Last i heard the landspeed record car was at the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit, does anyone know if it is still there? Is it a permenant display? Thanks
The Henry Ford museum bought the car in 2002, restored her, and had her on display as of September 2006. Goldenrod is an American streamliner car which held the wheel-driven land speed record from 1965 to 1991. It was owned by Bob and Bill Summers, of Ontario, California. Bob Summers drove the car to set the land speed record. The Goldenrod is powered by four fuel injectedChrysler Hemi engines, mounted inline and created a total output of 2,400 bhp. The car was originally built in Southern California and the team included James Crosby. Before finding their final success, the two brothers contacted a fuel specialist and racing equipment pioneer and inventor named Tony Capanna, owner of Wilcap Co. (at that time in Torrance California). They were having trouble getting the speed they wanted with the 4 engines set in 2 rows side by side. Capanna suggested they put the engines in line and have it streamlined. In this configuration it was christened Goldenrod. Capanna advised them to get aerodynamic advice from a Northrop engineer. The brothers did and found success on November 12, 1965, when Goldenrod set the wheel-driven record (a class introduced due to the controversy over Spirit of America)<SUP id=cite_ref-0 class=reference>[1]</SUP> at 409.277 mph (658.64 km/h) over the flying mile, an FIA record which was held for 27 years. It was broken in 1991 by Al Teague with his supercharged Hemi-powered Spirit of '76, which went 409.986 mph (659.81 km/h) and later by the Burklands' 411 Streamliner at 415.896 mph (669.319 km/h) on 2008/09/26 (Class AI-I-11). Goldenrod was not supercharged, so it still held the class (AI-II-11) record<SUP id=cite_ref-1 class=reference>[2]</SUP> until 21 September, 2010, when Charles Nearburg in the Spirit of Rett increased this to 414.316mph.<SUP id=cite_ref-2 class=reference>[3]</SUP> The car went on tour for many years all across the U.S., then first ventured outside the country in 2000, when it was placed at where the cricket pitch is, in the Goodwood Festival of Speed with the other land speed record cars. The surviving Summers brother, Bill, attended (Bob died in 1992). The Henry Ford museum bought the car in 2002, restored her, and had her on display as of September 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldenrod_(car)
I had a high school buddy who worked for Summers Bros in the late 70's to mid 80's. I once inquired as to the cars whereabouts, having seen it once at the LA County Fair in what..1969? He said he would take me to see it one day. Expecting to see it in the Summer Bros show room, instead I found myself following him to an abandoned used car lot where it sat atop an open trailer, covered by a tarp. Exposed to the elements, it still appeared intact and without too much weathering. How strange that such an iconic piece of American hot rodding would be left standing for thieves and vandals to attack. Glad to see that it was finally adopted by a proper family.
it's still going on....letting America's treasures sit out where they can be damaged.. Art Afrons LSR vehicle has been sitting in the parking garage in Los Angeles at the Petersen Museum for years and years. There's no fences, gates, nothing...some jerk had graffitied it with a felt pen the last time I saw it about 10 months ago. Anyone can have access to it 24 hours a day... it's owners have been trying to sell it on Ebay, yet, here it sits
This is from another thread on here, has recent pics: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=501619
Remember seeing it in front of the NHRA museum a few years ago... unrestored but not looking too bad, thought I was lucky to get to see it... Also saw the Arfons car in the parking lot of the Peterson, again unrestored. Too bad they didn't get the respect they deserved, but seems like things are coming around for the better lately. They dug up Babs from the beaches in England, and even Malcom Campbell"s last Bluebird has been pulled up from the deep, and is being restored.
Not Sir Malcom Campbell's K4 but Donald Campbell's K7 (Malcom's son also named Malcom). Sir Malcom died of a stroke in 1948 but his son Donald died in a crash setting a water record in 1967. The wreckage of Campbell's craft was recovered by the Bluebird Project between October 2000 when the first sections were raised and May 2001 when Campbell's body was recovered. The largest section representing approximately two thirds of the main hull was raised on 8 March 2001. The wreck had been located by a team lead by diver Bill Smith.
Yea I know old thread but the closest one I could find to put this video. The story and yes it's still in Henry Ford Museum.
I thought I read years ago that Chrysler loaned the engines, and got them back shortly after the record run.