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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
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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... |
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"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. |
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Penfound Design Cars |
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LoSabre |
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Cambiar |
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"...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. |
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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. |
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"...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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