442 W-30 was king Indy 1966
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442 W-30 was king Indy 1966
I found this editorial most exciting in a 1966 Hi Performance magazine, where the 442 unseated the GTO and the other makers were left in the dust. Here it is by Roger Huntington.
By Roger Huntington…. Some of the most interesting stock class run-offs at the recent NHRA Nationals in Indianapolis were in C/Stock, where most of the late factory “supercars” fall. Everybody was expecting some pretty wild bashes, with at least a couple of examples of each model within a tenth or two of each other in elapsed times. But as it turned out, when it came down to the wire it was pretty much a race between GTO’s and 4-4-2’s, using their new cold-air scoop packages with triple two-throat carburetion (rated 360-hp). The Fairlane and Comet GT’s, Buick Special Gran Sports and standard Chevelle SS 396’s weren’t in the picture. It is pretty obvious that these latter models have been neglected by factory performance engineers. Ford tried to get a carburetion and valve gear package through NHRA approval for the Fairlane GT 390 last summer, but they weren’t willing to build the required 50 models on the assembly line to make the equipment legal “stock”. (After the 50 units are produced, the stuff can be supplied through dealers as a service package). On the other hand, Pontiac and Olds did build their 50 units with the cold-air packages this summer, and this made all the difference at Indy. These GTO’s and 4-4-2’s were at least three-tenths quicker in elapsed time than the hotter Fairlane and Comet Gt’s and the Grand Sports. The better ones were running in the 12:60’s at 108 to 109 mph. (The et record in the C/S class is 12:48).
Actually the GTO that won the class was found to be illegal on teardown, and the trophy was awarded to the runner-up 4-4-2. It’s all the same. Right now the GTO’s and 4-4-2’s are definitely the top supercars…. From Hi Performance Cars Dec. 1966
By Roger Huntington…. Some of the most interesting stock class run-offs at the recent NHRA Nationals in Indianapolis were in C/Stock, where most of the late factory “supercars” fall. Everybody was expecting some pretty wild bashes, with at least a couple of examples of each model within a tenth or two of each other in elapsed times. But as it turned out, when it came down to the wire it was pretty much a race between GTO’s and 4-4-2’s, using their new cold-air scoop packages with triple two-throat carburetion (rated 360-hp). The Fairlane and Comet GT’s, Buick Special Gran Sports and standard Chevelle SS 396’s weren’t in the picture. It is pretty obvious that these latter models have been neglected by factory performance engineers. Ford tried to get a carburetion and valve gear package through NHRA approval for the Fairlane GT 390 last summer, but they weren’t willing to build the required 50 models on the assembly line to make the equipment legal “stock”. (After the 50 units are produced, the stuff can be supplied through dealers as a service package). On the other hand, Pontiac and Olds did build their 50 units with the cold-air packages this summer, and this made all the difference at Indy. These GTO’s and 4-4-2’s were at least three-tenths quicker in elapsed time than the hotter Fairlane and Comet Gt’s and the Grand Sports. The better ones were running in the 12:60’s at 108 to 109 mph. (The et record in the C/S class is 12:48).
Actually the GTO that won the class was found to be illegal on teardown, and the trophy was awarded to the runner-up 4-4-2. It’s all the same. Right now the GTO’s and 4-4-2’s are definitely the top supercars…. From Hi Performance Cars Dec. 1966
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From: Ohio
This article and many others are available in downloadable pdf format on Wild About Cars.
http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...=9930391358768
Wild About Cars. http://wildaboutcars.com. An information supersource, especially Oldsmobile. More Olds content than anywhere else on the internet and continuing to grow.
You'll find Chassis Service Manuals, Product Information Manuals (AKA Assembly Manuals), Inspector's Manuals, and other documents that will contain this and much much more.
Dealer Brochures, magazine ads and articles, and the Automotive History Preservation Society library growing daily.
Free to join, free to learn.
http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...=9930391358768
Wild About Cars. http://wildaboutcars.com. An information supersource, especially Oldsmobile. More Olds content than anywhere else on the internet and continuing to grow.
You'll find Chassis Service Manuals, Product Information Manuals (AKA Assembly Manuals), Inspector's Manuals, and other documents that will contain this and much much more.
Dealer Brochures, magazine ads and articles, and the Automotive History Preservation Society library growing daily.
Free to join, free to learn.
45 yrs of Olds Nuttiness
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 163
From: Chicago, Illinois
The February 1967 Hi - Pref Cars Magazine also covers a complete run down on the Run to Rund W-30 including a color centerfold, (donated to WAC by Joe Donnelly) it's at http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...=9920391358768
Trying to remember member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,112
From: Ohio
And also courtesy of WAC is the article on the subject "King" of Indy:
http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...=9960391441248
http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...=9960391441248
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