The Dan Gurney 1961 Impala 409 race car.
 

In case some of you don't get Hemmings, here is the ad. This car is the real deal and one of only two '61s on the planet with it's original 409 engine. Let me know if you need more specifics or history. The owner will help with shipping arrangements. Reasonable offers considered.

http://images.hemmings.com/email_ima...t/AN643086.jpg

Verne

Re: The Dan Gurney 1961 Impala 409 race car.
 

Cool car!

The Dan Gurney 1961 Impala 409 race car.
 

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W[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif[/img]WWWW......W-Power!!!
[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/drool.gif[/img]
~ Pete

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https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...7660-image.jpg
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Re: The Dan Gurney 1961 Impala 409 race car.
 

Wow. I would love to own this one.

Re: The Dan Gurney 1961 Impala 409 race car.
 

Feel free to tender an offer. When done, I feel this car should have a value in Z-11 territory. I feel that it is bargain priced now considering all of its original features. No clone, no deceptions. I've worked with the owner for years to help him validate everything.

Verne [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: The Dan Gurney 1961 Impala 409 race car.
 

Some details and history:

Hullo Verne
Thanks for the fantastic conversation, I forgot, when we were talking this morning about the sintered brakes, to tell you about the ventilated backing plates, front and rear.
The bracket for the front vent hose is still attached to the front swaybar mount on the wishbones. Pics attached here will show all this. The rear swaybar mount is 'agricultural', showing it is not factory.
Also here are some pics of under the dash where I said the firewall had been repaired when the car was converted.

I have good provenance authenticating the car by outlining its history since that historic race in Silverstone, England. This comes in the form of 2 letters—the first has been written by Laurie O’Neil, the Aussie race car driver who bought the car from Dan Gurney there in England, just after it raced, and had it shipped to Australia;
the second letter has been written by Dan Gurney himself, fully supporting all the information contained in Laurie O’Neil’s detailed letter.
Also, as I mentioned in my last email to you, I have, from the UK, official lap times, grid placements etc.

Right now I have a very good friend who is helping me add to the provenance I hold by verifying, through Aussie administrative channels, the Police Number the car was given at the time it was imported into Australia.

• VIN 11837L157805 is stamped on the chassis/door pillar.
• On the engine block is/was stamped 11837L15805 and an assigned Australian Police number: N620117P (N=NSW, 62=1962, 0117=117th, P=police)
• On the rear of the block is stamped K1660 GM 2, the casting # is illegible
• Yes, has all the glass
• Front and rear sway bars added by DG for racing
• The DG Sun electric tacho
List of known owners and dates:
• Dan Gurney
• Laurie O’Neil, May 1961- …….
• Laurie sold to ……..
• Ron Hodgson
• Greg Cusack
• ?
• Alan …..
• Michel Malik (3 years)


Verne [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: The Dan Gurney 1961 Impala 409 race car.
 

----How cool is that, Verne!!! A veritable and verifiable piece of history!!! Has the restoration done to date changed the steering back????........Bill S

Re: The Dan Gurney 1961 Impala 409 race car.
 

No, the entire firewall should be replaced from a LHD donor. Easier than it sounds because its one big piece, not patchwork. Same goes for the dashboard. IT comes out in one piece when you separate the tack welds. Sounds intimidating but its easier than replacing a 1/4 panel and doing it right. Also remember that this car is rust free, so you're working with metal, not rust or damage.

Verne [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: The Dan Gurney 1961 Impala 409 race car.
 

This car is still available and the price has been reduced to $115.K
This one of one rare piece of history deserves to be completed properly and added to a fine collection. It will never go down in value or appreciation.

Verne [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img]

Re: The Dan Gurney 1961 Impala 409 race car.
 

When considering a musclecar purchase, please compare these attributes of this car to any other car that is available:
&gt; There were only 142 409s installed in 1961 Chevys
&gt; There are only TWO 1961 409 cars on the planet with their original engines. This one and the shop order car that was owned by Dale Armstrong
&gt; Original T-10 4-spd
&gt; Original posi rear
&gt; Original rust-free body panels
&gt; Mostly complete owner history with declarations
And on top of all of that, add the historical significance that it was owned and raced by Dan Gurney and still has the racing chassis modifications done by Bill Thomas prior to shipping to England.
Again, please compare those attributes to any other known musclecar and compare values.

Verne [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img]

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...y_at_wheel.jpg

Just to let everyone know, this car is being shipped back to the US after being away 55 years. It should arrive in about a month and will be under my care until a buyer can be found. Being in the US, it will be very easy for people to see it up close.

Verne

Loaded yesterday (with all the parts) for the trip to the port. Expected delivery back in the USA is mid August. (slow boat I guess)
Verne
Attachment 95610

Very exciting news. All these years and finally back to the good ol' USA!!!

Sounds cheap to me.

The Hemmings ad link is no good.

Charley,
The Hemmings ad was months ago and has since expired. You can delete it from my post if you want, so it doesn't waste people's time. I can supply the full history of the car (as known to date) to anyone who is interested.
Once it reaches our shores again, Old Cars Weekly will be publishing an article about its homecoming.

Verne

Verne, could you please PM me with the history?

Thanks
Tony

PM sent in two parts because it's long.

Verne

PM received.

One piece bumper on that Car as well!! I love how clean they look

Cool car!!

The one piece bumper thing came about because California had different bumper strength requirements than most other states. I have also heard that they may have been required on some Canadian cars as well.

Both the bumpers are the originals (one piece).

Verne

Any cars that we have come across in Canada with the one piece bumpers seem to have come from the West Coast. (BC) Not saying it is gospel but have seen and parted enough cars to observe.

...

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Cool pic, thanks for posting it!
:beers:
~ Pete

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Was Kyle Busch driving that -- he seems to have a problem keeping the wheels on his Japanese NASCAR ... TAZ

There was a small article on this car in the October issue of Super Chevy.

I no longer get it. LAST Oct, right?

Verne

Verne,
It is this month's issue. October 2017 so it should be on the stands now.

Gee, what a coincidence. A little over a month ago I sent them an email asking for contact info to photographers who might have more photos of the car for an article I was writing about it. I guess the idea just came to them out of the blue...........

From what I understand, the car might be delivered to me tomorrow.

Verne

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Has it arrived yet Verne?
Below pics from this July 06/17 SuperChevy link...
http://www.superchevy.com/features/1706-dan-gurney-goes-jaguar-hunting-in-1961-with-this-hot-409-powered-chevrolet-impala-ss/

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Magazine article on eBoy...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1961-Chevy-Impala-409-Vintage-Article-Raced-by-Dan-Gurney-in-London-/301978591251


:beers:
~ Pete


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Thanks Pete,
I have all those photos. The container has arrived and cleared customs. I expected delivery today but there's a hitch. Now they tell me the shipping line needs the original Bill of Lading (which I don't have) before they'll release it. I've contacted the shipper in Australia but it's 1am Tues there now. They should have let us know this requirement earlier. Lack of planning on their part should not create an emergency on our part!:thumbsdown:

Please look at the photo of the engine bay and notice the headers. I'm trying to figure out who's they were. Notice the round flange on the collector. Bill Thomas made headers then, so did Frank Sanders and Dougs. If anyone can recognize them, I'd appreciate it.

Verne

The car will be delivered to me this Thurs (Aug 24th). Anyone who is interested is welcome to come see it anytime after that.

Thanks
Verne

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Pretty exciting stuff and sure wish I was closer to you Verne!
Looking forward to tomorrow's arrival also future updates on this car!
:beers:
~ Pete


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Exciting for sure Pete. Also very nerve-wracking with delays and other arrangements. But the Gurney has landed and I can untie the knots in my stomach. It arrived perfectly unharmed. Back on US soil after 55 years:flag:

Verne
Attachment 98967

Congrats Verne - that's a BIG deal...."back on U.S. soil after 55 years..."!!!!!!

Super-cool, Verne! Legendary car ...

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Too cool Verne and so great it landed unscathed.
Love how it still has a Don Steves plate frame, is the plate itself still w/ it too?
Tough to think if a more important W-car historically, amazing it's still around also finally back in the USA!
:beers:
~ Pete

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Congrats Verne!Looking forward to more pics!