HorsePower Builds
Want more content like this?
Join the PowerNation Email NewsletterEpisode Transcript
(JOE)>> WELL CHUCK'S
GOT THE WEEKEND OFF. SO GUESS WHAT? YOU AND I ARE GONNA TAKE
THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD. BUCKLE UP FOR A HORSEPOEWR
TV ON THE ROAD SPECIAL FIRST STOP MICHIGAN WHEN WE
HEAD BACK TO HAPPY DAYS WHEN '49 THROUGH '51 FORDS AND
MERCS RULLED THE ROADS. WE'LL MEET A FORD FLATHEAD GURU WHOSE AMAZING INNOVATIONS MAKE THIS CLASSIC MOTOR RUN
RELIABLY WITH MORE POWER. WE'LL GO TO TENNESSEE TO SETTLE TEH SCORE BETWEEN THE QUICKEST '96 IMPALAS OF THE LAND AND TAKE YOU TO A SMOKEY MOUNTAIN MUSEUM FULL OF MUSCLE CAR MEMORIES. SO HANG ON FOR HORSEPOWER TV. [ MUSIC ] ON THE ROAD SPECIAL. WELL, FIRST STOP, PLYMOUTH,
MICHIGAN, A TOWN THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S LOST IN THE 50'S. AND, WE FOUND A GROUP OF FORD
AND MERCURY OWNERS HERE WHO FEEL RIGHT AT HOME. [ MUSIC ] (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> THEIR
PASSION IS FORD SHOE BOXES AND MERCURY BATHTUBS
MADE FROM 1949 TO 1951. AND, MOST DROVE THEIR REVERED
RIDES TO THIS ANNUAL MEET JUST OUTSIDE OF MOTOR CITY. IT'S AN EVENT THAT EVOLVED
FROM A GROWING FORD AND MERC FANATICISM AMONG JIM
GENTY'S GENERATION.
(JIM)>> WE WERE PROBABLY DRIVING 30'S AND 40'S CARS AND WHEN THE SHOE BOX FORDS CAME OUT IN '49, THE '49 MERCURYS CAME OUT, THEY WERE JUST INSTANT HITS WITH EVERYBODY. AND, ALMOST EVERYBODY FOUND OUT A WAY TO GET ONE. (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> FROM TAIL LIGHTS TO TAIL PIPE SOME ARE JUST AS BONE STOCK AS WHEN THEY GOT 'EM. OTHERS REPRESENT A HALFCENTURY OF HOTRODDING AND CUSTOMIZING ON AN EVER POPULAR PLATFORM. [ MUSIC ]
(PETER)>> IT'S WHAT YOU WOULD CALL HIGHLY MODIFIED. IT'S BEEN BORED OUT, STROKED, PORTED, IT'S RELIEVED. IT'S GOT A FOURBARREL CARBURETOR IN IT AND A THREEQUARTER RACE CAM, WHICH MAKES IT QUITE SWIFT. EVERYBODY RESPONDS TO THE CAR EITHER WITH A LOOK, A SMILE, A HIGHFIVE, A THUMBS UP. WELL, IT'S A SMOOTH, STRONG, RELIABLE VEHICLE AND IT MAKES A TRIP FOR A MILE FOR A LOAF OF BREAD OR 1300 MILES FROM FLORIDA A PURE JOY. (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> EUGENE BLACKWELL'S PRIDE AND JOY IS A '51 MERCURY HE FOUND AFTER A SIXYEAR SEARCH. IT'S GOT 24 COATS OF PAINT AND SOME UNIQUE TOUCHES FROM THE CONTINENTAL KIT TO THE OUTSIDE SUNVISORS.
(EUGENE)>> IT'S ALL MOLDED INTO THE CAR. THERE'S NO SEAMS. THEY USUALLY HAVE BOLTS, IN THE ROOF, YOU KNOW, AND THAT DIDN'T LOOK COOL. SO, I HAD 'EM MOLD IT RIGHT INTO THE ROOF, THE CONTINENTAL KIT IS MOLDED INTO THE BODY. THERE'S NO SEAMS NO PLACE. (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> IT WAS FOUR YEARS IN THE MAKING, BUT THE RESULT IS AN OLD MERC MASTERPIECE.
(EUGENE)>> THE ONLY BAD PART IS WE HAVE THAT 4 X 60 AIR CONDITIONING? DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS?
(JOE)>> NO.
(EUGENE)>> SIXTY MILE AN HOUR AND FOUR WINDOWS OPEN. [ MUSIC ] (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> WELL, SPEAKING OF COOL CUSTOMS, A CALIFORNIA FORD FREAK DROVE THIS BEAUTY TO PLYMOUTH. A GUY WHO COULDN'T DECIDE IF HE WANTED A 1950 OR '51. ( )>> FORD STARTED MAKING VICTORIA HARD TOPS IN 1951. I ALWAYS PREFERRED THE SIMPLER GRILL AND TRIM FROM THE 1950 MODELS. SO, I STARTED WITH A '51 VICTORIA AND FITTED ALL THE PIECES FROM A '50 FRONT END, REAR END DASH. AND, SO IT GIVES THE ILLUSION OF BEING A '50 VICTORIA EVEN THOUGHT THEY DON'T EXIST. MY WIFE WAS SITTING IN THE CAR YESTERDAY AND TWO WOMEN WALKED BY AND ONE OF THE WOMEN LOOKED AT IT AND SAID WELL THAT MUST BE SOME PROTOTYPE OF SOMETHING THEY'S GONNA MAKE. AND, THE OTHER WOMAN SAID, YOU BOOB, THAT'S A FIFTY FORD.
(JOE)>> AND, THEY WERE BOTH WRONG IN A WAY. OKAY. WHILE CUSTOMIZING CHOICES RUN THE GAMUT, MOST OF THESE FORD AND MERCURY GUYS HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON. AND, THAT'S A MONUMENTAL MOTOR, THE FABULOUS FLATHEAD V-8 THAT WAS PLANTED IN THESE CARS UNTIL THE EARLY FIFTIES. ( )>> THE OLD TIMERS WILL TELL YOU THAT NOTHING SOUNDS LIKE A FLATHEAD, AND THAT'S REALLY TRUE. YOU'LL HEAR THESE CARS THROUGHOUT THE DAY STARTUP AND YOU'LL KNOW A FLATHEAD RIGHT AWAY. [ ENGINE REVVING ] (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> WELL, HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN HEAR DOZENS OF FLATHEADS HUMMING IN UNISON. AN HISTORIC CRUISE AROUND THE FORD DEARBORN TESTING GROUNDS. MAYBE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THEY WERE TEST DRIVEN HERE FIVE DECADES AGO. ( )>> YOU GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THIS AND YOU'RE 16 ALL OVER AGAIN. AND, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT US OLD GOATS ARE DOING. WE'RE BUYING OUR YOUTH BACK. YOU KNOW, IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY, BUT IT'S WORTH EVERY PENNY OF IT. (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> HOPEFULLY, NEWER GENERATIONS WILL SOMEDAY CARRY THE TORCH OF ENTHUSIASM FOR CLASSIC MIDCENTURY SHOE BOXES, POUNDING THE PAVEMENT AND TURNING HEADS ON INTO THE NEXT CENTURY AND BEYOND. ( )>> YOU'VE GOT GRANDFATHERS ENCOURAGING GRANDKIDS. AND, YOU'VE GOT SOME YOUNG GUYS THAT ARE REAL EXCITED ABOUT BUILDING A CAR JUST LIKE GRANDPA HAD. [ ENGINE REVVING ] [ TIRES SQUEALING ]
(JOE)>> NEXT STOP KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE FOR A CELEBRATION AND SHOOTOUT WITH '94 TO '96 IMAPLA SS'.
[ MUSIC ]
(JOE)>> HI, WELCOME BACK. WELL, NOW WE'RE HEADING SOUTH TO A UNIQUE CHEVY CELEBRATION. IT'S ALL FOCUSED ON A BOWTIE BREED THAT HAS AN INCREDIBLE FAITHFUL FOLLOWING. IN FACT, MANY PEOPLE CONSIDER THIS A CLASSIC HEAVY CHEVY. [ MUSIC ] THE FIRST IMPALAS LEAPED FROM AMERICA'S SHOWROOMS IN 1958. ALTHOUGH AS THE WINDS OF MUSCLE CAR WARS PICKED UP, IT WAS THE FAMED 409 THAT MADE THE '61 A REAL FULLSIZED FLYER, A MUSCLE CAR MONARCH THAT BLEW 'EM AWAY ON THE STREETS AND STRIPS OF AMERICA. OF COURSE, THE LEGACY LIVED ON IN OTHER IMPRESSIVE IMPALAS LIKE THE '65 WITH ITS PARAGON OF BRUTE FORCE, THE 454. [ MUSIC ] WELL, FLASH FORWARD TO THE NINETIES AND THE LATEST CHAPTER OF A MIGHTY MUSCLE CAR ERA. THIS IS A GATHERING OF '94 TO '96 IMPALA SUPER SPORTS AND THEIR OWNERS WHO'VE COME TO CELEBRATE WHAT MAY BE THE LAST FACTORY MUSCLE CAR OF THE MILLENNIUM. NOW, JUST CHECK OUT THIS BEAUTIFUL '95. IT'S GOT STOCK LT1 STILL UNDER THE HOOD, BUT JUST CHECK WHAT THE OWNER'S DONE. LOOK AT ALL THOSE BEAUTIFUL TOUCHES OF CHEVY ORANGE. NOW, WITH A CAR GETTING RARE LIKE THIS AND LOOKING SO GREAT, YOU WOULDN'T DREAM OF TAKING IT OUT ON THE DRAGSTRIP, WOULD YA? OR, WOULD YA? [ TIRES SQUEALING ] [ ENGINE REVVING ]
(TROY)>> I REALLY GET A KICK OUT OF RUNNING IT AT THE TRACK AND PASSING ALL THE CARS AND DRIVERS THAT FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE FASTER.
(JOHN)>> LAST REAR WHEEL DRIVEN CAR THAT YOU CAN STILL MAKE HORSEPOWER WITH.
(TROY)>> IT SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE TO MODIFY THE LATE MODEL CARS WITH THE SMOG REQUIREMENTS AND ALL THE COMPUTERCONTROLLED EQUIPMENT, BUT IT'S STILL A LOT OF FUN. ( )>> THIS IS THE MOST FUN YOU CAN HAVE WITH GOING TO JAIL.
(JOE)>> A COUPLE DOZEN MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SUPER SPORT OWNERS HAVE ATTACKED THIS TRACK IN TENNESSEE DURING THEIR ANNUAL EVENT. IT'S A PRIVATE EIGHTH MILE DRAG RACING SHOOTOUT AMONG STOCK AND MODIFIED STREETDRIVEN SS'S. ( )>> EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE'EM YOU WANNA DO JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE. AND, THAT LITTLE BIT MORE IS OUR PASSION FOR THESE CARS. (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> THE TOP GUN OF THE SS ARSENAL BELONGS TO JOHN RAFTESETH, A 409 STROKER STIMULATED WITH 200 POUNDS OF NITROUS. HE WAS FIRST TO BREAK INTO THE QUARTER MILE ELEVEN'S AFTER A DILIGENT SEARCH FOR POWER AND THE LOSS OF EIGHT BROKEN TRANNYS.
(JOHN)>> 4500 POUNDS OF CAR GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THAT MEANS YOU BREAK A LOT OF PARTS. BUT, I FIGURED OUT HOW TO KEEP IT TOGETHER FINALLY.
(JOE)>> AND, ONE OF THOSE MOST FAMILIAR BREAKABLE PARTS WAS THE TRANSMISSION, WASN'T IT?
(JOHN)>> YEAH, THE 4L60-E IS A WEAK UNIT, BUT I FINALLY GOT IT FIGURED OUT WHERE WE CAN KEEP A TRANNY IN IT. SO FAR I HAVE ACHIEVED TO BE THE FASTEST IMPALA, '94 TO '96 IMPALA, BUT IT'S BEEN A COSTLY ROAD.
(JOE)>> JOHN'S RECORD IS ON THE LINE TODAY, ALONG WITH BRAGGING RIGHTS, ALL BECAUSE OF CHALLENGER TROY CLARK WHO BROUGHT HIS '96 SS FROM CALIFORNIA.
(TROY)>> THIS ENGINE HAS A STROKED SMALL BLOCK, IT'S DISPLACEMENT'S 396 CUBIC INCHES, FORGED PARTS ALL AROUND. IT WAS BUILT FOR ME BY MOTORSPORTS TECHNOLOGIES IN HOUSTON, AND WE'RE RUNNING ABOUT 150 SHOT WORTH OF NITROUS THROUGH IT MAKING JUST SHY OF 700 HORSEPOWER AT THE CRANK. JOHN AND I, WE'RE BOTH RUNNING IN THE LOW ELEVENS, AND HE'S GOT ME RIGHT NOW WITH THE NUMBER ONE SLOT. HE JUST BEATS ME OUT BY 200THS OF A SECOND. SO, WE'RE GOING NECK AND NECK, AND WE'RE RUNNING HEAD TO HEAD TODAY TO SEE HOW IT GOES.
(JOE)>> THINK YOU CAN HANDLE HIM TODAY?
(JOHN)>> I THINK I GOT A LITTLE FOR HIM.
(TROY)>> YEAH, I THINK JOHN'LL BE SORRY THAT HE CAME UP AGAINST ME, BUT WE'LL SEE.
(JOE)>> WELL, NOW LET'S GET BACK TO THE TRACK. IT'S TIME FOR FINALS AND THE BIG SHOWDOWN BETWEEN THE TWO TOP IMPALAS OF THE PACK. [ MUSIC] [ ENGINE REVVING ] TROY'S BETTER REACTION TIME HELPS HIM AND HIS SS POWER DOWN THE TRACK WITH EIGHTH MILE 7 88, ENOUGH TO CONQUER THE KING AT LEAST THIS TIME.
(TROY)>> I WAS GLAD TO BEAT HIM, EVEN IF HE HAS THE BEST ET STILL. HE'S STILL GOT THE NUMBER ONE SPOT, BUT AT LEAST I GOT THE JUMP ON HIM.
(JOHN)>> I KNOW WHERE MY COMPETITION'S AT. LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.
(TROY)>> IT'S A CLOSE RACE.
(JOHN)>> THAT'S RIGHT, SURE IS.
(JOE)>> AND, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER TIME. (JOHN AND TROY)>> OH YEAH, WE'LL BE BACK.
(JOE)>> AND, NO DOUBT, BOTH WITH MORE POWER THAN EVER, ALL IN A MUSCLE MACHINE THAT MAY SOMEDAY REIGN AS THE TOP FULL- SIZED FLYER OF THIS DECADE. ( )>> TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW WE'LL LOOK AT THIS IMPALA SS AND WISH WE'D HAVE BOUGHT ONE. [ ENGINE REVVING ] [ MUSIC ]
(JOE)>> NEXT WE HEAD EAST TO THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS TO A MUSEUM LOADED WITH MUSCLE CAR MEMORIES.
[ MUSIC ]
(JOE)>> WOO! ALRIGHT, WELCOME BACK TO OUR HORSEPOWER TV ON THE ROAD SPECIAL. WE MADE A STOP HERE IN THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS AT THE NASCAR SPEED PARK. THEY'VE GOT NO LESS THAN EIGHT TRACKS TO SATISFY YOUR HORSEPOWER HUNGER. BUT WHEN IT'S TOO WET TO RACE, WELL WE FOUND JUST THE PLACE YOU CAN GO TO SATISFY THAT HORSEPOWER NEED. IN FACT, THIS PLACE HAS GOT THE MOST MUSCLE CARS YOU'LL EVER FIND UNDER ONE ROOF. [ MUSIC ] IT'S FLOYD GARRETT'S MUSEUM IN SEVIERVILLE WITH AN INCREDIBLE, EVERCHANGING CAST OF MAGNIFICENT MUSCLE CARS ONES THAT'LL MAKE YOU DREAM AND MAKE YOU DROOL.
(FLOYD)>> MUSCLE CARS IS MY LOVE AND I JUST THINK THERE'S MORE INTEREST IN MUSCLE CARS THAN THERE IS IN ANYTHING ELSE AND I JUST HAD TOO MANY CARS AND I NEEDED A PLACE TO PUT'EM.
(JOE)>> HE ALSO HAS A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO LOAN THEIR PRIZED RIDES SO THAT VISITORS CAN RELIVE SPECIAL MEMORIES THROUGH THEM. MEMORIES BOTH GOOD AND BAD.
(FLOYD)>> WELL, I THINK THE BAD MEMORIES, THEY GOT OUTRUN OR BLOWED THE MOTOR AND SCATTERED IT ALL OVER THE STRIP.
(JOE)>> YES, A STROLL THROUGH HERE INVARIABLY BRINGS BACK RECOLLECTIONS OF RACING. THAT'S WHAT MOST OF THESE MUSCLE CARS WERE ALL ABOUT, WHETHER IT WAS DOWN AND DIRTY DRAG RACING OR THE HIGH BANKS OF NASCAR. CARS LIKE THIS '63 IMPALA LIGHTWEIGHT WITH AN ALUMINUM FRONT AND REAREND, RADIO AND HEATER DELETE, OF COURSE. OR, THIS MONTE CARLO AEROCOUPE, BUILT TO MEET NASCAR REQUIREMENTS OF WHICH ONLY 200 WERE SOLD. THIS FORD TALEDAGA WAS A HIT AT THE CIRCLE TRACK, BUT A FLOP AT THE SHOWROOM. CLARENCE THOMPSON WAS ONE OF ONLY A FEW HUNDRED WHO JUST HAD TO HAVE ONE.
(CLARENCE)>> THE AVERAGE CUSTOMER THOUGHT THEY WERE A LITTLE UGLY. THEY HAD A HARD TIME SELLING 'EM. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT WAS THE BLACKED OUT HOOD FOR THE GLARE, OR JUST THE FACT THAT THERE'S A LONG NOSE ON IT.
(JOE)>> IT'S THE UNCOMMON MUSCLE MACHINES THAT ARE BOTH EXTRA INTERESTING AND VALUABLE, LIKE THIS '69 TRANS AM, ONE OF ONLY EIGHT T/A CONVERTIBLES BUILT, ONE OF ONLY FOUR WITH A MUNCIE FOURSPEED. ONE OF THE FAVORITE RARE RIDES HERE HAS TO BE THIS '69 CAMARO. WHY'S IT RARE? WELL, IT'S THE ONLY ONE WITH AN OPTION THAT COST MORE THAN THE CAR ITSELF. YOU SEE, THE BASE PRICE WAS THREE THOUSAND. THE OPTIONAL ZL-1 ALUMINUM ENGINE, AN EXTRA FOUR. HUH, SMALL WONDER THEN THAT ONLY 69 WERE MADE. FORD GUYS WILL LOVE THIS '67 GT500 THAT WAS ONE OF 2000 BUILT WITH A FACTORY 355-HORSE POLICE INTERCEPTOR ENGINE. BUT THE RAREST OF THE RARE MIGHT BE THIS '62 VETTE ON LOAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTOR TOM MCNEIL. NO, YOUR EYES DON'T DECEIVE YOU, THE ODOMETER CORRECTLY MEASURES ZERO MILES.
(FLOYD)>> CHEVROLET SENT THAT CAR TO A GUY TO RACE IN PIECES. AND, TOM BOUGHT IT FROM THIS GUY 'CAUSE HE NEVER RACED IT, AND WHEN HE GOT IT THE BODY AND THE FRAME WAS IN A CRATE, THE ENGINE WAS IN ANOTHER CRATE, TRANSMISSION AND REAREND, AND HE ASSEMBLED THE CAR AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN FIRED.
(JOE)>> SMALL WONDER FLOYD GARRETT'S GATHERING OF MUSCLE MACHINES IS A POPULAR ATTRACTION FOR COUNTLESS CARCRAZY VISITORS. IT'S A SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY THROUGH TIME, TO THE AMAZING HEYDAY OF FACTORYMADE HIGH PERFORMANCE CAPTURED FOR ALL TIMES AT THE MUSCLE CAR MUSEUM.
(FLOYD)>> IF PEOPLE KEEP COMING I'LL KEEP DOING IT FOR A WHILE. YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T SET IT UP TO GO OUT TOMORROW. I HOPE THAT TEN YEARS FROM NOW YOU'RE BACK AND I'M STILL HERE. [ MUSIC ]
(JOE)>> COMING UP WE'LL COVER TEH WHOLE COUNTRY IN SEARCH OF OUR TOP 10 EVERYDAY HORSEPOWER HEROES.
[ MUSIC ]
(JOE)>> WELL, AS WE HEAD BACK TO THE SHOP, LET'S TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT. YOU KNOW, OUR TRAVELS HAVE LED US TO SOME INCREDIBLE PEOPLE AND MACHINES THAT DEFINE THE HIGH PERFORMANCE LIFESTYLE. SO, WE'RE GONNA CALL THIS OUR TOP TEN, EVERYDAY HORSEPOWER HEROES. WE ALL LOVE THE TOP DOGS OF NHRA BUT IT'S THE HEROES OF STREET CAR RACING THAT WIN OUR HIGH PERFORMANCE HEARTS. AND, THERE'S NO WINNER LIKE TONY CHRISTIAN WHOSE SIXSECOND 200 MILE AN HOUR RUNS IN HIS FABULOUS FIREBIRD MADE HIM THE UNSTOPPABLE NMCA CHAMP. WE ALSO LOVE FAST STREET FIGHTERS THAT REPRESENT A BLAST FROM THE PAST. AND THIS '66 GTO DRIVEN BY RANDY ADLER IS BLOWN ALCOHOL OUTLAW THAT THRILLED US AT MANY RACES IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. RUNNING IN THE SIXES AT OVER 200 MILES AN HOUR IT'S ONE GALLOPING GOAT. PRO MOD HAS BEEN AN EXCITING ANYTHING GOES DRAG RACING CLASS FOR YEARS THANKS IN BIG PART TO ITS WINNINGEST RACER SCOTTY CANNON. WE CAUGHT UP WITH SCOTTY AND HIS ALKY BLOWN KILLER MATER IN HIS PRO MOD CAREER FINALE, RUNNING A MEAGERFORHIM 6.40 AT 214 MILES AN HOUR. HEY, WE'VE GOT A CATEGORY FOR EVERYTHING. AND THE TOP STREET CAR BURNOUT HONORS BELONG TO PAUL BARNES WHO PUTS ON EIGHTH MILE SMOKERS LIKE THIS AT EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY, ALONG WITH STOUT EXHIBITION RUNS IN HIS '59 BAD CAD. OF COURSE, ANYWHERE THERE'S SMOKE THERE'S FIRE. ANYWHERE THERE'S A DRAGSTRIP FIRE SHOW, THERE'S BOB MOTZ AND HIS 17,000 HORSE F-4 PHANTOM JET BIG RIG. BOB'S BEEN ROASTING TRACKS LIKE THIS ONE FOR 20 YEARS, AND HE'S EARNED THE TITLE OF FOREMOST FLAMETHROWER. BUT, THE TOP SHOWOFF OF THE STRIP IS ALSO THE GUY WITH THE FASTEST CAR ON TWO WHEELS, DANNY O'DAY AND HIS SUPERWINCH. HE'S THE ONLY WHEELSTANDER TO TAKE HIS 1500 HORSEPOWER TRICK CAR DOWN THE TRACK IN EIGHT SECONDS ON THE REAR MEATS. BACK IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES BEFORE FUNNY CARS WERE MAKING 300 MILES AN HOUR AND BIG BUCKS, THERE WERE WEEKEND HEROES LIKE NEIL ARMSTRONG AND HIS CORVETTE SHARK, NOW CHEWING UP THE COMPETITION IN MATCH RACES THAT RECAPTURE THE PREHIGH TECH FUNNY CAR FUN DAYS. WE PREFER RIDES THAT GO INSTEAD OF SHOW. BUT, WHEN IT COMES TO CONCOURSE CARS, YOU GOTTA LOVE THE IMAGINATION THAT GOES INTO ODD RODS LIKE RON HEITMAN'S '41 DOUBLE DODGE, A CAR RON BUILT THAT LITERALLY DOESN'T KNOW IF IT'S COMING OR GOING. WHILE MOST OF OUR HORSEPOWER HEROES HAVE FOUR WHEEL MEAN MACHINES, WE ALSO HAVE TO HIGHLIGHT OUR PICK FOR TWOWHEEL FEATS. JOHN MANCUSO NOT ONLY RIDES THE ALLAMERICAN HARLEY, HE RACES HIS NITROPOWERED 600 HORSE DRAG BIKE TO CONSISTENT SIXSECOND RUNS. OUR FINAL HORSEPOWER HERO PICK IS A GROUP AWARD, ONE THAT GOES TO ALL THE YOUNGSTERS IN AMERICA AND THEIR PARENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE JUNIOR DRAGSTER PROGRAM. IT'S A CHARACTER AND CONFIDENCE- BUILDING HOBBY, AND IT GIVES US CONFIDENCE THAT THE FUTURE OF GRASSROOTS HIGH PERFORMANCE IS SECURE IN THE HANDS OF THESE FUTURE HORSEPOWER HEROES. OKAY, WE'LL BE BACK HOME WITH HOT PARTS RIGHT AFTER THIS.
(NARRATOR)>> NOW HORSEPOWER'S HOT PARTS. BROUGHT TO YOU BY SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT. YOUR SOURCE FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE PARTS FOR 30 YEARS.
(JOE)>> AH, HOME SWEET HOME. YOU KNOW EVERYBODY'S LOOKING FOR PARTS THESE DAYS THAT WORK AS WELL ON THE ROAD AS ON THE DRAGSTRIP. AND HERE'S A NEW FUEL PUMP FROM A COMPANY CALLED AEROMOTIVE THAT SEEMS TO FIT THE BILL. IT'S ENGINEERED TO HANDLE A THOUSAND HORSEPOWER, YET DURABLE AND RELIABLE ENOUGH FOR YOUR DAILY DRIVER. INSIDE THE BILLET BODY THEY USE AEROSPACE COMPOSITE ROTOR MATERIAL AND C & C MACHINED AIRCRAFT GRADE ALUMINUM. THE RESULT IS A PUMP THAT FLOWS 500 POUNDS PER HOUR AT 12 VOLTS AND 45 PSI. SO, YOU CAN PUMP UP THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR STREET STRIP FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR ABOUT $300. THEY'VE GOT A REGULATOR THAT GOES FOR $140. ON A LONG ROAD TRIP LIKE THE ONE WE JUST HAD, YOU WANT A TIRE THAT PERFORMS GREAT ON WET AND DRY SURFACES, WEARS EVENLY WITH LOW NOISE, AND LOOKS GREAT, TOO. WELL, THIS NEW PROXIS T1S FROM TOYO SEEMS TO HAVE IT ALL. NOW, I HAD A CHANCE TO TEST THIS TIRE PERSONALLY AT WILLOW SPRINGS RECENTLY ON A ROAD COURSE, CONES, AND A SKID PAD AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, IT PERFORMED AS WELL AS ITS COMPETITION OR BETTER. IT USES A SILICA REINFORCED TREAD COMPOUND WITH A DESIGN THAT PROMOTES STABILITY ON THE CORNERS. IT HAS THESE WIDE WATER CHANNELS FOR EFFECTIVE DRAINING. NOW, THEY COME IN A BIG VARIETY OF SIZES AND PRICES. IN RACING, THE OLD THEORY WAS USE A THICK GEAR LUBE SO IT'LL STICK TO THE GEARS AND REDUCE WEAR. WELL, THE PROBLEM WAS YOU ALSO INCREASED FRICTION, DRAG, AND HEAT. WELL, NOWADAYS, X1-R IS USING AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY IN THEIR NEW SYNTHETIC GEAR OIL. IT ALLOWS YOU TO LOWER YOUR OPERATING TEMPERATURES WHILE PICKING UP HORSEPOWER AT THE REAR WHEEL. OF COURSE, IT'S INTENDED FOR RACING ONLY, BUT FOR YOUR DAILY DRIVER, THEIR ENGINE CONCENTRATE WILL PICK UP SOME HORSEPOWER AND MILEAGE FOR ABOUT $14 BUCKS. THE OIL GOES FOR $35. THAT'S IT FOR HOT PARTS. NEXT WEEK CHUCK AND I WILL GET OUR HANDS DIRTY AGAIN HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL SEE. THE FORD FLATHEAD, ONE OF HISTORY'S MOST MONUMENTAL MOTORS. THEY'RE HOT AGAIN ADN WE'LL BUILD ONE WITH SOME NIFTY NOSTALGIA PIECES AND SOME HIGH TECH BOLT ONS LIKE A SUPERCHARGEER. THEN WE'LL TEST OUR BUILDUP'S BENEFITS ON A STATE OF THE ART DYNO, AND A HOT ROD FACE OFF FEATURIN GA FIVE WONDOW COUPE FROM THE LAST MILLENIUM VERSUS A MODERN ROD FROM THE NEW ONE. OH AND REMEMBER HIGH PERFORMANCE FUN IS WHAT THIS SHOW'S ALL ABOUT. [ MUSIC ]
(NARRATOR)>> HORSEPOWER TV IS AN RTM PRODUCTION
Show Full Transcript
(JIM)>> WE WERE PROBABLY DRIVING 30'S AND 40'S CARS AND WHEN THE SHOE BOX FORDS CAME OUT IN '49, THE '49 MERCURYS CAME OUT, THEY WERE JUST INSTANT HITS WITH EVERYBODY. AND, ALMOST EVERYBODY FOUND OUT A WAY TO GET ONE. (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> FROM TAIL LIGHTS TO TAIL PIPE SOME ARE JUST AS BONE STOCK AS WHEN THEY GOT 'EM. OTHERS REPRESENT A HALFCENTURY OF HOTRODDING AND CUSTOMIZING ON AN EVER POPULAR PLATFORM. [ MUSIC ]
(PETER)>> IT'S WHAT YOU WOULD CALL HIGHLY MODIFIED. IT'S BEEN BORED OUT, STROKED, PORTED, IT'S RELIEVED. IT'S GOT A FOURBARREL CARBURETOR IN IT AND A THREEQUARTER RACE CAM, WHICH MAKES IT QUITE SWIFT. EVERYBODY RESPONDS TO THE CAR EITHER WITH A LOOK, A SMILE, A HIGHFIVE, A THUMBS UP. WELL, IT'S A SMOOTH, STRONG, RELIABLE VEHICLE AND IT MAKES A TRIP FOR A MILE FOR A LOAF OF BREAD OR 1300 MILES FROM FLORIDA A PURE JOY. (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> EUGENE BLACKWELL'S PRIDE AND JOY IS A '51 MERCURY HE FOUND AFTER A SIXYEAR SEARCH. IT'S GOT 24 COATS OF PAINT AND SOME UNIQUE TOUCHES FROM THE CONTINENTAL KIT TO THE OUTSIDE SUNVISORS.
(EUGENE)>> IT'S ALL MOLDED INTO THE CAR. THERE'S NO SEAMS. THEY USUALLY HAVE BOLTS, IN THE ROOF, YOU KNOW, AND THAT DIDN'T LOOK COOL. SO, I HAD 'EM MOLD IT RIGHT INTO THE ROOF, THE CONTINENTAL KIT IS MOLDED INTO THE BODY. THERE'S NO SEAMS NO PLACE. (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> IT WAS FOUR YEARS IN THE MAKING, BUT THE RESULT IS AN OLD MERC MASTERPIECE.
(EUGENE)>> THE ONLY BAD PART IS WE HAVE THAT 4 X 60 AIR CONDITIONING? DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS?
(JOE)>> NO.
(EUGENE)>> SIXTY MILE AN HOUR AND FOUR WINDOWS OPEN. [ MUSIC ] (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> WELL, SPEAKING OF COOL CUSTOMS, A CALIFORNIA FORD FREAK DROVE THIS BEAUTY TO PLYMOUTH. A GUY WHO COULDN'T DECIDE IF HE WANTED A 1950 OR '51. ( )>> FORD STARTED MAKING VICTORIA HARD TOPS IN 1951. I ALWAYS PREFERRED THE SIMPLER GRILL AND TRIM FROM THE 1950 MODELS. SO, I STARTED WITH A '51 VICTORIA AND FITTED ALL THE PIECES FROM A '50 FRONT END, REAR END DASH. AND, SO IT GIVES THE ILLUSION OF BEING A '50 VICTORIA EVEN THOUGHT THEY DON'T EXIST. MY WIFE WAS SITTING IN THE CAR YESTERDAY AND TWO WOMEN WALKED BY AND ONE OF THE WOMEN LOOKED AT IT AND SAID WELL THAT MUST BE SOME PROTOTYPE OF SOMETHING THEY'S GONNA MAKE. AND, THE OTHER WOMAN SAID, YOU BOOB, THAT'S A FIFTY FORD.
(JOE)>> AND, THEY WERE BOTH WRONG IN A WAY. OKAY. WHILE CUSTOMIZING CHOICES RUN THE GAMUT, MOST OF THESE FORD AND MERCURY GUYS HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON. AND, THAT'S A MONUMENTAL MOTOR, THE FABULOUS FLATHEAD V-8 THAT WAS PLANTED IN THESE CARS UNTIL THE EARLY FIFTIES. ( )>> THE OLD TIMERS WILL TELL YOU THAT NOTHING SOUNDS LIKE A FLATHEAD, AND THAT'S REALLY TRUE. YOU'LL HEAR THESE CARS THROUGHOUT THE DAY STARTUP AND YOU'LL KNOW A FLATHEAD RIGHT AWAY. [ ENGINE REVVING ] (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> WELL, HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN HEAR DOZENS OF FLATHEADS HUMMING IN UNISON. AN HISTORIC CRUISE AROUND THE FORD DEARBORN TESTING GROUNDS. MAYBE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THEY WERE TEST DRIVEN HERE FIVE DECADES AGO. ( )>> YOU GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THIS AND YOU'RE 16 ALL OVER AGAIN. AND, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT US OLD GOATS ARE DOING. WE'RE BUYING OUR YOUTH BACK. YOU KNOW, IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY, BUT IT'S WORTH EVERY PENNY OF IT. (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> HOPEFULLY, NEWER GENERATIONS WILL SOMEDAY CARRY THE TORCH OF ENTHUSIASM FOR CLASSIC MIDCENTURY SHOE BOXES, POUNDING THE PAVEMENT AND TURNING HEADS ON INTO THE NEXT CENTURY AND BEYOND. ( )>> YOU'VE GOT GRANDFATHERS ENCOURAGING GRANDKIDS. AND, YOU'VE GOT SOME YOUNG GUYS THAT ARE REAL EXCITED ABOUT BUILDING A CAR JUST LIKE GRANDPA HAD. [ ENGINE REVVING ] [ TIRES SQUEALING ]
(JOE)>> NEXT STOP KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE FOR A CELEBRATION AND SHOOTOUT WITH '94 TO '96 IMAPLA SS'.
[ MUSIC ]
(JOE)>> HI, WELCOME BACK. WELL, NOW WE'RE HEADING SOUTH TO A UNIQUE CHEVY CELEBRATION. IT'S ALL FOCUSED ON A BOWTIE BREED THAT HAS AN INCREDIBLE FAITHFUL FOLLOWING. IN FACT, MANY PEOPLE CONSIDER THIS A CLASSIC HEAVY CHEVY. [ MUSIC ] THE FIRST IMPALAS LEAPED FROM AMERICA'S SHOWROOMS IN 1958. ALTHOUGH AS THE WINDS OF MUSCLE CAR WARS PICKED UP, IT WAS THE FAMED 409 THAT MADE THE '61 A REAL FULLSIZED FLYER, A MUSCLE CAR MONARCH THAT BLEW 'EM AWAY ON THE STREETS AND STRIPS OF AMERICA. OF COURSE, THE LEGACY LIVED ON IN OTHER IMPRESSIVE IMPALAS LIKE THE '65 WITH ITS PARAGON OF BRUTE FORCE, THE 454. [ MUSIC ] WELL, FLASH FORWARD TO THE NINETIES AND THE LATEST CHAPTER OF A MIGHTY MUSCLE CAR ERA. THIS IS A GATHERING OF '94 TO '96 IMPALA SUPER SPORTS AND THEIR OWNERS WHO'VE COME TO CELEBRATE WHAT MAY BE THE LAST FACTORY MUSCLE CAR OF THE MILLENNIUM. NOW, JUST CHECK OUT THIS BEAUTIFUL '95. IT'S GOT STOCK LT1 STILL UNDER THE HOOD, BUT JUST CHECK WHAT THE OWNER'S DONE. LOOK AT ALL THOSE BEAUTIFUL TOUCHES OF CHEVY ORANGE. NOW, WITH A CAR GETTING RARE LIKE THIS AND LOOKING SO GREAT, YOU WOULDN'T DREAM OF TAKING IT OUT ON THE DRAGSTRIP, WOULD YA? OR, WOULD YA? [ TIRES SQUEALING ] [ ENGINE REVVING ]
(TROY)>> I REALLY GET A KICK OUT OF RUNNING IT AT THE TRACK AND PASSING ALL THE CARS AND DRIVERS THAT FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE FASTER.
(JOHN)>> LAST REAR WHEEL DRIVEN CAR THAT YOU CAN STILL MAKE HORSEPOWER WITH.
(TROY)>> IT SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE TO MODIFY THE LATE MODEL CARS WITH THE SMOG REQUIREMENTS AND ALL THE COMPUTERCONTROLLED EQUIPMENT, BUT IT'S STILL A LOT OF FUN. ( )>> THIS IS THE MOST FUN YOU CAN HAVE WITH GOING TO JAIL.
(JOE)>> A COUPLE DOZEN MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SUPER SPORT OWNERS HAVE ATTACKED THIS TRACK IN TENNESSEE DURING THEIR ANNUAL EVENT. IT'S A PRIVATE EIGHTH MILE DRAG RACING SHOOTOUT AMONG STOCK AND MODIFIED STREETDRIVEN SS'S. ( )>> EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE'EM YOU WANNA DO JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE. AND, THAT LITTLE BIT MORE IS OUR PASSION FOR THESE CARS. (JOE OFF CAMERA)>> THE TOP GUN OF THE SS ARSENAL BELONGS TO JOHN RAFTESETH, A 409 STROKER STIMULATED WITH 200 POUNDS OF NITROUS. HE WAS FIRST TO BREAK INTO THE QUARTER MILE ELEVEN'S AFTER A DILIGENT SEARCH FOR POWER AND THE LOSS OF EIGHT BROKEN TRANNYS.
(JOHN)>> 4500 POUNDS OF CAR GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THAT MEANS YOU BREAK A LOT OF PARTS. BUT, I FIGURED OUT HOW TO KEEP IT TOGETHER FINALLY.
(JOE)>> AND, ONE OF THOSE MOST FAMILIAR BREAKABLE PARTS WAS THE TRANSMISSION, WASN'T IT?
(JOHN)>> YEAH, THE 4L60-E IS A WEAK UNIT, BUT I FINALLY GOT IT FIGURED OUT WHERE WE CAN KEEP A TRANNY IN IT. SO FAR I HAVE ACHIEVED TO BE THE FASTEST IMPALA, '94 TO '96 IMPALA, BUT IT'S BEEN A COSTLY ROAD.
(JOE)>> JOHN'S RECORD IS ON THE LINE TODAY, ALONG WITH BRAGGING RIGHTS, ALL BECAUSE OF CHALLENGER TROY CLARK WHO BROUGHT HIS '96 SS FROM CALIFORNIA.
(TROY)>> THIS ENGINE HAS A STROKED SMALL BLOCK, IT'S DISPLACEMENT'S 396 CUBIC INCHES, FORGED PARTS ALL AROUND. IT WAS BUILT FOR ME BY MOTORSPORTS TECHNOLOGIES IN HOUSTON, AND WE'RE RUNNING ABOUT 150 SHOT WORTH OF NITROUS THROUGH IT MAKING JUST SHY OF 700 HORSEPOWER AT THE CRANK. JOHN AND I, WE'RE BOTH RUNNING IN THE LOW ELEVENS, AND HE'S GOT ME RIGHT NOW WITH THE NUMBER ONE SLOT. HE JUST BEATS ME OUT BY 200THS OF A SECOND. SO, WE'RE GOING NECK AND NECK, AND WE'RE RUNNING HEAD TO HEAD TODAY TO SEE HOW IT GOES.
(JOE)>> THINK YOU CAN HANDLE HIM TODAY?
(JOHN)>> I THINK I GOT A LITTLE FOR HIM.
(TROY)>> YEAH, I THINK JOHN'LL BE SORRY THAT HE CAME UP AGAINST ME, BUT WE'LL SEE.
(JOE)>> WELL, NOW LET'S GET BACK TO THE TRACK. IT'S TIME FOR FINALS AND THE BIG SHOWDOWN BETWEEN THE TWO TOP IMPALAS OF THE PACK. [ MUSIC] [ ENGINE REVVING ] TROY'S BETTER REACTION TIME HELPS HIM AND HIS SS POWER DOWN THE TRACK WITH EIGHTH MILE 7 88, ENOUGH TO CONQUER THE KING AT LEAST THIS TIME.
(TROY)>> I WAS GLAD TO BEAT HIM, EVEN IF HE HAS THE BEST ET STILL. HE'S STILL GOT THE NUMBER ONE SPOT, BUT AT LEAST I GOT THE JUMP ON HIM.
(JOHN)>> I KNOW WHERE MY COMPETITION'S AT. LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.
(TROY)>> IT'S A CLOSE RACE.
(JOHN)>> THAT'S RIGHT, SURE IS.
(JOE)>> AND, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER TIME. (JOHN AND TROY)>> OH YEAH, WE'LL BE BACK.
(JOE)>> AND, NO DOUBT, BOTH WITH MORE POWER THAN EVER, ALL IN A MUSCLE MACHINE THAT MAY SOMEDAY REIGN AS THE TOP FULL- SIZED FLYER OF THIS DECADE. ( )>> TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW WE'LL LOOK AT THIS IMPALA SS AND WISH WE'D HAVE BOUGHT ONE. [ ENGINE REVVING ] [ MUSIC ]
(JOE)>> NEXT WE HEAD EAST TO THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS TO A MUSEUM LOADED WITH MUSCLE CAR MEMORIES.
[ MUSIC ]
(JOE)>> WOO! ALRIGHT, WELCOME BACK TO OUR HORSEPOWER TV ON THE ROAD SPECIAL. WE MADE A STOP HERE IN THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS AT THE NASCAR SPEED PARK. THEY'VE GOT NO LESS THAN EIGHT TRACKS TO SATISFY YOUR HORSEPOWER HUNGER. BUT WHEN IT'S TOO WET TO RACE, WELL WE FOUND JUST THE PLACE YOU CAN GO TO SATISFY THAT HORSEPOWER NEED. IN FACT, THIS PLACE HAS GOT THE MOST MUSCLE CARS YOU'LL EVER FIND UNDER ONE ROOF. [ MUSIC ] IT'S FLOYD GARRETT'S MUSEUM IN SEVIERVILLE WITH AN INCREDIBLE, EVERCHANGING CAST OF MAGNIFICENT MUSCLE CARS ONES THAT'LL MAKE YOU DREAM AND MAKE YOU DROOL.
(FLOYD)>> MUSCLE CARS IS MY LOVE AND I JUST THINK THERE'S MORE INTEREST IN MUSCLE CARS THAN THERE IS IN ANYTHING ELSE AND I JUST HAD TOO MANY CARS AND I NEEDED A PLACE TO PUT'EM.
(JOE)>> HE ALSO HAS A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO LOAN THEIR PRIZED RIDES SO THAT VISITORS CAN RELIVE SPECIAL MEMORIES THROUGH THEM. MEMORIES BOTH GOOD AND BAD.
(FLOYD)>> WELL, I THINK THE BAD MEMORIES, THEY GOT OUTRUN OR BLOWED THE MOTOR AND SCATTERED IT ALL OVER THE STRIP.
(JOE)>> YES, A STROLL THROUGH HERE INVARIABLY BRINGS BACK RECOLLECTIONS OF RACING. THAT'S WHAT MOST OF THESE MUSCLE CARS WERE ALL ABOUT, WHETHER IT WAS DOWN AND DIRTY DRAG RACING OR THE HIGH BANKS OF NASCAR. CARS LIKE THIS '63 IMPALA LIGHTWEIGHT WITH AN ALUMINUM FRONT AND REAREND, RADIO AND HEATER DELETE, OF COURSE. OR, THIS MONTE CARLO AEROCOUPE, BUILT TO MEET NASCAR REQUIREMENTS OF WHICH ONLY 200 WERE SOLD. THIS FORD TALEDAGA WAS A HIT AT THE CIRCLE TRACK, BUT A FLOP AT THE SHOWROOM. CLARENCE THOMPSON WAS ONE OF ONLY A FEW HUNDRED WHO JUST HAD TO HAVE ONE.
(CLARENCE)>> THE AVERAGE CUSTOMER THOUGHT THEY WERE A LITTLE UGLY. THEY HAD A HARD TIME SELLING 'EM. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT WAS THE BLACKED OUT HOOD FOR THE GLARE, OR JUST THE FACT THAT THERE'S A LONG NOSE ON IT.
(JOE)>> IT'S THE UNCOMMON MUSCLE MACHINES THAT ARE BOTH EXTRA INTERESTING AND VALUABLE, LIKE THIS '69 TRANS AM, ONE OF ONLY EIGHT T/A CONVERTIBLES BUILT, ONE OF ONLY FOUR WITH A MUNCIE FOURSPEED. ONE OF THE FAVORITE RARE RIDES HERE HAS TO BE THIS '69 CAMARO. WHY'S IT RARE? WELL, IT'S THE ONLY ONE WITH AN OPTION THAT COST MORE THAN THE CAR ITSELF. YOU SEE, THE BASE PRICE WAS THREE THOUSAND. THE OPTIONAL ZL-1 ALUMINUM ENGINE, AN EXTRA FOUR. HUH, SMALL WONDER THEN THAT ONLY 69 WERE MADE. FORD GUYS WILL LOVE THIS '67 GT500 THAT WAS ONE OF 2000 BUILT WITH A FACTORY 355-HORSE POLICE INTERCEPTOR ENGINE. BUT THE RAREST OF THE RARE MIGHT BE THIS '62 VETTE ON LOAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTOR TOM MCNEIL. NO, YOUR EYES DON'T DECEIVE YOU, THE ODOMETER CORRECTLY MEASURES ZERO MILES.
(FLOYD)>> CHEVROLET SENT THAT CAR TO A GUY TO RACE IN PIECES. AND, TOM BOUGHT IT FROM THIS GUY 'CAUSE HE NEVER RACED IT, AND WHEN HE GOT IT THE BODY AND THE FRAME WAS IN A CRATE, THE ENGINE WAS IN ANOTHER CRATE, TRANSMISSION AND REAREND, AND HE ASSEMBLED THE CAR AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN FIRED.
(JOE)>> SMALL WONDER FLOYD GARRETT'S GATHERING OF MUSCLE MACHINES IS A POPULAR ATTRACTION FOR COUNTLESS CARCRAZY VISITORS. IT'S A SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY THROUGH TIME, TO THE AMAZING HEYDAY OF FACTORYMADE HIGH PERFORMANCE CAPTURED FOR ALL TIMES AT THE MUSCLE CAR MUSEUM.
(FLOYD)>> IF PEOPLE KEEP COMING I'LL KEEP DOING IT FOR A WHILE. YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T SET IT UP TO GO OUT TOMORROW. I HOPE THAT TEN YEARS FROM NOW YOU'RE BACK AND I'M STILL HERE. [ MUSIC ]
(JOE)>> COMING UP WE'LL COVER TEH WHOLE COUNTRY IN SEARCH OF OUR TOP 10 EVERYDAY HORSEPOWER HEROES.
[ MUSIC ]
(JOE)>> WELL, AS WE HEAD BACK TO THE SHOP, LET'S TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT. YOU KNOW, OUR TRAVELS HAVE LED US TO SOME INCREDIBLE PEOPLE AND MACHINES THAT DEFINE THE HIGH PERFORMANCE LIFESTYLE. SO, WE'RE GONNA CALL THIS OUR TOP TEN, EVERYDAY HORSEPOWER HEROES. WE ALL LOVE THE TOP DOGS OF NHRA BUT IT'S THE HEROES OF STREET CAR RACING THAT WIN OUR HIGH PERFORMANCE HEARTS. AND, THERE'S NO WINNER LIKE TONY CHRISTIAN WHOSE SIXSECOND 200 MILE AN HOUR RUNS IN HIS FABULOUS FIREBIRD MADE HIM THE UNSTOPPABLE NMCA CHAMP. WE ALSO LOVE FAST STREET FIGHTERS THAT REPRESENT A BLAST FROM THE PAST. AND THIS '66 GTO DRIVEN BY RANDY ADLER IS BLOWN ALCOHOL OUTLAW THAT THRILLED US AT MANY RACES IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. RUNNING IN THE SIXES AT OVER 200 MILES AN HOUR IT'S ONE GALLOPING GOAT. PRO MOD HAS BEEN AN EXCITING ANYTHING GOES DRAG RACING CLASS FOR YEARS THANKS IN BIG PART TO ITS WINNINGEST RACER SCOTTY CANNON. WE CAUGHT UP WITH SCOTTY AND HIS ALKY BLOWN KILLER MATER IN HIS PRO MOD CAREER FINALE, RUNNING A MEAGERFORHIM 6.40 AT 214 MILES AN HOUR. HEY, WE'VE GOT A CATEGORY FOR EVERYTHING. AND THE TOP STREET CAR BURNOUT HONORS BELONG TO PAUL BARNES WHO PUTS ON EIGHTH MILE SMOKERS LIKE THIS AT EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY, ALONG WITH STOUT EXHIBITION RUNS IN HIS '59 BAD CAD. OF COURSE, ANYWHERE THERE'S SMOKE THERE'S FIRE. ANYWHERE THERE'S A DRAGSTRIP FIRE SHOW, THERE'S BOB MOTZ AND HIS 17,000 HORSE F-4 PHANTOM JET BIG RIG. BOB'S BEEN ROASTING TRACKS LIKE THIS ONE FOR 20 YEARS, AND HE'S EARNED THE TITLE OF FOREMOST FLAMETHROWER. BUT, THE TOP SHOWOFF OF THE STRIP IS ALSO THE GUY WITH THE FASTEST CAR ON TWO WHEELS, DANNY O'DAY AND HIS SUPERWINCH. HE'S THE ONLY WHEELSTANDER TO TAKE HIS 1500 HORSEPOWER TRICK CAR DOWN THE TRACK IN EIGHT SECONDS ON THE REAR MEATS. BACK IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES BEFORE FUNNY CARS WERE MAKING 300 MILES AN HOUR AND BIG BUCKS, THERE WERE WEEKEND HEROES LIKE NEIL ARMSTRONG AND HIS CORVETTE SHARK, NOW CHEWING UP THE COMPETITION IN MATCH RACES THAT RECAPTURE THE PREHIGH TECH FUNNY CAR FUN DAYS. WE PREFER RIDES THAT GO INSTEAD OF SHOW. BUT, WHEN IT COMES TO CONCOURSE CARS, YOU GOTTA LOVE THE IMAGINATION THAT GOES INTO ODD RODS LIKE RON HEITMAN'S '41 DOUBLE DODGE, A CAR RON BUILT THAT LITERALLY DOESN'T KNOW IF IT'S COMING OR GOING. WHILE MOST OF OUR HORSEPOWER HEROES HAVE FOUR WHEEL MEAN MACHINES, WE ALSO HAVE TO HIGHLIGHT OUR PICK FOR TWOWHEEL FEATS. JOHN MANCUSO NOT ONLY RIDES THE ALLAMERICAN HARLEY, HE RACES HIS NITROPOWERED 600 HORSE DRAG BIKE TO CONSISTENT SIXSECOND RUNS. OUR FINAL HORSEPOWER HERO PICK IS A GROUP AWARD, ONE THAT GOES TO ALL THE YOUNGSTERS IN AMERICA AND THEIR PARENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE JUNIOR DRAGSTER PROGRAM. IT'S A CHARACTER AND CONFIDENCE- BUILDING HOBBY, AND IT GIVES US CONFIDENCE THAT THE FUTURE OF GRASSROOTS HIGH PERFORMANCE IS SECURE IN THE HANDS OF THESE FUTURE HORSEPOWER HEROES. OKAY, WE'LL BE BACK HOME WITH HOT PARTS RIGHT AFTER THIS.
(NARRATOR)>> NOW HORSEPOWER'S HOT PARTS. BROUGHT TO YOU BY SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT. YOUR SOURCE FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE PARTS FOR 30 YEARS.
(JOE)>> AH, HOME SWEET HOME. YOU KNOW EVERYBODY'S LOOKING FOR PARTS THESE DAYS THAT WORK AS WELL ON THE ROAD AS ON THE DRAGSTRIP. AND HERE'S A NEW FUEL PUMP FROM A COMPANY CALLED AEROMOTIVE THAT SEEMS TO FIT THE BILL. IT'S ENGINEERED TO HANDLE A THOUSAND HORSEPOWER, YET DURABLE AND RELIABLE ENOUGH FOR YOUR DAILY DRIVER. INSIDE THE BILLET BODY THEY USE AEROSPACE COMPOSITE ROTOR MATERIAL AND C & C MACHINED AIRCRAFT GRADE ALUMINUM. THE RESULT IS A PUMP THAT FLOWS 500 POUNDS PER HOUR AT 12 VOLTS AND 45 PSI. SO, YOU CAN PUMP UP THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR STREET STRIP FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR ABOUT $300. THEY'VE GOT A REGULATOR THAT GOES FOR $140. ON A LONG ROAD TRIP LIKE THE ONE WE JUST HAD, YOU WANT A TIRE THAT PERFORMS GREAT ON WET AND DRY SURFACES, WEARS EVENLY WITH LOW NOISE, AND LOOKS GREAT, TOO. WELL, THIS NEW PROXIS T1S FROM TOYO SEEMS TO HAVE IT ALL. NOW, I HAD A CHANCE TO TEST THIS TIRE PERSONALLY AT WILLOW SPRINGS RECENTLY ON A ROAD COURSE, CONES, AND A SKID PAD AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, IT PERFORMED AS WELL AS ITS COMPETITION OR BETTER. IT USES A SILICA REINFORCED TREAD COMPOUND WITH A DESIGN THAT PROMOTES STABILITY ON THE CORNERS. IT HAS THESE WIDE WATER CHANNELS FOR EFFECTIVE DRAINING. NOW, THEY COME IN A BIG VARIETY OF SIZES AND PRICES. IN RACING, THE OLD THEORY WAS USE A THICK GEAR LUBE SO IT'LL STICK TO THE GEARS AND REDUCE WEAR. WELL, THE PROBLEM WAS YOU ALSO INCREASED FRICTION, DRAG, AND HEAT. WELL, NOWADAYS, X1-R IS USING AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY IN THEIR NEW SYNTHETIC GEAR OIL. IT ALLOWS YOU TO LOWER YOUR OPERATING TEMPERATURES WHILE PICKING UP HORSEPOWER AT THE REAR WHEEL. OF COURSE, IT'S INTENDED FOR RACING ONLY, BUT FOR YOUR DAILY DRIVER, THEIR ENGINE CONCENTRATE WILL PICK UP SOME HORSEPOWER AND MILEAGE FOR ABOUT $14 BUCKS. THE OIL GOES FOR $35. THAT'S IT FOR HOT PARTS. NEXT WEEK CHUCK AND I WILL GET OUR HANDS DIRTY AGAIN HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL SEE. THE FORD FLATHEAD, ONE OF HISTORY'S MOST MONUMENTAL MOTORS. THEY'RE HOT AGAIN ADN WE'LL BUILD ONE WITH SOME NIFTY NOSTALGIA PIECES AND SOME HIGH TECH BOLT ONS LIKE A SUPERCHARGEER. THEN WE'LL TEST OUR BUILDUP'S BENEFITS ON A STATE OF THE ART DYNO, AND A HOT ROD FACE OFF FEATURIN GA FIVE WONDOW COUPE FROM THE LAST MILLENIUM VERSUS A MODERN ROD FROM THE NEW ONE. OH AND REMEMBER HIGH PERFORMANCE FUN IS WHAT THIS SHOW'S ALL ABOUT. [ MUSIC ]
(NARRATOR)>> HORSEPOWER TV IS AN RTM PRODUCTION
