I agree with Islandworker, I can still see John Troxel launching the Vista Bruiser at Island Dragway. It inspired me to buy a vista cruiser as quick as I could!
That wasn't for air flow...We did that to get weight OFF of the front end son that we could place it BACK onthe rear end! Tube grille for a '57 6 lbs. Stock grille bar...14 lbs!! It all added up. That why we had to use LARGE spare tires to make the weight break from time to time! LOL NHRA took a dim view of some of that "mild customizing" stuff in later years....