Arnie Beswick's "Mystery Tornado" '64 GTO and longnose '66 GTO racing at Cordova Dragway 6-26-10
This match race took place during the 2010 NostalgiaFest at historic Cordova Dragway, in Cordova, Illinois and was the first of two races by the pair. The '64 car is a clone of the original "Mystery Tornado", while the '66 car is the restored original racer driven by Arnie Beswick during the 1966 and '67 seasons. Both cars ran in the 11 second range.
The most famous '64 GTO in the world
This is the very same 1964 Pontiac GTO that Car and Driver pitted against a Ferrari GTO in one of their most famous comparison tests of all time. The Pontiac had secretly been tuned by Royal Pontiac and featured a 421 ci engine in place of the stock 389. Pontiac's Jim Wangers was behind this test car and often street raced it on Woodward and in Chicago back in the day.
1964 Pontiac GTO. Factory Tri-Power
First start up after winter storage. Rare 1964 Pontiac GTO Sports Coupe with Factory Tri-Power. 4 speed, Safe-t-trac Posi, #'s matching drivetrain. PHS, Protecto-Plate. No power options. Exhaust is Gardner pipes with Flowmaster 40 mufflers. Motor is original, it has never been rebuilt. Engine color is correct for 1964-65. Build Date 5th week November 1963 at the Pontiac Mich. plant. This is the car the song (Little GTO ) was written about. Now has 71,000 miles. First Test with new Video camera. Moved too fast with it. Sorry.
Knafel Tin Indian 1966 GTO vs. Running Bear 1963 Tempest Launch
This is at The Pontiac Nationals in Norwalk OH on August 8, 2010. Both these cars were originally built/prepped and driven by "Akron" Arlen Vanke. Arlen is riding in the Red Running Bear Car. The cars launch and go through first gear. Both are the ACTUAL cars not clones. The '66 GTO is built to stock specs with a .060 389 Tripower 4 spd and 4.33 gears. Running bear is set up to do more aggressive track duty with a worked 455. Back in the day Running Bear ran a Super Duty 421 to low 11's in the A/FX factory experimental class. The Tin Indian DOMINATED B and C stock running consistent mid 12's and to Arlen's recollection a best time of 12.22 at 112mph. The GTO won Stock Eliminator at the Nascar Winter Nationals in Daytona and followed that up by going 27 rounds and winning the Spring Nationals in Bristol, TN. The '66 GTO never lost a race in it's class. Norm "Sonny" Tanner is riding shotgun in the GTO. Tanner drove for Knafel Pontiac in the late 60's and early 70's. Running Bear is now owned and driven by Tim Benko. The Tin Indian is now owned by Merle Green and his son Mike Green is driving in the video.
Raybestos Garage: Talking Shop '64 GTO-R Episode 6
The Raybestos '64 GTO-R is finished, and the results speak for themselves. Crazy GM power, giant brakes, and beautiful Legendary interior. But the GTO-R was purpose built for speed. So NHRA Top Fuel driver Clay Millican makes a pass in it at Great Lakes Dragaway!
http://www.raybestosgarage.com
PONTIAC - stock Pontiac Super Duty 421v8/405hp vs stock Chevy 409v8/409hp on DYNO
WATCH THE VID TO SEE HOW CLOSE THEY Dyno TO THEIR FACTORY 405hp/409hp ratings. Growing up.....Pontiac/Oldsmobile old timers/EXPERTS who taught me most of what I know, often told me Chevy rated their horsepower in a more optimistic way than say Oldsmobile or Pontiac. I've even heard Pontiac rated/tested their engines in a 100 degree room, compared to Chevy in a 60 degree room. These Dyno results seem to reflect that some of what I heard was true. Both of these engines are great, but the results do seem to show that Pontiac was not rating their horsepower worrying if it would cause "songs to be written" about their engines .... like the great song "She's real fine my 409"--(Chevy).
Pontiac 1964 GTO 428 Pro Street
Show Quality PHS Documented
Just completed total restoration (less then 500 miles, all receipts), never raced award winning, show quality 1964 Pontiac GTO (PHS documented), ProStreet 428 (compression 9.6:1, 517hp). Complete engine build by Joe Boghosian (chief mechanic for Dan Gurney, Indy winner 1960s). Since then, Boghosian Racing has been building winning engines across the nation. Glove box door has been signed by Joe B.
Headers by Dougs
turbo 400 Transmission built by John Bettencourt.
TCI Flex Plate
B&M 3000 stall converter
B&M shifter
Mini hi-torque starter
Flow Cooler aluminum water pump with stainless inner plate and stainless sleeves.
Custom designed Exhaust system by Shuken Racing.
Custom designed Ram Air Intake system by Shuken Racing.
QTP Electric cutouts.
Exhaust system ceramic coated.
Custom made Aluminum radiator.
Billet water recovery tank with billet thermostat housing.
All new wiring provided by EZ Wiring. All wiring wrapped in nylon cloth.
Flex-a-lite 3000 cfm thermostatically controlled fan.
Holly 750
Proform HEI distributor.
Holly fuel pump, with stainless braided fuel lines and AN fittings.
Sheet metal work including cage, back halving, installation of Ford nine inch completed by Ruth Enterprises, Richard Ruth owner. Richard is famous for his build of the 55 Chevy for the movies Two Lane Black Top and American Graffiti.
456 Detroit locker Ford nine inch.
Twelve point roll cage.
Ladder bar suspension.
Adjustable rear coil overs.
Disc brakes in front, drum (powder coated) in rear.
Wheels fully polished Centerlines.
Mickey Thompson tires, 31x18.5x15 rear. Front 26x7.5x15.
All original stainless except new door seal plates and rocker panels.
1965 Pontiac GTO Royal Bobcat
Lance Lambert talks to Jim Wangers, Godfather of the GTO, about the Royal Bobcat package. They discuss the history and what all was included.
