Post by Fletch on Jan 31, 2009 12:17:31 GMT -8
Found this little jewel over on HAMB and knew that I had to build it. This is the only pic that anyone has found of this pickup. Gratiot was the Drag Racing Headquarters in Detroit. They also had shops across the country. I contacted the guy who posted this pic on HAMB and he put me in contact with the guy who had the engine from the truck.
It was a Buick Nailhead and at the time of the pic obviously had a tri-power set-up on it. When he acquired the engine it had dual quad manifold with a pair of Carter AFB's. He told me the engine had been sitting out in the weather for years before he got it. The crank was seized, but the speed parts still looked usable. He said it still had the headers attached and all the chrome pulleys, etc. The engine had an adapter plate to match up to a early '60s Ford 4 speed trans.
I keep using the term "Had" because someone in Detroit liked the NailHead more then he did. They broke into his garage and stole the entire engine, transmission and all.
The common belief of rodders in Detroit is that the body of the truck is stashed in storage somewhere in Detroit. Of course it could all be urban legend.
Anyway here's the little jewel;
I have been in contact with a couple of guys that worked at Gratiot and they remember the pickup being Candy Apple Red with red and white tuck n' roll upholstery.
So, this is my next project after the Vicki's, the '29 RPU and '50 Shop Truck/mild Custom are off the bench.
But, not being able to wait to get it started here's the first installment.
Hosted on Fotki
The top is chopped a couple of inches, but after going back to the pic of the 1:1, I think it needs to come down a bit more. The biggest problem with this is going to be the graphics on the door, as no one seems to remember much about the colors or anything about it. And so far no color pictures have surfaced.
It was a Buick Nailhead and at the time of the pic obviously had a tri-power set-up on it. When he acquired the engine it had dual quad manifold with a pair of Carter AFB's. He told me the engine had been sitting out in the weather for years before he got it. The crank was seized, but the speed parts still looked usable. He said it still had the headers attached and all the chrome pulleys, etc. The engine had an adapter plate to match up to a early '60s Ford 4 speed trans.
I keep using the term "Had" because someone in Detroit liked the NailHead more then he did. They broke into his garage and stole the entire engine, transmission and all.
The common belief of rodders in Detroit is that the body of the truck is stashed in storage somewhere in Detroit. Of course it could all be urban legend.
Anyway here's the little jewel;
I have been in contact with a couple of guys that worked at Gratiot and they remember the pickup being Candy Apple Red with red and white tuck n' roll upholstery.
So, this is my next project after the Vicki's, the '29 RPU and '50 Shop Truck/mild Custom are off the bench.
But, not being able to wait to get it started here's the first installment.
Hosted on Fotki
The top is chopped a couple of inches, but after going back to the pic of the 1:1, I think it needs to come down a bit more. The biggest problem with this is going to be the graphics on the door, as no one seems to remember much about the colors or anything about it. And so far no color pictures have surfaced.