History TURBO HEMI T-BIRD

Saw this '55 girls car at Bonneville a few years ago.

 

If you would like to see more I'll post 'em up.

 

thanks, I'll bite. Are you the owner?

 

I am not the owner, A friend owned and built the car (Gordon Potter) back in the early sixties. as I recall the car sits in a barn in Lomita.

 

The T-Bird is in the July '64 issue of HotRod magazine.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/WbQAAOSw~5pkvovh/s-l1600.webp

 

The engine is offset to allow room for the carbs.

 

As I recall this photo was shot in the summer of '70 while at a friends house who worked for Fairchild Hiller. The reason for the visit was to discuss a solenoid for N02 as Gordon was having issues with freeze with the valves he was using.

 

I don't want to hear turbos are not traditional anymore. Exceptionally uncommon? Yes.

 

Germany world war II loved their planes with turbos and a little nitrous. Beat the hell outa alky/water injection!

 

Spot on...

Quoted...

"Gordon Potter worked as an engineer for Garrett AiResearch and built this incredibly bad-ass turbocharged 457ci Chrysler Hemi-powered '56 T-bird. His goal was to drive the car to Bonneville, run 200 mph, and then drive it home. Though he never made the attempt, the 'Bird appeared in the July '64 issue of Hot Rod. The engineering that is now nearly 50 years old is still impressive. Scott says the Hemi made 804hp normally aspirated and 1,100 on alcohol. According to Scott, the 'Bird has run a tire-spinning 11.30 at 149 mph on the strip and has seen boost as high as 38psi. Scott's brother Mike, who is also part owner of Scott's building, purchased it from Potter in 1985."

https://www.hotrod.com/news/look-at-this-unbelievable-stash-of-factory-race-cars/

 

Quoted by @Wheeler
"In the last photo I posted Gordon is with cigarette in hand and I have my back to camera. I missed buying the car by about a month."

Are you the young fella on the left side of the pic leaning on the fender?

 

Yes that's me with my wood pecker shirt on.

 

To cool...I guess you tried to buy it a little later than when that pic was taken...that just set the passion to own it one day...

 

Yeah I was in 7th grade when the photo was taken but well aware of the car and Gordon years before the photo was taken. Gordon and my Father met while street racing in the in the South Bay in the 50's. Gordon became the family's CPA.

Here you will find more photos of the T-Bird. https://archive.petersen.org/pages/search.php

 

@Wheeler That link did not work...I found these though...













https://archive.petersen.org

​

 

Sorry Stogy! Give their search engine a try using Tubo T-Bird or Hemi T-Bird or any other car or person you might like to see pics of. They are still uploading pix to the site with old HotRod pics like this one of Roth goofing off. Have fun!

 

I have searched there and pulled content to share here...I managed to get some but on my phone searching seems a tough mountain to climb...friggen technology...

 

Yes it can be difficult with a phone. I found pix of one of my old neighbors cars by putting in his name.

 

Actually my link I shared is dead too...I guess selective right clic save and share is the plan. That's how I did it before.

 

Wow, and here I am posting a thread the other day about how to squeeze an FE into a Model A chassis, geez

 

Known as science

Dayam My favorite doodle in H.S. Tagged it on all my books, etc.
( When I'd go,,,, certified *truant* But I did read the books )
Thank you both
@Wheeler and Waking up this gem of s ride.
And @Stogy For the extra info.

 

Here's another of Gordon's cars. He loved his Hemi's! Caddy's too.

 

good pix of the modified tunnel to offset the engine.

 

You were a very lucky man to have grown up in such an atmosphere.Any pictures of his Caddies?

 

Gordon ran some Caddie engines at Bonneville and set some records I don't recall any actual Cadillac cars though, sorry.

 

I would love to see those.

 

If I run across any of Gordon at Bonneville I'll post 'em up or if you want Cadillac specific try the Petersen. https://archive.petersen.org/pages/search.php#

 

Thanks! While I love the me a Cadillac car, the mill in a rod is where my head is.

 

How about a Blown Bird!

 

WHAT is that??!!