Bought my dad's old Buick Funny Car...

[buickfunnycar.com]

1967 Buick Skylark GS400 Funny Car my dad constructed in 1966 in his shop Brooklyn Speed & Machine.

Only 2 of these body's were ever known to exist (the other being Ron Pellegrini's Super Bird) but his was Chrysler-powered,this is the only one that was Buick-powered making it the World's only Buick-powered Buick F/C ever constructed.
The chassis is a copy of a Logghe Stamping Co chassis,the one to have in the day and is constructed from chrome moly tubing and features a TH400 prepped by Vitar and a Buick Wildcat rearend with 3:90 gears & Wildcat axles.

8:71 blown & injected on gas,it ran a best of 7.79 @ 191 mph and had several drivers including Bruce Bohan,"Coney Island" Ralph Landolphi,"Rapid" Red Lang and Freddie DeNane.

I should have the car within 3 weeks and am looking forward to reuniting my dad with the car...stay tuned for further developments:yes:

1968 @ Englishtown Raceway:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07803.jpg

Magazine stills shot by noted east coast photog Bob Beattie:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07807.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07808.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07809.jpg

Magazine articles:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07810.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07811.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07813.jpg

Action shots:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07814.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07815.jpg

Remember this day like it was yesterday,I was 10 years old,car took out Doug Nash in the first round (he broke),Dyno Don & Mr Norm were there too!
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07816.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07817.jpg

And yeah...I have a VERY understanding wife!:woot:

[89 RS]

Very cool!

[Roger M]

^^ I concur. That is freakin awesome! Would love to see that make a pass down the strip. Nice score John:thumbsup:

[texas56]

HOw Cool is that! Congrats! Would love to restore a vintage funny car someday, just no room in the shop! Those things are HUGE!:thumbsup:

[buickfunnycar.com]

HOw Cool is that! Congrats! Would love to restore a vintage funny car someday, just no room in the shop! Those things are HUGE!:thumbsup:

Tell me about it,I'm about maxed out on room too!

Body mold was made off of a new '67 Skylark off the showroom floor in Chicago,seller tells me it is so accurate you can read the guide numbers and year off the tail lens...in fiberglass!:willy:

[rogue]

absolutely awesome...

I too am the caretaker of a family heirloom and I take more pride in that car than any other vehicle I will ever own. Way to keep it in the family and get it back :thumbsup:

[tones2SS]

WOW!!!
Very cool John. Enjoy.:thumbsup: :cheers:

[gearheads78]

That is so cool man...congrats!!

[96z28ss]

Is it a Christmas Present for him?

[buickfunnycar.com]

Is it a Christmas Present for him?

Not quite but seems like it is for me,lol...

[Modmach1]

Very Cool :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Looking forward to some more pictures of it! :)

[R67Chevelle]

now thats a joyful reunion....:D Very cool... Tell us the story, that would be a very interesting story.... 43 years later.. almost a half century....:thumbsup:

Blessings,
AMS

[zcrz]

Cool story....are you keeping the car or is it a gift?

[kp.touring]

John, way cool!!!
So how well do you think it do at your local race track, Laguna!

Kevin

[class67]

that's really cool....any idea what it looks like now?

[BritishGreen68]

Thats the coolest damn thing ever.. car and story..:thumbsup:

[GregWeld]

X's 100 !!

Those where the good old days....

LOL

[buickfunnycar.com]

that's really cool....any idea what it looks like now?

Thanks guys and yeah,I'm keeping it for as long as I can.:yes:
I'll probably have to thin the herd at some point because basically I'm out of space and I don't spend as much time with my cars as I should.

I could see myself throwing a bucketful of money at this thing:willy: so why not on a family heirloom then just another musclecar...nice musclecars...but just cars in the end.That's how I see it anyways.

Car is in restored condition in what the owner calls a patina resto meaning he added flatner into the paint to give it more of a barnfind look to it.
Chassis,body,rearend,frontend,sheetmetal,wheels,an d interior are original to this car as is the original blower & intake.What we're missing is the custom timing cover w/mag drive my dad fabricated 42 years ago...that's long gone.

Here's how the car looks today:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/HPIM68381.jpg

Gotta get dad to re-create his headers too:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/IMG_25071.jpg

Here's where it's currently residing,on display in the Gilmore Museum in MI,these were from a Hot Rod piece a few months back...it'll be on display until Nov 1st if you guys want to get over there...just don't touch it,lol:lol:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07363.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07362.jpg

[comp-spec]

AWESOME !!!
I love them old funnycars

[BRIAN]

The detail for a race car is incredible. Did all funny cars of that era have the correct proportions it just looks like a stock body.

That is going to be some moment when you fire that thing up. Great find and story!!!

[buickfunnycar.com]

The detail for a race car is incredible. Did all funny cars of that era have the correct proportions it just looks like a stock body.

That is going to be some moment when you fire that thing up. Great find and story!!!

Most were stretched or had altered wheelbases,if you look at the picture of it running Malcom Durham's '67 Camaro,you can see the stretch in that car.

Like I mentioned,this body mold was taken directly off of a stock production '67 Skylark that was sitting on a showroom so exact proportions.:yes:

[E.rodz]

how frickin cool is that !can't wait to see more on this one having a part of drag racing history that was built with family thats awsome.:thumbsup:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[buickfunnycar.com]

Many have asked to see it in it's current condition so here's some resto shots:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07820.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07821.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07823.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07824.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07825.jpg

Note how accurate the body mold is,owner says you can read the guide numbers & date in the lenses:yes: :
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07826.jpg

It is amazing in just this short time how many people have stepped forward with info and stories about the car,it really has quite the following being a buick and rare as hens teeth.

[ironworks]

Cool stuff, Vintage race cars are awesome.

[buickfunnycar.com]

Cool stuff, Vintage race cars are awesome.

Got that right Roger,I could just stare at nostalgic stuff all day long.
Dad & I went out your way for the reunion last year,we'll certainly get out there with the F/C hopefully in '11 if all goes well.:thumbsup:

[DFRESH]

Very cool John---looking forward to more--what a great story you have going here!

Doug

[nvr2fst]

Way to bring it back John.
My first car was a 67 red skylark. At 16 back then, it only lasted a month... long story.
Very impressive photo/article memorabilia that you saved. Also I cant recall if I ever seen on non stretch funny car, pretty impressive and the resto looks great from the photos.
Dave

[buickfunnycar.com]

Thanks guys...:thumbsup:

I got an email late last night,the chairman of BPG (Buick Performance Group) had extended an invitation for my dad & I to bring the car to their annual meet in Columbus,OH next year to display it in the main ballroom,they even offered to help defray transportation costs and pay for our room,board & event tickets...I told them I'd see what I can do.

I will say these Buick guys are very loyal to the marque and a really nice group of guys...:hail:

[GregWeld]

Love the Buick and the story behind it!

I just have one this to say - and perhaps I've misread the offer from the Buick Performance Group -- you said they INVITED you -- and then offered to "defray" some of the transportation costs.

I'd say if they asked you to bring the car to THEIR event - they should pay 100% of all your costs. Fuel - room - food...

Just my .01 worth.

[BRIAN]

You probably know this but on the HAMB there are 2 200 page threads about early Super Stock and race cars. If it was run on I guarantee someone will have info and pics for you. It is amazing what info they have on those 2 threads. Maybe some early shots for you.

Brian

[buickfunnycar.com]

You probably know this but on the HAMB there are 2 200 page threads about early Super Stock and race cars. If it was run on I guarantee someone will have info and pics for you. It is amazing what info they have on those 2 threads. Maybe some early shots for you.

Brian

Thank you Brian for that info,I will check it out.:thumbsup:

I found this picture of the only other '67 Buick Skylark body ever built by Fiberglass Limited in Chicago and was campaigned by Ron Pelegrini,owner of Fiberglass Limited.
This car was Chrysler Hemi-powered and was destroyed in an on-track incident...:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/Pel67BuickFunny.jpg

Ron also ran this 1968 Buick Skylark GS400 body with a chassis constructed by Romeo Palamides but this car was very ill-handling and was put on it's top very early on and never returned to action:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/Pel67Beware.jpg

[Flash68]

Very cool John.

Although not as famous and cool, I am trying to locate my Dad's old 71 Plymouth Fury III to buy back and fix up. Not easy to do when you don't have the VIN anymore!

[rwhite692]

John that is awesome. Family and I spent a lot of time at National. Do you remember what was the last year the car ran @National?

[buickfunnycar.com]

John that is awesome. Family and I spent a lot of time at National. Do you remember what was the last year the car ran @National?

Englishtown was our home track,last time either the F/C or our AA/GD's ran @ NY National was 1970.

[rwhite692]

Thanks John, yes Englishtown as well - We are from Port Washington. Have already forwarded this to the members of my family so we can see if we have any pics.

[buickfunnycar.com]

Thanks John, yes Englishtown as well - We are from Port Washington. Have already forwarded this to the members of my family so we can see if we have any pics.

Really appreciate that...:yes:
Just got an email from Brian Beattie,he was the track photog at these east coast tracks,he sent me some pics of the Malise & Lipori AA/GD dragsters and one of Ingenue,it's one I already have though.

He did say he remembered the car real well...

[buickfunnycar.com]

Pictures of Ingenue being loaded up in MI,if all goes well I should have her here on Sunday...and thank's to Dave & Mary.:thumbsup:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07847.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07846.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07845.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07848.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07849.jpg

I also received all the paperwork today and included was this great angle of the front of the motor which included the mag drive/timing cover/crank girdle my dad created...back in 1967.He could have taken the easy way out and just run a 392 Hemi like everyone else but dad has alway had a creative mind and wouldn't take no for an answer.
I have a feeling the first two words out of his mouth when he see's this pic will be "crank trigger",lol...
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07850.jpg

Detail of dad's chassis based loosely on a Logghe piece,state of the art in the day:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07851.jpg

If all goes well,car should arrive on Sunday with more pics to follow...:unibrow:

[Streetking]

That is so cool, congrats!!

SW

[GregWeld]

Even better than kool!

Love this history... Make sure you get your Dad's face on video when he sees this for the first time...

[buickfunnycar.com]

Don't know about video but I'm hoping to have Mary P with her super-duper camera shoot the whole thing....yes,she does it all!:willy:

We are all very excited here...:yes:

[BritishGreen68]

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07847.jpg
that is a great looking car!

[buickfunnycar.com]

Car will be here Monday morning @ 8am...pics to follow shortly thereafter.:yes:

[70rs]

Very cool! I am looking forward to seeing it.:cheers:

[Bakaruda]

Man there is nothing like reuniting with a old family friend.

[jimbo]

How hard was it to get the owner to sell?

[CRCRFT78]

Man this is F****** cool as he!!. I love the story behind this. I wish I could find my older sisters old 65 Impala SS she got for her high school graduation. I've got to get over to San Francisco and see if its still around. Can't wait to see the pics when this arrives tomorrow. This is one of those moments you wish you could be there to see it happen.

[buickfunnycar.com]

Thanks guys...it's like Christmas eve here right now.:yes:

Been chasing this car down for about 5 yrs now.

[buickfunnycar.com]

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07859.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07862.jpg

Wifey's the new shoe...she was the only one who'd fit,lol:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07865.jpg

Seems pretty happy considering she's married to a crazy guy...
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07866.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07869.jpg

Dad on the right,gentleman on the left picked up the body in the dead of winter in Chicago in 1967:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC07871.jpg

More pics to follow...I have a cruise to pack for.:willy:

[ccracin]

Very, Very Cool. Was this a surprise for Dad?

[GregWeld]

You're having more fun than the law allows John!!


:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[buickfunnycar.com]

Very, Very Cool. Was this a surprise for Dad?

Naw,he knew...:yes:
Heading out of town for 10 days so I couldn't even really study it...oh well,hopefully soon enough.:thumbsup:

[jimbo]

"Naw,he knew...
Heading out of town for 10 days so I couldn't even really study it...oh well,hopefully soon enough"

Did you leave the keys with Dad?:thumbsup: