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SLOPPYMOTOR,
Thanks for looking at my ride and your comments.

Back in the day, I'm talking in the very early 1970's, and especially during the GAS CRISES, AMC, GM and FORD came out with smaller, lighter cars, called "Compact cars" in an attempt to gain back some of the sales market that had been grapped up by VOLKSWAGEN, DATSEN and TOYOTA. AMC built the GREMLIN, GM built the VEGA, and FORD built the PINTO.
The drag racers of that time, especially the PRO STOCK and FUNNY CAR racers, were always looking for smaller cars with large engine compartments to modify for their class of racing. Those compact cars had unibody frames front and rear and a beefed up floor pan that held them together.

SO the racers used mostly Vega's and Pinto's, back halved the rear frames with large tire tubs and big rear ends, tied the front and rear frames together with full center frames, added strong roll cages to tie everything together and prevent body torque, squeesed a big motor in the front and developed PRO STOCK racing. Many of the early funny cars were also used streached out Vega and Pinto body styles back in the 70's and early 80's because they wer narrow and still recognized by the public.

Even today, you will find Vega's and Pinto's at the drag strip because of it's light weight and small size, yet they can be modified to accept many engine, tranny and rear end combinations. They are less expensive than a frame up car and still provide the Sportsman racer with a fast car that can be easily maintained. Hope that helps explain why the Pinto and Vega were and still are very popular drag race car.

Cool Buick ride you have./

Dick

im leavin it raw..I clearcoated it.. workin on the interior now....

Cool ride. Nice start on your Buick. Are ya gonna paint it or leave it raw?