FEATURED CAR: First Love
Car - 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle
Paint - 1996 Ford Probe Boysenberry
Engine - Chevy 383 Stroker
Transmission - TH 350 built by ATI w/ JW Bellhousing
Rear - GM 12 Bolt Posi with welded tubes. Richmond 4.10 gears on Moser axles
Tires - Mickey Thompson Drag Radials
Weight - 3600lbs with driver
Best Pass To Date - 11.96 @114mph
Years Owned - 25 years
This issue's Featured Car is a stunning 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle owned by Doug E. from Easton, PA. This Chevelle was destined to become part of Doug's family as it kind of rolled into his life. When he was 16 years old and pumping gas, one day a man pulled in driving a primer and rusted 1971 Chevelle. He rolled down the window and asked Doug if he knew anyone that would be interested in buying his car. Without hesitation Doug claimed the car. It was literally love at first sight. Seven hundred dollars later, the Chevelle became Doug's first car and was in the hands it was destined to be.
A few months later he got his drivers license and proudly drove his rusted old Chevelle to high school. During his senior year he was able to show his car its first taste of love by having it freshly painted. The Chevelle became Doug's daily method of transportation, as he drove it back and forth to college. Then one day, he had an encounter with a deer that created some minor damage, and the Chevelle sat in Doug's grandparent’s driveway for nearly two years while he entered into the working world to begin his career.
In 1996 Doug proposed to his girlfriend Keirsten, and they made plans to give their Chevelle a makeover so they could drive it away on their wedding day. Doug worked part-time at a body shop and with the help of some good friends, completed all of the bodywork. He sprayed the beautiful boysenberry blue on the car himself. His future best man laid down the clear coat to finish the Chevelle’s makeover. They finished the car in July of 1997, just in time to use it at their September wedding.
The Chevelle then started its new life as a car-show queen and eventually made the leap into drag racing. You see when Doug was still in high school he had the coolest job of cleaning a top alcohol dragster and funny car for the Bartone Brothers Racing Team. He worked his way up the food chain and was eventually working on rears, blowers, and heads. When he graduated high school, he had the incredible opportunity to travel with the team around the country at national events. So you might say that it was inevitable that the Chevelle would find its way to the drag strip.
The Chevelle, or as his daughters Rylee and Brynn call it, "Lickety Split," broke its first 383 transplant after Doug threw a 100 horsepower shot of nitrous at it. He guesses that the forged crankshaft it should have had, wasn't there when he paid for it. Being a loved member of the family, the Chevelle needed to live on. In 2010 Doug had an engine shop build his current 383 power plant. They fitted the Chevelle with an Eagle forged crank, Eagle H-beam rods, Mahle coated pistons, Edelbrock E-Tec 200cc heads, and an Edelbrock RPM nitrous system.
Twenty-five years have passed since Doug first fell in love with his Chevelle, and he sees no end in sight. His future plans for the car include installing a hand throttle, swapping the 383 for an LS or a big block, and a possible upgrade to a Powerglide. No matter what Doug decides to do with his car I am certain it will remain as stunning as it is now and will be around for his girls to enjoy in case they get the itch to take "Lickety Split" for a ride one day.
JT
