Unrestored "As Raced" Condition From The 1970s,

Chevrolet Other 1972 Description

NHRA Vega Pro Stock built for Dick Schadle by a funny car builder in Kansas City MO, ompleted and first raced in 1973. Schadle told me he could not recall the name of the builder but possibly named Emrick? Any way the story is they measured an SRD car and constructed this one. Gary Kimball in KC bought an SRD Vega from Jenkins in that time frame and that car possibly could have been the pattern. The Vega has the NHRA mandated "step frames" that are tied together with a tube chassis utilizing an adjustable 4 link rear suspension, actory front control arms with coil over-shocks, ront steer with a Vega box. Jenkins first two cars were built similar. One unique thing is this car has a Ramchargers magnesium center section rear end with coil-overs in place of the usual Dana 60. The builder was into funny cars so he should have been very knowledgable about this rear end. Brakes, elsey Hays on the rear and Kawasaki H1 motorcycle brakes on the front! Ridged mounted wheelie bars with BBC valve springs being loaded internally for adjustment to track conditions. All aluminum panels are of high build quality and fit as is the whole car. The Vega has glass in all windows, iberglass replica dash panel with once painted details now faded (switches, adio, nobs), able drive tach, tewart Warner instruments, ustom door panels, atching custom headliner, emoval transmission tunnel, inned hinges on doors for quick removal, ll flooring carpeted, assenger seat per 1973 rules. 6.75 lbs. per cubic inch this car ended up weighing around 2,300 lbs. according to Schadle. Fiberglass bumpers, races, olts, oles drilled, oors gutted, 5 Corvette radiator are just a few items so as to reach minimum weight. A whole lot of thought and effort went into building this car as light as possible.
331" Chevrolet engine with iron block and heads. Valley Head Service built heads, am Dynamics camshaft, omar stud girdles, rane rocker arms, ro Ram intake, 60 center squirter carburetors that look near perfect, ccel ignition with crank trigger, odified Delco distributor are the things I can see. Schadle built the engine and the other details of the short block are unknown.The story is the engine was freshened after the car last ran at the 1979 Mile High Nationals in C/A, alves never adjusted or engine cranked. I have turned the engine with fresh oil but have not attempted to run. Cam specs are unknown at this time. The bell housing is believed to be Ansen, oug Nash 5 speed, hileno Coleman shifter, everse lockout, urst Line Loc.
This Pro Stock came from the era when race cars had names and a large number of the cars were painted in Patriotic Red/White/Blue. An era with many competitive drivers and manufactures making what is now believed to have been the best times for fans and racers. This car set for over 35 years until I purchased it in 2014. I did take the car this past September to Bowling Green KY and showed it to the Nostalgia Pro Stock competitors that were running that weekend at the GoodGuys HRR. A museum piece, art of a private collection or show at nostalgia events, he Vega would be a good fit.
A quick comment on my last 2 photos with friend Joe Cheeks and Pro Stock racer Herb McCandless. I asked what he thought of the small tube framed Pro cars and his response was "I guess you had to race something". The last was taken at Bowling Green during Pro Stock qualifying. These race cars put on a great show.
Please email me with your questions or additional contact information if needed. Car is located in West Tennessee between Memphis and Nashville. I reserve the right to end the auction early if needed. Expense of shipping this car to it's new owner is a buyer expense but I will help coordinate in anyway possible.