I feel like such a hypocrite sometimes, being that I'm building a "g***er" and yet I get pissed when people want to do the same to their cars...I've put a lot of time and thought into what I'm doing, and doing things a little on both sides of the fence between period correct (for the '65/'66 era rules) and a little bit of my way...I absolutely detest the "I'm gonna throw a straight axle under my *insert car make/model here* and call it a g***er" type cars and the people who build them, especially when it's just a stocker with an al***ude/at***ude change...I agree with whoever said something to the effect of not building a g***er out of something with a leaky stock motor that's slow as can be, but "looks" fast...the Gas Cl*** style of cars will never die down, but hopefully more people will put effort into those style of cars they're building and not just making a street car with a "look" to it...many of you have heard me mention the specs of my car, so I'm not going to get into that here but, as far as I'm concerned, it's the real deal being built for the track and nothing else...
For what it's worth--I've been working on a 1/25 scale '57 Chevy model lately (where's whodaky's "Sunday Models"?), makin' a g***er out of it, and these kinds of discussions have been a valuable resource for me. BFD, I know, but after reading this thread I'm gonna hafta make some changes to the suspension--
I'm still waiting for an increase in honest to goodness altered wheelbase street machines. Debates and nitpicking aside, the stuff that guys like Rich Lefebvre are building is nothing short of bad***
would love to build a awb street car....like a early funny /fx style....extended front ....relocated rear...and motor almost under the dash .....sorta something along the lines of dougs chevy 2 much.....or the hairy canary valiant....or gene snows early dart...around late 65 thru 66...before the logghe revolution......rich's stuff is cool $hit.....and he's been listing a bunch on ebay here lately.......brandon
I guess I am on the wrong board, I have 4 g***ers under construction here at the shop now..........two blown and injected with 4 speeds , no posers here........cya
I'm so old I remember when NHRA g***ers had to have almost all the street legal stuff on them in working order. In about 1962 we had to fabricate inner fender panels in a parking lot in Indy to p*** tech. for the Nationals; with a C Gas '40 Willys. You can pick your favorite g***er era and build to suit since rules and technology changed rapidly. Addressing raised suspension; if memory serves me it seems that the "High & Mighty" '49 (?) Plymouth coupe run by the Ramchargers was one of the first and highest. I was an Altered, not a G***er. The Ramchargers were Chrysler Corp. engineers. Why wouldn't Joe Average drag racer copy them? The altered wheelbase drag cars might have been a greater influence on the street scene because they were late models. Didn't see too many (any) '33 Willys, '40 Willys, Anglias or other early popular g***er models on the street back then, because they were rare even then. I had a '33 Willys 4 door B Gas car in '65 and a B Altered (never got all the required stuff in to to be a g***er) Anglia (Thames) panel in '66, both home built. They were only high enough in back to get a slick under the rear and were typical for our area at that time. One thig I don't see, but would really like to see is 272, 283, 292, 301 small block Chevy engines like we used in the lower gas cl***es, being used in street g***ers with a 4-5 speed. Loved the sound of a 8,000 rpm small inch Chevy.
I think possibly the idea was to raise the car and "toss" the whole m*** rearward onto the rear tires on the launch for traction when tires weren't all that good. Perhaps they thought raising the rear aided this theory? Thinking they were tipping ALL the weight rearward, instead of just the front. Also, i think tires got pretty tall before they got wide, contributing to the rear height of the car back then (narrowed rearends were far from common). Just a guess
There is a great article on a new build traditional g***er in one of the latest issues of Rodders Journal. (I am at the shop at the moment and do not have the issue number handy). I lived through that era (on the other side of the planet) and this car is perfect. The story explains the rationale behind the build and the choice of components--small block, stick etc and is right on the money. As noted in other posts the cars got lower as suspension and tire technology improved and the late model bodies started to take over as they were more aerodynamic. I have just managed to acquire an Opel GT and it is going into the "build it one day" bin along with my 39 Chevy 2 door post (was thinking g***er look but the one in Rodder's Journal will be hard to top) and 27 roadster (will be a sixties style A/MR as per the Steve Stanford art in an earlier issue of RJ where he drew a bunch of "Street Freaks" and referenced the Car Craft annual issues that ran in the early 70's. Roo Man
Well put Mutt!!! I get tired of rolling into a show with the GTO and everyone saying "hey look a g***er!!" Even after explaining the cl***es it still is "Yeah, cool g***er!"
I don't think they were talking about your car. I think they were talking about the driver. LOL Wait till i tell ya what I found sitting this week.
Hey Mr. Zettle, just take it with a grain of salt. I dig your car, and I understand it. The m***es will probably never fully get it, but will continue to hype the current popular trend or buzzword. Right now it's "g***ers". Take it as a compliment, smile and move on... I thought this thread was dead, way back on page 1 was my first-ever post on the HAMB, and I got my *** handed to me for my effort. Ahh, memories.... For what it's worth, my 65 GTO street car is going back together as a "really close" representation of a late 60s Modified Production car. Why?? just cause I like the look. Note I said "really close", not "perfectly correct"- I do know the difference. I don't think I'll letter it, or put "B/MP" on the window. Some will dig it, some won't. Someone will probably walk around it at a show, and pick it apart for not being just right. Maybe they'll think (or better yet, tell their buddy, just loudly enough that I can overhear) that I'm a poser, that I don't know better, or God forbid I screwed up a perfectly good GTO. I won't let it ruin my day. You and I get the last laugh because we get to enjoy these cars whichever way we like. peace. Pete
when i lived in ny,we used to go to norwich swapmeet every year, i wanted this car,but the wife didn,t. wonder what ever happened to it?
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