SAAC Forum

The History => Shelby American Racing => Topic started by: NC TRACKRAT on August 03, 2023, 07:59:05 AM

Title: The Perfect Car at the Perfect Time
Post by: NC TRACKRAT on August 03, 2023, 07:59:05 AM
https://sportscardigest.com/the-perfect-car-at-the-perfect-time/
Title: Re: The Perfect Car at the Perfect Time
Post by: FL SAAC on August 03, 2023, 08:20:30 AM
Thanks for sharing
Title: Re: The Perfect Car at the Perfect Time
Post by: deathsled on August 03, 2023, 04:04:07 PM
That was a great article and well worth the read. Thank you.
Title: Re: The Perfect Car at the Perfect Time
Post by: NukeGT on August 04, 2023, 09:37:51 AM
Bet interesting detailed design comparison.
Title: Re: The Perfect Car at the Perfect Time
Post by: shelbydoug on August 04, 2023, 05:20:18 PM
I don't know if there is such a thing as perfection. That is just judgement and judgement varies with many factors.

In my eyes the only issue for me would be that the car needs to be a hatchback and have A/C.

Mr.Brock certainly had and still does have quite a flair for design. He seems to have a greater understanding.

A couple of times I got the impression, I think accurately, that Carroll didn't care for the car much? I'm sure he had his reasons but I hope it wasn't that only Fred Astaire  and Pete Brock were known for wearing ascots?

Oh, I forgot. Roy Rogers did too, but in his case it was a bandana. Trigger liked it. Not so much Dale and Gabby Hays.
Title: Re: The Perfect Car at the Perfect Time
Post by: shelbydoug on August 05, 2023, 07:51:36 AM
We are disagreeing?
Title: Re: The Perfect Car at the Perfect Time
Post by: 98SVT - was 06GT on August 05, 2023, 11:55:50 AM
Quote from: shelbydoug on August 04, 2023, 05:20:18 PM
I don't know if there is such a thing as perfection. That is just judgement and judgement varies with many factors.

In my eyes the only issue for me would be that the car needs to be a hatchback and have A/C.
IMHO it was the ideal tool for the job at hand but it does lack perfection. As you point out no AC. It is a hatchback, how do you think you get the spare tire out? At that time these were "road going" cars yet had zero creature comfort. Cramped and hot is a hallmark. I have squeezed myself into 3 of the original Coupes and Pete's Superformance redesign is an improvement. Slightly larger interior, insulation, sound deadener and yes AC along with a couple air vents in the roof. His car also has an LS engine so maybe it's the Coupe done to perfection since CS did go to Chevy for engines first........
Don't forget Jim Russell (Russkit slotcars) bought the first Coupe to drive and attract attention to his company. SA put a fresh street long block in it. He had the local bodyshop perfect the hand hammered body and lay on a show quality paintjob. He even had Tony Nancy redo the interior. After all this he found it impractical as a daily driver and unloaded it to Phil Specter for $12,500. While Phil may have found it fun to drive his attorney did point out it was impractical to keep getting those tickets and he dumped it on his body guard for a mere $1,000. The guard also realized it wasn't a good driver and it went into loooong term storage.
Here is another opinion of Best American Car. I can also fault this one for lack of creature comfort - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0imK2TaNUk
Title: Re: The Perfect Car at the Perfect Time
Post by: 68countrysedan on August 05, 2023, 01:38:16 PM
How about defining perfection as doing what the car was designed to do: win races and ultimately a championship.
Title: Re: The Perfect Car at the Perfect Time
Post by: csxsfm on August 05, 2023, 01:55:28 PM
I can't get past Gabby Hayes!
Title: Re: The Perfect Car at the Perfect Time
Post by: shelbydoug on August 05, 2023, 03:31:25 PM
Quote from: csxsfm on August 05, 2023, 01:55:28 PM
I can't get past Gabby Hayes!

He was always the critic at the time. Roy would just smile. Dale would never say much not even about Roy's sequiened shirt!
Title: Re: The Perfect Car at the Perfect Time
Post by: 98SVT - was 06GT on August 05, 2023, 03:47:46 PM
Quote from: shelbydoug on August 05, 2023, 03:31:25 PMDale would never say much not even about Roy's sequiened shirt!
She probably had little to say about how he dressed. A friend lived near them and every morning he went out in his plaid bathrobe and bare feet to pick up his newspaper.
Title: Re: The Perfect Car at the Perfect Time
Post by: shelbydoug on August 05, 2023, 07:59:04 PM
Quote from: 98SVT - was 06GT on August 05, 2023, 03:47:46 PM
Quote from: shelbydoug on August 05, 2023, 03:31:25 PMDale would never say much not even about Roy's sequiened shirt!
She probably had little to say about how he dressed. A friend lived near them and every morning he went out in his plaid bathrobe and bare feet to pick up his newspaper.

:)