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View Full Version : My dad's old Buick Funny Car found...!


buickfunnycar.com
01-21-2009, 03:13 PM
1967 Buick Skylark GS funnycar found and restored in Michigan,just got these photos from the owner this morning.Pop's built this his only F/C when he owned Brooklyn Speed & Machine in NY,Mid-County Buick sponsored the car under the NY Buick Dealers Group banner.Originally driven by Bruce Bohan,it was later shoed by "Rapid Red" Lang,then "Coney Island" Ralph.

There was also a second '67 GS campaigned by Ron Pelligrinni (Chicagoland Buick Dealers Group) that was more famous,I'm guessing Fiberglass Trends in Chicago who made the body could not have made more than 3-5 of these at most...talk about heavy!:willy:

Since it was Buick sponsored,dad installed a 430 nailhead Buick in it with an 8:71 blower and custom one-off manifold he fabricated.I have pics when it was being built but I've misplaced them in my move and haven't found them yet.
Last time I saw the car run was against Malcom Durham's stretched '67 Strip Blazer Camaro at NY National Speedway in 1968...the DC Lip won that day by a bunch.

I would SERIOUSLY love to trade some of my cars for it but I don't think he's willing to part with it and he gave the former driver of my dad's AA/GD dragster's first dibs so I guess I'm SOL.I still have dad's last digger and would love to add this one to the collection...wish me luck.:unibrow:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/HPIM68381.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/IMG_25071.jpg

As you can see,he did a slight restoration on it like redoing the gold-leaf lettering himself but still left the patina on the car.he told me he used flattener in the paint to give it that 60's look.He has found the original chromed blower and drive so hopefully he'll be closer to getting that part right and getting it running.I'm supposed to receive more pics and info and will update then.
My dad will be very pleased to see his old car...:cheers:

racebuicks
01-21-2009, 03:29 PM
That other car has been around Ive got shots of it too.

JUSTANOVA
01-21-2009, 03:36 PM
Very cool:thumbsup: I love those old drag cars, I would love to build a "digger" too, just one of the many cars on my wish list.

It would be cool if you got the chance to own it too.

buickfunnycar.com
01-21-2009, 03:37 PM
Both of those pics appear to be of Ron Peligrinni's Chicagoland Dealer Group '67,which was the more famous of the two.
I believe less then 5 of those bodies were made by Fiberglass Trends in Chicago...probably less then 3.
Thank you for that though...waay cool.That car appears to have a drooped frontend...no?

Ummgawa
01-21-2009, 04:16 PM
That is completely awesome!!!

Lemons
01-21-2009, 04:24 PM
John,

Very cool, thanks for sharing the pics. That would be awesome if you could make it yours, good luck.

Chris

buickfunnycar.com
01-21-2009, 05:02 PM
John,

Very cool, thanks for sharing the pics. That would be awesome if you could make it yours, good luck.

Chris

Thanks man,I'd gladly trade any of my cars...maybe 2...in a heartbeat!:yes:

thedugan
01-21-2009, 07:39 PM
so cool
you gotta make a deal with the guy

Cread01
01-21-2009, 07:56 PM
If I'm not mistaken that car was in the grand rapids autorama this year. I'm almost posative it was the same car.

buickfunnycar.com
01-21-2009, 08:10 PM
If I'm not mistaken that car was in the grand rapids autorama this year. I'm almost posative it was the same car.

It was,I already confirmed that...got any pictures?:unibrow:

XcYZ
01-21-2009, 08:25 PM
That is completely awesome!!!

x2! Way cool.

gearheads78
01-21-2009, 09:34 PM
too cool for words

monza
01-21-2009, 11:37 PM
Really cool for sure hopefully you can end up getting that for your collection!

Cread01
01-22-2009, 11:06 PM
It was,I already confirmed that...got any pictures?:unibrow:

I am pretty sure my son took some pics. let me check and I'll get back with you.

buickfunnycar.com
01-23-2009, 10:23 AM
I am pretty sure my son took some pics. let me check and I'll get back with you.


That would be awesome,thanks...:thumbsup:

jeff hanson
01-23-2009, 01:15 PM
This definitely was at the GR Autorama. Waaay cool!

tyoneal
01-26-2009, 02:05 AM
1967 Buick Skylark GS funnycar found and restored in Michigan,just got these photos from the owner this morning.Pop's built this his only F/C when he owned Brooklyn Speed & Machine in NY,Mid-County Buick sponsored the car under the NY Buick Dealers Group banner.Originally driven by Bruce Bohan,it was later shoed by "Rapid Red" Lang,then "Coney Island" Ralph.

There was also a second '67 GS campaigned by Ron Pelligrinni (Chicagoland Buick Dealers Group) that was more famous,I'm guessing Fiberglass Trends in Chicago who made the body could not have made more than 3-5 of these at most...talk about heavy!:willy:

Since it was Buick sponsored,dad installed a 430 nailhead Buick in it with an 8:71 blower and custom one-off manifold he fabricated.I have pics when it was being built but I've misplaced them in my move and haven't found them yet.
Last time I saw the car run was against Malcom Durham's stretched '67 Strip Blazer Camaro at NY National Speedway in 1968...the DC Lip won that day by a bunch.

I would SERIOUSLY love to trade some of my cars for it but I don't think he's willing to part with it and he gave the former driver of my dad's AA/GD dragster's first dibs so I guess I'm SOL.I still have dad's last digger and would love to add this one to the collection...wish me luck.:unibrow:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/HPIM68381.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/IMG_25071.jpg

As you can see,he did a slight restoration on it like redoing the gold-leaf lettering himself but still left the patina on the car.he told me he used flattener in the paint to give it that 60's look.He has found the original chromed blower and drive so hopefully he'll be closer to getting that part right and getting it running.I'm supposed to receive more pics and info and will update then.
My dad will be very pleased to see his old car...:cheers:
=====================
Congratulations on finding the whereabouts of your Dad's old wheels. What a cool Car!!!

Good luck, Maybe someday,
Best Regards,

Ty O'Neal

buickfunnycar.com
01-26-2009, 01:08 PM
Thanks Ty...:thumbsup:
Told my dad over the wknd that I'd trade my cars for it and he asked me...why?:rolleyes: Guess he couldn't see my fascination with it...

tony byram
01-26-2009, 01:24 PM
John, thats tooooo cool! Good luck, maybe youll get luck and get it. Ive never even seen an old buick funny car! And that one is off the scale in cool!:thumbsup:

buickfunnycar.com
01-26-2009, 04:43 PM
John, thats tooooo cool! Good luck, maybe youll get luck and get it. Ive never even seen an old buick funny car! And that one is off the scale in cool!:thumbsup:

Thanks,1 of 2 built as far as we know...:yes:

thedugan
01-27-2009, 08:37 AM
So Coney Island Ralph lives here in NJ. They run a car
69 camaro and a Chevelle.
My buddy is going to call him tonight and tell him about the find

thedugan
01-27-2009, 08:46 AM
John, let me know if you would want to talk to Ralph. PM me your info if you do. Not sure when he would see him next but I bet he could tell you some stories.

buickfunnycar.com
01-27-2009, 10:14 AM
Thanks Doug,will do.:yes:
Here's a pic that was posted over on Yenko.net that was taken at a Chevy dealer circa fall/winter 1969/70 on Sunrise Hwy in Freeport,NY:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/Picturefunnycardisplay.jpg

This is when the original driver Bruce Bohen owned it,kinda hard to read but it lists the cost at $16,285.
Dad says they just gave the car to Bruce,he doesn't remember any cash exchanging hands.