Of "Devastation" 63 Corvette B/Gasser, Chevy BB 4 speed. Anybody remember this car? It had a purple Chevelle wagon tow car, 4 sp 396. Might have run at other SoCal tracks.
I remember the '63 Vette split window coupe ''Devestation'' very very well. It ran at old Irwindale Raceway all the time circa 1967-'68-69. The car was driven, tuned, and built by Paul Althouse of Paul's Automotive fame out of Monrovia, Ca. The owners name was Leo Desbeian who if I recall owned the body shop that painted the car right near Paul's Automotive on Foothill Blvd. in Monrovia. The car ran very consistent at Irwindale. On a Saturday night that funky blue/purple Vette was always running in the finals or semi-finals of #1 money bracket with a dial-in e.t. of 10.35 to 10.40 e.t. with a top end in the 138-142 m.p.h. range. The car ran a .060 over 427 Rat motor = 440 inch. mill going through a Muncie M22 ''crash box'' that Althouse would manhandle with ''greatest of ease''. Paul's staging and burn out technique was a show to see in itself. I don't know if the car was a legal NHRA B/gasser but it was definitely a show stopper with those big tall Hillborn injector stacks, Cragar S/S mags and that super metalic purple/blue paint scheme. Very cool car.
Thanks! I'd really like to see a pic of this car! Did it run a straight axle? Anyone have any more info?
I polished those Cragars with my sister and mom. That was my dad's car and we spent many a Saturday at Irwindale Raceway watching him race Devastation. After putting in the crusher and getting the clutch dialed in with Schiefer, they started busting up the stock IRS and put in a dodge rear end I think. I'm trying to find the article. My mom remembers both your names and wants to know if you remember Joe Fisher?
Wow....i remember this car, i have not found a photo of it untill now i do remember it always ran well , any chance your family still has the car?
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