(Photos: Draglist.com, other sources) Sorry if you are a die-hard Camaro or Mustang type, but sometimes there’s a sensation of refreshment when you see a vehicle that isn’t normally seen. There’s plenty of unique choices that were picked by racers for whatever reason. There might have been a weight break available or maybe you were seeing a low-level team that made do with what they had on hand. Either way, we’re always happy to see something unique rolling up to the line, even if a car like the 1978 Sox and Martin Challenger wasn’t exactly a popular choice. Here’s some of the more interesting vehicles that work in the Pro Stock/doorslammer world that would catch our eye if we saw them in person!
11. Lee Howard’s C4 Corvette
There is little information on Howard or his C4 Corvette, but just look at the thing…it’s a wonder why there aren’t more of them in the staging lanes.
10. Bob Glidden’s Ford EXP
When NHRA mandated 500ci engines, it turned Glidden’s formerly small-block EXP into a nightmare. He often credited the car as the worst one he drove.
9. Buddy Ingersoll’s Buick Skyhawk
After NHRA had a fit over the Warren Johnson-supplied car he ran as a Buick Regal, the powertrain got jammed into this little J-body. Do you think they noticed?
8. Brown and Hilger’s Chevrolet Chevette
Another car with little information, the Chevette had to be a handful, regardless of what engine was greased up and stuffed inside.
7. Roy Hill’s Mercury Topaz
A Mercury Topaz coupe with a Boss 429-based engine underhood. Certainly better than what Budget would rent you at the airport, isn’t it?
6. The Scribner Brothers’s Mercury Cougar
Another Lincoln-Mercury choice that left people wondering why. At least the Cougar was rear-drive, unlike the converted Topaz.
5. Steinbrick and Lee’s Pontiac Grand Prix
Cast iron Pontiac block, Ram Air V heads, 496ci, good for low 8 second times. Pontiac fans, meet your best friend.
4. Jim Feurer’s Mercury Zephyr Z-7
Meet “Zeke”, Animal Jim’s winning ride from 1979 to 1990. It ran not only NHRA Pro Stock, but IHRA Mountain Motor, Outlaw Pro and Pro Mod.
3. Doug Messner’s Chevrolet Citation
Built for 1981, ran a small-block and switched to big-block for 1982. Destroyed in a top-end crash at Texas Motorplex.
2. The Marriott Brothers’ 1969 Shelby GT500
“Bad Company 2”. Built during the reign of the Pinto and the Monza, the Shelby must’ve dropped many a jaw when it rolled out. Gapp and Roush built the 366ci mill.
1. The “Beyond Criticism” Cadillac Eldorado
Who was at the wheel, Mike Senia or Tim Takash? Either way, they were rolling up the lights in one of the most off-the-wall choices to ever grace the starting line.
LOVE CARS LIKE THIS . WE HAVE SEEN MANY LIKE THIS AT OUR DRAG STRIP . KEEP THEM COMING
Back when there was creativity in Pro Stock unlike today.
Oh yea. Its not pro stock it camaro
Animal Jim would show up at cars show here in the Midwest, from time to time with the Merc. It’s still cool
The Yuill Bros from Div 7 built a Pontiac J2000 with a complete removable body. Worked with NHRA while building it and then was banned from completion.
Indeed – moar of these as mentioned above !
Don’t forget Wayne Gapp and Jack Roush’s “Tijuana Taxi” Ford Maverick 4 door.
and it beat everyone until the NHRA outlawed it
So much more fun to watch than anything they do today
The lack of cars like this is why nhra pro stock is dieing
At least you can recognize what these cars are compared to the jelly beans they have out there now.
Ronnie Sox best drag racer ever.
you forgot one..
Larry Peternel\’s Chrysler
Judd Bros. 1970 Buick GS
“There is little information on Howard or his C4 Corvette, but just look at the thing…it’s a wonder why there aren’t more of them in the staging lanes.”
That’s because Corvettes aren’t legal in NHRA Pro Stock. I believe the language is “no roadsters”.
Besides, the car in the next lane has a NOS sticker on the scoop, so maybe an Outlaw Pro Stock class (read early Pro Mod).
I am don lee the Corvette was my cari don\’t know howard I ran udra outlaw pro stock super Chevy top sportsman and match races it was built in 85 I sold it in 89 purchased a don ness breatta ran mountain motor pro stock
Don’t think it had any thing to do with being called a roadster. It was because NHRA riles stipulated a steel roof and quarters.
Brown & Hilger was built by Don Hardy it had a 331 Chevy bolt by Wayne Calvert of Denton TX.
The “Beyond Criticism” El Dorado with Tim Takash was at the wheel.
Carl “Super Fats” Hobson drove the car a couple of times. Mike Senia owned the car and his Global Race Cars operation built it.
Mike Senia’s Global Race Cars also built Roy Hill’s Mercury Topaz. Mike was a good friend of mine and he passed away several years ago.
Sox and Martin also built a Plymouth Arrow pro stock. I was at Bristol in 1977 when they brought the car to deliver to its new owner. It was staged, took off got out of shape and ended on it\’s side. I still have the picture of it lying on its side.
I wonder where these cars are now, it would be cool to match race them or even build replicas. The one thing that nhra hates is creativity and innovation.
Always liked the Sox and Martin cars. Before the Dodge Challenger, they had the Dodge Colt.