Ingenue...World's only Buick-powered Buick Funny Car

Hey guys,this was originally over on the newbie section but it was suggested I post the story of Ingenue here so...here we go:

This is the story of a 1967 Buick Skylark GS400 flip-top funny car oddly named "Ingenue" and as far as funny cars go,it's pretty rare with it being only 1 of 2 ever constructed in 1967,right at the very inception of the funny car class...and with a 8-71 blown 430 Wildcat motor nestled between the framerails,it was and still is the World's only Buick-powered Buick F/C ever constructed.

My dad Jerry constructed this car in late '66 at his shop Brooklyn Speed & Machine in NY just about 100% except for body & paint.Backed by a race-prepped Vitar TH-400 auto trans and a Wildcat rearend w/3.90 gears,this car was truly all-Buick.

Famous plastic-fantastic creator Ron Pellegrini of Chicago's Fiberglass Limited fame constructed this body straight from a mold taken off a new car from Palmer Buick who sponsored Ron at the time,the car was then cleaned up and sold to an unsuspecting buyer.
Ron raced the other body in a Hemi-powered car named "Super Bird".

I have reunited this car with my 80 year-old dad in the hopes of having a full-on cackle car on our hands in a few years and we will be at the www.eastcoastdragtimeshalloffame.com event in NC this Oct then hopefully the Buick Performance Group (BPN Nationals) next July 4th wknd then either the March Meet or CA Reunion in Bakersfield,health permitting.

Here's how she looked in 1967 with "Coney Island" Ralph Landolphi behind the wheel:






Articles when it was new:






NY National Speedway vs Malcom Durham's stretched Strip Blazer Camaro:


When I bought her from previous owner Nick Hardie,Ingenue was on display at the Gilmore Automotive Museum in MI...Hot Rod did a little mention on her:




Deal done,negociations over...Ingenue gets loaded up and is heading west:





And home...

 

Wifey seems pretty pleased with her new toy...


My dad on the right and the gentleman who picked up the body in the dead of winter,Chicago 1967:


Then I get a call from Hot Rod magazine editor Dave Frieburger and they want to do a feature on Ingenue so he sends out super-shooter Wes Allison to capture Ingenue:






Dad seems real pleased...


And we go from that to this...




Since it was published,a reader has stepped forward with these pictures...this 1st one is the very first time the car was ever run @ Englishtown.Judging from the crowd,you would think they've never seen a Buick funny car before...probably because they hadn't!


This pic from 1969 show's Ingenue's third driver Bruce Bohen being towed towards Englishtown's starting line ready to let 'er rip.
Bruce was the most successful,running a best of 7.79 @ 191mph:

 

So now I've bought a trailer to move her about the country:




And I have a fan club,lol...





Wifey seems pleased with her new apparel:




Modeled after this original shirt from the late 60's,that's AA/GD east-coast hitter Billy Lynch on the left and Steve Malise on the right:


The HR issue (August) is on the stands now guys so pick it up if you haven't seen it,it's a great issue...lot's of cool vintage stuff.

If anyone has any memories,pictures,video's or stories about Ingenue or Brooklyn Speed & Machine,I'd sure love to hear from you.

Thanks for looking guys...
John

 

I love it!!!!!!!!!!! Only thing that would make it better is if it had a Nailhead

 

So whats the story? Was the OG car found and restored, cloned, found in as is condition? Either way it is BEAUTIFUL, I'm a huge buick fan'

 

Big feature in HRM alright...several pages.

 

I think I offered this before, but if you want I'll send you a cartoon of your car and I'll do it for free being a********* Buick man. This is the Pellegrini Chrysler/Buick that I did for Ron, but I always liked the Buick powered one better.

 

congratulations to you!! Thanks for bringing the car out from a museum and hopefully traveling with it a little to let it be seen again.

Beautiful car. and well kept. Part of the family, too. What a story.

It's very rare to see a genuine 8-71 blower.

 

You are correct there,if you read the article it states what was widely known in drag racing circles:In 1967,only my dad's AA/GD and this AA/FC were the only ones to run an 8-71 at the time.
I've asked my dad several times why he went that route and he hasn't come up with a real reason,except for trying to go faster.

Because no speed parts existed for Buicks,dad had to relocate the magneto to the front of the motor driven off the cam.
Technically,this car was very advanced for the day.It also featured a dry-sump oiling system,unheard of at the time for drag cars.
Here's a closeup pic from 1967 showing the front of the motor.Dad built a custom crank girdle/timing cover w/mag drive that was cast then lathe-turned...this was long before CNC machines,lol:


The car after 42 years is so original,it's almost scary.
The body,chassis,wheels,front tires,and rearend are original born-with items and the body...it must weight 500-600 lbs by itself,lol!

Chuck,
That is most kind of you to offer your artwork.We have not spoken before but I would love your version of Ingenue and would be honored to display it,PM sent.

 

Just read that HRM article, very cool, glad you found the HAMB!

 

Awesome car that I would love to see on the East Coast.

 

Thanks,we'll be at that Drag Times event In Henderson,NC Oct 15-16 then hopefully at the BPG Nats in Colombus,OH July 30-Aug 1 2011!

 

cool car ...congrats

 

Very, very cool deal - in so many ways. Just being an all Buick funny car is cool enough, but the fact that it has survived in tact all these years (with your father's hand crafted components) is truly amazing!

 

Wondeful story, It is a Buick engine, but as aforementioned not a nailhead. Doesn't matter all Buick, all cool. ~Sololobo~

 

Very very cool. I love the look of that car.

 

Got my shirt and love it. I'm the first guy on my block with one!

 

Very Kool article and post

 

Congrats on the feature article, your Funny Car is absolutely beautiful.

 

That car is awesome. Glad you are bringing it out for us gearheads to see!

 

Too cool Vince,wear it in good heath my friend...

 

Sorry I've been gone for so long guys,life has gotten in the way...again!
Just wanted to update everyone on what's been going on with Ingenue...the World's only Buick-powered Buick funny car!

In October,we hauled her to NC for the www.eastcoastdragtimeshalloffame.com event in Henderson,NC,this show is put on by Nancy Wilson and she and her staff treated us like family.

Here's my '04 24' Haulmark Edge I bought in the summer all dolled up with new reflective tape,new LED lightling and all dolled up in Ingenue/BS&M livery:




Here we are on display in downtown Henderson...there were about 4,000 cars in total on display!


Here's some of my NC fan club,lol:


From right to left:
Billy Lynch,Rapid Red Lang,Coney Island Ralph Landolphi (partially hidden) and Steve Malise,who was being honored this wknd with his induction into the hall of fame:


Some old friend re-aquainted after 40+ years...


Billy Lynch wowing the crowd:


My NC fan club,lol:


Billy and his freshly-restored Pacers blown altered fueler:


Dennis Gage and Brian Beattie,owner of the Jim & Allison Lee Great Expectations II AA/FD:


Downtown Henderson:


Billy's beautiful AA/FD,this was the very last car Pat Foster restored before he passed away:




Steve Malise getting inducted into the hall of fame,that's my dad on the left and Nancy Wilson on the right:


From NC we traveled to VA to visit Steve...and it was there I uncovered more historical drag racing history...stay tuned for part 2.

 

Once at Steve's home,I discovered a long lost picture of Ingenue and many of dad's dragsters throughout the years.

Here's Ingenue on what appears to be the very first test run,circa early 1967,probably late April or early May @ Englishtown with Coney Island Ralph behind the wheel:


Here's the string of dad's dragsters,starting in 1964 with this AA comp dragster powered by a 8-71 (in 1964!) blown 440 wedge.
That's Steve in the*****pit and dad's the tall one in the middle,this was taken in front of Mid-County Buick in Brooklyn:





Steve at Cecil County setting the MPH record,1965:


The "Blue" car,circa 1966...early Hemi powered and again...8-71 blown:


The "Gold" car,built in late 1967,168" wheelbase,late 490" hemi with...what else...a 8-71 huffer.
I still have this car today (less motor) and will restore soon:






Irwindale,circa 1969...probably a tune-up before the Winternats:


Indy 1969:car qualified #13 on last pass in a 32-car field,went out in round 1 with a clutch problem:


Here's a Top Gas circuit dad ran in 1968-9 that featured 6 really strong east coast cars,dad's the one w/o a shirt:


And a program they had made up to distribute to track owners to promote themselves:


Billy/Bobby Lynch:


Dad's car (this was the only car in the country at the time running a 8-71 blower...beside Ingenue!):


Rat Fink messing with Ingenue,lol:


Few more pictures still to come in part 3...

 

While going through my old magazines the other day,I found this Hot Rod Pictorial that featured dad's "Gold" car:




Steve Strope from www.purevisiondesign.com is in the process of doing a Ingenue street car recreation which was featured in Hot Rod magazine a few months ago,I chatted with Steve just before SEMA and he's excited to fly up and see Ingenue personally before tearing into his Skylark:


Here's a picture Steve sent me that's he's been sitting on for many years,this is when Bruce was running the car...dig the red VHT header coating and those crazy pants!:


Lastly,we are honored to be featured in the 2011 East Coast Drag Times artwork on their shirts,programs and posters...wow...didn't expect that!
These should be out mid-year for anyone who wants to order just visit their site:


I love this...now we just gotta make good on the flame part,lol!



That's all I got for now guys,thanks for looking...hope everyone has a great Christmas!

We are planning on doing the March Meet in Bakersfield next year and we also might be displaying Ingenue @ SEMA in November,I'll update everyone as plans finalize.

Thanks again,
John

 

I ran across these photos the other day of when I got the Buick home along with The Gray Ghost of Larry Swiatek by R and B of Kenosha and before Nick Hardies buddy Bill Wisewiedel bought it. I bought them with in 2 weeks of one another and had to chose which one to keep.

 

Holy*****...tell me more...please!

How long did you own Ingenue and were you the one who found her in the trailer?
Please feel free to PM me if you'd like of write me @ musclecarjohn@hotmail.com wiuld love to piece more history on her together!

Thanks, John

 

Hi John, I missed this thread the first time around. I read the HR piece a short time ago and found the thread today.
Good luck with Ingenue!
Where on the Monterey Peninsula are you?

 

I bought it from a fellow in Harwinton Conn. whos name was Pete ? and I tryed for a few years as most of the time it was not for sale Nick the Bandit (HAMBER) put me in touch with Pete in the beginning. I think he bought it at the English town swap meet at some point. I found the Gray Ghost at about the same time and could't keep both of them and only had the Buick a week or two and sold it to Nick Hardies friend Bill . He kept it a while and then it went to Nick

 

John, did you ever look into the Steve Strope tribute car that I mentioned? It's good to see that you are spending some quality time with your dad by doing this. He has to be exited about playing with his old toys.

 

Guffey, Not to side-track this thread but you mentioned the Gray Ghost in your post. Was the Gray Ghost you found a drag car or the Trans-Am Temest?