Hello,
I am a new member to the group.
I recently aquired a Packard engined special. I believe it was built in 59/60
and raced thru the early 60's.
It was built by Dave Simon of Youngstown OH.
There is an inspection sticker on the dash for Marlboro 6 hr race June 16/17.
Unfortunatley the year is missing. This is the only race history I currently
have on the car.
Below is a link to photos of the car when built
<A
HREF="http://www.danrapley.com/SimonLaDawri/Article.htm";>http://www.danrapley
.com/SimonLaDawri/Article.htm</A>
And photos of the car today.
<A
HREF="http://www.danrapley.com/SimonLaDawri/Today.htm";>http://www.danrapley.c
om/SimonLaDawri/Today.htm</A>
It weighs 1900lbs and the Packard put out 380hp so it should have been quite
quick.
I am keen to hear from anyone with knowledge of the car.
Cheers,
Daniel
PS: below is the text from a 1960 article on the car.
Simon La Dawri Special
David Simon, Youngstown Ohio, architect and special builder is building his
car from scratch hoping to come up with a competitive sports machine at a
reasonable cost. He has kept track of bills but is afraid to add them up.
David
says that the motto of special builders should be "whether you'e rich or poor,
its nice to have money"
Dave' interest in special building started with the installation of a packard
engine into a 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk for drag racing. His 3700 pound
dragster pulled the quarter mile at 111 miles per hour, winning class b in the
regional drags. The same engine is the heart of Dave's sports car. It is the
1936 V8 with a bore of 4.5 inches and stroke of 3.5 inches with a capacity of
6,311cc. With an 11 to 1 compression and two carter four barrel carburetors.
He
estimates the horsepower at 380 at 5300 rpm.
The present transmission is a three speed packard unit but he hopes to
replace it with a corvette four speed.
The trussed tubular frame built by Dave Dangerfield is fabricated from 2 inch
tubing and features some of the neatest welding ever seen on a special. The
front suspension uses Ford Transverse leaf springs, with oldsmobile equal
length A frames and Monroe piston shocks. The rear has a Studebaker Live Axle
with
34 Ford transverse leaf springing trailing radius rods and Monroe shocks.
All of the parts and pieces are second hand except for the frame, purchased
from local junk yards. Dave is now hard at work, building flooring and
bulkheads to locate a La Dawri Conquest fiberglass shell.
Specification
Engine: Packard V8 380Hp @ 5300 rpm, capacity 6311cc (397 Cu In). Bore 4.5
inch stroke 3.5 inch. 11:1 compression. Two Carter 4 barrel carburetors.
Transmission 1954 Packard 3 speed.
Chassis Trussed tubular frame of 2x.065 tubing. Front suspension by
transverse leaf, equal A frames, tube shocks. Rear by transverse leaf. Live
axle,
trailing radius arms, piston shocks, steering is modified Pontiac with 3.5
turns
lock to lock, Buick Aluminum drum brakes with Packard backing plates.
Dimensions: wheelbase 102 inch, overall length 175 inches. overall height 49
in, overall width 71 inch, minimum clearance 5 inch front tread 59 inch, rear
57 inch. Tires are 7.10x15. Est weight 1995lbs. Fuel capacity 20 gals in PT-10
Aircraft tank.
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