Jim Haas (Buizilla) Way Cool 1972 Stage 1 Buick

[BUIZILLA]

Thanx for the posting help...

I have literally almost 4" of paperwork and race documentation for this car. Some highlights...

From the NHRA '72 World Finals program "in Stock Eliminator there was simply no question that Dave Benisek in his amazing GS won all 5 national WCS events and the Winternationals to boot, his points were 3 nearly times as much as the second place competitor." This car was owned by Buick tech instructor Bill Trevor and driven by Dave. I am very proud to call Dave a close friend. The car was special ordered, but Buick insisted it have EVERY available option to compete, PS, tilt, PB, LOADED, except A/C. Dave and Bill wanted a stripped lightweight, but Buick wanted NO part of that theory if they wanted it promoted.... In fact Buick later made them install an underdash tissue dispenser when it wasn't on the dealer delivery sheet...the car was delivered to the Buick zone office. Buick quietly slipped them $$$ each quarter (I have the doc's) which enabled Dave to travel and raise the Buick marquee standings to #3 nationally in NHRA ranks. The car won every single pass, at every single event, including the World Finals at Amarillo in 1972. It is the ONLY car in NHRA history to have ever done that, to our current knowledge. Motor Trend Magazine, June '72, did a road test on this very car. The national Stock record at that time was 13.38 @ 105.50. The car was unstoppable in C/SA, Pure Stock and Stock Eliminator. It won everything, everywhere. The GS car was rated Top Performance Car of the Year by Hi-Performance Cars Magazine in April '72. National Dragster did features twice in Nov, and once in Dec '72 on the car. It was sponsored by Pennzoil, M&H tires, LEE, Stewart Warner, Cragar, Rocket and several others. The ONLY other drivers and cars to get more recognition that year was Grumpy Jenkins and Ed McCulloch in '72, this statement is right from National Dragster News 11-17-72... in fact, this car had the best win record of NHRA events over both Grumpy and Ed that year, 5 for 5 won, 1,000% score. I still have the ORIGINAL NHRA 1972 teardown tech sheet certifying the car's engine, as well as 3 original build sheets, and Sloan Museum doc's...
After the '72 season Bill Trevor sold the car to Dave for penny's, I think it was $1500... Dave drove it for a year or so on the street to school, as he was a high school teacher at the time. He then sold it to Pop Kennedy of Kenne-Bell fame who had it for a couple years. It was then sold to the Bett's family in middle CA for a while, then it went to Mr Alan Fontes in Modesto, CA for a long time. At that point it went to Joe Babay in Erie, PA in 1993, and I bought it from him in Oct '94 and had it driven to Miami Fla, where I started a resto racer profile car. It was raced in NMCA, NSCA, NHRA, IHRA, GSCA and a ton of muscle car specific events with a 528-535" stroker for about 9 years, running a best of 9.90@136 with full luxurious interior, PW, full closed exhaust out the back (I hate open headers)... I put together a Stage 2 470" aluminum head pump gas engine which resides there now, removed the roll bar, and I still drive it occasionaly. It's now a great 11 sec pump gas car, with great history. It now has about 46,500 original miles, original interior except new carpet, one beautiful code 75 red repaint in 1995. ZERO rust car, never as much as a dent anywhere... Everyone in the Buick world knows this car as BIG RED. I have owned dozens and dozens of VERY nice musclecars over the years, and this is my all time favorite. It's good to see a Buick get some tough crowd recognition.

Thanks for letting me share my short story. Soon i'll do an even neater story on Mighty Mouse, the worlds fastest Stock Appearing small block, '69 Chevy SS350 Nova, [email protected]...

Jim Haas

[mockingbird812]

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!

[Chevy454]

Awesome...I've heard so much of this car over the years, nice to see it showcased here! Cool to see it getting PR where it matters, on the track...

[Belair62]

Awsum Buick....love it.

[MosportGreen66]

got any vintage pictures?
neat car... nice colors!

[BUIZILLA]

I've got a bunch of vintage pic's, but they are in some magazine's and National Dragster newspapers, my scanner is on the fritz...

[flyingn]

this car is HISTORY in the Buick world. Have been following it for years.. Good luck with it Jim..

Frank

[mmcporter]

Going FAST WITH CLASS....Keep the Buick Banner flying high!