Best Tow Car - Page 3

Jeff Lee · 07-28-2010, 08:21 PM

Buddy in the early 1980's used a '69 GTX, 440-4bbl w/ auto and 3.23 rear and a/c. Pulled his '70 Gran Coupe Barracuda which had the front and rear yellow elastomeric bumpers and 7 way adjustable drivers bucket and houndstooth interior. It was an original 383 4bbl car. Definitely unique and one to keep.
The GTX was an excellent tow mobile.

Paul Precht · 07-28-2010, 09:25 PM

Back in the early 70s I used to tow my 63 Sport Fury to NY National and Westhampton with a 64 Fury convertible with a 72 440 that I paid 20 dollars for which used about a quart of oil a week. It had a 323 rear, Road Runner exhaust manifolds, 361 2 barrel cam, I think 395 lift, stock 346 heads with a 69 mani and 383 AVS. I weighed it at Westhampton once without me and it weighed 3982. One day at National I had a leak that I couldn't fix at the track with the Sport Fury and wrote the numbers on the tow car for a fun time trial. Breaking up all the way down the track and smoking like a wood stove it ran a 14.28 at 98 MPH. In 74, I spun a bearing in the Sport Fury and Put in the original 383 shortblock from the Fury conv so I could race until I fixed the 426. It was topped with a set of 516 heads, a stock 63 Max cam, a Torker and a Holley 4779. It smoked worse than the 440 and ran 12.50s that entire summer, I was amazed.

Don Whitmore · 07-28-2010, 10:24 PM

Paul ...if memory serves correct, Truman Fields and his brother bought two new 1968 Firebirds 400 ci, and used one Firebird to tow the other via towbar to the tracks.

Otherwise, had a 1962 Chrysler New Yorker 413 ci w/ push-button auto towing my 1966 Chevelle...

treessavoy · 07-28-2010, 10:44 PM

Back in the '70's I was stationed at Ft. Bragg NC and set my '68 Nova for racing, my room mate in the barracks towed me to the strip in his 1967 Hemi Charger.

We'd run both cars and he would tow me back........yes, the tow car was faster!

JimR

vic guilmino · 07-28-2010, 11:32 PM

almack
you was at the 1988 gs nationals???
so was I

X-TECH MAN · 07-29-2010, 05:59 AM

Were these the "Good Ole Daz" when racing was FUN and you didnt have over length stacker trailers, motor homes, and special built race cars that cost almost as much as the National Debt and payments to match !

Detroit Bob · 07-29-2010, 06:09 AM

I was 14 at the time and two older friends flat towed a 1965 Formula S Barracuda with a 1964 slant six Valiant. The Barracuda would not track right, around corners so they put me behind the wheel of the Formula S, their instructions were to steer when needed and don't touch the brakes. So I sat in a race car for a ride to Motor City Dragway, I was in heaven.

stage1scott · 07-29-2010, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

stage1scott,
The Vista Cruiser was a pretty popular station wagon 'Tow Car'.
Possibly the 'Best Looking Station Wagon'
Especially the 69' with the dual-action tail-gate.
Watch your fingers on closure of the door

pc

That was a great car for sure-My parents bought it new in 71, passed it to us in the fall of 73, we spent the winter of 73-74 giving it the W treatment and started towing with it that spring. I made some passes at national trails with it one sunday and it went low 14s as I recall, and we used it year round as a cruise night type of car. By the time I moved to the left coast in 1979 the winters salt had taken its toll,as we drove it year round, and I sold it cheap ($600.00) before I left Columbus. Wish I had it now! Here it is with its alter ego, my brothers 70 W 30 coupe in the opposite paint scheme

cicero819 · 07-29-2010, 07:07 AM

My brother had a 57 chev station wagon pulling his 56 jr Stocker. He and his buddies installed a 402 from a totaled chevelle which they also liberated the turbo 400 what a great set up, took us all over from east coast to Indy many times. He had changed the gears in the rear from a 4:10 to a low 2:7something.Incredible mileage just a tad slow on leaving though.

Paul Ceasrine · 07-29-2010, 08:22 AM

See,
I knew this thread would be interesting.

Bob Lasko,
Don't know if you remember at Dover. But the Storm King guys had
a 70' Superbird that they used for a 'Tow Car'

Also, John Macey of 'Lead Zeppelin II" fame, towed his 66' Belvedere II
Hemi Station Wagon SS/FA in 1973, with another Belvedere II Hemi Station Wagon. That had to be a 'first'.
pc

07-28-2010, 08:21 PM	#21
Jeff Lee VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anthem, Arizona Posts: 2,766 Likes: 0 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Best Tow Car Buddy in the early 1980's used a '69 GTX, 440-4bbl w/ auto and 3.23 rear and a/c. Pulled his '70 Gran Coupe Barracuda which had the front and rear yellow elastomeric bumpers and 7 way adjustable drivers bucket and houndstooth interior. It was an original 383 4bbl car. Definitely unique and one to keep. The GTX was an excellent tow mobile. __________________ Jeff Lee 7494 D/S '70 AMX

07-28-2010, 09:25 PM	#22
Paul Precht Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Elysburg, Pa Posts: 702 Likes: 304 Liked 247 Times in 95 Posts	Re: Best Tow Car Back in the early 70s I used to tow my 63 Sport Fury to NY National and Westhampton with a 64 Fury convertible with a 72 440 that I paid 20 dollars for which used about a quart of oil a week. It had a 323 rear, Road Runner exhaust manifolds, 361 2 barrel cam, I think 395 lift, stock 346 heads with a 69 mani and 383 AVS. I weighed it at Westhampton once without me and it weighed 3982. One day at National I had a leak that I couldn't fix at the track with the Sport Fury and wrote the numbers on the tow car for a fun time trial. Breaking up all the way down the track and smoking like a wood stove it ran a 14.28 at 98 MPH. In 74, I spun a bearing in the Sport Fury and Put in the original 383 shortblock from the Fury conv so I could race until I fixed the 426. It was topped with a set of 516 heads, a stock 63 Max cam, a Torker and a Holley 4779. It smoked worse than the 440 and ran 12.50s that entire summer, I was amazed.

07-28-2010, 10:24 PM	#23
Don Whitmore Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 140 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Best Tow Car Paul ...if memory serves correct, Truman Fields and his brother bought two new 1968 Firebirds 400 ci, and used one Firebird to tow the other via towbar to the tracks. Otherwise, had a 1962 Chrysler New Yorker 413 ci w/ push-button auto towing my 1966 Chevelle...

07-28-2010, 10:44 PM	#24
treessavoy VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Dunnellon,FL Posts: 1,103 Likes: 0 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Best Tow Car Back in the '70's I was stationed at Ft. Bragg NC and set my '68 Nova for racing, my room mate in the barracks towed me to the strip in his 1967 Hemi Charger. We'd run both cars and he would tow me back........yes, the tow car was faster! JimR __________________ Jim Rountree

07-28-2010, 11:32 PM	#25
vic guilmino Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: wv Posts: 883 Likes: 42 Liked 56 Times in 21 Posts	Re: Best Tow Car almack you was at the 1988 gs nationals??? so was I __________________ Vic Guilmino 1129 STK

07-29-2010, 05:59 AM	#26
X-TECH MAN Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lake Placid, Florida Posts: 3,207 Likes: 1,049 Liked 235 Times in 110 Posts	Re: Best Tow Car Were these the "Good Ole Daz" when racing was FUN and you didnt have over length stacker trailers, motor homes, and special built race cars that cost almost as much as the National Debt and payments to match !

07-29-2010, 06:09 AM	#27
Detroit Bob Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Grosse Pointe Woods Mi Posts: 88 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Best Tow Car I was 14 at the time and two older friends flat towed a 1965 Formula S Barracuda with a 1964 slant six Valiant. The Barracuda would not track right, around corners so they put me behind the wheel of the Formula S, their instructions were to steer when needed and don't touch the brakes. So I sat in a race car for a ride to Motor City Dragway, I was in heaven. __________________ Bob Kowal STK 345

07-29-2010, 07:07 AM	#29
cicero819 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Aylmer Quebec, Canada Posts: 1,086 Likes: 31 Liked 68 Times in 29 Posts	Re: Best Tow Car My brother had a 57 chev station wagon pulling his 56 jr Stocker. He and his buddies installed a 402 from a totaled chevelle which they also liberated the turbo 400 what a great set up, took us all over from east coast to Indy many times. He had changed the gears in the rear from a 4:10 to a low 2:7something.Incredible mileage just a tad slow on leaving though.

07-29-2010, 08:22 AM	#30
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Best Tow Car See, I knew this thread would be interesting. Bob Lasko, Don't know if you remember at Dover. But the Storm King guys had a 70' Superbird that they used for a 'Tow Car' Also, John Macey of 'Lead Zeppelin II" fame, towed his 66' Belvedere II Hemi Station Wagon SS/FA in 1973, with another Belvedere II Hemi Station Wagon. That had to be a 'first'. pc