1000 HP Ford Talladega
The car world is changing from concours quality restorations ruling the show fields and auction houses too well done over the top restomods doing just as well. Most of us will agree that it is a sin to cut up a rare solid car. However, I also think we can agree that if every car was restored to concours condition it would be a boring World.
As long as there are motor heads like Tom Bailey who like to go fast we will never be bored. Tom recently sent me the following information and photos on one of the wildest 1969 Ford Talladegas I have ever seen. I have not seen this car in person but sure hope to someday. This thing must be a dream to drive.
Tom was having some work done on his Indian Burial Ground 69 Camaro back in 2010 at Clocks off Racecars in Wisconsin when the one and only Dr. Ford (Jim Plimpton) pulled up in this car that He had never seen before. He told him the history on the car and promised he would never sell it. Tom told him to call him first if he ever changed his mind. Jump forward to 2015 and he got that call we all wait for, it was now for sale!
He was still working on the equally wild Camaro at the time but YES anyway. He and a friend went to pick it up that week. It started as a simple project that got out of hand. That may be an understatement. That is about like saying going for a joy ride and ending up on the Moon may have got out of hand.
Tom Bailey has never let moss grow under his feet. Having just returned from HOT ROD Magazine Drag Week’s with a second Unlimited class victory with his 1969 Camaro dubbed “Sick 1.0” he was ready to debut a brand new car. This time a 1969 Talladega that would be aimed at roads with curves!
Many of you man not know the story of how the 1969 Ford Talladega was the factory’s response to the NASCAR Aero Wars. The promise of the tapered and extended nose, raised rocker panels, flush mounted grille, and sports roof was so great that Richard Petty defected from Plymouth to drive it. To make the car legal for competition, Ford built a scant 745 editions of the modified Torino to be placed in the hands of the public. David Pearson won the NASCAR Championship in his Talladega with Richard following up in second!
For car #648 in the Talladega Spoiler Registry, its past has been a chequered one, and not in a good way. Along the way the original engine was pulled and lost. Beyond that, it has led a life mostly comprised of ¼ mile passes. Fortunately for the car, it found its way into the hands of fanatical hot rodder, Tom Bailey. Under Tom’s direction all of this has changed with modern technology weaving its way into a new chassis while paying the proper respect to the Talladega’s rich racing history.
Keeping true to Ford DNA a Holley controlled 5.0 liter Coyote motor is combined with twin Bullseye turbos and Turbosmart wastegates at Sled Alley outside Detroit to produce 1000 HP. A Tremec 6-speed is mated to row through the gears and out back a Strange third member paints twin stripes on the pavement. The only hint of what lurks within are the twin air trumpets in place of the inner headlights that feed the howl of the turbos.
A Roadster Shop chassis establishes the lowered stance with AFCO suspension and Brembo carbon ceramic brakes. A set of Forgeline rims wrapped in modern low profile tires keep it all planted to terra-firma. There is no doubt this throwback to a storied time in NASCAR’s history rekindles the passion of the factory-built battles!
For more information on the Twin Turbo Talladega contact:
Tom Bailey
Bailey Racing Facebook
