Dick Harrell drag car (new thread) - Page 4

hotrodchev · #31 10-29-2002, 02:57 AM

Hi Ken,

Here are a couple more photo's I acquired taken at Minnesota Dragways in 1969 with "Boemler" featured as the sponsor. Maybe you would be so kind to comment on these photo's for me as I'm not real familiar with this sponsor myself. [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Thanks,
Tim "Hotrodchev"

hotrodchev · #32 10-29-2002, 02:58 AM

Here's the second pic. [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Tim "Hotrodchev"

68TopStock · #33 10-30-2002, 02:08 AM

This is Jim Kirby's 68 bodied funnycar. It was originally painted gold in early 1968 prior to him being sponsored by Dick Harrell. I have a June of '68 dragworld that says Jim was here in MN with the car, painted gold. It raced against the topless Nova pictured above. The car ended up being rebodied in 1970 with a '70 body, and is supposed to still exist.

This car is also known as the second '68 Harrell funnycar. It was owned by Jim Kirby, and is different than Dicks personal '68 funnycar. Later in the year it was painted a dark purple or maroon. I think Boemler Chevy was a MO. based dealer. The name has only been seen on this car. It apparently only had one tank in the front for gas, as Dick's had 2 moon tanks for fuel and H20. I think I have this straight. Tom, do you care to comment?

sYc · #34 10-30-2002, 03:29 AM

I do not have a lot of info on Dick's steel bodied cars but have spent hours researching Dick's 'glass cars. Dick's first FC is actually an "altered" wheelbase car, a 1967 Camaro which will have the Yenko shield on the side. Square tube frame, metal body with fiberglass doors, front clip, trunk lid, etc. This car first ran injectors, then went blown. The car is being restored up North. Dick's second FC is a full fiberglass, flip top style 1968 Camaro. This car was painted at least 3 times, red w/black top, all red and red? with the gold leaf. Most pictures show the car with the Courtesy Chevrolet shield on the side. This car ran a blown big block. It is owned and being restored by the Yenko Sportscar Club. The second '68 FC is the Kirby car. This car was used by Dick to help him fullfil his many race committments. This car ran both injectors and a blower. A couple of years ago Jim still owned the car. Not for sure about the body(what year). Going on magazine articles, I had thought that there may have been a 3rd '68, but have been assured by Dave Libby (who worked for Dick) that there were only the two. Dick's 1969 FC is the much photographed Gibb Camaro, which matched the paint scheme on the '69 ZL-1, red? with gold lace. It is owned by Dick's daughter Valerie. I have heard reports of a possible 2nd '69, or at least part of one, but this may be rumor. In the fall of 1971 Dick was killed in his 1970/71 Camaro FC, which was cut up and buried in a land fill in KC. There was also a DH Vega during this time, which the where abouts is unknown. Tom

copolocater · #35 10-30-2002, 04:29 PM

69 funnycar-looks like a duck talks like a duck could it be?Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

whitetop · #36 10-30-2002, 06:49 PM

Tim
Not sure where your body came from but the frame is probably homemade or made in the '80's or '90's. Some '69 F/C from that era besides Harrel was Mike Burkhart, Bob Steakly, Dale Chevrolet Super Hugger among many others. I just looked at some pics and all three of the above body's were identical including the Harrell car body.
Even if you take off all the updated rollcage tubes per NHRA specs, it is still not an early design. The Harrell '69 chassis was all round tube, front to rear, even the main bottom tubes. The firewall forward section for instance had 2 parallel tubes, one on top of the other about 10 inches apart running horizontaly to the front. I sold a mag on Ebay about 10 months ago with the Harrell '69 F/C and made a copy of the article for the second highest bidder and remember how the tube frame was configured-compared it to a Harrell F/C model kit for sale on ebay and was curious how close the model was.
Dave

copolocater · #37 10-30-2002, 07:12 PM

Dave we already know about the chassis its the body and sheetmetal work thats similar to Dicks.I never thought it was Dicks but the info I've received from68\30 Steve and Ratpack I'm not counting anything out it had to be somebodys.Its a stock body with sheetmetal work identical to Dicks 70 camaro thats the concern.Don Hardy couldn't give me a diffinative no that he didn't do it but he didn't give me a yes either.We are in the process of trying to figure out if there could be some relation to Dick.Either way it's a neat piece of history.

whitetop · #38 10-30-2002, 07:35 PM

Tim check on the inside of the rear trunk. I have a picture of the rear 3/4 shot of the Harrell car and it has a short spoiler molded onto the rear. Looks like your rear spoiler was bolted on. The spoiler I'm looking at is very short and does not wrap around the body. It is not bolted on.
This Nova shot I'm attaching says the frame/suspension was designed and set up by Dick Harrell but the frame was actually built by Don Hardy. The Harrell '69 frame was near identical to this one for reference.
Dave

copolocater · #39 10-30-2002, 08:34 PM

Dave both myself and Ratpack checked the spoiler area out.The current spoiler has been added.The area where the the spoiler is now looks to have been repaired at one time.Don't know if that means anything but we had assumed with that repair it could have possibly had a molded spoiler.

68TopStock · #40 10-31-2002, 02:49 PM

copolocator,

You need to find a Hardy chassis for your body. [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Have you made any measurements, and compared them to Dick's and others bodies? What is the wheelbase? Just curious.

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