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Photo of the Day
𝚃𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚍𝚊𝚢, 𝙹𝚞𝚕𝚢 𝟸𝟸, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟻
Tom Cobbs ran this Comp Coupe and Sedan in class C and D at Bonneville in 1954, but his Supercharged Merc flatties couldn’t cut the mustard against the Chrysler overheads. In 1955, he came back with the same ride. This time it was powered by the new Chevy V-8 fitted with this crank driven supercharger setup.
In 1954, the existing C record was 172.749 mph. Tom only ran 148.72 for a 6th in class while the Chrisman Brothers & Duncan team bumped the record to 180.08 mph with DeSoto power. The existing D record in ’54 was 160.852 mph and Tom only ran 155.70 mph for another 6th in class while Don Bishop upped the record to 171.57 mph with Chrysler power. The flathead was officially pronounced Dead as a record setting engine for the next few decades before the vintage revival.
©AHRF/Clif Wheeler Collection.
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