in Kenosha) in Real Gusto, his first (and last) funny car ride. The super-chopped Chevy II, still unlettered here, is seen during a shakedown run at Union Grove. Buttera eventually crashed this car -- Union Grove? Cordova? -- and the undamaged chassis then went under Bill Sontag's long-lived Turncoat Cougar, which survives today. It seems little known outside of SE Wisconsin that Buttera drove rails in the mid-Sixties -- R&B shop cars as well as for Charlie Proite."



Pic of the car lettered:



After the Chevy II body was damaged, the chassis was sold and went under the "Turncoat" Cougar FC, which interestingly was campaigned by Bill Sontag, owner of the "Touch and Go" Chevy II pictured above. The "Turncoat" is still around BTW.

Yes photo here is technically OT but relevant, first version of "Turncoat" (later it was red). Stardust in the background. Also looks like the Turncoat has a hinged hatch.




Finally here's a pic of a "Real Gusto" altered in progress taken in front of the R&B shop on 64th st in Kenosha. Because of the car's name I'm assuming this was another ride for John Buttera but before or after the Chevy II?



Building is still standing:



The shot we've all seen;

 

This is the Turncoat Funnycar around ten years ago @ Route 66 raceway.
Appoligies to the mods in advance for posting OT pic.

 

Phillips, excellent information and pics, thank you sir!