Post by angelnoel1219 on Feb 14, 2008 22:22:54 GMT -5
The History of a Fiat
The car was built at Hirschfield Automotive in Southern California about 1956.
The Owner Al Howard ran the car with an injected small block Chevrolet and a B&M Hydro stick transmission. The car was an N.H.R.A. record holder in the C altered class, with an 11.61 elapsed time about 117 miles per hour.
The car was then bought by Frank L. Richards. The car was a roller, from a gentleman in Oroville, California, that had never run the car. Mr. Richards over haled the front end, king pins, bushings, etc. and painted the chassis. It had a 1956 Ford passenger car rear end, narrowed with 5.57 gears. He put a 4.30 gear set in it and with no extra weight ran 11.0’s and 114 – 115 miles per hour with a 3/8 * 3/8 mercury flat head and ’39 Ford transmission. The block was cracked in the revived area because they used cap screws instead of studs when they built the motor for a friend. Mr. Richards then put an early ’50 Oldsmobile engine in it that was bored out to 33 cubic inches. This set up was olds to ford to Packard for the transmission. The Packard transmission, using only 2nd and 3rd worked ok but didn’t last that long. Mr. Richards then used a 46 – 48 Ford side shift transmission for about half of a season. The repaired flaws on the belt housing started to crack again so he took it out and built a 283 Chevrolet.
The stock bore block was a factory reject from a car we had sold new. Mr. Richards had the block repaired and built a 270 hp 283. This engine was used with a passenger car four speed. He had a lot of success with this combination and small chamber heads. In 1968 at the U.S. Fuel and Gas championships at Bakersfield, CA. He finally broke the axles in the Ford rear end. He still won B/ altered and 4 rounds of Competition Eliminator.
When Mr. Richards returned home he cut down the Oldsmobile rear end and installed it. He went back to Bakersfield in 1969, with the weight in the car, and wan C/ altered and won 5 rounds of Competition eliminator. He only ran the car a few times in 1970. 71 and 72. He then sold the car to Myrle Smith, whom sold it to Tom Mareno.
Tom Moreno brought the car to Louisiana in the mid to late 1970’s. He painted the car red and ran it a few times in Gulfport, Mississippi, in the late ‘70’s to early ‘80’s. IN the mid 80’s the car was sold to Larry Perriloux. Larry ran the car a few times at Gulfport.
Edward Sharp bought the car in 1992 and took the car to Alabama, where they took it apart. He had Floyd Gilmore to check the chase, add wheelie bars and a parachute. The car was completely redone, all new sheet metal inside. It now has a small block 406 Chevrolet and power glide with 4500 converter. The car has been ET bracket in numerous races and has been in many car shows. The car has been run in Mobile, Hattiesburg and Gulfport. The car runs in the mid 9.0’s to 10.0. The car has an all steel body, original tube chase. 1957 Oldsmobile solid mount rear end, original model A front end. Hidel brand spindle mount front rims. Original Fenton slot mags on rear, still has original moon tank on front, and army canteen overflow can. The car also has 456 gears.
1937 Fiat Topolino
Engine:
30 over small block 400 Chevy
Summit crank
Eagle rods
ross piston
Airflow research heads
Broadax intake
850 Dual feed hollies
Transmission:
TCI Power glide with trans break
4500 stall converter
Electric shifter
If you would like to see pictures or have any questions e-mail me and i will answer them.
The car was built at Hirschfield Automotive in Southern California about 1956.
The Owner Al Howard ran the car with an injected small block Chevrolet and a B&M Hydro stick transmission. The car was an N.H.R.A. record holder in the C altered class, with an 11.61 elapsed time about 117 miles per hour.
The car was then bought by Frank L. Richards. The car was a roller, from a gentleman in Oroville, California, that had never run the car. Mr. Richards over haled the front end, king pins, bushings, etc. and painted the chassis. It had a 1956 Ford passenger car rear end, narrowed with 5.57 gears. He put a 4.30 gear set in it and with no extra weight ran 11.0’s and 114 – 115 miles per hour with a 3/8 * 3/8 mercury flat head and ’39 Ford transmission. The block was cracked in the revived area because they used cap screws instead of studs when they built the motor for a friend. Mr. Richards then put an early ’50 Oldsmobile engine in it that was bored out to 33 cubic inches. This set up was olds to ford to Packard for the transmission. The Packard transmission, using only 2nd and 3rd worked ok but didn’t last that long. Mr. Richards then used a 46 – 48 Ford side shift transmission for about half of a season. The repaired flaws on the belt housing started to crack again so he took it out and built a 283 Chevrolet.
The stock bore block was a factory reject from a car we had sold new. Mr. Richards had the block repaired and built a 270 hp 283. This engine was used with a passenger car four speed. He had a lot of success with this combination and small chamber heads. In 1968 at the U.S. Fuel and Gas championships at Bakersfield, CA. He finally broke the axles in the Ford rear end. He still won B/ altered and 4 rounds of Competition Eliminator.
When Mr. Richards returned home he cut down the Oldsmobile rear end and installed it. He went back to Bakersfield in 1969, with the weight in the car, and wan C/ altered and won 5 rounds of Competition eliminator. He only ran the car a few times in 1970. 71 and 72. He then sold the car to Myrle Smith, whom sold it to Tom Mareno.
Tom Moreno brought the car to Louisiana in the mid to late 1970’s. He painted the car red and ran it a few times in Gulfport, Mississippi, in the late ‘70’s to early ‘80’s. IN the mid 80’s the car was sold to Larry Perriloux. Larry ran the car a few times at Gulfport.
Edward Sharp bought the car in 1992 and took the car to Alabama, where they took it apart. He had Floyd Gilmore to check the chase, add wheelie bars and a parachute. The car was completely redone, all new sheet metal inside. It now has a small block 406 Chevrolet and power glide with 4500 converter. The car has been ET bracket in numerous races and has been in many car shows. The car has been run in Mobile, Hattiesburg and Gulfport. The car runs in the mid 9.0’s to 10.0. The car has an all steel body, original tube chase. 1957 Oldsmobile solid mount rear end, original model A front end. Hidel brand spindle mount front rims. Original Fenton slot mags on rear, still has original moon tank on front, and army canteen overflow can. The car also has 456 gears.
1937 Fiat Topolino
Engine:
30 over small block 400 Chevy
Summit crank
Eagle rods
ross piston
Airflow research heads
Broadax intake
850 Dual feed hollies
Transmission:
TCI Power glide with trans break
4500 stall converter
Electric shifter
If you would like to see pictures or have any questions e-mail me and i will answer them.