Knafel 68 Tin Indian

[gtoguru]

They have been liquidating a lot of their Pontiac stuff lately. They are into guns big time-like machine guns! Jim

[Steve_Hoog]

Some change from rare Pontiacs.

[MosportGreen66]

Thought this was cool too... fell out of one of my vintage drag racing magazines...

[Buckeye_01]

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Any idea how Bill died?

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KNAFEL PONTIAC's Arlen Vanke (builder & driver) & Bill Abraham (builder, deceased in 1967),

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My dad grew up with Vanke and Abraham. My pops said Abe died in a rental car in Indy. He was going a little to fast and hit a guard rail. The guard rail ended up inside the car and cut him in half. My pops was at his wake over on North Main in 67.

[69hurstSC]

A worthy bump. May 1972.

[turbo69bird]

Sorry guys but this thread needs some kind of pictures

[R68GTO]

Any of these late 60's/early '70's Knafel cars still around?

[turbo69bird]

The GTO was supposedly crashed by a teenager in 71 and totaled

It was ordered just like the Stephen Pontiac 68 lightweight seam seal sound deadener delete (steohens paid extra for a guy to walk w the cars to make sure they didn’t get anything but needed that would add weight) . , radio and heater delete probably through Tim nell I know that’s who stephens worked with they discuss it (working w Tom ) in the 71 rodder and super stock article. . I talk w bill Eckstrom and Tom Mc innis of stephens a bit because I grew up near the dealership they haven’t talked since about 73 so I can cross stories between them to make sure it’s not blurred memories. Lol it’s been a long time and there were quite a few cars. It’s interesting how the listing for this 68 sounds so much like the Stephens’s car, and the 68 69 race birds I’ve looked into are so similar as well, clearly were being told how to order these cars
My bird was similar but had to have the heater for defrost by law in 69.

Most of the info I got was in the early 90s from these guys it’s a little harder for them to remember now but I wrote it all down as I learned it back then .

Does anyone know if the car still exists? My Uncle, John Watson drove for Knafel NHRA Drag Championship 1968. John and his brother Tom Watson bought the green Tin Indian and raced in for 4 years and then sold it.

I would not even know how to go about tracking the car down if it still exists.

Any ideas are appreciated.
Jennifer Watson Jolly

[muscle_collector]

the firebird is owned by a friend of mine. no idea on the gto