73-77 A-body NASCAR
 

Got curious about photos of the Herb Adams G/A and H.B.Bailey's G/A (which I read are actually the same car), so I did a Google search and found several different ones. So here goes:

Joe Frasson ran the red/white/blue #18. Likely the last Pontiac run with Pontiac power, never ran well at all, got rebodied as a Chevelle. The hood told the whole story..

http://www.randyayersmodeling.com/mo...aa4543591ccadd

How about the 76 GP that never ran as well??? WOW, need a pic of that one..

He beat the hood to crap after failing to qualify...again...

here's another pic..half way down for the 18.

http://www.randyayersmodeling.com/mo...ic.php?t=31039

Terry Link ran pontiacs as well, the #66 wrecked car is a 74 GA.

And you know what that car was infamous for?????

Hi Keith,

That is where I found a lot of the pics. And yes, I do know what unfortunately Terry Link and #66 are best known for. I have several more pics, just trying to figure out how to post them in larger format instead of as thumbnails.

Dave

As for a little more history about the Link GA...Originally built as a 71 GTO by Vernon Blank and Bruce Kalashain. High school buddies, Kalashain had a garage and was a successful Daytona mechanic. Blank was a mechanic as well, for another Daytona garage....Best Damn Garage in Town....and was the mechanic who helped build Marvin Paunch's 1960 Pontiac that won Daytona.

The GTO never ran well but it was probably the most successful 366 Pontiac, best finish was a 5th with Dick Brooks, as I recall. Blank sold the car to Link, who ran it a few times as teh GTO then the GA. It was junked.

I would love to clone the Frasson car on a modern cup road race chassis....Drop in a Pontiac 400 and have some fun.

Those are some bad ass cars... back when NASCAR was REAL cars, not cookies cut from a template.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...nPontiac-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...k75Pontiac.jpg

http://www.catamountstadium.com/Imag...ac_Boright.jpg

http://images20.fotki.com/v248/photo...retires-vi.jpg

http://image.highperformancepontiac....and-am.JPG.jpg

http://images12.fotki.com/v237/photo...ict0005-vi.jpg

http://images14.fotki.com/v257/photo...ict0006-vi.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1.../Scan10019.jpg

http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimag...973GrandAm.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...serp/36fnt.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...36-pontiac.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...m/100_3200.jpg

A few Rick missed

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...5&d=1355197497

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...6&d=1355197507

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...7&d=1355197586

That is cool Keith. I also appreciate the history lesson, love learning about Pontiacs and racing. I have a couple pics of Link's car after the crash, but didn't want to post them. I also read that the Adams G/A was sold to H.B.Bailey, so they are the same car. They look quite a bit different to me (H.B.'s looks closer to stock).
Even though it's not a 73-77, I thought this was too cool. Interesting it says 421 on the hood, and is a 68 body with a 69 grille and chrome bumper.

This thread wouldn't be complete with those pace car Grand Am's too. http://www.smilieshq.com/smilies/happy0001.gif

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...4&d=1355243416

I noticed that they replaced the OEM GM spec radials with fat G60-15 Polyglas GT tires.

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...nr_mFgTLSwoU8Q

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...GpQHQpfpJRy9fg

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...zXRyYivX54MPRE

Here is another safety car that seems to be for sale a lot:

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/stagi...rofile_Web.jpg

End of the ERA perhaps due to one too many trips to the "Excuse Lounge"

http://images20.fotki.com/v248/photo...retires-vi.jpg

The Herb Adams GA met with a lot of controversy at Daytona. Someone had a hard on for that team, or that car, and at every turn, the car failed inspection for not having the proper parts. One item for example was the front ball joints. Tech told them they were not to spec, even though they were the same part all the other GM teams were using. So they got a set of ball joints from one of the other teams and replaced them, only to be slapped with something else. Long story short, by the time they got it to pass tech there was little time left for qualifying, and when the R.A. V 366 let go, they just threw the towel in as there wasn't enough time left to correct it and make another qualifying attempt.

Brian, did you see, in the pic I posted above which is an outtake from the Motor Trend article you were feferring to, they called Adams a "carpetbagger"? It really was a "Good Ol' Boy" sport back then and they took care of their own.

Not a NASCAR but a very interesting look......

I don't remember seeing HP Baileys car upgraded as a 76 before, was that the same #36 car from the 75 Season?

Thanks for posting the pic's!!!!

Nice looking concept!

Any other views or image links for this one?

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...8&d=1355452087

Honorable mentions

http://www.vierstradesign.com/yahoo_...5934_large.jpg

Love It!!!!
 

Designers favorite ABody '73 Chevelle Laguna
http://www.vierstradesign.com/yahoo_...5637_large.jpg

Laguna Love
http://www.vierstradesign.com/yahoo_...1638_large.jpg
http://www.vierstradesign.com/yahoo_...3646_large.jpg

It is cool that he likes the 73-77 A-bodies, all varieties, even if the best looking one isn't his favorite.

These concept drawings are amazing. I would like to get in touch with this artist and share some ideas I have on a rendering for my Grand Am. I am sure his work is not cheap, but the work speaks for itself. I have looked at the idea of incorporating some small fender louvers on my GA as well.

Roger that! I was going to ping your Build Thread w these images in case you'd missed them. Good to see you found this.

You will note that Don V. the artist is located in SoCal - your general area yes? Would be great to see his images of your car - if you contract him...on your build thread.

Your GA came to mind the 1st time I saw this Don Vierstra Creation
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...8&d=1355452087

Love your G/A!! I first stumbled across it on a website my son turned me on to whose name escapes me now (not my son's name, the website's, lol). I think it is badazz, and like you and Alvin, thought specifically of your car.
To be honest, I hate seeing the Pontiac power go, but completely understand. The LS motor suits the comtemporary build of your car, and no matter what it is powered by, will still be unmistakable as a Pontiac. My son is into the late night street scene, and hangs out with a lot of the fastest local cars owner's (yes, believe it or not, there is street racing in central Indiana!). I have to admit, to see a massaged G/A runnin' with the big dogs would warm my heart!! <Disclaimer: I am not advocating street racing, besides, what can I do about it?>

Dave

Alvin; Yeah the artist is located in Buena Park which is about only 30 minutes from where I live. I think I will need to contact him. Pontiacdaver; The LS power was a hard decision but like you said it does fit into the build. As for running with the big dogs....I plan to autocross the car at various local events, and at some Goodguys shows. I also will be road racing the GA at Willow Springs. This will all be for fun. I dont have the unlimited budget some of these guys seem to have. I am looking to get the GA into the mid 11's with traction. No roll bar, and not going to put one in. It's a street car.

Wondering what the threshold is for non-roll ball to still run @ Willow Springs? Class, Speed and or Time limited like the 10 sec Drags perhaps?

Sounds like boat loads of fun planned ahead using your GA "every Which Way But Loose". http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...ons/icon14.gif