An FE wins the NHRA meet in Top Class!....

[cjshaker]

Of course it was  1959, but still cool 
Came across this old drag racing video made by the NHRA to educate people about racing.
It has a lot of really neat cars in it along with well known cars like the Ram Chargers and Art Arfons Green Monster. When it came to the end, the meet top class winner rolled up....and immediately I recognized the unmistakable exhaust ports of an FE. With the cool 'way back' front mounted supercharger design, I got a big kick out of it. Thought you guys might enjoy a peek at it.

Skip to 26:00 to catch the car and engine. It's cool that they gave a decent shot of the engine.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/bqCm7YO2GOI

Tried to embed it, but it didn't seem to cooperate so just gave the YouTube link.

[jayb]

Great video Doug, but I don't think that is an FE.  The valve covers don't look right (too long) and the spark plugs aren't in the right position.  Wonder what kind of engine it is?

[cjshaker]

Dag blast it, I think you're right, Jay. The valve covers should have 3 bolts on top and 2 on the bottom. A quick glance and I thought they were baldy covers.
I don't know of any other engine with protruding exhaust ports, but it's dark enough that it may be misleading.
I'm just confirming my "newbie" status....now, where's that towel to wipe the egg off my face 

[jayb]

Hey, it was an honest mistake LOL!  Still a fabulous video; thanks for posting it!

[machoneman]

You were close: it's a bored and stroked GMC 6-71 supercharged 430 Lincoln engine. 

http://www.bigblocksix.com/f100swb/stuff/Ford_534.jpg

http://www.50th-usnationals.com/apcm/templates/50th_history.asp?articleid=802&zoneid=52

Wikipedia:

The 430 engine in particular had a limited but storied history in hotrodding. The first Miami to Nassau race won by Bertram Yachts (which subsequently helped establish their name) featured a boat powered by twin 430 MEL engines. In the 1959 NASCAR season, Holman Moody campaigned a number of Thunderbirds, at least some of which were powered by 430's. At least one car still survives intact.The cars were ponderous handlers because of the heavy engine, but successful runners. The Holman Moody 430 Thunderbirds caught the attention of Ford after one of them driven by Johnny Beauchamp finished a photo second to Lee Petty at the 1959 Daytona 500. Houston's Rodney Singer and crew chief Karol Miller used a GMC supercharged Lincoln-powered dragster to win the 1959 NHRA Nationals Top Eliminator. Theirs was the first supercharged TE in NHRA history, starting a string which has continued through the present.[1]

[cjshaker]

Well that makes me feel a little better. At least it was a Ford product that resembles an FE...at least in the dark, with bad eyes, and no glasses.  Cool history on the supercharger deal. Thanks for the links.

[thatdarncat]

And what a lot of people don't realize - the 430 Super Marauder was the highest horsepower production car of the 50's. Here's a good article:

http://www.musclecarreport.com/muscle-cars.The%20Biggest%20M.001.php

[fe66comet]

Hudson Hornet was holding its own then too.....Jon