So, how fast did they really go in 62?

In 1962 we had a 59 Ranchero as a push car. After my dads wreck (he was out of racing for a year) he let me use it to drag race. I dropped in a 59 361 Edsel (FE type) engine bored 60 over with 3/8 stroker kit (428 CI), 12.5 pistons, Isky roller cam, Weiand 6x2 manifolrd with 94 carbs, Flame Thrower dual coil ignition and ported heads. The engine was considerd "full race". It ran low 13's best case at around 97-98 mph. The best part was NEVER EVER did I get outrun by an El Camino and some had the badd ass 409's in them.

 

Wild to see how times change . . . just 10 years ago at a national event I was at there was just a few guys running 12's, this year there was a lot in the 10's . . . pretty good for 20+ year old 4 cylinders. (Not Honda's . . . )
Top time was an 8.13 @ 180 mph . . . FWD. Not HAMB but still pretty cool.

 

Indy results 1962 courtesy of November 62 Hot Rod Magazine. SS/S was won by Dave Strickler driving a 62 Chev 12.97 at 113.35. A/FX went to LLoyd Cox in a 62 Pontiac 12.68 at 115.68. AA/Dragster Jack Chrisman driving the M/T special 8.76 171.75 .AG/S Stone,Woods and Cook Olds for power 10.59 136.77. A/Gas went to Norm Hall with a Chevy powered car 12.06 120.16. A/Street Roadster Hugh Tucker with an Olds 11.21 132.35.

 

In the mid sixties, 11s and 12s were still awfully good times for a full bodied car. Can't tell you what the typical street rod would run.

 

Ya know I can't really tell you speed wise but I know that perhaps a year or two before that they went fast enough to ruin a skinny little redheaded kid that was strapped to his dad's lap in gas roadster at an old air strip in N Cal.

I still spend a lot of time with the guy and he's just fuckin eat up.

 

I think if you built a car to 62 standards and ran low 13 or high 12's you would have been running with some of the fastest street cars. (underline street)

 

I remember the 62 409 Chev of a friend of mine being in the high 14's and just over 100 mph - the car was a daily driver.

The 409's could be beaten by a good street rod, usally Olds powered with decent transmissions (LaSall or Hydro) in light body

In 63 we had a local guy with a 4-71 blown 56 Olds. Never ran on the strip so it was never timed, but it was never beaten, and was challenged by everybody. I'd guess it was in the 13's - high 12's

 

My street SBC 55 could beat most all street 409's ... in the Red Light races ... but the further you ran ... the closer they could get ... HARD to fight the Horsepower past 1/8 mile or so. They suffered traction. I believe a lot of the much improved times we see now is TIRES and suspension work. That was MOST of the difference in a street car and a track car back in the 60's. The Track car ran enough gear ratio and had the tires and suspension work to make a difference ...

 

Man that is freakin' sweet! What do ya think my pile could do in the 1/4? '59 Custom 300 2dr sedan, 429ci Thunderbird mill, 4bbl/open headers, C6 auto/shift kit, 385hp/495 ft lb, 3:56 single leg rear/Casler 7" cheaters...one of these days I'll bring it some where and find out. I love hearing about other 59's racing back in the good 'ol days. You have any pics of that machine?
-Dean

 

I don't know but in 2006 my 53 bel air will do about 20 seconds in the quarter. Fast huh?

 

I had a 61 starliner 390 375 hp ran at hobbs N Mex it ran 13.40 et 114 mph
those were the days the car was new and it was my daly driver we drove
them to the strip and drove them home
slicks

 

Not 1962 ... but 1961

 

In 65, I had a 56 Chev "cheater" was going to run stock class but got caught. Said screw it and went "All Out" Was running a 265 bored out .030over stroked to 301, 11.5 to 1 popups, duntov30/30 cam. Put dual quads on it put Olds (B&M) hydro w/olds rr and ran C/MP running best time of 12.36. Which was fast for a daily driver. Ran most of strips in No.Calif. Fremont,Half Moon Bay,Vaca Valley,Kingdon,Bakersfield. Those were the days!!!! Running for 20 bucks a gear.