Indholdsfortegnelse for November 1959 i Hot Rod

Here, without question, is the most provocative package of road machinery ever to bear the respected name of Pontiac. Coming and going, the 1960 Pontiac exhibits a clean, classic look that has even the most avid customizers nodding their approval. Here is total artistry in automotive design … shaved and sharp in keeping with this car's capabilities. For unmatched action, tap the resources of the Tempest 425 with Tri-Power! This fiery, famous power plant is one of a wide range of power packages available in the 1960 Pontiac. Every one is a finely honed version of the 389 cubic inch Tempest, the industry's most respected production V-8, and one (the 425E) is designed to perform on regular gas. Tie this Tempest-tended performance to Pontiac's exclusive Wide-Track Wheels … and you've…

The rumors about this one were right—but tlies didn't go far enough. Because here, for the first time, is a truly compact, economical American car that retains the ride and 6-passenger comfort you're used to in a big one. The key to this small miracle: America's first and only rear-mounted aluminum engine—a revolutionary 6-cylinder power plant that combines compactly with the transmission and drive gears in one lightweight package. You'll get up to 30% more miles to a gallon and—because this engine is air cooled—you'll never have to fuss with antifreeze. Corvair's size—almost 5 inches lower, 214 feet shorter. 1,300 pounds lighter than conventional sedans—makes it a joy to jockey through traffic and park in tight spots. Yet its unique Unistrut Body by Fisher offers plenty of room for 6…

Although the year 1960 will still be a couple of months away when this magazine reaches the newsstands, as far as the largest business in this country is concerned, the automotive industry, 1960 has already arrived. Nearly all of the 1960 model cars are on the showroom floors or soon will be by the time you read this issue of HRM. And, unless we miss our guess, this is going to be the most important year that the U. S. automotive industry has ever seen. Not only are there three brand new economy models for the public to choose from but there is also another entry in the popular low-priced field. The economy models have already received their share of attention in the nation's press but the newcomer in the…

Who has more trouble than hot rodders?. Nobody. who makes all the trouble for hot rodders? Hot rodders; they continually create new troubles as fast as they overcome old ones. One of the many ingredients that must be combined in the correct proportions to create a true hot rodder is inquisitiveness. This factor gives a rodder the urge to try different things in his car to see what will happen. The results of such experiments aren't always as expected and often previously unsuspected weak point in a car's engine or chassis are uncovered. These weak points are stepping stones on which hot rodding progresses. Latest of the weak points to show up in really hot competition engines are connecting rods. Rods in late model overhead valve V8 engines are capable…

Bill LaRoy, a resident of the desert city of Palmdale, California, would make an excellent subject for one of the ads Eased on the They said it couldn't be done theme. Bill began hearing this thing first hand from men who thought they knew what they were talking about when he decided to rework a 1959 Plymouth for Bonneville. The car had one of Chrysler Corporation's new 361-cubic-inch “B” engines. His plan, as it is of everyone who takes a car to Bonneville, was to go fast. When he tried to buy special equipment for the engine he was told that equipment wasn't available because, “Man, that engine just won't put out enough horsepower for Bonneville.” Bill has been a hot rodder since he was in high school but this…

One of the Mid-West's best known competition cars during the past two seasons has been the “Fire-Fly,"' a Chevrolet powered '32 Ford two-door sedan running in the “C” Altered class. Holder of the top speed and elapsed time records for this class at Akron, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Indiana, the super-sanitary little screamer was a familiar sight at strips throughout the country, and achieved further prominence through its performances at the '57 and '58 Nationals. This past winter “Fire-Fly” was cannibalized by its creators. Bob, Eileen and Larry Daniels, to contribute its engine, front end assembly and steering gear to an even more precocious project. Bob had been tremendously impressed by the-performance of Carl Grimes' fabulous Fiat from Phoenix at the '56 Nationals, and had reasoned that although Carl was relying…

Twenty-three” new class records and a fantastic venture past the elusive 300 mile per hour mark by a hot rod were the major accomplishments during the Eleventh Annual Bonneville National Speed Trials. Contestants brought nearly 125 entries to the world famous salt tlats of the Great Salt Lake Desert during the week of August 23 through 29. 1959. and as usual the scales were about balanced between failure and success as entrants went all-out to establish new speed marks. With both the Bonneville Nationals and the Fifth Annual National Championship Drags held just one week apart, complete coverage of each could not be conveniently accomplished in this issue of HRM. So that we may devote a large amount of space to each stellar event, the National Drag story is featured…

Here's new gem-bright beauty, new room to sprawl in and sit tall in. New lean-muscled engine economy, new spirit and silence in its going. For fineness of features, for precise craftsmanship — for all the things that make a car good to own — the '60 Chevrolet stands alone in its price field. Just wait till you see it. Everything about the '60 Chevy, every styling accent, every engineering detail, has been polished and refined to a degree of perfection never before thought possible of a car in Chevrolet's price class. Picture practicality and economy. (there's even more of it in a new gas-saving V8!) combined with much of the luxury and hushed comfort usually associated with high-priced automobiles. 'That's Chevy for 760. Its overall effect is one of quiet…

Reporter: Joe, you've held a world record of 121.92 mph for the half-mile, and you've won over 100 trophies 6n practically every drag strip in the west. That represents a lot of racing. Joe: It sure does. My Corvette registers 10,000 miles of it. I race every month in the drag races held by the Southern California Timing Association. Reporter: That means a terrific beating for your engine. What's your secret for keeping it in such top condition? Joe: It's not really a secret. I do have a unique exhaust system. Designed the headers myself. And the tubes are split with four scavengers running to the rear end. And, of course, I keep the engine tuned as fine as I can. But for getting peak performance over lots of tough…

The National Championship Drag Races were never more I 'national ' than they were this year when NHRA presented its annual “BIC GO” at Detroit. Champions were established in 33 classes, with 16& states being represented among the winners. Ohio headed the list-with 7 class champs. Texas ranked second with 5. followed by Louisiana with 3. Arizona, California, Illinois. Massachusetts and New Jersey had 2 each, while Alabama. Delaware, Florida. Indiana. Michigan. Missouri. Oklahoma and Pennsylvania netted 1 apiece. Heated contests'were at an al) time high in even-division, with new speed marks being set in 23 of the Nationals' 27 competition classes during the official National record runs. Engines credited with annexing new records included Chevrolet. Chrysler. DeSoto, Ford, Studebaker. Oldsmobile, Cadillac. Allison. Porsche and Alfa Romeo. Add to these…

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Borrow a few ideas from the sprints and midgets, soup up a late-model stock engine and you have a Modified Sportsman, currently enjoying huge success in San Diego, California. Creations from the drawing boards of mechanics, service station owners and others, whose occupations are not necessarily allied with automotive equipment, the Modified Sportsmen have won back the race fans at spacious Balboa Stadium. It is not uncommon now to see crowds up to 12000. A description of these red-hot speedsters is rather difficult; the ideas, techniques and overall appearances are almost as varied as fingerprints. From a straight-on view, the front sections resemble Sprints, Formula I foreign cars and Indianapolis-type Roadsters; one distinction being the driver's cab. Some are chopped down, boxed-in Model T's, others are taken from 1932-34 Jalopy…