So this is my Harry Truman moment. I have an opponent who is weakening but still won’t go down. Rather than prolong the conflict it is time to drop the big one and hit him right in the yam bag. Bryan had been searching high and low for a big block Kingswood wagon and BangShifter Joe Haber decided to help him in his search and the one he posted, while not a Kingswood, is pretty awesome….until you look at this one. See, his is a 396 car that would be awesome for pulling a boat to the water, or serving as a starter home for a family of six, but mine? Mine is a former world champ drag car, it is one of only 546 full sized Chevys in 1969 to be equipped with the L72 425hp/427ci big block, it was part of Dick Harrell’s racing team, and it cleaned house in AHRA and IHRA stock eliminator action during the 1970s. Do I even need to mention the killer paint? Nah, that would be rubbing it in.
During the prime of its racing days, this two ton monster would run mid-12s at over 110mph. It was optioned with the F41 “sport” front and rear suspension, the big 12-bolt in the back, 3.55 gears, a Turbo 400 automatic, and Dover white paint. Supposedly of the 546 L72 big block cars, this one of only two wagons ever made and the other is in the GM Heritage collection (unconfirmed, just going on what the ad says). So that’s what the car was delivered with and being crafty drag racers, the engine was tweaked to the letter of the stock eliminator AHRA rules for the era. According to a story we found online, the engine was equipped with L88 valve springs, 5.38 gears, a B&M torque converter, six cylinder front springs, Hurst drag shocks, and other parts to get the large barge moving properly.
Rather than go through the entire living history of this thing I am going to put two links at the bottom of the page. The first will be to the sales ad and the second will be to a story that goes through the entire history of the car in great detail. This is officially the wagon that won the war.
Thanks Nathan Lapp!
SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS AND THE SALES LINK TO THE LEAD SLED L27 427 POWERED 1969 CHEVY KINGSWOOD –
No Mas, McTaggart. No coming back from this wagon haymaker from Lohnes. 427 Kingswood with AHRA provenance, panel paint and Cragars. You put up a valiant effort, but this one has Dickie Harrell’s name on the side.Don’t even bother with another one. It over, finally.
Game. Set. Match.
Yeah … to Brian ! See below !
Correction – Bryan not Brian .
Now thats just plain cheating Lohnes !!! A race track only wagon ? Bad form ! Bad form indeed . Minus 30 points . Totally negating the 4×4 winning entry . Thereby handing the victory over to Bryan by default over a technical foul
Shame on you Brian . And just when you had it in the bag 😉
And by the way in case drag racing history has eluded you . AHRA ( as well as IHRA ) and the word ‘ champion ‘ in the same sentence is an oxymoron . Neither ever having been worth the paper their press was printed on in the overall scheme of things
For future reference though should another Wagon Wars arise ? Point your browser over EU/UK way . With all the Aston Martin ‘ Shooting Breaks ‘ , the Volvo ETC winning wagons and the likes of Audi’s RS2’s and V10 powered RS6’s you’ve got a treasure trove of winners to pick from . Rather than the Leave it to Beaver/June Cleaver , Soccermomster , suburban , exurban pin strip grey suit wagons you both been focusing on
Mr. T.J. Martin …. lets just say, anyone who wants to trivialize drag racing records or national event wins in either AHRA or IHRA in the 1960s and 1970s, and says they are not worth the paper they are printed on, is a FOOL. How many national records or national events have you ever won in drag racing? I bet none! How many racing corporate sponsors used your name, likeness or car photo for their ads? I bet none! Companies like B&M, Holley, Quaker State, and Firestone thought my Dad’s accomplishments warranted notoriety! How many magazines wrote stories of you and your car? I bet none! Have you ever been showcased on a Fleer bubblegum card? Don’t bother …. I know you haven’t. Much of my Dad’s success was due to a competitive car and very keen reaction times. Many of the Elite drag racers at this time raced multiple sanctioning bodies, such as NHRA, IHRA, and AHRA. As a teen I was fortunate enough to attend many of these national events across the U.S. as my Dad chased AHRA Stock Eliminator points in 1970. Some of my fondest memories as a youngster were drag racing trips to Boston; Marion, Ohio; St. Louis; Baton Rouge; Denver; and Cordova and Assumption, Illinois just to name a few. Being able to see racers like John Wiebe; Don Garlits; Gapp and Rousch; Bill Glidden; Bill Hielscher; Sox and Martin; Dave Strickler; Dick Harrell and many more at AHRA events back then, was an unbelievable experience. Did those named racers, performances and accomplishments seem unimportant because they raced AHRA or IHRA? I think not! I am sorry …. but to even try to draw any comparison between a “Bread Box” shaped, celebrity owned, late model Swedish Volvo to a 1969 Genuine GM American Muscle big block station wagon (One of Two L72s) is utterly ridiculous. Also, before the “Lead Sled” wagon was trailered to the drag strip, it was driven to the track weekly in 1969. How do I know – because I rode in it! I helped uncap the headers and assisted putting the slicks on. As I sit watching the Barrett Jackson auction, I see a lot of Chevy L72 big blocks in various configurations at this auction, bringing very good money and adding to the excitement at the venue. Although I am still waiting for any nondescript type of Volvo to cross the stage ……. Just a parting thought here too – type away T.J. …. maybe there is a blogging world record in your future …. lest it be worth the paper its printed on!
Rich Akin, son of 1970 AHRA Stock Eliminator Champion Tom Akin
This !!!
http://thedailyturismo.kinja.com/paul-newmans-supercharged-v8-volvo-wagon-up-for-sale-1474296483
Is the coolest wagon ever ! Soccermomster Volvo turned hell raising Eddie Haskell and commissioned by none other than Mr Cool Paul Newman for himself and David Letterman
I Win ! 😉
FTW. I was still stuck on the burgundy country squire until this one came along. This slays everything else with a broad swipe. Since there were no defined limits of what heat could be unleashed in battle then I’d say the free-for-all has ended with a lop-sided victory in Brian’s favor. In the game of rock, paper, scissors, lizard, spock….Brian has prevailed.
I saw the one GM now has when it was it private hands at Floyd Garrett’s museum in TN. Dover White loaded out with everything including hideaways, Vigilite, power everything but no A/C. You couldn’t get A/C on a solid lifter motor in 69.
Still on the down slope from a PUSH BUTTON Torqueflite.
When I was about 15 or so my Dad and I drove to Rockingham NC for the big IHRA national event being held there. As we drove into town, the first race car I spotted being towed on an open trailer was the Lead Sled. Being a young hardcore drag racing fan, I was well aware of the noteriety of the car. That was a real treat!
This story has me beaming. AWESOME.
Glad you enjoyed that Brian 🙂 Funny how that stuck with me after all those years….
Ouch.
Enjoy victory while you can. Monday is only a few short days away.
It is 1 of 2 L72 Wagons. The other is owned by GM in the Heritage Collection
Geez. Not only did Brian pick up the thrown down gauntlet and beat the snot out of Bryan with that Savoy wagon. Now, he decides to freight train Bryan with this one.
Ouch.
Great find, Brian!!
Take my money now!!!!!
Have some pics of what I believe is the Heritage Center wagon. Including window sticker. L72, 3.73 axle, power everything, concealed headlights, “stereo tape”! Neat car!
This wagon was originally ordered and raced at the former NEITA raceway by Tom Akin, who was from Waterloo, Iowa and a well-known local racer. Tom was living in nearby Hudson, Iowa when he purchased the wagon and it used to sit outside his house where “us kids” could cruise by and slobber on the windows looking at this monster. It was really exciting to see the wagon at NEITA, pulling those front skinnies off the ground and whipping up on most everything that was in the other lane. Tom is still an enthusiast and living down in Cedar Rapids, Iowa now, selling cars at Carousel Motors in Iowa City. Great memories and you can see this car in action photos at the Facebook page devoted to NEITA raceway history https://www.facebook.com/groups/neita.raceway/?ref=br_tf
Very cool indeed!
This car is owned by a friend of mine…..BADASS to say the least!!!!
its so nice to see Jim volgarino’s comments! It’s fun to look back and remember— last summer at Joliet NHRA race was honored guest. Was great to see my photo and picture of car on jumbotron screen. Us chevy owners rather fight than switch. Now I sell Mercedes Benz. Tom akin