Granitelli 63 Bonnevile raced Avanti FS

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Jim D - 13 Aug 2005 23:10 GMT

Saw this on a Land Speed Racing Board's classified section, while checking
for early results from the current and ongoing SCTA speed trials on the salt
flats.
Said to be one of the three 1963 Avantis that Andy Granitelli prepped and
raced
at Bonneville in 63. No engine/trans. No price, photos, or description
at link, just contact's email address (which may not even be working from
the sounds of it).

http://www.landracing.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=652

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A.J. - 14 Aug 2005 01:21 GMT

Try to find out the EX number on the frame. It is on the drivers side right
under the steering column. That is opposite the stock Avanti S/N location.
I worked on 2 cars for Bill Burke and Joe Granatelli. One was EX-2942
the Due Cento car and EX-2143 which was the 229 car. EX-2143 was later
renamed the Terrible Turkey.
EX-2942 as far as I know still belongs to Richard A. Bennett the 3rd.
of Ridgeley W. VA.
EX-2143 was the 'Burke-Bros.-Leggit-Exostec' last powered by a 305 ci.
destroked Chrysler Hemi built by Les Legget of So. Cal. The engine was set
back and the stock upholstery was removed and replaced by one bucket seat
towards the rear of the passenger compartment. In the suspension dept, the
complete front suspension was removed and a straight axle put in to keep it
straight at speed. 18" rear wheels were used to increase the gear
ratio,while a set of small tires were used at the front to keep the nose
down.
An attempt was also planed of a larger engine for the B/Fuel coupe class,
but dammage to the rear frame crossmember and parachute mounting hardware
when Steve Burke poped the chute at full throtle, forced the retirement of
the car.
There were 2 other cars the 8 and 9 car but I dont think Burke had anything
to do thih those.

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ceecab - 14 Aug 2005 04:11 GMT

EX-2942 as far as I know still belongs to Richard A. Bennett the 3rd.
of Ridgeley W. VA.

Yeah--Dick Bennett owns it, but he's in Pittsburgh now
The car is slowlyyyyyyyyyyy being restored to * race conditions* except
for an R-3 instead of the originalengine which is long gone.

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A.J. - 14 Aug 2005 05:56 GMT

"ceecab" <ceecab@aol.com> wrote in news:bc8c1c97194d11427f9b96ad95183450
@localhost.talkaboutautos.com:

> EX-2942 as far as I know still belongs to Richard A. Bennett the 3rd.
> of Ridgeley W. VA.
>
> Yeah--Dick Bennett owns it, but he's in Pittsburgh now
> The car is slowlyyyyyyyyyyy being restored to * race conditions* except
> for an R-3 instead of the originalengine which is long gone.

Slow is right he came to the shop to pick it up in 1969 with his new wife
and a Rambler wagon with a car trailer, the engine was long gone, I got the
heads and manifold. It had a Ford Cammer in it when he picked it up, he
went through the roof. Bad thing about those cars they were never
registered. Joe Granatelli told Bill Burke that he should not sell them
when he was done with them he was supposed to junk them. If they touched a
California street or highway you would be responsible for regestration and
intrest and penalties back to 1963.

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ceecab - 14 Aug 2005 20:02 GMT

Slow is right he came to the shop to pick it up in 1969 with his new wife
and a Rambler wagon with a car trailer, the engine was long gone, I got
the
heads and manifold. It had a Ford Cammer in it when he picked it up, he
went through the roof.

lolo-- dat would be Dickie
It's been slow-- but the car was in lousy condition too- or so Dick tells
me
Plus he has the body in a shop where the guy works on the body like he
takes showers-- once a year whether he needs it or not
I asked him the other day if he was planning on having his heirs finish
the car

Dick also has a black R-2 that was the NHRA national record holder back
whenever
That one he's had since it was new.

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