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The Flintstone Flyer is a Corvette-powered 1949 Packard gasser of the 1960s, built and driven by Dave Koffel. It set one national claas record (in 1961) and won two class titles (1962 and 1963).
History
The car was a dark blue 1949 Packard, purchased for US$50 and built in Koffel's own garage.
The engine was swapped for a 292 cu in (4,790 cc) Chevrolet small-block V8 (from a 1961 Corvette bored 0.060 in (1.5 mm) over). It was only mildly modified, fitted with 270 heads solid-lifter camshaft, and Offenhauser intake manifold (with three two-barrel (twin-choke) carburetors).
The transmission was a four-speed manual from a Corvette, and the rear axle came from a 1957 Plymouth with a steep 6.17:1 ratio (because of the car's high weight, 4,430 lb (2,010 kg)).
In 1961, Koffel changed the three deuces to Hilborn fuel injection. In this trim, the car set a new NHRA national record in E/G at 13.33 seconds and 104.04 mph (167.44 km/h).
It won the 1962 E/G national title at the NHRA Nationals, Indianapolis Raceway Park, with a pass of 13.71 seconds at 102.85 mph (165.52 km/h).
In 1963, Koffel replaced the steel front end panels with custom fiberglass items produced by Walt Sari of Ashtabula, Ohio. With the fiberglass panels fitted, 'Flintstone Flyer won the 1963 F/G national title at the NHRA Nationals in Indianapolis, with a pass of 13.69 seconds at 101.80 mph (163.83 km/h).
Notes
- Davis, Larry. Gasser Wars (Cartech, 2003), pp.13 and 180-8.
- Davis, pp.13 and 183.
- ^ Davis, p.13.
- ^ Davis, p.183.
Sources
- Davis, Larry. Gasser Wars, North Branch, MN: Cartech, 2003, pp.180-8.
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