Author Topic: Old Yeller (and why Carroll Shelby made the Cobra)  (Read 166 times)

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Offline TrunkMonkey

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Michael

The first 60 years were spent on surviving. The second 60 are gonna be spent on fun!

Offline vinnie

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Re: Old Yeller (and why Carroll Shelby made the Cobra)
« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2021, 08:45:13 PM »
very interesting story. I grew up in Wisconsin and always went to Road America to watch the racing from 1960 to about 1970. June sprints were sports car class racing. Everything from formula V up to Corvette, Mustang class and others. Old Yellor was always there. In September we would gather again. This time the sports cars were joined by the Indy cars. Again there was Old Yellor. Many great times and memories from those weekends
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Offline cwmcobra

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Re: Old Yeller (and why Carroll Shelby made the Cobra)
« Reply #2 on: June 04, 2021, 09:46:40 PM »
That was really fun to watch.  I wasn't aware that this car existed or that it is powered by a Buick 401 Nailhead. 

Thanks for sharing, Michael!

 :cheers2:

Chuck
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Offline TrunkMonkey

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Re: Old Yeller (and why Carroll Shelby made the Cobra)
« Reply #3 on: June 05, 2021, 12:00:31 AM »
I heard stories of the car, but had no idea it was still out runnin' wild.

Was a very nice bit.

I love that 70 year old technology and a car that has been running and winning all these years is still a force to be reckoned with.

With that engine set back, it is no wonder it handles so well, and the gobs of flat curve of torque just makes it the near perfect road racer.

And Leno with his knees dang near poking above the dash, right up in his teeth!
Michael

The first 60 years were spent on surviving. The second 60 are gonna be spent on fun!

Offline vinnie

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Re: Old Yeller (and why Carroll Shelby made the Cobra)
« Reply #4 on: June 05, 2021, 02:54:58 PM »
I remember watching that car on the track because it so different from any of the other cars it raced against and the sound that it made was so much different from the other cars. It had a low rumble sound when it went by compared to the high pitched sound from most of the other cars. At that time I did not know it is nailhead powdered or I would have been in the pits to check it out. In those days the pit area was open and you could walk up to the cars and watch them work on them. Many of the drivers were sitting around the cars watching what was going on. I had pictures of many of them, Paul Neuman, Jim Hall, Hap Sharp, Mario Andretti, A.J. foyt, Danny Sullivan, Dan Gurney, Gordan Johncock and names I can't remember. Ah, the good old days, when we were young.
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Offline gssizzler

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Re: Old Yeller (and why Carroll Shelby made the Cobra)
« Reply #5 on: June 05, 2021, 09:08:59 PM »
There have been many articles written about old yeller!There was a in-depth one in the Buick Club of America Bugle publication a few years back!

Offline elagache

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Thanks for sharing! (Re: Old Yeller)
« Reply #6 on: June 06, 2021, 02:09:14 PM »
Thanks Michael for sharing!  :hello2:

It was definitely a bit of racing and Buick history I wasn't aware of!

Cheers, Edouard  :occasion14:

Offline GS66

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Re: Old Yeller (and why Carroll Shelby made the Cobra)
« Reply #7 on: June 06, 2021, 03:20:47 PM »
Very interesting story! Thanks for sharing!
Jim
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