"Instant funny car kit" Info

I been searching all night for a old mag. article on on the instant funny car kit. That [SIZE=-1]Bill Thomas was building for the Chevy II. [/SIZE]I think its Hot Rod but I could be wrong. I might have a line on one and it would be nice to do a little reading on it. All Google keeps come up with is reference to it. Thanks Guys

 

Hot Rod Magazine, April '67, has an article on the kit from Blair's Speed Shop, for '55-'57 Chevy's...

 

In my digging around this is the best I have came up with. Its from the Wilshire Shaker build in Hot Rod.


"In 1966, Bill Thomas Chevrolet of Anaheim, California, offered a lightweight match racing conversion kit for '62-'67 Novas using tubular steel and fibergl*** replacement parts that peeled off 375 pounds. Dubbed the Instant Funny Car kit, Thomas sold dozens if not hundreds of them to match race Nova builders all over the country thanks in part to a story that appeared in the Mar. '66 issue of HOT ROD (see "A Novel Nova," p. 84-86)."

 

think mas offered a street funny car kit back in the late 60's.....something to the effect of a 24" over stock front subframe and extended gl*** nose.....will have to look for the picture of the ad.... brandon

 

Follow this link to the Galleries, and mouse around in them for a while. The first gallery has a profile shot and an engine bay shot of one of the Bill Thomas cars that was at the York Reunion this year, and then the gallery labeled "Details" has some more in-depth pics; interior shot, engine shot, cooling system details, etc.

http://www.yearone.com/yodnn/events/YorkNostalgiaRace/tabid/166/Default.aspx

-Brad

 

This is what I'm looking for, Does anybody have any blown up pics of this. Thanks Ed,

 

Found It....

 

Were all the original kits chrome-moly tubing or were some made out of mild steel?

 

there is a thing on this car on the www.yenko.com site.....the car was found in florida.....might do a search for bad bascom nova (think that sounds right...) brandon

 

Hey, I don't know - is it too late to resurrect this thread? I'll give it a try!

For all you older hot rod Nova buffs (and I’m sure some of the “younger” members might enjoy this too), here’s a link to a new website worth checking out – the official Bill Thomas “Novel Nova”.

Some hot rod Chevy II/Nova drag racing history FYI. Back in 1965 (I was 18), Chevy/GM was “out of racing” for a number of corporate reasons – plenty of info about that deal is available on the web. But a “back door” to the Chevy factory during these times was Bill Thomas of Anaheim California. In November 1965, Bill Thomas/race cars designed and built a Nova tubular front subframe with a straight axle and longitudinal leaf springs dubbed the “Instant Funny Car Kit” (Hot Rod Magazine March 1966).

Bill Thomas attached the new front end to a used 1962 Nova and “upgraded” the Nova to a legitimate Match Car racer! Just add a 396, Muncie 4-speed, Pontiac rear end and you too could own an Instant Funny Car (the Novel Nova front axle was pushed forward 3” from stock).

The car went through about 10 owners over the last 45 years, most recently ending up as “Novacaine” before being acquired by John Tinberg in the Chicago area. John did a ten-month ground-up restoration concentrating on getting the car “period correct”. John is a friend and I think he did a great job on an invaluable piece of Nova drag racing history and he deserves a lot of credit for getting it right. This front-end design helped many privateer Nova racers at that time, like **** Harrell, who also used this front subframe from Bill Thomas/Nickey .

The website is a work-in progress and John will be updating it regularly with new information, so if it’s your "cup of tea”, bookmark the site and check back weekly. I think it’s a pretty cool piece of Nova drag racing history – but then again I’m an old romantic at heart!


Hope you enjoy it!


www.billthomasnovelnova.com<O</O

 

I don't know that article. What's funny about it.