Jim Kirby's 1968 Funny Car found!!!!!

[396L35]

I just got back with the new owner of Jim Kirby's 1968 Funny Car. I know there has been a lot of talk about these cars in the past but I am here to set some stories straight. On a previous post by 68TopStock he said that Kirbys car was the number two car of Don Hardy produced Funny Cars, but actually it is the number three car that was produced by Hardy. The car is still in the original paint that was run when Kirby was teamed up with Harrell with the only exception that Kirbys name on the rear quarter and a mouse on wheels and Super Rat painted over the Boemler logo. The story that I got from Kirby was he dropped the Harrell logo after Dick and him went there different ways. Later on in that same year Boemler drop there sponsorship with Kirby for reasons that he didn't want to talk about, so he painted the rat on the car. The car was never rebodied like some people would like to belive, and was always owned by Jim until Today.... The cars engine is being looked at as we speek and hopefully be started up later on this week. Jim Kirby is a great all around person to talk to and I am happy to be part of this cars history. The new owner and Kirby plan on staying in touch with each other for there is much to gain with talking to a legend that was paired up with the other legend named Dick Harrell...../ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headbang.gif

[Mr70]

Mark
Nice!
Any chance of current pictures?

[68TopStock]

This is a neat story. Can't wait to see the car, talk to the owner, find out about its past and future plans. Until cars surface, most facts about them are not completely known unless one of the actual principles, like the driver or owner is around to bring the story to the surface.

[396L35]

The new owner doesn't want to be known yet until the car makes its first show. I just know he got a lot of original photos of the car with Kirby and Harrell together at different events. Plus he has copies of original film fotage of the car running down the track that Kirbys wife put on VHS from 8mm tapes. It is so exciting to see all this stuff coming out of the woodwork. Kirby also gave him his original race suit and gas mask that he used back in the 70's. I am trying to post pics of the car but I am having some trouble uploading them. Mark

[moparts]

PIC 1

[moparts]

PIC 2

[Chevy454]

Try this:

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/52211-KIRBY1.jpg

[Chevy454]

And, number 2:

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/52213-KIRBY2.jpg

[68TopStock]

WOW! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Mr70]

Thanks for sharing those with us. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[396L35]

I will be sending the rest of the pictures to MOPARTS tonight after I get home from work. Hopefully he can get them posted soon. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[DaveBonnell]

Oh it's nice! got to see it yesterday and hear Jim talk about it 1st hand also. very very very very very cool. The memorabilia he had along with the car, pictures, newspaper clippings was unbelievable.

[moparts]

Ok guys I have 24 pic's of the Kirby f/c.

http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/sycnetcam/lst?&.dir=/My+Photos&.src=ph&.begin=9999&.view=t&.order=&.don e=http%3a//f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/sycnetcam/lst%3f%26.dir=/My%2bPhotos%26.src=ph%26.view=t

I hope that works. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[396L35]

Thanks MoParts, the pictures look great, and I hope everyone will enjoy looking at them until they can see the car in person. Mark /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[camarojoe]

AWESOME car!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif I especially like the slogan painted on the rear spoiler! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[396L35]

How do you like that slogan??? Jim Kirby told us that he put that on the car after Dick and him parted ways, if you can remember around 69 or 70 Dick changed his motor to a 426 Hemi instead of a GM block. As for Kirby, he said that he was a die-hard GM man and would never turn his back on the bowtie even if it didn't make as much horsepower as other engines, but he could never put anything other than a Chevy block in a Chevy race car. Hats off to Jim Kirby!!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Mr70]

Did you Guys check out the November issue of Hemmings Motor news?They did a nice write up with pix of the Funny car show out east recently.I know Tom C. was there I believe.They show Bruce Larsons FC,along with a few others.Good reading. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[396L35]

Rick, I guess you get the first class bible in the mail, cause I still haven't recieved my Nov. issue yet. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Mr70]

Actually,I don't.
I used to pay for the 1st class delivery with my subscription,only to find that wasn't always the case.
Tie ups with the mailman,or even in the Hemmings system were untimely.
After I dropped my Hemmings Subscription,I found an Old Book store down the street from me that gets almost everything Hot off the Press.
I am amazed at how fast they recieve issues.The owner,a nice Older lady,has no Idea why she gets publications so much earlier then all the other stores around here.
I have been buying from her for almost 7 years now.
I think she gets the winning Lottery numbers days in advance too! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[396L35]

Rick, I was wondering if you ask the old lady who is going to win the World Series this year?? Maybe your on to something!!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[sYc]

Yep, we were there, pitted next to the man himself, Bruce Larsen. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif Man, did we have a blast. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif As per Hemmings, the Dec. issue is supposed to have a feature article on my '68 Dick Harrell FC, shot at SCR6. If so, can not wait to see it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[Mr70]

I already know the answer to that question Mark.
The CUBS!
Hey..lets play Two. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
By the way,are you anywhere near Joplin Missouri?

[396L35]

No, I am on the other side of the State. We live 20 miles south of St. Louis. Mark /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[NOCOPO]

Man, do those pictures bring me back to the early '70s. My older brother used to get stuck "babysitting" me when I was 9 or 10. Sundays meant a trip to New England Dragway. I blame him for my "habbit". You wouldn't have to ask me twice to take that down the old 1/4 mile in a silver suit and goggles !!!!! That is one bad funny car, old school style. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[JoeC]

cool car, glad to hear it's still alive.
I have a few original pics of it
see attach