History Stock-S/S-F/X 1959-1966

Thanks Larry Those are the kind of stories we all like to hear.
The reason why I asked was unless the motor in the ramp truck was a "W", the distributor never would have fit the Z-11 in the Nova.

Verne

 

Yes your right and I know it was a W just not sure how big a W. I bet many a person wondered what the heck happened when that red ramp truck with that red Chevy II on the back of it passed them on the hi way hauling a*s?
Larry

 

Wally,
I'll be at York Friday outside(cruise in) with my '64 Galaxie. I'll then be at the Beaver on Sunday with my Fairlane and dad's Comet racing NSS. I'll stop by and introduce myself. I'd like to have you show me and Mike Strickler that unique feature on the Strickler Z-11 you spoke of awhile back if you can. The York show is the highlight of the year for us!

 

Look forward to meeting you.

You'll love Sam Auxier's restored ProStocker......

 

Mr. Bell,
Did you ever race at the Double H strip in Blue Ridge, Ga., Paradise in Calhoun, or Lloyd's, in Blairsville?
Richard McFalls
doublehdragstrip.com

 

Richard,
I'm not certain...Paradise maybe.
Raced with people from those areas.

 

No, the Gibb's are top the greatest...BKH

 

Wally,have a great time in York.This will be only the
second show I have missed.I have been trailering fellow Hamber,
Racemad55's Blevins&Scotto's G/MP 55 Nomad
to the show.Lots of reasons why we will not be there
this year and we will miss it bad.Met so many great
racers and had lots of laughs at those shows.Rick(Racemad55)
did a super job in getting the Nomad era correct.He does everything himself,
a blue collar guy,not rich but very determined and a great fabricator.
Too bad Paul Blevins passed a little while back.

 

Wally.....I look forward to meeting you on Saturday at York. I noticed you live in VA now. Are you doing the Nostalgia show at Old Dominion Dragway on August 17th?

-Lee
www.atomicpinup.com
Atomic Radio

 

Well said. Those who are rich now were at work while we were playing with cars. All I have to show from those days is skin cancer, hearing loss, old friends and memories........PRICELESS.

 

Thank you much for the post. I totally lost track of the car after that match race in '65. I thought it was one of the prettiest cars out there car at the time and never knew what happened with it.

 

L78/M22, and a super-rare cowl plenum (not cowl induction!). Mike Crown, aka "66 Mystery Chevelle" used to own that car. He's over on chevelles.com if you want to ask him directly... HTH. Even if I'm wrong (it's happened before) he's a 66/67 Chevelle guru so he'll definitely know the car. And that pic is killer!!

 

If you want to see this thread in "living color" make your plans now to attend the York Reunion and Nostalgia Nationals in 2009. see www.yorkUS30.com. I've been to every one of them and it's better than any class or family reunion.

 

I enjoyed seeing your '47 on Saturday.

-Lee
Atomic Radio
www.atomicpinup.com

 

Great Great Show!

Wguy & I posed for a picture..
( post it Verne!)
It was great meeting a lot of HAMB people.......

 

OK Wally,
Here it is. IT was great to meet you. I hope we cross paths again.
By the way, I'm the good lookin' guy. (no fair reading name tags!!)

Verne



PS: I talked to Mike Strickler, and urged him a bit with Larry there about him driving the '62 out. That's when he finally agreed. Wish I could have stayed to see that. As you know, I spent most of my time babysitting this car right across from you. Ronnie Evans is one of my closest friends and a real un-recognized hero of those early days. He started racing a '62 409 in 1962 and is STILL racing one. ..................Right now, 10 flat.

 

You know... some of the pictures in this thread remind me that 62-63 Chevys are pretty close to perfect. Look great stock, as drag cars, mild customs, etc. Perfect proportions and beautiful styling. Less is definitely more when modifying these cars.

 

Luv the pics especially the RamCharger 65 Coronet AWB Hemi with those tall
injector stacks. I have thought it was interesting how this AWB had a profile
that was not " nose toward the sky " .....

 

I agree on thge 62 but not so much on the 63. A lot more Fugly then the 62

 

maybe i'm a little biased but the '63 galaxie fastback was just a tad better lookin' then eather chevy- '62 or '63- even if you didn't like the fords, that car had nice lines again just my opinon later matt.

 

Unless I mis-remember, the fastback wasn't actually released until later that model year. Believe I remember Ford calling it their 63 & 1/2 model and seems like it also offered the 427 wedge engine (instead of the 406) for the 1st time.

 

There is just something about the "bubble top" '61-'62 Chevys. One of the best roof lines and body styles to come out of the early '60's. And yes I am sort of biased as well, but my '62 is not a bubble top.
If I did own a post shoe box FORD a 60-64 Galaxie would be my choice.

Marty McF.

 

The BelAir 2 door HT Chevs ( I loved my '61) were pretty...

They were called 2dr. HT's before Doug Marion slapped "bubble top" on them in the 80's. ( bubble top sounds "weak" to me....) just my opinion...2 dr. HT sounds better..( *Too late now <smile>)

The 63 1/2 Galaxies were pretty too.

 

Wally,I agree with you whole heartedly about the " Bubble Top " handle hung on the 1961 and 1962 Bel-Air two door hardtops. I always thoght that came from the Super Chevy magazines. Thanks for confirming it.

 

I always wondered about that.......I hate that moniker too.

I kinda prefer 1962 BelAir Sport Coupe.

I've owned two...........totaled one in 1970. When I first saw that one 63, I spent a lot of time tracking it down, and bought it from the guy. Then the crash......sad.

My current one needs restoration sumthin fierce......but it'll have to wait.

BTW - have you seen the 61 Impala Convertible resto thread on the Impalas.net forum? This guy (Skim) is an inspiration to all.

http://www.impalas.net/forums/showthread.php?t=686

Cheers and thanks for clearing that name thing up.

And BTW, I'm not a Ford guy, but you're right, the 63 1/2 Ford was truly the best of thier line in the 60's

 

Whoa, let's hold on a second about bashing Doug Marion here. In the early Eighties that man did ALOT about resurrecting the 409 and especially '62 Chevy "bubbletops". I've owned several '62's including a white Bel Air Sport Coupe and I realize that the term "bubbletop" wasn't even used 'til about 20 years after the last one rolled off the assembly line. Let's not forget there two distinctly different 1962 Bel Air two produced back then: the Sport Coupe and the two door sedan. Like it or not, a simple term was needed to distinguish them apart easily. I mean c'mon how hundreds of 1962 Chevy Bel Airs have you called about to ask them that famous question: hardtop or sedan? I can't even begin to count how many times I've asked that question! The term "bubbletop" is simple to understand for everyone. That being said, the 1962 Bel Air Sport Coupe is, IMHO, the prettiest car ever made and my all-time favorite!

 

I never bash Doug.
Awesome authority, great writer, good friend. ( "bubble top, as i said, isn't my way of describng the 2 dr. hard tops)

The *2dr. HT's , including Impalas obviously made great S/S , AFX Race Cars..did they ever !!!!!

* including Ford,Plymouth, Dodge & Chrysler

 

Wasn't the Chev "hard top" the same from '59 thru '61 on all of them? Then only the Super Sport hardtop was changed in 62?

 

This thread has gotten off track. YES, the 59-61s could also have been called "Bubbletops" but they aren't. '62 Impala Sport Coupe roofs were all the same, not just Super Sports.
and Wally, I also dislike the term "bubbletop". (no matter who invented it) They were Sport Coupes.

Now, lets see some more Stock-S/S-F/X 1959-1966 stuff!!

 

great pictures........