Great stuff! The car was commissioned by Dan Blocker of television fame and built by one Joe Huffaker in 1965. The story goes that Blocker was a certified, card carrying car nut who loved racing, but his ample frame precluded him driving in competition. Thus he became a car owner, letting much smaller guys have all the fun. The car was raced, among other events, in the first year of the great Can-Am series in 66, sponsored by Nickey Chevrolet of Chicago. (Nickey’s history is a great story of its own. When Lance Reventlow set his sights on F1, he sold one of his Scarabs to Nickey.) The link takes one to a clip of the Nickey Vinegaroon Mk10 shaking the dust off it’s bonnet at the Autobahn Country Club, Joliet, Illinois, June of this year. An afterthought. In the top image, the guy bent over the cockpit showing off his behind, he's a very big guy. Reckon that might be Blocker?
the guy isn't Blocker, notice the light blue pants, it's the same guy in the bottom photo, middle of the picture. Blocker was much bigger https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2022/12/dan-blocker-and-what-i-didnt-know.html
When Chevy introduced the 65 Chevelle 396 cars they only built 101 as I recall. They all went to GM "preferred" customers. As Bonanza was being sponsored by Chevy Hoss Cartwright got a convertible due to his size. I had several 66 Chevelle's but always preferred the 65 cars.
Great stuff! The car was commissioned by Dan Blocker of television fame and built by one Joe Huffaker in 1965. The story goes that Blocker was a certified, card carrying car nut who loved racing, but his ample frame precluded him driving in competition. Thus he became a car owner, letting much smaller guys have all the fun. The car was raced, among other events, in the first year of the great Can-Am series in 66, sponsored by Nickey Chevrolet of Chicago. (Nickey’s history is a great story of its own. When Lance Reventlow set his sights on F1, he sold one of his Scarabs to Nickey.) The link takes one to a clip of the Nickey Vinegaroon Mk10 shaking the dust off it’s bonnet at the Autobahn Country Club, Joliet, Illinois, June of this year. An afterthought. In the top image, the guy bent over the cockpit showing off his behind, he's a very big guy. Reckon that might be Blocker?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8k5SY0bMPs
the guy isn't Blocker, notice the light blue pants, it's the same guy in the bottom photo, middle of the picture. Blocker was much bigger https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2022/12/dan-blocker-and-what-i-didnt-know.html
DeleteWhen Chevy introduced the 65 Chevelle 396 cars they only built 101 as I recall. They all went to GM "preferred" customers. As Bonanza was being sponsored by Chevy Hoss Cartwright got a convertible due to his size. I had several 66 Chevelle's but always preferred the 65 cars.
DeleteI posted about that in 2011 https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/10/1965-chevelle-malibu-ss-only-201-made.html
DeleteThis is a great site for sure!
ReplyDelete