History Drag cars in motion.......picture thread.

who drove that thing?

 

Yeah who drove it and how could that possibly be considered a funny car? (I think you know what I mean.)

 

Mazooma....That car still exists in pieces.

 

Am I nuts (don't answer that) or was that built by Winfield?

 

THIS?

 

I seem to remember Winfield did have something to do with it, and it was based out of Phoenix,Az...............was the Piranha ever a production car?

 

Very interesting...all I can say, the car is here locally.

 

apologies, Skip...

http://www.c-we.com/piranha/piranha.htm

 

No problema!!!! You sure have a great memory though.

 

I think that Connie Swingle drove it at one point.

 

Was a prototype for a production car built by winfield and used in the TV show man from U.N.C.L.E.



The story behind the "Funny Car"

"With the help of Gene Winfield, AMT Corp. was planning to manufacture a limited production, two-seater sports coupe. To help promote their introduction into the world of real cars, AMT decided to go drag racing. Under the direction of Winfield, the Piranha drag racer was built as an exhibition car and match racer for the booming funny car class. It recored a 182.64 mph, 8.81-second e.t. during it's first public appearance and was one of the first dragsters to threaten the 200 mile per hour barrier.

Featuring a body made of Cycolac, the chassis was designed and built by Fred Smith. The bare frame weighed only 68 lbs. and featured a tubular front axle that was suspended by a transverse torsion bar. The car had a 120" wheelbase, overall length of 148", and body height of only 29". Engine builder Joe Anahory tuned the blown 392 c.i. Chrysler Hemi to about 1400 horsepower on 95% nitro at 7,200-7,500 rpm. The body was painted a fantastic, glistening lemon-gold that flowed into a bronz-tone lower body by Winfield. Driven by Walt Stevens, the car was a showstopper wherever it appeared."

And the rest of the story here:

http://www.c-we.com/piranha/index.htm

 

Love this willys

 

more Piranha stuff...restoration
http://www.c-we.com/piranha/restpira.htm

 

Thanks Mazooma and unfortunately the car was never restored because Richard Riddell passed away.

 

Whats interesting to note in this instance is that the V-Dub spoted the Willys a head start as denoted by the thier respective classes embossed the windows. Darrell Vittones Inch Pincher ran I/Gas while the Willys was a J/G class car

 

In speaking with Walt Stevens, he commented that the car handled like a shopping cart. Cursed by the fact that it really wasnt considered a funny car because the body didnt emanate from an actual production vehile. When all went well, it was faster then anything out there, including Nicholson's flip top Comet. Savy match racers learned of its achilles heel as it wasnt equipped with raditators. So while the opponent went throught the rosin ritual, the Piranha would sit there and over heat.

 

Now here's a FUNNY car. Found this on another site. The photo is from the Sioux City paper. Henry Nigg and Al Mahaney with their Hemi-Crosley...