[Alvin]

[Alvin]

This is just cool as a kid this would've been an experience to remember for sure

[Alvin]

[Alvin]

Recall the time when "this was the 'correct' hi-performance setup?"

[Alvin]

Note the '69 Firebird in this street scene pic...

[Alvin]

This could've been a "Height of Fashion" HPP feature car back in the day...
Was "Bill" a Nunzi customer?

[Alvin]

Remember when this set-up was "it?"

[U47]

Originally Posted by Alvin

Remember when this set-up was "it?"

Yes it was "it" alright. Sorry officer, another fix it ticket, thank you sir.

[Chris65LeMans]

Originally Posted by Alvin

Recall the time when "this was the 'correct' hi-performance setup?"

This was before my time, but I could never figure that trend out. Did they handle as poorly as I imagine?

[Jack Gifford]

Originally Posted by Chris65LeMans

... I could never figure that trend out...

Very simple- weight transfer, back when no sticky tires were available. It all started with the Ramchargers' mile-high '50 Plymouth at an NHRA Nationals (1961?). Anybody got a photo of that to post here?

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Jack Gifford

Very simple- weight transfer, back when no sticky tires were available. It all started with the Ramchargers' mile-high '50 Plymouth at an NHRA Nationals (1961?). Anybody got a photo of that to post here?

Are you thinking of this thing?

K

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Alvin

This is just cool as a kid this would've been an experience to remember for sure

We had this when I was growing up.

Flint's "Industrial Mutual Association" had what was called "Safetyville". It was minature town and you drove around in low speed go-carts, learning safe driving (and pedestrian) habits and the rules of the road. It was, as you have guessed, a blast.

My sister was able to do a tour of the GM Proving Ground when I first started working there. Her first observation was "...jeez - my brother works at 'Safetyville'....".

K

[sdbob]

Yep remember 'jacked up well'.live and learn.Buddy that worked at Pontiac garage had 59 convertible. Idea how high it was (don't have pics)3 of us stood in trunk pushing on ceiling of garage to hook up shocks! !#.he then used 2x6 blocks to space out front a arms. No suspension basically. This was 67-68 time frame.Get this before 69 Judge. George wrote on the rear 'The Judge'.Those were the days.

[MikeNoun]

It was a popular look back then....

[MikeNoun]

One of my all-time favorite photos.

[Jack Gifford]

Thanks for the Ramchargers photo Keith. Maybe I was wrong- they might have debuted the Altered Plymouth at a Detroit Nationals, '59 or '60?

[Jack Gifford]

Mike- nice photo of the "King"!
I guess you all realize that his 200th GN win was in a Pontiac?

[U47]

Originally Posted by Jack Gifford

Very simple- weight transfer, back when no sticky tires were available. It all started with the Ramchargers' mile-high '50 Plymouth at an NHRA Nationals (1961?). Anybody got a photo of that to post here?

Jack, the car was called " The High and Mighty"

[U47]

http://www.allpar.com/racing/pix/hig...ty/burnout.jpg

A group of off-duty Chrysler Corporation engineers racing in their spare time decided to band together and form an organization, called the Ramchargers, to really see what they could do.

Following the ethic of that era’s Chrysler Corporation, they wanted to move from insufficiently proven lore and hunches to a more scientific, collaborative approach.

Their first car was a 1949 Plymouth business coupe, probably chosen for its weight and price; their first budget was low even by standards of the day.

The drag car was powered by what might have been the best engine of the time, a 354 Hemi, complete with 392 Hemi heads for better breathing (in 1960, they put a 392 block underneath the 392 heads; the car was cleaned up and painted white for its sponsor, Mason’s Plymouth-Valiant of Ferndale). In these pre-Torqueflite days, they used a manual transmission - a three speed.

The engine was modified by a group, including Tom Hoover; the intake and exhaust were fabricated by Pete McNichols. To cut weight, they shortened the Plymouth's frame, temporarily dropped the rear fenders, cut four inches off the top, and slid the body forward on the chassis, resulting in half the engine appearing in the cabin.

They ended up putting coil springs from a Buick up front, and used a multilink suspension in back, designed by Dick Burke from the steering and suspension group. Rear wheels were moved inwards, and the engine was tilted, to put as much weight onto the rear axle; that, coupled with the multilink suspension, provided straight launches. The rear fenders weren't modified and added until 1960, from lack of time; likewise, the body wasn't repainted until 1960, when it was painted white.

high and mighty

In two years, the High & Mighty set NHRA records for top quarter mile speed (12.8 seconds at 109.75 mph) and elapsed time (12.62 seconds @ 115 mph). The top speed quarter mile time ever recorded for the car was 11.8 seconds, the top quarter-mile speed 117 mph.

[Greg Reid]

Imbedded the picture from U47's link. Cool poverty cap headlight covers...