Hope this doesn't upset too many. After all, it was in nineteen-seventy-two. But the cars would pass for earlier. My friend Phil Stevenson's wife had worn out their 55 Chevy wagon. He was a big early Cadillac V-8 fan. He got a 390 for fixing somebody's refrigerator. He plopped it in the wagon with the great Jet-Away transmission. He drove it at Fontana and El Mirage a few times, but decided he wanted to go to Bonneville. He needed to upgrade it. Phil got a 6-pot manifold for $20 after convincing the seller that it wasn't for a Chrysler, but a Cadillac – and he was the only known person that would buy it. I furnished my wastebasket of 12 to 14 "97" carbs. He rebuilt 4 of them, blocked off the center ones and drove it to Bonneville. He wanted to go 150, ended up going 149 and change if I remember. Back then they had an award for the fastest car driven there, and he won it. It's since been discontinued. I don't know for sure, but I'd guess driving it from outside Wendover would "qualify". The only change from the driven set-up was changing the back wheels to 18" Halibrands. One had a Bonneville tire on it, one had Indy tire on it, or so I was told. One was 3/4" taller than the other. Both were showing cords, but were stamped "Good for 180 MPH". Years later I ended up with the Halibrands.
The Jalopy Journal
