Dan Gurney Road racing 409 in the UK

[johnnyriviera]

Never heard this story before!

Dan Gurney Once Shipped an Impala to England to Kick Jaguar Ass

The Big Eagle thought he could win the British Saloon Car Championship with a mostly stock Chevy Impala. He was so successful, the Brits banned him.

www.roadandtrack.com

 

[Blk61409]

A well known story and some say could have been the first 409.

 

[johnnyriviera]

Wouldn’t be the first time I was late to the party!

 

[pvs409]

I think a well known NewJersey Late Great Chevy guy - Verne Frantz ( known on this site) helped put the 61 back
to left hand drive as I recall. Maybe others here can confirm.
Paul

 

[Blk61409]

I think a well known NewJersey Late Great Chevy guy - Verne Frantz ( known on this site) helped put the 61 back
to left hand drive as I recall. Maybe others here can confirm.
Paul

Yes, Verne and I discussed that process several times. He wanted to buy my 61-409 engine.

 

[Phil Reed]

But......Pat saved it for me!!!!!!!

 

[RPOLS3]

As I understand it this is one of two 61's that still has its born with engine.

Verne posted about the car over at the Yenko site a few years back.......here is the link

The Dan Gurney 1961 Impala 409 race car. - The Supercar Registry

The Dan Gurney 1961 Impala 409 race car. Supercars/Musclecars-For Sale

www.yenko.net

 

[real61ss]

I never heard the line, "one of two 61 409's with their born with engines" before. Who has the other one? To my knowledge there is no way to tell, those motors were not stamped from the factory. Do you know Pat?

 

[Blk61409]

Not that I’m aware of.

Having learned “never to say never”, the 1961 409 cars I know about are only word of mouth.

As we understand there may be paperwork showing a given car had a 409, but to my knowledge there are no identifying marks tying a particular engine to a specific car.

I don’t doubt there are a couple, but I too would like to know more if anyone has any info.

 

[RPOLS3]

Here is an interesting article referenced in the yenko site link;

Dan Gurney Goes Jaguar Hunting in 1961 with this Hot 409-Powered Chevrolet Impala SS

While our story’s subtitle sounds like an episode of “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom,” this 1961 Impala SS was something special. Its owner, Dan Gurney, had it

www.motortrend.com

...and an additional one about the Dale Arsmtrong car (supposedly the only other 1961 409 with its born with engine)

1961 Chevrolet Impala SS409

Mr. Armstrong's Dream Car: It took 30 years, but the legendary crew chief finally got a legendary car—a '61 Impala SS409.

www.caranddriver.com

 

[Blk61409]

Here is an interesting article referenced in the yenko site link;

Dan Gurney Goes Jaguar Hunting in 1961 with this Hot 409-Powered Chevrolet Impala SS

While our story’s subtitle sounds like an episode of “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom,” this 1961 Impala SS was something special. Its owner, Dan Gurney, had it

www.motortrend.com

...and an additional one about the Dale Arsmtrong car (supposedly the only other 1961 409 with its born with engine)

1961 Chevrolet Impala SS409

Mr. Armstrong's Dream Car: It took 30 years, but the legendary crew chief finally got a legendary car—a '61 Impala SS409.

www.caranddriver.com

Yep, lots of articles written over the years. Never doubting the content.
Those are validated cars that were ordered as 409’s.
The Gurney car does not have its original engine today. Verne Franz asked to buy my 61-409 engine for the restoration.
I personally discussed this car with Dan Gurney years ago. Great driver.

 

[RPOLS3]

Thanks Pat

 

[oldskydog]

Here is an interesting article referenced in the yenko site link;

Dan Gurney Goes Jaguar Hunting in 1961 with this Hot 409-Powered Chevrolet Impala SS

While our story’s subtitle sounds like an episode of “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom,” this 1961 Impala SS was something special. Its owner, Dan Gurney, had it

www.motortrend.com

...and an additional one about the Dale Arsmtrong car (supposedly the only other 1961 409 with its born with engine)

1961 Chevrolet Impala SS409

Mr. Armstrong's Dream Car: It took 30 years, but the legendary crew chief finally got a legendary car—a '61 Impala SS409.

www.caranddriver.com

What is the documentation for the Armstrong car? Factory air wasn't avaiable with the 409.

 

[real61ss]

Cecil, the Armstrong car was supposedly a mule car that was used to test the new 409 engine. Story goes that the car had A/C to test the cooling ability of the new motor. The car also had an additional cowl tag that no one has ever decoded. I saw the car at auction a few years ago in Hershey, Robert Street and I attended the auction and I bid on the car, I had no intention of buying the car unless there was no one else present that knew what the car was. The car was not advertised as being anything other than a 61 409. Verne was still living then and I called him and verified the vin. Someone did get a steal, the car sold for 105k, I bid it to a 100k , there was one other person at the auction that apparently knew what the car was because everyone but he and I dropped out at about 70k, each time I would bid he would up me 5k. I watched the car being loaded the next morning, new saw it again, have no idea who bought it or where it went. I have some photos that I took of the car that I will post, got find them

 

[oldskydog]

Wish that VIN tag pic was clearer.. looks like Delivery date 1-7-61

 

[real61ss]

photos for the auction of the Dale Armstrong car

 

[real61ss]

forgot this one

 

[rstreet]

I can’t get a clearer photo of the 2nd body tag but for those that want it here is the vin tag that Tommy and I reviewed on the Armstrong car

 

[rstreet]

I’d like to ask for opinions on this car with the cowl and vin tags shown. Unfortunately all we had with us that day was two cell phones. Neither of us wanted to crawl on the fender for more through block inspection. Unfortunately when the car was restored the large power steering vacuum assembly was used making it damn near impossible to look at the back of the block. A bore scope would have helped but had my hands full with a Gin n Tonic and IPhone. Not sure what Tommy had his hands full with as that was 5 or so years ago. Interesting there was only one other real bidder that night besides Tommy.
Robert

 

[oldskydog]

I have two " born with" 61 409 engines.......just don't know what cars they were born with.