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U.S. Muscle Cars
Stratro:
It has been one of the most commonly asked questions of Ford Racing over the last 15 years. When is Ford going to return to Pro Stock?
Not since the mid-1990s heyday of the legendary Bob Glidden in the Motorcraft Thunderbird has “The Blue Oval” approached a season of NHRA Pro Stock competition ready to battle in the most competitive class of racing in NHRA drag racing – Pro Stock – where the entire field is usually separated by a fraction of a second.
Technically, the answer to the question is 2009, when Ford Racing ran a yearlong testing and developmental program with Jim Cunningham Racing aimed at the creation of a new Pro Stock engine and a new Pro Stock Mustang body. While Jim Cunningham and Erica Enders ran the chassis and engine combo at the NHRA Finals at Pomona last November, the engine was still in full development and thus the outing was little more than a high visibility test.
In reality, the “official return” is this weekend when, after a fervid 14-month journey, the polished combination of Ford Racing’s new Ford 500 Pro Stock engine and the 2010 Mustang Pro Stock body will take to the famed quarter-mile at the 50th NHRA Winternationals in a pair of Larry Morgan Racing Lucas Oil Summit Racing entries.
“I’m so excited, I almost can’t hardly stand it, just to get there,” said Morgan a 10-time Pro Stock winner who is switching to Ford after years of running a Dodge Stratus. “It’s incredible. We ran real well in testing, both times we were out. We’re just so excited for Ford to get the Ford Mustang out there and show off what Mose [Nowland] has been working on for months.”
Morgan and his teammate John Nobile will be the only Ford Mustangs in the field of 22 cars at Pomona this weekend. Cunningham Racing is expected to make its 2010 Pro Stock debut at Gainesville, Fla. in mid-March.
The evolution of the new Ford 500 and the 2010 Mustang Pro Stock body has come under the watchful eye of Mose Nowland, Ford Racing’s engine engineer who has been involved with successful high profile Ford Racing programs Блокирано back to the legendary Le Mans program in the 1960s. Nowland was charged in late 2008, by then Ford Racing director Brian Wolfe, to chart a course for a Ford return to Pro Stock. The difference was Ford would be returning to Pro Stock not as a factory program, but as part of a larger NHRA strategy that embraced sportsman racing, added performance parts offerings, and included activating Ford as Official Vehicle of NHRA.
“We’ve made considerable progress with our engine and we’re very excited about it,” said Nowland. “We’ve had several test trips and we’ve done extensive dynamometer testing. The development work has been on the top end basically, the manifold and induction system and so on. We were excited about the performance of this thing. We actually met our goal the first time out on the dynamometer. In fact, we eclipsed our goal, our expected goal, and that has really set the excitement high. We’re very grateful for our two participating teams, the Morgan team and the Cunningham team, they’ve been great contributors.
“Certainly, since we left Pro Stock racing, about the time Bob Glidden retired, there’s been a lot of breakthroughs on alloy, compositions, strength and methods of valve train dynamics, “ said Nowland. “It was very delightful for me to have spent so much time on NASCAR projects that there’s a lot of things we learned there that we applied to this engine. We just have learned over the years what works and what doesn’t work. Our goal was to get out there pretty quick with an engine that would stand a good chance to qualify and keep the price down. I believe we’ve met the challenge pretty good.”
The Ford return to Pro Stock is coordinated with the launch of a variety of racer friendly or grassroots initiatives. Ford Racing diversified its NHRA program with an expansion of teams in Funny Car, with entrance as a customer supplier into Pro Stock and with a recommitment to sportsman racing with the re-introduction of the 2008 and 2010 Mustang Cobra Jet. As a result, there will be an increased Ford presence at NHRA events in coming years both on and off the track.
Now the challenge of racing in the most competitive class in NHRA now becomes a reality for Nowland, Cunningham and Morgan and the fledgling Ford Pro Stock program.
“My expectations are running high right now,” said Nowland. “We realize our competition is tough and we’ve got the Mike Edwards, Jeg Coughlin and the Johnson’s and others out there. I know they weren’t sitting on their laurels over the winter. We’ve been working real hard and we’re certainly going to have a qualifying car, there’s no doubt in my mind, unless some unforeseen thing pops up. From what we see and feel right now, we’re going to be in that ladder somewhere.”
Morgan is a proven winner throughout his career and he knows what it takes to visit the Winner’s Circle. “You can’t get in there enough, I can tell you that right now. It’s quite a thrill. More than anything, my next race win is going to be in a Ford Mustang and I can’t wait. Hopefully, that will be Sunday night.
Stratro:
Presenting: 1970/71 Plymouth Barracuda.
The redesign for the 1970 Barracuda removed all its previous commonality with the Valiant. The original fastback design was deleted from the line and the Barracuda now consisted of coupe and convertible models. The all-new model, styled by John E. Herlitz, was built on a shorter, wider version of Chrysler's existing B platform, called the E-body. Sharing this platform was also the newly launched Dodge Challenger; however, no sheet metal interchanged between the two cars, and the Challenger had a 2 in (51 mm) longer wheelbase.
The E-body Barracuda was now "able to shake the stigma of 'economy car'."[8] Three versions were offered: the base Barracuda (BH), the luxury oriented Gran Coupe (BP), and the sport model 'Cuda (BS). The high-performance models were marketed as 'Cuda deriving from the 1969 option. The E-body's engine bay was larger than that of the previous A-body, facilitating the release of Chrysler's 426 cu in (7.0 L) Hemi for the regular retail market.
Two six-cylinder engines were available — a new 198 cu in (3.2 L) version of the slant-6, and the 225 — as well as six different V8s: the 318, 340, 383 (290 hp (220 kW), 2-barrel and 330 hp (250 kW) Super Commando in Barracuda & Gran Coupe, 330 hp (250 kW) — some say 335 hp (250 kW) — as the 'Cuda model's base motor) 440 4-barrel, 440 6-barrel, and the 426 Hemi.[9] The 440- and Hemi-equipped cars received upgraded suspension components and structural reinforcements to help transfer the power to the road.
Other Barracuda options included decal sets, hood modifications, and some unusual "high impact" colors such as "Vitamin C", "In-Violet", and "Moulin Rouge".
Swede Savage and Dan Gurney raced identical factory-sponsored AAR (All American Racers) 'Cudas in the 1970 Trans-Am Series. The cars qualified for three pole positions but did not win any Trans-Am races; the highest finish was 2nd at Road America.[10]
A street version of the AAR 'Cuda was produced, powered by the 340 cu in (5.6 L) "Six Pack" (three two-barrel carburetors) engine.
The Barracuda was changed slightly for 1971, with a new grille and taillights, seat, and trim differences. This would be the only year that the Barracuda would have four headlights, and also the only year of the fender "gills" on the 'Cuda model.
The 1971 Barracuda engine options would remain the same as that of the 1970 model, except the 4-barrel carbureted 440 V8 engine was not available; all 440-powered Barracudas had a six-barrel carburetor setup instead. The 426 Hemi remained available, and the 1971 HemiCuda convertible is now considered one of the most valuable collectible muscle cars. Only eleven were built, seven of which were sold domestically, and examples of these cars have sold for US$2 million.[11]
In 1970 and 1971, the shaker hood and the Spicer-built Dana 60 rear axle were available. The shaker hood was available with 340, 383, 440 4-barrel and 440 6-barrel, and 426 Hemi engines. The heavy-duty (and heavy) Dana 60, with a 9.75 in (248 mm) ring gear, was standard equipment with manual transmissions and 440 6-barrel and 426 Hemi engines, and was optional on those with the automatic transmission.
1972 Plymouth Barracuda
1973 Plymouth Barracuda
1974 Plymouth 'CudaWith a new grille, dual headlights and four circular taillights for 1972, the Barracuda would remain basically unchanged through 1974, with minor changes to the bumpers to conform with federal impact standards being the only significant variations. Big Block engines (383, 440, & 426 Hemi) were no longer offered. Additionally, convenience/comfort items such as power windows, and interior upgrade options were dropped. For 1972 only, three engine choices were offered: a 225 six, the 318 (base engine for both 'Cuda and Barracuda)and 340. The 225 was dropped after 1972, with the 318 and 340 (replaced by the 360 for 1974) being the only engine choices.
As with other American vehicles of the time, there was a progressive decrease in the Barracuda's performance. To meet increasingly stringent safety and exhaust emission regulations, big-block engine options were discontinued. The remaining engines were detuned year by year to reduce exhaust emissions, which also reduced their power output. There was also an increase in weight as bumpers became larger, and starting in 1970, all E body doors were equipped with heavy steel side-impact protection beams. Higher fuel prices and performance-car insurance surcharges deterred many buyers as the interest in high performance cars waned. Sales had dropped dramatically after 1970, and while 1973 showed a sales uptick, Barracuda production ended 1 April 1974, 10 years to the day after it had begun.
[edit] After 1974A 1975 Barracuda was planned before the end of the 1970-74 model cycle. Plymouth engineers sculpted two separate concepts out of clay, both featuring a Superbird-inspired aerodynamic body, and eventually reached a consensus upon which an operational concept car could be built. Due to a rapidly changing automotive market, the concepts were scrapped and the 1975 Barracuda was not put into production.[12] The Barracuda was abandoned after 1974, a victim of the first energy crisis.[13]
In 2007, Motor Trend magazine reported a rumor that Chrysler was considering reviving the Barracuda in 2009.[14] However, the Barracuda has not been reintroduced alongside the third generation Dodge Challenger.
[edit] CollectibilityThe Barracuda is a collectable car today, particularly high-performance versions and convertibles. The small number of Barracudas is the result of low buyer interest when the vehicles were new; therefore, outstanding examples fetch high appraisal values today.[15] Original Hemi super stock Barracudas (and similarly configured Dodge Darts) are now prized collector vehicles, with factory (unaltered) cars commanding high prices.[16]
LosiPatista:
Cuda-та си има свој филм:
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The Shelby GT 500 aka Eleanor.
Original displacement: 7000 cc
0 -100 km/h -4.8 seconds.
Detalni specifikacii ovde:
http://www.carmemories.com/cgi-bin/viewexperience.cgi?experience_id=59
DENDE - ARTEONED:
Specijalen pozdrav za STRATRO!!!
Enjoy druze!!!
A moze i vakvo nesto neli Slikano denes
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