PDA

View Full Version : The Red Alert LS6 Chevelle


Flight427
03-31-2011, 02:36 AM
http://www.mecum.com/auctions/SC0511/SC0511-107391/images/SC0511-107391_1.jpg 1970 LS6 Chevelle Bob Hamilton Super Stock (http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_detail.cfm?LOT_ID=SC0511-107391)

<span style="font-weight: bold">Lot S145 - To be Offered at Mecum Indy Spring Classic on Saturday, May 21.</span> http://www.mecum.com/auctions/SC0511/SC0511-107391/images/SC0511-107391_3.jpg http://www.mecum.com/auctions/SC0511/SC0511-107391/images/SC0511-107391_2.jpg

For most of its forty years this 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS454 LS6 has been doing exactly what it was built to do: tear up the drag strip.

Along the way it has become arguably the most famous drag racing Chevelle ever, capturing the SS/DA class record in 1972 and setting an elapsed time of 10:75 at 123 mph on the way to winning Top Eliminator 14 of 16 events at Bradenton Dragway in Florida in 1976.

By then the car had been immortalized in an AMT 1:25 scale model that became the corporation’s all-time best selling kit.

Purchased new by Ford AFX racer Bob Hamilton as a Valentines Day gift to his wife, the big block beast was soon spending its Sundays at the local drag strip with Hamilton at the wheel.

Sponsored by AMT and dubbed “Red Alert”, it began its long and extremely successful career in 1971, setting the SS/DA national record during the 1972 season and owning the track record at New Jersey’s Island Dragway for over two years.

Hamilton sold “Red Alert” in 1976 to racer Terry Carney who, in 1990, partnered with Bill &amp; Jan Stephenson to reintroduce the car to a new generation of fans and a new career in popular nostalgia drag racing.

The car has since run the quarter mile in the low tens at over 130 MPH.

A true drag racing legend in every sense, the “Red Alert” Chevelle has always been expertly maintained and remains in splendid condition.

It is almost entirely as Hamilton raced it, retaining its original sheet metal and interior and most of its original Cranberry Red paint.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Hightlights:</span>

- The Bob Hamilton Super Stock LS6

- &quot;Red Alert&quot; the world's most famous Chevelle

- The family grocery getter made into a rompin', stompin' all out super stock in the highly competitive NHRA D-automatic class, because of the on going cold war, it was decided to name their new racer &quot;Red Alert&quot;

- In mid 1971 the American Model Toy Company (AMT) took notice of Red Alerts spectacular performance and hot graphics, and soon Red Alert was an AMT model.

- AMT asked if their logo could be put on the car somewhere, so the logo was added, which has been on the flanks of Red Alert ever since

- Original models are now in collections all over the world

- Retains 60% original paint and most of its original interior

- The original engine block remains with the car.

- Paperwork includes:

Protect-O-Plate with Bob Hamilton's name
Owners manual
Bill of sale
Original pictures

bashton
05-18-2011, 03:43 AM
Someone may be adding an incredible piece of Drag Racing hsitory to their fleet! Good Luck, Mr. Clary; here is to hoping the new caretaker uses it the same way you did!

Bashton
MCACN Managing Member

sYc
05-23-2011, 04:29 PM
The wife and I had a great time at the Mecum auction this past weekend, spent a lot of time visiting with other sYc members and got to see a ton of neat cars, several going to new owners.

The hospitality of the Mecum staff was second to none, and even more impressive, was how smooth things ran. A big thank you to Dana, his son Frank, Stephano and all the others who made sure we were well taken care of.

Though Red Alert did not sale on the block, as they say, “the bid goes on” with a couple of interested parties. Not meeting reserve may have been a good thing, as I had forgotten just how much fun being the caretaker of RA was, as even though surrounded by many very cool cars, of all makes and models, ole Red was still well received. Visited with one guy who ran against Bob Hamilton and RA in Florida, said you were headed to the trailer if paired against them, spoke with several others who remembered seeing the car when Terry Carney and Bill Stevenson ran the car. Of course, everyone remembered the AMT model.