The ultimate '71?

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The ultimate '71?

Post by bruce » Wed Jun 22, 2011 10:28 am

Perhaps... Pam & Gary Beineke's next project slated for a 2012 debut--their version of a Richard Petty Superbird. Here's my conceptual rendering, followed by a construction photo teaser. The car will be powered by an Ernie Elliot R5 NASCAR small block making 852 hp @ 9000 rpm. 852 hp from a small block! :shock:

The car will also sport a Jerico 5sp running back to a Moser 8 3/4 3.55 rear and full RMS suspension front and rear. Expect the car to see some circle track time and some land speed runs at Maxton as well as aero development at the A2/Aerodyn windtunnel in Charlotte. It will be fascinating to see THOSE numbers!

The car is likely to debut at PRI in December of this year and be featured in the T-Building at Carlisle next year.

Don't know about y'all, but this is like the ULTIMATE '71 for me--I always LOVED Petty's '71 as a kid. His '71 Road Runner is etched in my memory and is the whole reason I own a '71... Always loved his Superbird too, but who can afford one of those? :D So take a '71 and make a Petty Superbird out of it--what's not to love?!
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Re: The ultimate '71?

Post by quapman » Wed Jun 22, 2011 12:39 pm

You trying to make me switch back to B-bodies, Bruce? :stirpot:

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Re: The ultimate '71?

Post by bruce » Wed Jun 22, 2011 12:41 pm

I've got one I'll sell ya... :D
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Re: The ultimate '71?

Post by Capsule » Wed Jun 22, 2011 1:48 pm

Hey Bruce, thats a super cool rendering. I can't wait to see the finished car.

I love the fat NASCAR tires on a '71, only thing I never really liked about the NASCAR version of the '71s are the messing with the front fenders. It looks too 'hacked' or unfinished. I know it was a nessesity in order to make room for the super wide tires and low front end.

The construction picture is super cool too, a beast is coming alive:-D -Can't wait to see/hear videos of 852HP in action.

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Re: The ultimate '71?

Post by Eric » Wed Jun 22, 2011 7:51 pm

Hey Bruce....does Gary know you're posting this? :stirpot:
AKA Butterscotch71....the road runner nest is out to win you over this year!Image

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Re: The ultimate '71?

Post by bruce » Wed Jun 22, 2011 7:59 pm

Guess you didn't see my Moparts post where I mentioned I had FINALLY been given approval to show this. Shoot this art has been completed since April or so, so it's been driving me bonkers... We were holding it hoping it would make it into Hot Rod, but evidently that's not happening. :D
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Re: The ultimate '71?

Post by quapman » Wed Jun 22, 2011 9:37 pm

Hot Rod? Does anybody still read that?

You've got one to sell me? I'd trade ya for a blue Challenger, but you don't like 73's. :shock:

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Re: The ultimate '71?

Post by bruce » Wed Jun 22, 2011 9:49 pm

quapman wrote:Hot Rod? Does anybody still read that?

You've got one to sell me? I'd trade ya for a blue Challenger, but you don't like 73's. :shock:

LOL, I think they still have the largest readership of the car mags... stay tuned to see how long that lasts.

When it comes to Challengers I'm a one-year-only guy--1970. Yes, I'm aware I'm a total pain in the ass...
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Re: The ultimate '71?

Post by pats71 » Thu Jun 23, 2011 12:17 am

Hey Bruce,

Do you know if Pam and Gary have started producing the nose and tail to convert our 71' B-bodies to superbird clones? I'm interested in the possibility of converting mine to a what-if superbird.
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Re: The ultimate '71?

Post by gcoupe72 » Thu Jun 23, 2011 12:34 am

When I saw their first '71 bird, I thought the nose was way too high.
I doubt that car would stay on the ground as well as a stock '71.

Was very happy years later, when Gary "discovered" this on his K&K car, and made many changes.
I hope this new '71 reflects what he's learned with the Charger.

Not knocking him, or his work... the cars are beautiful. Just glad to see them look more "driveable"
High speed looks are cool, but they'd better handle better than stock, or what's the point?

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Re: The ultimate '71?

Post by bruce » Thu Jun 23, 2011 3:08 am

Take a look at the front spoiler on the front spoiler on this Superbird and you will see that Gary has ABSOLUTELY incorporated what they've learned from their K&K Daytona. I had the good fortune to be at Maxton when they were first running the K&K and actually could SEE with the naked eye the front end lift they experienced at high speed. If you could SEE the lift at speed you KNOW it had to be significant!

Subsequently they took the car to the wind tunnel in Mooresville, NC (Race City), and worked with an aerodynamicist who had actually worked on the original wing car program. He suggested the MUCH larger front spoiler in a more forward location (along with other tweaks) that cured the front end lift and made the car handle as if on rails. They also increased the "angle of attack" raising the rear of the car and lowering the front... As a result, Gary can now comfortably steer the car with one hand at speed (over 200!) while reaching for the parachute release. Major reduction in the butt-pucker factor! :D

I suspect this Superbird is going to be better right out of box, but wind tunnel testing will confirm (or deny) this. Interesting is the fact that so much of what Chrysler had worked up back in the day was SO good to start with, like the rear wing which works SO well it contributed to the front end lift we're discussing. Little wonder the Daytonas and Superbirds were so dominant!

Like so many things the race cars, their high noses, and other compromises were driven by the fact that they were based on production models and altered from there. A pure purpose built race car would be an entirely different animal indeed. Formula 1 or Can Am anyone? :D
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Re: The ultimate '71?

Post by bruce » Thu Jun 23, 2011 3:19 am

pats71' wrote:Hey Bruce,

Do you know if Pam and Gary have started producing the nose and tail to convert our 71' B-bodies to superbird clones? I'm interested in the possibility of converting mine to a what-if superbird.

If I'm not mistaken the nose is a purchased part not a fabricated one. Perhaps Gary can chime in and correct me if I'm wrong. Or provide the name of a vendor... I DO know the noses aren't cheap, after all, how many '71 Superbirds do you know of being built?
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Re: The ultimate '71?

Post by bruce » Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:33 am

bruce wrote:
pats71' wrote:Hey Bruce,

Do you know if Pam and Gary have started producing the nose and tail to convert our 71' B-bodies to superbird clones? I'm interested in the possibility of converting mine to a what-if superbird.

If I'm not mistaken the nose is a purchased part not a fabricated one. Perhaps Gary can chime in and correct me if I'm wrong. Or provide the name of a vendor... I DO know the noses aren't cheap, after all, how many '71 Superbirds do you know of being built?

Gary has corrected me--they DO fab the nose for these cars themselves. That's the good news, the bad news is that there are no plans to mass produce them.
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Re: The ultimate '71?

Post by pats71 » Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:26 pm

I remember reading somewhere that the nose on the original 71' Superbird took a lot of time to be hand fabbed to get the lines right and what not. That's why I asked cause I was unsure if they were producing them or not. Thanks for getting the details on that.

As for the added lift on the front end, does the K&K car have the fender scoops like the 70's wing cars (Haven't seen a pic in a while)? I remember reading that the 69' Daytona and 70' Superbird had the same problem and that cutting holes in the tops of the fenders, which is why they have the fender scoops, relieved much of the problem. Don't know if this is still true with Pam and Gary with their wing cars body styling being totally different than that of the original wing cars.
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Re: The ultimate '71?

Post by bruce » Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:39 pm

The K&K does indeed have the fender scoops but I honestly don't know if the fenders are cutout under them... never looked. This Superbird DOES have the fender cutouts--I noticed that in one of the construction photos I've seen.

Edit: Here's Gary's input regarding the fender scoops:

"Yes, they both have the scoop holes and it did reduce under hood pressure thereby reducing lift, but remember that the cars back then had no inner fenders so the scoops were pulling engine compartment air out...ours have the aprons. The scoops, while helping, were nominal compared to front spoiler size and placement..."

For some reason Gary is unable to log on to the Nest to answer these questions himself. Unfortunately... Dave will need to look into why it seems he's lost his permissions to log on.
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