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

That is Jere Stahls Plymouth, hemi powered it beat Bill Jenkins Nova with a 327 in the finals at the winter nationals or another national event that year.

 

Stahl beat Jenkins at the World Finals in Tulsa.
Looks like that's where that picture of Stahl was taken.

 

Emmet “Rattlesnake” Austin was a legendary match racer from Phenix City, Alabama. Austin was a Ford man for sure in his infamous Ford Thunderbolt. Austin began racing the car as an A/FX and kept on updating the car as the years went by. By 1965 Austin was one of the first funny car racers in the South with the black T-Bolt. The Thunderbolt had its battle scars and Austin was proud of them. According to Grady Bryant, Rattlesnake even used the car’s scratches and dents to intimidate the other driver before a match race. Austin ran mid tens in the Thunderbolt and even ran at a NASCAR national event before fading into drag racing obscurity. (Photo by L&M Photos, courtesy of Bob Plumer/Drag Race Memories; info from Draglist files)




a nice comet B/FX
Doug Nash’s skills got the attention of the Detroit suits and offered him a Mercury Comet in 1964. The car, which was one of five 289-equipped Comets that Lincoln-Mercury had built that year to show off the engine’s reliability by lapping Daytona Motor Speedway for 100,000 continuous miles at an average speed of 105 mph (and just one of 15 built by the factory that year), was soon converted into a B/FX entry dubbed the Cyclone. It, too, ran amok in its class, capturing several big wins for the marquee and further establishing Nash’s name.



Lee Smith's AWB AFX plymouth

 

Got this off the web if anybody has more to add or correct anything feel free to post away.

The Factory LW altered wheelbase MUSTANG story

Holman-Moody built 10 A/FX factory lightweight Mustangs for the members of Ford’s “Drag Council.” The program was so successful that the constructor petitioned Ford for the right to produce additional customer cars, of which three were believed to have been assembled.

While the original 10 factory lightweight A/FX Mustangs were “sold” to Drag Council members for a token $1 charge, later cars carried a price tag commensurate with the modifications required to turn a production Mustang into a quarter-mile contender. Per Charles Morris’s Factory Lightweights, Holman-Moody estimated their build cost to be $11,170, including the cost of the car, the Ford 427-cu.in. V-8, and all necessary labor. That likely put the selling price in the $12,000 range, or nearly four times the cost of the K-Code Mustang fastback on which the car was based.

Before being shipped to H&M’s shop in Charlotte, North Carolina, each Mustang had its front fenders, hood, doors, rear seat, all glass except the rear hatch, spare tire, jack, seam sealing, front bumper and mounts, engine, radiator, transmission, driveshaft, and fuel lines deleted, in preparation for the conversion from street car to race car. To save weight, fiberglass body panels were substituted for the steel originals, and polycarbonate was used in lieu of glass. Though A/FX Mustangs came in several colors (including the Poppy Red seen here), black vinyl was the only option for the interior.

The first seven cars built received Ford’s SOHC 427 V-8, but these “Cammer” engines were in short supply, so 427 Wedge V-8s were substituted on the next three cars (and possibly on a few of the later production cars as well). Getting either engine to fit between the Mustang’s front fenders proved tricky and forced H&M to fabricate a twist-leaf front suspension to allow sufficient clearance. To maximize traction, the rear axle was moved forward three inches, requiring reshaping of the rear quarter panels.

To remain compliant with changing NHRA A/FX regulations, most of the Holman-Moody Mustangs were restored to a factory wheelbase during the 1966 season, leaving the remaining “outlaw” cars to battle it out on the match race circuit, running against similarly altered Dodges and Plymouths.

 

Lots of FX finds today and some unusual ones.

How about a HEMI station wagon B/FX



How about a HEAVY LW 1964 ford. Bob F ord B/FX


Bob Ford A/FX mustang




AFX mustang of DICK BRANNON



Another pair of Brannon mustangs



BLAIR'S SPEED SHOP 64PLYMOUTH A/FX



Early GRUMP



Rebel 64dodge AFX

 

"Roadrunner" 64 Plymouth




DAVE KOFFEL Plymouth C/FX WINNER




How about a GIANT Ford with a 289 HOFFER BROS CFX class winner

 

Now a BUNCH of Falcons.

Hubert Platt Georgia shaker





Phil Bonner AL Means FORD



Later Phil Bonner Daddy Warbucks







Swan Ford. Giant wheelie.



"Sad Sack" Tommy McNeely



Tommy McNeely





Best for last

 

This one from the vintage shots thread today by SWI66

Stampede 1965 mustang A/FX and nice 1963 ford tow car.


A/FX Dodge "Bad News" Owned by Steve & Kay Moths




More "Bad News"



A/FX "Performance King" Plymouth Owned by Robert Schatz

 

I have not been here in a while but today I saw this post and a little discrepancy.
This is the 64 AHRA Winters in Phoenix and the first major event Dickie took this Chevelle to. The car was delivered to Dick in Carlsbad, NM and I drove it to work at the dealership for about a week. He wanted to make sure every thing was ok as he had the drive train sold. Then the Z 11 was installed along with some other things and finished in time for this race. He won Street Eliminator.

 

Except that's a Chevy II that Dick's driving...

 

Bill Golden "Maverick Dodge'




Strickler "the dodge boys" vs Grove "Mopar Missile VI "1964-Nts AFX



"Ramchargers" vs Lindamood "Color me gone"

 

Sox & Martin first up A/FX

Sox & martin in a Comet vs Dyno don A/FX




Sox & Martin this time in SS/D



Sox & Martin SS/B this time


This time looks like SS/S

 

One of my all time favorites. Maybe because I actually got to touch it and crawl around it. I was a kid and on the way to Connecticut Dragway with my pops and there it was in the parking lot when we stopped for breakfast. While my pops shot the breeze with the crew members they said sure go out and look when I asked about the car. (probably wanted to get rid of the pesky kid asking questions LOL)

 

I'm looking for a decent video/film of the 1961 Indy Nationals, specifically Optional Super Stock and Super Stock cars. I have a very grainy home movie on DVD but would love to find better footage. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

 

Here is One of my favorite FX "cars" but really it's a truck LOL. For some unknown reason this get my blood running.

The Famous 1963 B/FX Ford F-100 XL 427 powered pickup.

This was one huge ad had to split it into two parts

Back together. (to see huge click on it)







F-100 XL with Jack Whitby




Note the doubled up air filter elements, and electronic ignition box seen on 427 cars. Looks like stock 4 speed shifter .





Change of ownership to Stu Wilson ford




Note the rear facing "traction Masters" style bars, a whole bunch of leaves in the springs, and full street exhaust mandated at the time.

 

Just a few 1955 Chevys.

"Brock & Nelson" SS/U 1955 wagon




"Hardy Boys" SS/M wheels up





"Nunez & Lay" SS/PA 4 door door of all things





"Rich diorio" SS/PA




"Sour Puss II" SS/D





Unknown SS/PA 1955 wagon

 

A few Chevies today

1956 Chevy SS/MA look at all the trophy Ts on the back bumper




1956 Chevy SS/PA at orange county




again





1956 SS/N






"Dog Gone Wagon"

 

Two Dyno Don A/FX Comets. One on a Chevy ramp truck LOL





S/S "California Flash" note two t's on the windshield like we discussed.




1964 cover super Stock and Drag Illustrated with "color me gone"





Another 1964 cover With "Ronnie Sox" in a COMET

 

OK now it's time for some FORDS for a change. Found a great site for Ford race cars and most of the good ford cars are so fast and powerful they ended up in the SS/S class and FX classes. You chevy guys take a deep breath hold your noses because we will be on fords for awhile


1964 "Mother in law" SS/S. I had a set of the holey rear chrome wheels on the front of my 1964 XL





"Al Swenson" 1963 Ford S/S





"Bill Hoefer" CFX BIG Old 65 FORD Galaxie




Bob Spears 1964 "Lafayette FORD" AA/SA getting some press





"Darrell Droke" B/FX 65 FAIRLANE






Dave Lyall "Bob Ford" 63 galaxie S/S






Donnie Brewer in White vs Harold Dutton





"Harvey ford" 65 B/FX fairlane vs willys





Jerry Harvey "Bob ford" 65 FORD BFX





"Les Ritchie 62 FORD A/FX

 

Not done by a long shot LOL.

"Marshall Ford City" 1964ford AA/S





Mike Schmitt and the "Desert Motors" 1964 Ford AA/SA






Desert Motors again




"Peters, Busam, and Thacher "Racing enterprises" AA/SA 1964 FORD





Tasca 62 Ford LW A/FX taken apart





Tasca ford back together. This time SS/S. Member "Bangkok Dean" says the 777 came from tasca's street address number in Rhode Island

 

Someone a few pages back was looking for a picture of Bob Fulp's Slaton Shaker Chevelle

 

Forgot one

SS/OA 64 FORD

 

A few more fords.

F 100 XL Jack Whitby B/FX pickup




Joe Hartley & Son SS/M 65 Mustang




Mike Schmidt Galaxy B/FX





The beginning of the legend

Tasca Ford 1963 A/FX fairlane




Again

 

I'm Baccckkk a few to get back in the swing of posting. On a Ford kick found a great site with a bunch of Fords but will do the same for you chevy guys later.

DICK HEYLER 62FORD SS/SA




Gas Ronda downtown ford SS/S




Gas Rhonda SS/S 62 Ford this time




Hall Ford S/S 1963 Mr. Quick





Jim Gibson El Toro S/S 1963



Hemphill McCombs 63 FORDS/S Note what looks like the short lived rear facing traction bars.




Jim Sanders 1963 another one with the rear facing traction bars.

 

Found a few more.

The "Loud One" today in gas class.




Koffels Flintstone Flyer C/FX




Melrose Missile before AWB days





SS/BA California Flash Butch Leal






OUTLAWED Cuda Richard Petty Note the pie crust slicks working




Steve Hinton SS/T 55 chevy





"The Dodge Boys" S/S

 

Cool stuff

 

Just one for today


"The Godfather" SS/EA Plymouth

 

Fearsome Two Million Dollar Mustang A/FX Drag Racer
These 10 highly modified Mustangs were built to smash through the loose drag racing regulations of the early ’60s, win races, and sell more Fords on Monday.

In order to control the OEMs and their distribution of special race parts to drivers in what were supposed to be stock classes, the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) created three Factory Experimental classes, the fastest of which was A, and the class name became A/FX.




Fans went crazy for the A/FX cars and despite the fact that the NHRA had created specific rules as to what parts and portions of the cars could and couldn’t be modified, the OEMs pretty much ignored the rules. Knowing the fans were paying paying to see the spectacular A/FX cars, they weren’t turned away. And the next weekend a different manufacturer would stretch the rule that much further.





In regards to the Ford Mustang A/FX cars, 10 (or 11, depending upon who you ask) fastbacks were shipped to Holman and Moody in North Carolina. Holman and Moody was Ford’s primary technical partner in NASCAR, but would be brought in for other programs include the drag Mustangs and the Le Mans GT40s.





When the cars in NC, they were further stripped down to a bare shell. At the rear an entirely new drag racing specific suspension set-up was created utilizing the original rear axle. The axle itself was moved forward three inches and the wheel wheel radiused to fit the larger drag tires. All components were built on a jig so repair parts could be quickly manufactured and shipped to teams, knowing it would fit the car.

At the front, Ford specified the 427 SOHC engine be installed, but there wasn’t enough room under the Mustang’s hood. The Holman and Moody crew torched off the inner front fenders, shock mounts and all, in order to stuff the big Cammer into the Mustang. The crew then installed a clever torsion leaf suspension to provide springing at the front end. The motors were installed with two four-barrel carburetors, per the rules.



A Ford SOHC 427 V-8 at Holman Moody ready for one of the 1965 Mustang A/FX cars. Note the Holman Moody sticker above the Ford oval.


The hood, fender, bumper and apron were all formed from fiberglass. The interior featured nothing more than a dashboard, steering wheel, seats, shifter, and roll bar. Windows were plexiglass.





The cars were assigned to members of Ford’s Drag Racing Council, who were leading drivers at the time. A letter from Ford accompanying each vehicle stated “to be used only in drag strip events, sold to the individual for the sum of one dollar”.



Converting one the A/FX Mustangs to Fuel Injection at Holman Moody


Five to seven (again, depending upon who you talk to) of the cars were fitted with new 427 SOHC engine, which were scarce at that point in time. The remaining three were given the 427 wedge Hi Riser engine until more of the SOHC engines could be built.





Holman and Mooney’s bill to Ford for building the 10 cars? (remember, they didn’t have to pay for the body shells, engines, transmissions, etc.). About $1,000,000 in today’s money.


from here:http://gearheads.org/fearsome-two-million-dollar-mustang-afx-drag-racer/

 

Interesting photo! The wedge hardtop car (With a hemi grille and most of the lettering gone) and the 2% hemi car on the trailer. Trees bare, no NHRA nationals "T" decals on the windshield of the trailer car ... early season I'd guess. Any more information about this photo ... DATE(!), location ... etc.? Thanks for sharing.
Joel