1969 DH 427 Nova

[Atuckman]

Thanks to Robert Thurlow and Ken Boje, i was able to speak with the original owner of my car and the gentleman that sold it to him.

Car was invoiced from GM to Bill Allen. L78, TH400, Posi, SS. Garnet red, black bench seat, column shift. DHPC purchased car from Bill Allen. Harry May Chevrolet ordered car with balanced and blue-printed 427, tuned headers, 5 spoke headers, glass hood, etc.

Original owner said first run at Milan Dragway was 10.52

The original owner then added two 240 SW fuel pumps, a line lock and converted rear end to a 5.56 from a 5.13. Made some other changes. Best time on the track was a 9.51.

My heart was pounding thru the entire conversation. He was equally as excited to re-live some great memories. Said it was the best time in his life (aside from getting married).

The salesman was also forthcoming. He also recounted an occasion when he and his wife picked up Dick at the airport and brought him to Detroit Dragway. Dick was in town racing his funny car. He said Dick was one of the nicest guys he had met.

What an era.

[Charley Lillard]

Pics ? Cool story.

[Salvatore]

WOW, 9.50's back then when everybody else was running 10 teens, even Grump? Was this in 69 or later? Pictures!!

[Atuckman]

i had emailed some pics to marlin, hendersen and schoney a few months ago. maybe one of them can post? unfort they're on my work computer.

Original owner held the car for a short period of time (69-70 maybe 71). I have to call the second owner this afternoon. Original owner sold car with 2,140 miles. Said he used to street race the car for $100 a run. Said he "cleaned up". He just kept laughing in between stories. brought a huge smile to my face. i cant wait to reunite him with the car post restoration...

[PeteLeathersac]

W<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gifW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What was the customer delivery date from Harry May?
Can't wait for pics and more on this VERY special car!!!


<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete

[Salvatore]

I wonder if Mr. Howie knows about this car? He, to me is the Harrell,Gibb nova guru.

[scuncio]

Great story! Did you find the car in Michigan?

[Atuckman]

Car spent most of its life in Michigan and then Ohio.
Im really hoping the owner or his brother find pics when new
He is also looking for old time slips but low probability given how much he moved over the last 40 years.

[Mr70]

Good on you for following up on it's History.

[bergy]

WOW - what a great find! The process of tracking down old owners and re-living their memories is half the fun. Good job and can't wait to see your very special car!

[Atuckman]

thanks guys. i got the stiff-arm yesterday from the original owner's sister-n-law. was trying to reach his brother. i'll try again later.

going to try and download a couple pics

[Salvatore]

NOW we are talkin!

[Xplantdad]

Is this red car the one that was talked about HERE??? (http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&amp;Number=448470&amp;page=1)

[Atuckman]

not sure. believe its one of a kind. any info or stories are appreciated if people remember the car. Reward for vintage pics when car was new.

[PeteLeathersac]

Have you checked the tube stampings yet?.
Being a '69 Harrell transplant car also considering how DH was personally involved w/ many of the different Copo packages, it may be a good possibility of being an original 9511 car too?.


<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif
~ Pete



http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb303/DH427Nova/10-13-2005090450PM-2.jpg

[WILMASBOYL78]

This sounds like a cool car...lots of history, but I have trouble with the 9.50 ET...even the 10.50 is pretty wild for those days. I've read articles that put those 427 Novas at around 12 flat...maybe mid to high 11's...would love to see the time slips. Let's see some more photos...

wilma

[sYc]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WILMASBOYL78</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This sounds like a cool car...lots of history, but I have trouble with the 9.50 ET...even the 10.50 is pretty wild for those days. I've read articles that put those 427 Novas at around 12 flat...maybe mid to high 11's...would love to see the time slips. Let's see some more photos...

wilma </div></div>

I am thinking Ray Morrison ran in the 11s with his 427 Gibb/Harrell Nova back in the day.

[Atuckman]

i havnt seen any time slips as of yet so who knows.

looking at my notes, he said something about running it in &quot;A fuel stock&quot; during the time of his best run (9.51). what is that? promise to get some follow up when i speak to him next time.

[WILMASBOYL78]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&amp;Number=113156#Post1131 56

This article shows an ET of 12.05 for the Harrell prepared 68 car...I suppose with a little more gear it might have gone into the high 11's....a 10 second car would have required some other upgrades...wilma

[Atuckman]

Just spoke to original owner again. real nice guy and sharp as a nail. He worked for Ford back in the day making coil springs. worked 7 days a week and was appreciative that he had a good foreman that would let him swap with others to make a race at Milan.

Confirmed he ran a 10.52 &quot;out of the box&quot;. he restated that the car was balanced, blueprinted, 950 holley, toned headers, traction bars, etc. I explained how fast that was for the time. i mentioned the times quoted in the article above as well as told him what is mentioned on suydams website for the 69 yenko 427 nova.

told me he is still looking for time stlips and pics. Said he also raced on a strip in Michigan called M-50 with bunches of people watching. said that he never lost on street or strip. didnt know anything about the article but reiterated he ran the 10.52 on his first run. further mentioned that he didnt realize until afterwards that one of the brake lines was creating a drag...

As far as the 9.51 goes, he was running nitrous at that point. said something about an 8% mix and sunoco 260. Said he couldnt do more than 10% mix or it would get too hot. i hope that helps as its a little over my head.

[Atuckman]

Some of you were asking about the rear.
my mechanic just called me with this information:

original to car
3894860NF
BV1123G
car built jan 69

[Vern B]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Atuckman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just spoke to original owner again. real nice guy and sharp as a nail. He worked for Ford back in the day making coil springs. worked 7 days a week and was appreciative that he had a good foreman that would let him swap with others to make a race at Milan.

Confirmed he ran a 10.52 &quot;out of the box&quot;. he restated that the car was balanced, blueprinted, 950 holley, toned headers, traction bars, etc. I explained how fast that was for the time. i mentioned the times quoted in the article above as well as told him what is mentioned on suydams website for the 69 yenko 427 nova.

told me he is still looking for time stlips and pics. Said he also raced on a strip in Michigan called M-50 with bunches of people watching. said that he never lost on street or strip. didnt know anything about the article but reiterated he ran the 10.52 on his first run. further mentioned that he didnt realize until afterwards that one of the brake lines was creating a drag...

As far as the 9.51 goes, he was running nitrous at that point. said something about an 8% mix and sunoco 260. Said he couldnt do more than 10% mix or it would get too hot. i hope that helps as its a little over my head. </div></div>

The M 50 dragstrip that he referred to might be Onandaga Dragway that was open back in the 60's and 70's. It is very near M 50, north of Jackson, south of Lansing and not that far from Milan. It was a quite a popular track back then with some very big names racing there at the time. I was only there one time, but there were lots of cars and spectators.

It has been closed for 30 plus years, but I've heard there is an effort to reopen it as a dragstrip again. Current interest in the track might lead you to more info.

Ask the original owner if it was Onandaga?

[Schonyenko2]

I'm thinkin he may have said nitro, not nitous?

[ORIGLS6]

Nitro doesn't like to mix with gasoline. Won't stay in suspension very long. It's heavier (specific gravity) than gasoline and separates to the bottom of the tank. Needs alcohol as the catalyst.

[Schonyenko2]

I guess I'm not understanding the mix with the 260. I don't remember anybody doing much with nitrous back then, or I just wasn't payin attention.

[Salvatore]

DITTO!

[John Brown]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ORIGLS6</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nitro doesn't like to mix with gasoline. Won't stay in suspension very long. It's heavier (specific gravity) than gasoline and separates to the bottom of the tank. Needs alcohol as the catalyst. </div></div>

Amyl Acetate works better when mixing nitromethane with gasoline.

[Bill Pritchard]

I'm thinkin' the original owner may be having a &quot;senior moment&quot; in regards to the elapsed times he **thinks** he was turning back in the day. And nobody was running nitrous oxide back in the 60's or 70's.

[PxTx]

Ah yes, the older I get...the faster I was!

[Charley Lillard]

My 1980 Motion Camaro had a Nitrous setup installed at a cost of 1000.00 in 82

[SS427]

There was at least one racer running nitrous at Northstar Drag Strip, MN in the late 70's and that stip closed in 1979. I remember as this was the new rage and as a kid I was amazed by what it could do. Popular Hot Rodding, Car Craft and Hot Rod all ran how to articles on it. I know cuz instead of pin ups, I had them plastered on my bedroom walls! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif

[WILMASBOYL78]

<span style="font-style: italic"> &quot;I know cuz instead of pin ups, I had them plastered on my bedroom walls!&quot;
</span>
Are they still there?? <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

[PeteLeathersac]

Comparision article of L78/396 stocker w/ L78 and L72 Harrell cars!.
Anyone able to blow these pages up enough to read better?.

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete

http://hotimg23.fotki.com/a/76_75/113_27/Harrell1251-vi-th.jpg (http://hotimg23.fotki.com/p/a/76_75/113_27/Harrell1251-vi.jpg)

http://hotimg23.fotki.com/a/76_75/113_27/Harrell126-vi-th.jpg (http://hotimg23.fotki.com/p/a/76_75/113_27/Harrell126-vi.jpg)

http://hotimg23.fotki.com/a/76_75/113_27/Harrell127-vi-th.jpg (http://hotimg23.fotki.com/p/a/76_75/113_27/Harrell127-vi.jpg)

http://hotimg23.fotki.com/a/76_75/113_27/Harrell128-vi-th.jpg (http://hotimg23.fotki.com/p/a/76_75/113_27/Harrell128-vi.jpg)

[Atuckman]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Schonyenko2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm thinkin he may have said nitro, not nitous? </div></div>

maybe you are right. im too young to know what you guys used back then. missed out on that whole era unfortunately.

look at the comment in this article DH and his 67 camaro. maybe he said nitro not nitrous.

What modifications are necessary to run nitro on a street car?

[Salvatore]

didn't use anything back then but pure power Adam. When a BB camaro ran an 11.50 it really ran and 11.50 with 260 Sunoco, headers, traction bars a stiffer gear, a little carb and distributor work and a good raceday tune up. And then we drove them home. NO lawn ornaments in those days.

[Atuckman]

so cool.
sadly, i think my generation missed out. nothing like real american muscle.

[WILMASBOYL78]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: PeteLeathersac</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Comparision article of L78/396 stocker w/ L78 and L72 Harrell cars!.
Anyone able to blow these pages up enough to read better?.

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete

http://hotimg23.fotki.com/a/76_75/113_27/Harrell1251-vi-th.jpg (http://hotimg23.fotki.com/p/a/76_75/113_27/Harrell1251-vi.jpg)

http://hotimg23.fotki.com/a/76_75/113_27/Harrell126-vi-th.jpg (http://hotimg23.fotki.com/p/a/76_75/113_27/Harrell126-vi.jpg)

http://hotimg23.fotki.com/a/76_75/113_27/Harrell127-vi-th.jpg (http://hotimg23.fotki.com/p/a/76_75/113_27/Harrell127-vi.jpg)

http://hotimg23.fotki.com/a/76_75/113_27/Harrell128-vi-th.jpg (http://hotimg23.fotki.com/p/a/76_75/113_27/Harrell128-vi.jpg)

</div></div>

here ya go..

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&amp;Number=113156#Post1131 56

[njsteve]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bill Pritchard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm thinkin' the original owner may be having a &quot;senior moment&quot; in regards to the elapsed times he **thinks** he was turning back in the day. And nobody was running nitrous oxide back in the 60's or 70's. </div></div>

The Germans were running it in their fighter planes back in '44, though. (and no, I'm not that old) <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/eek.gif

[John Brown]

Also, NHRA was checking for Nitrous Oxide in the early 60's according to an article I read back then. Seems a few of the sharper racers were on to it's performance properties even way back.

[Charley Lillard]

The P51's with Merlins also ran Nitrous but I'm told only in emergency situations as afterwords the engines need to be torn down.

[njsteve]

I think they called it &quot;War Emergency Speed&quot; <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif


Reminds me of Spaceballs, &quot;Ludicrous Speed&quot;

[markjohnson]

Nitromethane is a fuel that needs to be injected and doesn't mix with carburetors and gasoline. As far as Nitrous Oxide, the typical plate type systems weren't commercially available until the late Seventies.

[Atuckman]

I know there were several styles of cragars during the era.

Anyone know the right period correct cragars for this car?
Appreciate the help

[Justbad Joe]

Thought the car had Kelsey Hayes? <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif
Joe

[Atuckman]

a previous owner bought a set thinking they were correct for car. both the original owner and salesman confirmed the car had cragars at delivery.

[flash43]

Any photos out there of the 68 Dick Harrell Chevelle Super
Stocker from this article???

[Atuckman]

couple other pics.

[Atuckman]

Somebody pinch me.
i got a little gift from the saleman at Harry May Chevrolet that sold the DH Nova to first owner and brokered deal with 2nd owner.

He converted about 20min of 8mm vintage footage from Milan Dragway onto a DVD.
I cut it down and saved a piece onto youtube.

I was blown away when he told me that there was a clip of the DH 427 Nova ripping down the strip!!!

I dont know if this link will work or if someone can make it more accessible.

See you all at MCACN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO7xbFpCr4o&amp;feature=youtu.be

Adam

[John Brown]

It works !!

Why not upload more of the Milan footage if you have time. I'd sure be interested. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif

[Atuckman]

happy to do so. my excitement was around the car. i have to sort through it as his DVD had some personal footage that i need to remove for privacy.

[Atuckman]

a friend tried to take snapshot from video but resolution isnt great.
can see the stinger hood.

[John Brown]

I used to love going to Milan. Lots of trees and shade. The paved approach lanes had lots of twists and turns that would work all the sand off of the tires and kept the starting line free from dirt. The overhead lights were ok if you didn't have a chopped top car, but tow vehicles with campers had to be very careful of them.

[olredalert]

----My only time at Milan I was supposed to run Porterfeilds ZL1, but he broke on the starting line. Good thing as we were going off heads-up and he would have cleaned my clock. Nice track though!.....Bill S

[Atuckman]

nice meeting so many of you at MCACN

couple answers to questions:
-car was delivered to DHPC at the Kansas City address on 2/19/69
-rear end is G80 code on paperwork

also spoke to 2nd owner today. He said car ran in the high 11s on a good day. guess the first owner was off a bit <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif

[Plowman]

I guess something like this,&quot;The older the story,the faster the car got&quot;. The 2nd owner story is not as old as first owner story. Or so so.

[John]

.... &quot;The older I get .... the faster I was! &quot; <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif

[Plowman]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: John</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
.... &quot;The older I get .... the faster I was! &quot; <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif </div></div> You got it.

[brent396]

COOL pics <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif

[my69rat]

If you knew the right people and had the money back in the day Nitrous could be had. I dont know why anyone would think it was not available it was out many years before the 60s.

[69 Post Sedan]

Adam, it was great talking with you at the show. Here are some of the pictures I took of your car.

Kurt

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-4752-1563-2012_mcacn_show_16.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-4752-1564-2012_mcacn_show_18.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-4752-1565-2012_mcacn_show_19.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-4752-1566-2012_mcacn_show_20.jpg

[MosportGreen66]

Kurt - any full body shots?

Thanks,
Dan

[69 Post Sedan]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MosportGreen66</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Kurt - any full body shots?

Thanks,
Dan </div></div>

Yes, but it's blurry. (I hate this camera indoors) <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/mad.gif

Kurthttp://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-4752-1567-2012_mcacn_show_15.jpg

[Atuckman]

kurt and some other guys were kind enough to point out certain things that caught their eye.

some are captured in the pics that he took.
thanks kurt for posting and helping out

[Hawkeye]

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-5526-1590-mcacn_2012_213.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-5526-1591-mcacn_2012_214.jpg

Adam,
It was nice meeting you at the show. I can't wait to see this car done.

Dan, here are some photos you can see a little better.
Marty

[MosportGreen66]

Awesome thanks guys...

I saw it in person after Adam got it but seeing it as-is on the field brings the project to new levels. So damn cool... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/drool.gif

[brent396]

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/drool.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif

[Stefano]

That is one bad a$$ Nova.

[day2killa]

must have been a fun car to drive

[Atuckman]

Just got off the phone with Larry, the salesman at Harry May that sold my DH Nova when new. He told me an old friend, Gerry Siebert, came into his office yesterday. Hadnt seen him for 45 years.

Gerry told a story about a street race that took place in front of his house back in 69/70. A DH Nova owned by D Reaume and a hemi cuda. After two runs, the police blocked the street on both sides and took the guys in. Gerry had to go to court as a witness.

I just called D Reaume, the original owner of my car. He started chuckling remembering the event. Said he &quot;beat the cuda bad&quot; but ended up with 6pts and a $300 fine. Got to love history!

[Xplantdad]

That's cool!

[Salvatore]

That is a great car Adam. Loved seeing it in Chicago!

[Atuckman]

the cars are all incredible but the stories are the icing on the cake. here is what is cool for me. these guys are 65+ yrs old, live in michigan and alaska and come from very different backgrounds from me (NY, 40yrs old, etc). we all shared a moment and laugh yesterday about something that we all have in common.

[mockingbird812]

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">&quot;beat the cuda bad&quot; but ended up with 6pts and a $300 fine.</span></span> <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[scuncio]

Cool story.