Ruth greeted movie fans and reminisced about building the Chevys and about his small part in the movie. Sharp-eyed fans noticed he was wearing the same speed shop T-shirt he wore in the gas station scene. The two on-screen cars were fitted with big-block Chevy engines, M22 Muncie four-speeds, Olds rearends with 4.88s, four-wheel disc brakes, tube axle/coil-over front suspensions, fiberglass decklids, fiberglass doors, and fiberglass tilt front ends. They ran 10.99s in the quarter when tested at the old Irwindale dragstrip. The stunt '55 was equipped with a full rollcage for a roll-over scene, that was not filmed in Two-Lane, though it did roll over and burn in American Graffiti.
The car's owner, Walt Bailey, was also on hand to talk about his four-year search and restoration of the car. He compared the restoration to an archeological reconstruction, since he and Ruth had to compare the physical evidence on the car with Ruth's recollections and original photos of the car under construction in 1970. The '55 had survived 30 years of private ownership remarkably intact, and it only took Bailey six months to return the car to its original movie appearance. It retains many of its original components.
In & Out List
In: 600hp EFI small-blocks that idle like a stocker
Out: The 700-rpm blower surge at idle
In: Nitrous-injected turbo systems
Out: Three-barrel carbs
In: 17- and 18-inch wheels
Out: 17- and 18-inch wheels with tiny drum brakes
In: Big fuel pumps
Out: Fuel filters half the size of New Jersey hanging below the rear bumper
In: Tinted primer colors for cars
Out: Murals
In: Custom engine compartments
Out: Dirty and sloppy engines on otherwise cool rides
In: Car shows that deal with real driveable cars and trucks
Out: Car TV shows that use the word "Pimp" in the title
In: Dechromed exteriors
Out: Sport compact interiors with flashing neon lights
In: Refrigerators that look like toolboxes
Out: Tool boxes that look like refrigerators
Race Car Of The Month
Talladega-The Forgotten Superspeedway Musclecar
Trivia Time: In what year did Richard Petty drive for Ford in NASCAR competition? Answer: 1969. The more interesting question is which Ford did he drive? It was the Ford Talladega, which was an aerodynamically enhanced Torino with Boss 429 power. Ford modified the Torino's boxy nose section to reduce drag so it could battle the outrageous Hemi-powered Dodge Charger Daytona fielded by the Mopar camp that year.
The Ford Torino Talladega was based on the SportsRoof two-door hardtop. The addition of a sloped nose, flush grille, and a front bumper made from a Torino rear bumper improved the aerodynamics and increased the length by 6 inches. The rocker panels were changed to provide better aerodynamic shaping, and the car was lowered 1 inch all around.
Cosmetics for the Talladega were fairly race car plain. Only Wimbledon White, Royal Maroon, or Presidential Blue paint colors with a black-out hood were offered. Inside, your only choice was a black vinyl-covered bench seat while the instrumentation was the standard Torino package sans tachometer. Power came from the 335hp Cobra Jet 428ci FE big-block V-8 backed by a C6 automatic as the only transmission choice. Only 754 cars were built to meet the 500-unit minimum for homologation, making the Talladega a rare muscle machine.
The Ford Talladega shown here was part of the recent NASCAR history showcase at the California Speedway for the recent Pop Secret 500. Sporting the full-race Boss 429ci engine and all the race goodies, this car was part of the pre-race, on-track exhibition. While NASCAR track officials requested that drivers not exceed 100 mph on the track, most had a hard time keeping it under 140.