To me, this is one of the best barn finds ever! I recall the commercials back then, and at the time I was quite crazy about racing and stunt driving, having seen the Hell Drivers perform a few times.
Here's a promotional film featuring the cars and the drivers, with a couple of full size tossed in doing hydroplaning slides. I think the video answers the transmission question as it appears that Kaye Kaiser is shifting a 3-speed on the column in the in-cabin shot:
My gold 70 2+2 hdtp still had the original Uniroyal bias ply's on it when I bought it in 1999. I don't think I would have tried balancing that big car on 2 wheels.
I wouldn't put a 350 V-8/auto in it. Put the original configuration - 6/three on da tree.
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
They were close to the Chevy Nova in style, but that' s it.
I owned a 1973 Ventura Hatch Back Canary Yellow with a Big Blue 350 Pontiac Engine, took up a lot of space but that was it. My buddies Chevy SS Nova with a 350 would smoke me every time.
Maybe it was just the driver? Actually, one of the cars from my past that I wished I would still have without the big blue engine mind you.
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New Brunswick , 1950 Pontiac Silver Streak 2 Dr Sedan, 1967 Beaumont, 1985 Sierra 1500 One Owner
I suspect Todd is correct on that, as the cars were torn down and modified for this type of use anyway, so whatever engine was in place was probably inconsequential. You can hear V8 noises in the video occasionally, though it's not clear whether they would have been dubbed in or not. That said, you would want to have lots of power on tap for stunt driving as minute last second throttle inputs could mean the difference between success and disaster. It actually wouldn't surprise me if the cars were fitted with built small block Chevys as you'd want to have lots of power but less weight in front to balance the cars during jumps. It's also common for ballast to be bolted into the trunk for this reason as well.
There are some underside views in the video, when they are driving on two wheels, and I noticed that the OEM fuel tank was in place and exhaust system appeared to have been removed. If somebody wanted to spend the time of freeze-framing and analyzing the shots, you might be able to see what engine was in place based on oil pan design, or whatever.
Steve said they were ran with the 3 speed/sixs in them.
With the added engine compartment bracing, a six would fit, but I don't think V-8 would. Also, the cars weren't travelling at high rates of speed for the stunts, so a 0-60 V-8 wasn't a factor.
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Well that settles that. No need for any more speculation from me.
I rest my case.
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Steve said they were ran with the 3 speed/sixs in them.
With the added engine compartment bracing, a six would fit, but I don't think V-8 would. Also, the cars weren't travelling at high rates of speed for the stunts, so a 0-60 V-8 wasn't a factor.
Finally got around to watching part 2. Some thoughts:
- The current owner said the previous owner pulled the original six out of the car, and said the numbers matched so it was the original.
- Previous owner put the six he pulled out in another car (street rod?). I thought it was a little humourous in that most people would take the six out to put in a larger engine and toss the six for scrap, but this one case where the original engine would help to make the car what it should be, the engine is used in something else.
- No matter though, the current owner is going to put in a 350 automatic, which boggles the mind. If you're correct, the bracing will prevent him from doing it, unless he cuts them out, which again would boggle the mind on a car where he's concerned about originality to the point where he doesn't even want to wash it. This hobby confuses me more every day.
- Still surprised that a six would be used, but I guess consistency would be more important than brute power. When I think back to the old junkers that they used to jump at the local speedway, some of them were barely running, so I guess as long as you could get it up to speed it would be fine.
-- Edited by MC on Sunday 31st of October 2021 12:17:46 PM
Well that settles that. No need for any more speculation from me.
I rest my case.
You're amazing, Darryl. I may never need to post again, cuz you'll already know the answer. Keep it up, you'll save me a lot of typing!
You can catch me "lawyering" at every car show also!
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
That was good! I wonder if any of those cars survive. Looks like the Mavericks were all Grabbers.
My old neighbour had a V-8, white/orange Maverick Grabber in the late seventies.
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Put the original configuration - 6/three on da tree.
