QuestionQUESTION: I'm doing a research project on this car and the history making 67 season in NASCAR. I am specifically looking for detailed photos and, specifically, a magazine article and photo spread done in one of the car magazines, I'm not sure which one. It had all the specs and a very detailed article on how it was built. I really appreciate any help you can give.
ANSWER: Hi. Not sure about a "Satellite", Richard drove a '67 Belvedere/GTX in his record setting 1967 season (I know, I owned a '67 Belvedere and have the diecast of that Petty car). I am not sure about the magazine article you mention either but if given a week or two I may be able to dig out my Stock Car Racing magazines from '67 and see if there is one in there. In the meantime, for the '67 season NASCAR mandated:
-models: Grand Touring Class (up from the Compact class)
-minimum weight: 3500 lbs. or a minimum of 9.36 pounds per cubic inch
-Chrysler engines: 426 Hemi (1 carb), the 426 Wedge (2-4's or 3-2's)
-frames may be reinforced or altered in the interest of safety, unit body construction cars allowed to make their own frames as long as original body dimensions are maintained
-devices or blocks to lower the ground clearance of the cars once they are on the track are forbidden
-horsepower ratings on the hood are replaced by the cubic inch displacement of the engine
-approved fuel cells are mandatory, fuel tanks no longer allowed
-car numbers of at least 18 inches required on trunk deck lid
-disk brakes allowed
-must retain chrome trim around windshield
-hood height lowered to 27 inches from ground
-manufacturers must produce 500 units to qualify as a production car
-all engines must use production intake manifolds
-two sidebars now mandated on passenger side of roll cage
By the way, when asked what made the 1967 such a potent winner, Dale Inman stated, "The 1966". Seems the new '67's they built weren't doing so well so they took a few of the left over '66's and "reskinned" them with the '67 bodywork and suddenly they had a combo that couldn't be beat at 27 races that year (out of a 49 race season, a win percentage of 55%!)
Now as for pics, send me your email address and I'll send you a half dozen or so.
Follow up: I have just located the Apr/May 1968 StockCar Racing magazines that have a two part series on RP's record setting '67 season. No tech specs but more pics if interested. Let me know.
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QUESTION: My email is askelly at dslextreme.com. Allpar.com has a pretty comprehensive history of Petty, but not much on the car. The magazine article was in either CarCraft, Hot Rod, or one of the mainstream mags I'm almost sure of it, that's why I remember it seeming out of place. I believe they were trying to highlight how the race teams back then were similar to today's hot rodders in making modifications.
From everything I've read, and seen so far, they say it was a reskinned 66 Belvedere Satellite, and not a GTX, although Ive seen some references to him driving a GTX by non-racing sources. The article I'm looking for goes into all of that and has an incredible description of all the cool "tricks" the Petty's used to make it such a winning car. For example, I remember it talking about the way they canted the front sheet metal down a mere 6 degrees to overcome the "Brick in the wind" effect of the cars shape. I'm sure you can see why I'm so interested in this article. There is a company called Racetorations that built a replica of it, but they only show 1 picture of it on their website, racetorations.com, and they wont answer my emails for information. I believe they know of all the modifications as their replica is the most authentic I have seen. I greatly appreciate all the help you've given and anything more you can find. Thanks again
Kelly
AnswerSorry, but the only mag I have from the 60's is Stock Car Racing magazine. Don't have the articles you're looking for. Did find the SCR magazines that told about that record season but no specs in the article. I'll include some pics from a book "The Cars of Richard Petty" and if you want more I can scan the pics from SCR. Sorry I can't locate that article you want.
