FUNNY CAR MANIFESTO (Part 1)(Ed. Note: Steve’s stream of consciousness log is quite informative but quite lengthy. It is an excellent planning guide to apply to any project, automotive or otherwise. Though not abridged or edited some of the sections have been moved to satisfy the subjects discussed in each segment.) If you’re going to build a car – any car – you must have a focused plan of action. I always start every vehicle build by mapping out the objectives and by making a detailed recipe list in a notebook. The following is an excerpt from the 244-page build notebook for the Match Bash Nova. This mission statement was written months before any work was actually done so pay close attention to see what ideas and features from the Manifesto made the cut, and which ones didn’t.– Steve Magnante Today is November 9, 1997 and I’ve been at my new job at Hot Rod magazine for about two months so far and am pleased to say everything is going quite well. Sure, there are some adjustments and growing pains to cope with, but I’m sure it was the right move to say yes to Ro McGonegal’s job offer.
With the new found financial stability that comes from this job I have decided to look into buying a cool car, perhaps with the idea of making it a project car for the magazine. My first inclination is to buy a cherry 5.7 liter Camaro IROC-Z. These cars are out there and good ones are still available. The same goes for a Mustang 5.0 LX sedan, my second choice in the initial search for a cool car. Then two things happened to alter my plan for a late model project car. First, I happened to see the Hot Rod Nostalgia memorabilia catalog. In it was a book entitled Match Race Madness by veteran Texas drag racer Grady Bryant. I ordered the book and read the entire thing in a few days. Grady’s accounts of his wild experiences as a funny car driver during the Sixties captivated me and within a few days I was fired up to build my own altered wheelbase match race car, though mine would be a streetable tribute rather than an actual all-out track-only beast. Then I asked around the Petersen Publishing offices to see if any one had any cool old cars for sale that could be used as a basis for the project. Dave Freiburger, then editor of Car Craft, had a neat ’64 Pontiac LeMans, but when then Hot Rod magazine editorial assistant Mike Petralia told me of a ’63 Chevy Nova for cheap, I heard a bell go off in my head. I figured why not do an altered wheelbase Nova for the street? The pre-’68 Nova really lends itself to funny-fication because of the 14 bolts that hold the front clip of the car to the firewall and cowl. Remove the bolts and the front end rolls away, ready to be replaced by a Bill Thomas Instant Funny Car kit, or a recreation thereof. Hmmm, tell me more Mike. |
A copy of the stock drawing was “funnied” to follow the 1965 Chrysler tactic of moving the stock wheel openings forward on the body. It also explores the effect of increased ride height, a must-have for full Match Bash success. Note that the suspension is raised to position the wheel spindles below the rocker panel.
This one represents a more raw approach to the rear wheel opening. Rather than fuss with awkward patching behind the wheel opening, a simple stretch in the middle does the job and is a treatment used on many period match racers including our bogey, Dyno Don Nicholson’s ’65 SOHC Cyclone. I call this the “butch” treatment. The relocated front wheel opening shown didn’t happen on the actual Wilshire Shaker. Instead, some basic clearance trimming was performed at the lower part of the fender ahead of the front tire.
Marty (left) and Mike pose with the $750 Nova during delivery to my home. If Mike looks familiar, it’s because he’s Mike Petralia, the former editor of Popular Hot Rodding’s Engine Masters magazine.
After studying the drawings, Phil Mandella and Larry Zavala (foreground) of Phil Mandella Race Cars measure the 110-inch wheelbase prior to surgery. Phil’s approach to rear wheel relocation involves complete rear axle and leaf spring removal prior to cutting. Several jack stands support the body to prevent sagging. |
