sexybabyjamie
Active Member
I am glad I found this site. If you missed the 348/409 era, between 58 and 65, you missed a very special time. I don't know why but in those days the W engine was riduculed by many small block Chevy fans, and to a lesser extent, Ford and Mopar lovers. Mabey because when mated to a Turboglide, as most were, it was a real dog. Believe me when I tell you, when hooked to a stick shift, it was almost always a winner on the strip or on the street. Even in those days a 348 c.i. engine was not large. All other big three brands offered engines with more displacement. The only real competition for the 348 came from the much larger 389 pontiac's, and in 61, Fords 390 c.i./375/401 H.P. engines. Even so, I saw 348's win more often than its much larger Pontiac cousin. Had the 348 been a 368, it would have been no contest.
I had a 61 Chevy rag top equiped with a 348/280 H.P. engine mated to a factory installed 4 speed transmission and ran many 62 Chevys that had 327/300 H.P. engines w 4 speed trannys and 55,56,57 Chevys, that had 327 Vet short blocks, and never got beat. Once while sitting in a buddies car at the local drive in some guys pulled in next to us in a 62 Impala with a 300 H.P. 327 and commented how cheap looking the front end of the 61 Chevy sitting across the lane looked. This happined to be my 61 so I had to call him out. When I beat him, 4 times, I asked him if he thought the back end looked as cheap as the front end. That was my most remembered race. Once I beat a 406 Ford rag top. I don't know who was more surprised, me or him; probably him. To be fair to Ford fans, I must admit, I got beat by another 406 Ford. The only other car that beat me was a 61 Chevy equiped with a 350 H.P. 348 engine. This car belonged to Dean LaPole and I believe was the last race Dean had with this car before taking delivery of his new 63 409. He beat me about the same as the 406 Ford did.
In those days I hung out with a person well known on this site; Fred Totten. It was only yesterday that I found out of his passing.
Many of my buddies, Dean LaPole, Bob Wallace, Bugs Wilson, and Fred Totten had 409's that were consistent winners, year after year, at the local drag strips. If any of you doubt Freds claim to a 11:57 et run---don't. I did not see this happin, however, I did see the same car run an 11:80 et at Mountain Park Dragway near Clay City Ky. on a hot day at a high elevation.
If any of you readers remember me I would love to hear from you. My E-mail address is (don't laugh) sexybabyjamie@aol.com.
I had a 61 Chevy rag top equiped with a 348/280 H.P. engine mated to a factory installed 4 speed transmission and ran many 62 Chevys that had 327/300 H.P. engines w 4 speed trannys and 55,56,57 Chevys, that had 327 Vet short blocks, and never got beat. Once while sitting in a buddies car at the local drive in some guys pulled in next to us in a 62 Impala with a 300 H.P. 327 and commented how cheap looking the front end of the 61 Chevy sitting across the lane looked. This happined to be my 61 so I had to call him out. When I beat him, 4 times, I asked him if he thought the back end looked as cheap as the front end. That was my most remembered race. Once I beat a 406 Ford rag top. I don't know who was more surprised, me or him; probably him. To be fair to Ford fans, I must admit, I got beat by another 406 Ford. The only other car that beat me was a 61 Chevy equiped with a 350 H.P. 348 engine. This car belonged to Dean LaPole and I believe was the last race Dean had with this car before taking delivery of his new 63 409. He beat me about the same as the 406 Ford did.
In those days I hung out with a person well known on this site; Fred Totten. It was only yesterday that I found out of his passing.
Many of my buddies, Dean LaPole, Bob Wallace, Bugs Wilson, and Fred Totten had 409's that were consistent winners, year after year, at the local drag strips. If any of you doubt Freds claim to a 11:57 et run---don't. I did not see this happin, however, I did see the same car run an 11:80 et at Mountain Park Dragway near Clay City Ky. on a hot day at a high elevation.
If any of you readers remember me I would love to hear from you. My E-mail address is (don't laugh) sexybabyjamie@aol.com.
