Dusty corners of the NHRA Classification Guide

[oldskool]

We only ran across one Caddy drag car.

It was at the div 4 bracket finals race, which was held at the old Green Valley track, in either '77 or '78.

It was long & red. Besides being a drag car, what I thought was interesting was that it was a 2-door. I didn't remember seeing many 2-door Cads, before that.

It was powered by a 500 inch Caddy engine. I think it had two 4's on it. Not positive. I remember thinking that a 500 Cad engine should have lots of torque. IIRC, that Cad ran mid 11's.

From lookin at some online pics, it had to be a '69 model because of the tail lights. So, I suppose it was a '69 2-door Coupe DeVille. Didn't find any pics of a red one. But I'll post 3 pics of a black one. Wish we'd have taken a pic of the red drag Caddy back then.

Never saw an old Caddy running Stock or SS. Just looked up the '69 Caddy. It shows a 375hp 472 engine, but no specs are listed. I know the 472 had plenty of torque. In '73, I pulled my GTO to the tracks with a '68 model 472 powered 4-door Caddy, & tow bar. No power problems at all.

It did use quite a bit of gas. I drove it from North Louisiana to the NHRA Finals race in Amarillo, in '73. There was a gas shortage of some sort. Lots of stations were either out, or only operated a few hours per day. Thought I was gonna have to stop & wait for daylight, when the stations opened. But, I finally came to a big all-night truck stop that had plenty of gas. I won't charge ya'll for that little glimpse of history.

[MikeMoller]

There was a guy in Cincinnati Ohio that raced caddys at the old Beechmont dragstrip back in the 60's I think. I was not really involved in drag racing then, don't know if it was class car or brackets or whatever.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by oldskool

We only ran across one Caddy drag car.

It was at the div 4 bracket finals race, which was held at the old Green Valley track, in either '77 or '78.

It was long & red. Besides being a drag car, what I thought was interesting was that it was a 2-door. I didn't remember seeing many 2-door Cads, before that.

It was powered by a 500 inch Caddy engine. I think it had two 4's on it. Not positive. I remember thinking that a 500 Cad engine should have lots of torque. IIRC, that Cad ran mid 11's.

From lookin at some online pics, it had to be a '69 model because of the tail lights. So, I suppose it was a '69 2-door Coupe DeVille. Didn't find any pics of a red one. But I'll post 3 pics of a black one. Wish we'd have taken a pic of the red drag Caddy back then.

Never saw an old Caddy running Stock or SS. Just looked up the '69 Caddy. It shows a 375hp 472 engine, but no specs are listed. I know the 472 had plenty of torque. In '73, I pulled my GTO to the tracks with a '68 model 472 powered 4-door Caddy, & tow bar. No power problems at all.

It did use quite a bit of gas. I drove it from North Louisiana to the NHRA Finals race in Amarillo, in '73. There was a gas shortage of some sort. Lots of stations were either out, or only operated a few hours per day. Thought I was gonna have to stop & wait for daylight, when the stations opened. But, I finally came to a big all-night truck stop that had plenty of gas. I won't charge ya'll for that little glimpse of history.

The guy that ran S/ST out of Albuquerque with the Coupe Deville was named Courtney Hines..I think he bought the 500 Cad Company.

[Shadylane]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

The guy that ran S/ST out of Albuquerque with the Coupe Deville was named Courtney Hines..I think he bought the 500 Cad Company.

Used to watch Cortney Hines a lot. Name on the car was simply “Flash”.
Pretty fast in the day.

[Mike Schwartz]

Here's the 1960 Ford Thunderbird Convertible



223/145: V
292/185: U
352/235: O-P-Q
352/300: J-K-L
430/350: G-H-I
352/360: F-G-H

[Steve Calabro]

Ray Golonka

[LittleBubba1150]

What about Mr. Golanka? Haven’t seen him in a couple years but He’s the only one that comes to mind

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Mike Schwartz

Here's the 1960 Ford Thunderbird Convertible



223/145: V
292/185: U
352/235: O-P-Q
352/300: J-K-L
430/350: G-H-I
352/360: F-G-H

I'm surprised, seeing the 352/ 360 listed .That's a solid lifter engine.
The Holley listed ,shows all transmissions (It's way too small, BTW)
So, they made 3 speed stick squarebirds? That means you can use a 4 speed now.
Look out!

[Rory McNeil]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

I'm surprised, seeing the 352/ 360 listed .That's a solid lifter engine.
The Holley listed ,shows all transmissions (It's way too small, BTW)
So, they made 3 speed stick squarebirds? That means you can use a 4 speed now.
Look out!

Mark, I br
ekieve that if an engine list for all 1960 Ford models, not just Thunderbirds. Pretty sure the only engines listed there that were factory available in a 60 T Bird were the hydraulic lifter 4 barrel 352 and the 430. And yes, although not very common, the speed manual was available in the "Squarebirds", I saw one a few weeks ago, that had a 3 speed manual with a column shifter.

[SSDiv6]

These would be a cool Super Stockers...