Day 2 Style, but for road racing/autox

[dartslantsix]

I've heard people talk about "day 2" modifications that were done back when these cars were new. Things like Cragers, headers, air shocks, etc.
Those modifications typically leaned toward drag racing. But if you were more into road racing back in the day, what would a "day 2" car look like?
I'd think maybe Minilites, smaller steering wheel, better seats, harness? They'd probably want to mimic the Trans Am cars of the day, so a 1966 day 2 car would look different from a 1970 day 2 car (fender flares, spoilers, etc).

What do you think?

 

[junkyardhero]

chin spoiler/air dam, wide steels or minilites, maybe americans, flares/bulged fenders, side exit exhaust, updated shifter & wheel, gutted out interior, better seat, gauge array, secondary/back up igniton system, hood pins/hold down straps, covers for the lamps, tabs to hold in the windshield and back window, deleted bumpers or metal covers on the ends to keep 'em from getting hooked.

then you're gonna need stripes or block out paint and the stickers on the fenders...

but that'd be diving pretty deep.

on a street car that had aspirations of dicing it up at riverside, i'd say the biggest wheels/tires and a lowered stance with a chin spoiler and side exits and hood pins would visually give the idea that you were about making lefts and rights.

 

[Syleng1]

Cars were not autocrossed back then like you see today. Drag racing was the rage and that was what most focused on. Autocross was for cute little British cars with weird stripes on the bonnet with leather straps holding it down.

“Yes” T/A and “AAR” cars were raced, but it was not a big thing compared to Drag racing. Look up old drag racing films and autocross films from that time period. Very few autocross films available- especially from the States.

 

[A56]

I've heard people talk about "day 2" modifications that were done back when these cars were new. Things like Cragers, headers, air shocks, etc.
Those modifications typically leaned toward drag racing. But if you were more into road racing back in the day, what would a "day 2" car look like?
I'd think maybe Minilites, smaller steering wheel, better seats, harness? They'd probably want to mimic the Trans Am cars of the day, so a 1966 day 2 car would look different from a 1970 day 2 car (fender flares, spoilers, etc).

What do you think?

Actually, "back in the day" (late 60's early 70's) Day 2 referred to mostly the drag style, custom wheels, wide rear tires, jacked up, rear, headers etc. No one that I can recall in my cruising area (East Coast) was into the SCCA style fix 'em ups. The style you are mentioning now is real popular with metrics and some American Muscle though.

 

[Zigtf216]

I have 70s version. Starting a 69 notchback

 

[Professor Fate]

Don't forget the window net!
Honestly, just look up "Mopar Kit Car" and you'll get all kinds of ideas.
And don't just limit yourself to Trans-Am and short-track cars, there's lots of USAC (and IMSA) inspired ideas to be gleaned from vintage photos.

 

[dartslantsix]

This is more rally style, but I could see someone trying to emulate this back in the 60's.

 

[Ottmundr]

Subframe connectors might be a good idea.
You may even want to add on a brush guard and weld the doors shut.

 

[barbee6043]

Back in the day, like TA racing, road courses,... just like anything, everything evolves.
I would do the mechanical things needed for success and pick a vintage road racer and see what the visual affects are and make it like you want it.,

 

[Kern Dog]

I've always preferred a car that handled and stopped well over a straight line, drag race car. I love the look of a road race type vibe for a street car.

 

[ESP47]

I've always preferred a car that handled and stopped well over a straight line, drag race car. I love the look of a road race type vibe for a street car.

View attachment 1716406846

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This has always been one of my favorite Mopar builds. I've never liked the race car look on the interior but this build completely changed my mind. Absolute work of art and looks like a relic of 60s and 70s Nascar. Those B body dashes make the best looking race car dashes.

 

[dart4forte]

I autocrossed for 15 years, early 80s through mid 90s. I can tell you there was a fair share of muscle cars running back then. I ran several Chevy Monzas with various drive trains. Most of the time events were held in shopping mall parking lots. Drag racing depended on track owners willing to open to accommodate the racers. Most of the time you were lucky to get in more than three hits. With auto Ross, most of the time you would get back to back runs.

 

[66fs]

Formula S Barracuda took SSCA stock class in 1966. Pictures of mine below with 15 x 6 Minilites 5 x 4.00 BC.

 

[dartslantsix]

Formula S Barracuda took SSCA stock class in 1966. Pictures of mine below with 15 x 6 Minilites 5 x 4.00 BC.

View attachment 1716407649

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This is what I had in mind. Buying a new Barracuda off the lot, then trying to emulate what was racing in Trans Am.
Minilites, more supportive seat, sporty steering wheel, stripes. Maybe add side exhaust and maybe remove the bumpers (but probably not on a street car)
Love the car.

 

[nutz]

yea was always into a car that could turn and stop
thats why i liked mopars back in the day they had better road feed back and direct steering
scca camros,mustangs,amx,challagers .........

 

[RustyRatRod]

 

[junkyardhero]

i always liked the way that the Group 44 cars looked.

here's a thread from a ways back with some cool pics.

Looking for pictures of early abodys road racing.

Looking for some pictures of road course A-body's actually racing and sitting still (like pit shots and breakdown shots. I prefer the 64-66 cars but would like to see what you have. Thanks, Joe

www.forabodiesonly.com

here's a cool one:

 

[A56]

Don't forget the window net!
Honestly, just look up "Mopar Kit Car" and you'll get all kinds of ideas.
And don't just limit yourself to Trans-Am and short-track cars, there's lots of USAC (and IMSA) inspired ideas to be gleaned from vintage photos.
View attachment 1716406779View attachment 1716406780
View attachment 1716406781View attachment 1716406783

...and the round door number

 

[66fs]

 

[Woody500]

Great thread! A good looking, proper stance handling car is what I'm wanting.

 

[autoxcuda]

15x9 minilites

LeCarra steering wheel, Scat Procar seats

Cal Custom valve covers, centered breathers