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Please remember to visit the Projects Page for more Pictures and Details on the cars!   and to visit the News Archive page for the archived news!
 
2009
Buick LoSabre Featured In NSRA Builders' Showcase
 
   Penfound Design was given a special honor by being selected to show a vehicle at the 40th Annual NSRA Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky, August 6-9, 2009. A special feature added to the NSRA Street Rod Nationals in 2006, the Builders' Showcase is a "one-of-a-kind display of vehicles by street rodding's elite professional builders," according to the NSRA description of the event. Held in the South Wing lobbies of the Kentucky Exposition Center, the cars were on display all four days of the prestigious Nationals, which brings thousands of cars, and hundreds of commercial exhibitors to Louisville each year.
   "The National Street Rod Association is excited to be able to bring these works of automotive art to the Street Rod Nationals for the fourth year in a row so thousands of enthusiasts from around the world will be able to appreciate the workmanship and creativity of their builders.
   This activity is another highlight of street rodding's most significant event of the year." Thanks to everyone at the National Street Rod Association.
   To learn more about the NSRA and its events, visit: www.nsra-usa.com

         

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High Performance Pontiac Magazine Features Two-Part Sabertooth GTO Motor Build

  
   It makes perfect sense that the Sabertooth GTO motor would make its debut in a national magazine before the car...because the engine is the heart of the beast. The 449 cubic inch motor with 507 horsepower and 528 lb-ft of torque, might owe its heritage to Pontiac, but it got its muscle through the partner companies which made it happen.  High Performance Pontiac did an in depth, six page story of the motor build in the July, 2009, issue of the magazine. "When it came time for Barry Penfound, of Penfound Design, to choose a power plant for 'Sabertooth', his '64 Pro-Touring GTO project, he didn't have to look any further than the engine bay. You guessed it- the original 389 was still there," Don Keefe explained in his story, which had photos and contributions from HPP editor Thomas A. DeMauro.
   "To marry vintage flavor to modern technology and increase power at the same time, Barry turned to Bryan Weber of Weber Racing Equipment in North Ridgeville, Ohio, who formed a plan that put the goals with practical reach, and his dad, Dave, assembled the engine," Keefe wrote. The August issue of High Performance Pontiac saw the motor move on to the dyno to find out if it would make the kind of horsepower worthy of a GTO tiger...

  

  
   "While at Weber Racing, it became a 449 ci, Edelbrock-headed beast that was topped off with one of the Barry Grant Six-Shooter setups, which offers a modern approach to the Tri-Power systems we are now so familiar with," Keefe writes. "The end result was an engine that was substantially larger in cubic inches and more powerful and lighter than the original 389, all positive attributes to have in a performance-oriented Pro-Touring machine."  The results, on the dyno at Michael's Racing Engines in Macedonia, Ohio, were spectacular.  "After multiple pulls and backup pulls (which include timing and jet changes), it was determined that the second was the best. The 21st Century Tri-Power laid down a corrected best of 507.6 hp at 5,700 rpm, with 528.3 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm."
   Penfound Design thanks Bryan and Dave Weber of Weber Racing, Michael Tietro of Michael's Racing Engines, Ken Wilhelm of Ken's Performance, and Jeff Gulley for all the help with the engine build and testing.  The following partners helped make the project possible: Edelbrock, Barry Grant Inc., Wiseco Pistons, Eagle Specialty Products, Federal Mogul Corporation, Comp Performance Group, Milodon, MSD, and Crane. Thanks to High Performance Pontiac, Thomas D. DeMauro and Don Keefe.



Thanks to High Performance Pontiac!
 Please visit them at www.highperformancepontiac.com
 

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Penfound Design Cars

LoSabre

  

Cambiar


"...One of those timeless customs that will still look cool decades from now," Hot Rod Magazine, December 2002.
    The 1959 Buick LoSabre made its debut at the 2002 Detroit Autorama, has been featured in more than a dozen magazines, and won awards including a "Boyd Coddington Pro's Pick", "Custom Rodder Top 10", and Lowrider Magazine "Best Lo-Rod". It continues to be shown and well-received.

  



Impala

"...Most custom cars are personal creations, built to suit the specific tastes and desires of their owners and builders. A select few go beyond mere personalization and approach the level of true design studies..." Damon Lee, editor, Custom Rodder, September 2006.
The 1963 Impala SportsRoof made its debut at the 2006 Detroit Autorama, and was selected the Super Chevy Pick Of the Show. From there it won a Fab Five Pick at the Goodguys Great American Nationals, Hershey, Pennsylvania, 2006. It received "First In Class- Lo Rod" and a "Special Judges Award" for the vehicle that "best exemplifies the lowrider movement" at the Lowrider Magazine Tour Stop in Indianapolis, Indiana. During the summer of 2006 it received numerous Super Chevy awards, including "Best Full-size 1958-1964 Car" and "Top 8" at the Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana. At the Goodguys Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, it received both a "Rod & Custom magazine Top 10" and "Boyd Coddington Pro's Pick". The car was featured in Custom Rodder, Super Chevy and Power magazines and was shown in event coverage in Super Rod, Rod & Custom, Custom Rodder, Street Rodder, and several other publications. American Racing Equipment, Inc., selected the SportRoof for its booth at the 2006 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the car was also on display for three months at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, California at the end of 2006. In 2007 it was featured in American Racing Equipment, Inc., advertising and catalogs, was a cover photo for Jeg's Performance Products and Pace Performance catalogs, as well as Newstalgia Wheels.

  
"...the custom rod movement has taken off and clearly created its own identity, one very distinct from its nostalgia predecessor. And at the forefront are clean, smooth, yet very stylish cars with a unique modern twist...not overdone, not too flashy. Basically, cars like Cambiar", Damon Lee, Custom Rodder Magazine, November 2004.
    The 1964 Cadillac Cambiar, see above, appeared at the Detroit Autorama 2004 for the first time, was a cover feature for Custom Rodder, a Goodguys Pick, the "Alexander Brothers Pick" at the KKOA 2004 Nationals,  and "Best Of Show" at the 2005 Dub Magazine Cobo Hall Detroit show.

 

GTO

The GTO was introduced to America in an advance story in the May, 2006, issue of Hot Rod Magazine. Featured in the "Project Garage" section, Rob Kinnan described the GTO as "combining factory concept car with street-race sensibilities". As "the fourth car from Penfound Design (the car) will have single headlights, tucked bumpers, an engine-turned grill, and functional scoops in the hood and fenders. Jeff Gulley and Paul Jonela of Trackside Automotive (Avon Lake, Ohio) are doing the body and chassis and will bathe the car in a custom mix of PPG Blue."
    Kinnan went on to write..."One-off Boyd Coddington wheels will be tucked by Air Ride Shockwave bags. You Pontiac faithful will appreciate that it'll be powered by a 389 (stroked to 449 cubes) and a Barry Grant Six Shooter intake."
    Stay tuned for more GTO information on the car and its debut!


Inpala

"...Barry Penfound, under the guise of Penfound Design, is making quite a name for himself building clean, crisp customs based on late-'50s and early '60s two door hardtops. The past few years have seen a '63 Impala Sportsroof, a '59 Buick LeSabre, and a '64 Caddy, but the latest, this '59 Chevy dubbed Inpala, might just have presented his greatest challenge yet, owing to one remarkable feature. It wears its original paint.." Kev Elliott, technical editor, Rod & Custom magazine, May 2008.
        The 1959 Chevrolet 'Inpala', named because it was created in just eight weeks, is the fourth Penfound Design project. After making its debut at the Hot Rod Power Tour in 2007, 'Inpala' went on to appear at nearly a dozen events, including Goodguys Hot Rod Nationals in Indianapolis, the Goodguys PPG Nationals in Columbus, and the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion.
        The 'Inpala' is based on a survivor, original paint 1959 Impala. Inspiration for the car came from the "little book" custom magazines like Rod & Custom in the 1950's and 1960's, which featured many new cars that would be modified quickly so they could be driven and shown on the street. Owners would change the grills, trim, wheels and tires so that the original paint could be maintained. The result is that 'instant customs' were born, and 'Inpala' brings that concept into the 21st Century.

 
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