A few more that I thought were cool . . . I answered myself on that Keystone question . . . the new ones are different than the originals. Sorry these aren't Buicks, but I figured they're fair game, since somebody else posted others. CHECK OUT THE LETTERING ON THE TIRES IN THE LAST PIC!
This thread has given me some modeling Ideas. maybe I'll do a factory Buick race car, maybe Guy's Stage 2 car. Tim
The older versions are way different and bring BIG bucks restored. Whenever I go to the swaps that's one thing I look for. They bring the $$ mainly for the restorations of these old drag cars. The mid to late 70's versions don't look as good as the originals. (i don't think) ps. lots of Buick history in this thread...hopefully it won't go away or get lost. Would a sticky help in that?
Here's a couple that Doug Jones just sent me slides of and I converted to pictures. Really cool pics from early 1971 at Lion's Dragstrip. In these pictures the flames and "Light Your Fire" (Ted Trevor/Buick had this done) are still on the car along with the Stage 2 package. Although I had a black and white picture these are the first color pictures I have ever seen of this combo. Enjoy!
Nice Custom Piant. Really. Haven't come across The Motor Wheel "Spyder Mags" quoted in a few pics within this awesome thread in many, many years. Look good on the Buick's.... I'm late to the party, but this is a great thread gents! :TU:
Tom, did it have the mini tubbs in then?... Rear tires look really big..... Here's a pic of Toms car in Norwalk a few years ago, might have been the last time it went down the track......
I can tell you all about that car. It is a 1970 Buick GS Stage 1 455. The guy that drove it is Willard Bennett. He was a mechanic at Becherer Buick. He and my father (James Pelcher) worked on the car and took it all over Southern California to race. They won several local events and even the Winternationals. They had previously ran a 1965 Buick GS and it was a winner too. I have been looking for a picture of this car forever. I cant get the picture on this site to load. If anyone has it, I would love it. Unfortunately when the car was sold, the kid that got it wound up totaling it in a street race. It was a fast car and mostly ran in G/SA. Hope this helps.
Found these while surfing. I would really like to find more. The 1965 GS I was talking about was named Son of a Gun. I need pictures of that car also. Im glad I found this place. I have enjoyed reading the posts. Oh yea, Reynolds Buick and Becherer Buick were very competitive rivals. As I remember, Becherer Buick came out on top most of the time. But maybe im bias.:Brow: Thanks
Now this could get REALLY interesting.......cool......dueling Buick dealerships at the dragstrips of southern california in the early 70's :TU: :TU: :TU: :TU: More input please !!!!! Peace WildBill p.s.....this is gonna take someone out of the blue old-timer to chip in with i'm sure some VERY rare photo's.......the time is NOW cyber-world ! Peace WildBill
I was pretty young when they were racing but I do remember going to Irwindale all the time when dads car raced. He was the service manager for Becherer Buick and Willard Bennett worked there turning wrenches. On the weekend we went to Irwindale, Pomona, Cucamonga, Lyons and a few others that I dont remember the names. Buick Motor Division encouraged their dealers to race. The bad part was that only a few of the dealers got help directly from Buick. Reynolds was one of them that got the help. Becherer did not. As I remember, Becherer Buick raced from 1965 to 1971. Thats when they sold the Stage 1 to one of the salesman and he gave it to his son. I wanted that car so bad I could taste it. The kid that got the car never went to a race. I went to almost every race. Im ranting now.....sorry, but had to say it! He wrecked it:rant: ..... I dont remember what year they won the winternationals with the 65 GS but I think it would have been about 1968. Becherer Buick is no longer there. It was torn down maybe 15 years ago. There is a restraunt standing in its place now. I would still love to find those pictures. If anyone can help, please let me know... Thanks
Bigger pics of the same car posted some post ago ... the pictures were put on the net because of the Station Wagon in the left lane , it just get sold by the widow , the car was kept in the garage since 30 some years and then she decided to sell it .
The picture made from a slide does not show the colors that well as it was taken at sundown and the original plates were and still are blue. Tom had some more pictures made up and the colors came out much better. Doug Jones
Actually those plates are quite significant and helps define the car. Those are "Michigan Manufacturer Test" plates. Tom had told me he had a picture of my car with some on also...
Test vehicles (in my experience and I work in that field) always have "M" plates which stand for "Manufacturer". My father in law and I run 1970 "M" plate on our GS's. HTH
That is correct, Bill Trevor had manufacturers plates on hand and they were installed on our car when the magazines were loaned it for testing and photos.
