I have searched the H.A.M.B. and I haven't found very much information about this car. I know that the car was a 1948 Olds Woodie, that ran 10s in the quarter mile at 150 MPH with a fuel burning 392. It's currently owned by artist Thom Taylor. It was featured in the Nov. 1969 rod and custom. Anyone know anything else?
Jeff Courtie's AA/Fuel Altered Woody. It was one of only a few Woodys to race, and it had to be the only one on nitro. After the Woody, Jeff became a famous West Coast AA/Funny Car racer in the 1970s. Jeff Courtie's cars were all self-built and show quality. I would like to thank Jeff for ***isting with this story. DRL: How did you get the idea to build the Woody? JC: That was my everyday driver in High School. After High School, I put a 324 cubic inch Oldsmobile V-8 in it first, then raised it up and radiused the rear fender wells. Next, I installed a 1962 394 Cubic Inch Oldsmobile with a 6-71 blower on that motor. I met a neighbor who stopped bye one day. It was Tom Larkin, who had a Top Gas Dragster at the time, then later a 392-powered Top Fuel dragster. I got the bug and installed a 392 Chrysler with the blower off the Oldsmobile motor, and started to drag race the car. DRL: Who built the car and what kind of ch***is did it have? JC: I built everything on the car. The ch***is was mostly stock Oldsmobile with a tube axle up front with transverse leaf springs, and a 1957 Pontiac rear end 4:10 ratio with "Henry's Axles" pretty standard for the day in 1967 DRL: What kind of drivetrain did it have? JC: A 392 Chrysler with a 6-71 Blower, Hilborn Injection, and B&M Hydro Stick, mated to that 1957 Pontiac Rear End with "Henry's Axles." DRL: How much nitro did you run in it? JC: At first, not too much, just 25-30%, but as time went by, I upped it, and in the end up to 50-60%. DRL: What were the best times for the car? JC: In 1968 or ‘69, it ran a best of 10.06 at 150.50 MPH at San Fernando. DRL: Where do you race the car? JC: Almost always at San Fernando Raceway, and once at Irwindale. DRL: What cl*** did you race in? JC: Because it ran Nitro for fuel, it was placed in the AA/FA cl***. DRL: How did it handle? JC: At first OK, but with higher Nitro percentages, it got real evil. I ended up lowering it down in front to help with the handling. DRL: Do you have anything to say about the car that I didn’t ask about? JC: This car gave me my first exposure to nitro fuel racing and that helped to point me towards fuel Funny Cars. Because of the heavy weight of the car, it was prone to a lot of driveline failures. I must have broken six or eight B&M Hydros in that car, and numerous axles and drive shafts. Because of the constant breakage, I decided to build my first Funny Car in 1970. DRL: Do you know what happened to the car? JC: Thom Taylor, the Hot Rod artist, has it and is restoring it to its street version as seen in Rod & Custom in 1969. DRL: Thanks, Jeff! JC: Thanks!
That is awesome, gospel from the man hisself! That car has always stood out for two reasons, WHY? an AWESOME! Combine something different and already cool with Nitro and racing and you have a winner! Thanks Doc.
A little more tid bits from a NHRA story His dad loaned him $200 to buy the Woody, which he had spied parked at a local gas station. A member of the famed Checkers motorcycle club, Courtie initially bought the Woody to transport his motorcycle to the desert, but after seeing Mike Sorokin and the Surfers win the 1966 March Meet, he got the hot rodding bug. He bought some slicks from Ronnie Winkle and replaced the car’s original straight-eight engine with a 394-cid Olds V-8. Courtie initially ran the car on alcohol but soon added a blower – one that had been backfired on the Top Fuel car of Larry Dixon Sr. – and ultimately the car was powered by a blown and injected nitro-burning 392 Chrysler backed by a B&M Hydro Stick ****** and ran low 10s at 150 mph. Unfortunately, Courtie’s “Super Woody” was as heavy as it was cool, and, due to its girth and high horsepower, was prone to driveline breakage, so when Funny Cars became the new showstoppers in the early 1970s, Courtie went plastic.
Thom and I chatted a few years ago when I learned he owned the courtie car.. I've also spoken to another 48 olds wagon owner who is essentially building a clone.. so hopefully soon the courtie car, or a close clone.. will run again..
The remains of this woodie (no wood, no motor) were on ebay a few years back. Who knows where it ended up.
Good story and coverage. I never heard of this car before but its unique for sure. Thanks for the pictures and coverage.
I remember Jeff Courtie's woody driving through my neighborhood. I lived down the street from Tommy Larkin and Jeff would visit. The funny thing is that I remembered the car exactly as it was, parachute and all. I've told the story many times but this is the first time I've seen the car since that day. I thought I might have gotten it wrong. You know a 14 year old boys vivid imagination. I remember it with a straight axel up front and a little higher all the way around . Great stuff...
I never saw the woodie, but remember well his FC's...as earlier noted, he did all the work himself, and they were very professional, a lot of us really admired him because when he ran I think he was the only guy who was building all his own stuff, including the ch***is and engine.
Im the proud owner of jeff courties 48 woody g***er. I purchased it from Thom Taylor & as we speak its being restored back to its glory days
Hey you can go into my picture album & check out the woodie pics, being restored......sorry for the delay.... I will be posting more as soon as im updating!!!! Thanks & enjoy
I went to HS with Jeff Courtie, Polytechnic S'65. I remember when he drove it as his everyday car. It was pretty cool when it was stock
Jeffs Funny Cars were no frills,functional industrial art.They ALL were well built & just looked *right*...Always a player at West Coast FC shows in early 70s. One of his Funny Cars is featured in the movie American Nitro.
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