Re: Ray Allen/Briggs Chevrolet SS454
 

I think the number was 18 convertables both Stick and Automatic. Six was the number for automatic and 12 four speed cars. I remember this number when I did the research on an LS-6 I bought in 83.

Re: Ray Allen/Briggs Chevrolet SS454
 

I found some interesting information. But the numbers do not sound correct.
1970 Chevelle (production; 442,046)
1970 Chevelle (convertibles; 7511 or 1.7%)
1970 Chevelle SS396 (production; 49,826)
1970 Chevelle SS396 (convertibles; 847)
Now these numbers are way out-of-whack.
Chevelle SS454 (production; 3773)
Chevelle SS454 (convertibles; 64)
Can this be possible. No exact amounts of 4-speeds versus automatics.
But, if Ray Allen raced that Chevelle at NHRA-sanctioned points meets and championship events, GM would have to produce a number of 50
produced, or the Mopar guys would have protested him into oblivion.
They would have never gived him any slack, not back then.
More confusion. Don't know if you guys are old enough, but back in
mid-70 GM was advertising the hell out that SS454 car combination.
Paul C

Re: Ray Allen/Briggs Chevrolet SS454
 

Someone at B-J (tech-advisor) just told me that they think only 17 convertibles were produced, with the LS-6 and automatic combination.
And that the Briggs Chevrolet car was either the #1 or #2 car, with that combo????
As for some correct drag racing info. That car competed regularly at
E-Town, New Jersey in the summer of 70, and won a bunch of S/S Eliminators. How many exactly,, (more than 6 and less than a dozen)
Some say 9...The SS/EA NHRA record at the time was held by
Don Cobb (11.56 @ 120.80) with a 69' GTX Hemi convertible.
The Chevelle ran in the 11.50 range. The Chevelle did win the
SS/EA class at the 70' Nationals, but did not win S/S Eliminator.
Ron Mancini won it with his SS/AA Hemi Dart over Lou Downing in
his SS/D AMX.

Re: Ray Allen/Briggs Chevrolet SS454
 

The first SummerNationals were held at York in 1970. There definately seemed like something was wrong at the tree during the first round of SuperStock eliminator. Every car in the right lane redlighted for a number of pairs. By the time Ray made it to the line in that right lane I think everyone was aware of the issue and I recall seeing racers being pretty late to insure a green light. Ray appeared to be one of those and lost when he clearly should have won with a faster car. It's a long time ago but thats how I remember it. Maybe something else happend but that car was capable of winning any race they ran that year. I was sitting in the stands watching unfortunately as we failed to make the Stock field during that event.......

Re: Ray Allen/Briggs Chevrolet SS454
 

Paul, The Chevelle counts for nhra is total amt. of Chevelle's, not just converts. Total all with LS-6 makes any Chevelle legal

Re: Ray Allen/Briggs Chevrolet SS454
 

Bob P.
Yes, I know that. I just didn't word it correctly. 50 total cars to be NHRA-legal, Automatic or 4-speed, Hardtop or Convertible.
Thank you for re-fining that thread. I guess I installed the top oil-ring in upside down, but still got the gap correct.:).
Rich B. Yes, that Chevelle was the right combination at the right time.
Could even run faster than the SS/DA Hemi cars, for awhile. Not aware of the Chrondek issue at the 70' SummerNationals.
Was busy watching Ron Mancini's "Gratiot Auto Supply" winning with the SS/AA Hemi Dart over Barrie Poole's Mustang
that Sunday, for the S/S crown
PC (Keep the thread going, good stuff!)

Re: Ray Allen/Briggs Chevrolet SS454
 

If anyone gets a chance, try to watch the repeat of the Barrett-Jackson
October 2006 Scottsdale show. The auction of the Briggs Chevrolet
"Killer Car".
Somewhat pathetic, the way Craig Jackson pulled up a reluctant Ray Allen to add the race history to the car, when the bidding stalled. Ray Allen stated that the car had won $40,000 over a 4-week period, back in
late 1970. True, the SS/EA car won the S/S Championship at the World Finals (October, Dallas) and the Supernationals (November, Ontario, California). Then Craig Jackson comes back on, and states that the car was undefeated. Right there, you can see Ray Allen cringe, when that statement was made.
PC
* Still a great car from the summer of 70' thru the summer of 71'.

Re: Ray Allen/Briggs Chevrolet SS454
 

I have a DVD that includes the Chevelle/B-J auction footage and then features some clips of the new owner racing it with the top down against his buddies. I watched itafter this thread got started and also wondered where the "undefeated" story came from. We went to Sanair that year and Ray was there with the Chevelle. It was the World Championship Series divisional race. I don't think they won that race either. During that race Tommy Callahan (Callahan &Sulc) crashed their Challenger convertible on sat. night and wound up winning Stock in their '62 Fury on Sunday if I remember right. One of a number of cars that crashed in that era and probably because of the 7" slick rule......way to small a tire for the power and speed we had back then....Cars routinely got squirrely at the top end on those tires with very low air pressure on narrow rims.......Frank Iaconio was driving that '62 Fury for a while....

Re: Ray Allen/Briggs Chevrolet SS454
 

Rich
Didn't Frank buy the 62 then sell it to build his first pro stocker.

Re: Ray Allen/Briggs Chevrolet SS454
 

Rich,

Here is a shot I took at the 71 Summernationals with Frank driving the aforementioned 62 383/343 Fury. 7" tires were the order of the day at that time, and before I started racing my Duster, my previous car (65 Valiant) used basically the same setup. You and many others certainly know what I am talking about, but for those who never raced on narrow slicks and 6" wide wheels at 7-8 lbs. of air, it was quite an experience, even at just over 100 mph.

P.S. Back to the core of this thread. Being in the musclecar restoration parts business, I am well aware of the auction house shenanigans. I could on on for hours about some of the behind-the-scenes issues that are controlled by few and affect the fortunes (positively and negatively) of many.

Bill Rolik

1514 SS