Lost Muscle Cars. Wes Eisenschenk
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Название: Lost Muscle Cars
Автор: Wes Eisenschenk
Издательство: Ingram
Жанр: Автомобили и ПДД
isbn: 9781613253120
isbn:
Trail of Owners
Along with the Ridler Award in 1973, Pennington was handed the keys to the aging Sonic ’Cuda and became the car’s first real owner. Chuck talked to Pennington’s son and was informed that Jerry actually drove the Sonic ’Cuda for a few months after receiving it in 1973. Pennington then sold it to Treatment Products Limited in Chicago, Illinois, makers of The Treatment Silicone Car Wax. The company used it for promotions at car shows after lettering it “The Treatment.” The company used it as a promotion vehicle across the upper Midwest perhaps as late as 1976 or 1977.
Chuck has heard reports that it eventually ended up as a street rod in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Michigan, and maybe even in Oregon. A former worker for Treatment Products called Chuck and informed him the company had stored the ’Cuda in a warehouse for years and it had become quite dilapidated simply from neglect and disuse. The company’s owner eventually sold the car just to get rid of it because of its sad shape, possibly for as little as $800 to $1,500. Even this is word of mouth from a former employee, because the earth seems to have swallowed up the Sonic ’Cuda somewhere around 1977.
Steven Juliano (noted Mopar collector) chased the car for a while just out of curiosity and was informed it was last seen painted black years ago in Lake Orion, Michigan, but nobody has seen it in ages. Because the Sonic ’Cuda began life as a plain-Jane 383 Barracuda, it’s unlikely anyone would’ve restored it back to stock configuration. Presumably, it’s still there in hiding and waiting to be rediscovered.
If you know anything solid about this car, please pass the info along to Chuck; he’d love to know what became of it.
Road Runner Probe: ICAS Giveaway Car
By Wes Eisenschenk
In 1959, custom car builder Robert Larivee and his brother, Marvin, founded Promotions Inc. It was the Larivees’ joint venture into the world of showing cars, which was a very popular hobby throughout the 1950s. In 1962, Promotions Inc. moved from the cozy confines of Michigan to sunny California, where Bob could network with SoCal’s blossoming show car scene.
By 1963, Bob had formed the International Show Car Association (ISCA) in an effort to have better judging for the ever-expanding genre of show cars. One series of shows that Bob created was the International Champion Auto Show (ICAS). These two were and are often confused with each other.
With a character car, you’re allowed to have a little fun. The famous running-bird logo featured on 1969 cars was enlarged and flanked part of the door and fender on both sides of the car. Beautiful women stretched out on the decklid came standard on the Road Runner Probe. (Photo Courtesy Chuck Miller Collection)
The tail section of the 1968 Road Runner Probe featured recessed tail lamps, an aluminum spoiler, and a full-length red stripe. The car wore Turbine Bronze paint from the factory. (Photo Courtesy Chuck Miller Collection)
Envisioned by Gene Baker and constructed by automotive design artist Chuck Miller, the Road Runner Probe was the giveaway car at the International Champion Auto Show. Terry Taylor of McLean, Illinois, was the top builder with his immaculate 1957 Chevy named Fire Chief, and so won the Probe. (Photo Courtesy Chuck Miller Collection)
Prepping the Giveaway Car
During the 1960s, Bob Larivee had developed a working relationship with the auto manufacturers in Detroit. As a grand prize giveaway for winning the ICAS, each year Bob had a car customized as a reward to the top builder. For the 1969/1970 ICAS show circuit, he had worked out a deal with Chrysler to give away a 1968 Plymouth Road Runner.
This Road Runner was shipped to Styline Customs where renowned fabricator Chuck Miller and designer Gene Baker worked on it. This wasn’t the first venture between Promotions Inc. and Styline Customs. Over the years, Bob hired Chuck to work on other custom car projects; the most notable was Red Baron.
Chuck remembered that the car was delivered in white, a color that gave them a blank canvas. With Gene’s vision of the car in place, the task of fabricating the Road Runner began. The car received a new, beautiful Candy Tangerine paint job. On the tops of the fenders, doors, and quarters, Chuck blended the paint to a deep coat of silver. The contrast was striking. Down the middle of the car, he added a Candy Tangerine stripe, visually dividing the car in half.
The 1968 Bird received a series of fabrications, including raising the fresh-air hood scoop at a 45-degree angle with the filler plates facing each other. Cosmetically the car received a set of Cragar S/S wheels, Goodyear GT wide-tread tires, Hurst shifter, roll bar, Thrush mufflers, and Stewart Warner tachometer. Chuck added a rear spoiler and Cibie headlights.
A large, brazen road runner ran across the bottom of the door and fenders, as seen on the 1969 models. The words “road runner,” in lower case, as on the 1969s, were scripted with a box outlining them. The word “Probe” appeared in cursive lettering under the box. Other than the tach and roll bar, the interior remained stock.
The Winner Is
Terry Taylor of McLean, Illinois, won the Road Runner Probe for the conversion of his 1957 Chevy. The car, named Fire Chief, featured a tilting front end and a chromed 292-ci Chevy powerplant. Terry also won a seven-day trip to Los Angeles.
It’s unknown how long Terry owned the Probe. He passed away some years ago, and his relatives have no information on the car.
This wonderful color shot of the Road Runner Probe really accentuates the creativity in color blending on the car. Of the noted fabrications, the fresh-air hood treatment, the custom roll bar, and the recessed headlights really stand out. (Photo Courtesy Chuck Miller Collection)
Fortunately, the car would be recognizable if discovered, unless it was converted back to its stock appearance. Very little information on this car exists other than a few clippings from a magazine article and these four photographs.
If you have any information on the Road Runner Probe, contact either Chuck Miller or Wes Eisenschenk.
By Wes Eisenschenk
It’s hard being a manufacturer that holds onto the past when others are moving on to bigger and better things. That described AMC when Pontiac rolled out the GTO in 1964. Shortly thereafter Ford, Mercury, Chevrolet, Buick, Oldsmobile, Dodge, and Plymouth all unveiled performance models in their midsize and compact offerings while AMC watched from the sidelines. Late to the party, AMC dipped its toes into the pool with a 343-ci 280-hp Rambler with the mandatory 4-speed in 1967. The plan was to begin the transformation of its “Little Nash Rambler” in an effort to keep up with its competitors that were offering L79-equipped Novas and 383-powered Darts.
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