Sunday, April 26, 2026
the original 1974 Gone in 60 Seconds was the subject of an extensive article in Hagerty's magazine, and since I haven't seen that original movie in forever, there was a lot of interesting info
J.C. Agajanian’s Ascot Park was used as a location in the film, it was a midget racing track.
Parnelli Jones loses his Big Oly Bronco to the car thieves crew and offers a tour of his facility to the main character, who plays an insurance adjuster guise.
His Rolls Royce was used as a car that was stolen
Big Oly was winner of the Baja 1000, Baja 500, and Mint 400, and fetched $1.87 million at auction in 2021.
After the movie, the producer/director/actor and star of the movie went on a promotions tour, and stopped at a car wash in San Leandro, to spiff up Eleanor before the film premiered at the Palace Theater that night.
An 11-year-old kid was hanging out there because he liked cars. Upon encountering the star, and Eleanor, the kid's life took a fateful turn.
“I was blown away to meet him. I admired the car, and he said, ‘This is not a car. Her name’s Eleanor, and she’s my co-star.’” The die was cast; mesmerized by the smashed-up Mustang and the flamboyant director, the kid said that he hoped someday to work in films and perform stunts.
Halicki told him to look him up when he turned 18—and that’s just what he did. Martin got to know Halicki and went on to become an award-winning stunt coordinator.
He served as stunt coordinator for the 2000 remake of GI60S, produced by action film mogul Jerry Bruckheimer and starring Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie
Sammy Davis Jr was given a Duesenberg replica by the owner of Harrah's resorts and casinos. It was built in 1971 by the Duesenberg Corporation of Gardena, California, and patterned after a 1935 Duesenberg SSJ, using templates from the original 1935 SSJ La Grande body. Thank you George
Road & Track magazine founder John Bond featured the Miller SSJ in the magazine’s February 1971 issue and called it “the best replica yet,” a significant endorsement from one of America’s most respected automotive publications.
Road & Track magazine founder John Bond featured the Miller SSJ in the magazine’s February 1971 issue and called it “the best replica yet,” a significant endorsement from one of America’s most respected automotive publications.
The car was purchased new by Harrah’s in 1972 through legendary Duesenberg dealer Leo Gephart and made available to Sammy Davis Jr. during his frequent performing engagements at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe and Reno. The title was later formally transferred to Davis as his personal car.
Instead of sourcing a '35 engine from a Duesy, they went with a Mopar 383 and 727 trans, and added a centrifugal supercharger.
The chassis was a Dodge truck
I wouldn't have guessed that anyone would come all the way to Barona drags (in East San Diego) from Santa Barbara ... but Seth Hammond and his friend Chip Foose went home with a 1st place trophy
Gray Baskerville got it right back in 1975 when he wrote, “Seth Hammond is slightly eccentric…”
Running a Pinto four-cylinder he set his first-ever Bonneville record at 140 mph in 1976 and has managed to keep his name in the record book every year since then.
In 1981, Seth bought a Lakester that was built in his hometown of Santa Barbara, California, by Tim Rochlitzer and that was on the cover of HOT ROD in 1962. He ran it until 2003, putting nine people in the 200 MPH Club and three in the 300 MPH Club, including his wife, Tanis (at 305, the first woman above 300 mph)
What's the connection with Chip Foose? Chip's dad Sam had a shop next to Seth, and Chip learned from Seth how to use a lathe and a mill. He's been painting Seth's race cars for decades.
Seth has been drag racing since the late 60s
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