Larry Larson likes rules. Well, no racer really likes rules but when we look at some of the neatest stuff this guy has ever built to race, the machines have been built around exploiting potential holes in a drag racing ruleset. Famously, Larson took the concept of what an Unlimited class Drag Week vehicle could be to the stratosphere when he brought out his S-10 truck with its ProLine engine and advanced chassis. While the truck never won drag week it became the first street legal vehicle in the world to run in the 5s at the drag strip, it has won NHRA national events, and then it went on to win Larson hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money at No Prep drag races across the country. It worked so good that the people who make the Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings show tried to build rules to outlaw it.
Larson went back into his race car building laboratory after the new rules for the series were released and built the car you see here, a Cadillac ATS-V that took advantage of a massive loophole in the rules that allowed single turbocharger combinations to run at a much more favorable weight than twin turbocharged engines. By using a massive turbocharger built by guys who normally do tractor pulling stuff, Larson had himself a car that was cutting edge, light and competitive right out of the box.
So mow much power does a top shelf no-pre drag car make? How about 3,168.9 at the hub! That’s the measurement the guys at FuelTech got when they had Larson down to their shop for some testing and tuning. The ProLine 481x uses FuelTech EFI and engine management and a single turbo that we understand to have an inlet size somewhere around 150mm if not a shade larger.
This thing is a freaking animal!
Press play below to see this video of Larry Larson’s Caddy on the dyno –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsHcMoucrz4
Unfortunately Larry has yet to get this car working anywhere near as well as his S10. His frustration last year was all too obvious (got in a fight with a competitor) for a guy who is typically a total professional. Here’s hoping 2020 is much kinder to Larry!!
Larry\’s car is fast!
On The Hub Dyno approx Hp to the rear wheels.,
Your looking at 2650?
I was fortunate enough to be able to stop at Larry’s shop with my grand children to meet him. Really nice down to earth guy. Best of luck this season.