Swanson's Torino: one of the Donlavey cars

We had a very interesting time checking out Steve Swanson's Torino, or at least what is left of it. Together with Lee Holman, seen here on the picture next to Steve, we spend quite a few hours looking at, under and in the car.

Lee identified it clearly as a chassis built on Holman Moody jigs by Banjo Matthews. This Banjo chassis has also all the Holman Moody suspension parts where they should be. Some details make it very likely that this car was raced by Dick Brooks at the Dixie 500 in November 1976. Other details indicate that it was raced by Ricky Rudd in 1979. It could be the Le Mans car, but there is no way to tell that for sure now. However, what is for sure, is the fact that out of the three cars that Junie sold to the Air Force in 1981, this Torino is the sole survivor!

Comments

[pantera Gr4]

..Hello everybody...it's a.very good project....i hope you will be at The Le Mans classic 2008...with a new Truxmore Torino...good luck to you....

[Dick Pierson]

If we (the Olympia Charger Team) have anything to say about it, we will be there. Picture in your mind the Olympia Charger and Truxmore Torino side by side at 180 MPH (300 KMH) on the Mulsane. What a site that will be for the race fans. Not to mention the sound of those two big NASCAR cars together !!

[Eliteman76]

Nice to see an old warhorse up and running soon, especially when it's a 70's Torino!
If you guys have detailed pics, please post more.
Thanks!

[Dennis Garrett]

I had been known to asked stupid questions.
# 1. What is the blue piece of metal with # 25B on it, in the above photo?
# 2. Was it part of the Ford Torino race car or some other race car?

The 17th Annual International Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on April 26, 2007, marks the 17th class of the greatest achievers in motorsports history inducted into this most prestigious Hall of Fame.
Two Virginians: #90 race car owner Junie Donlavey and #11 modified race driver, known as "Mr. Modified" Ray Hendrick will inducted in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Longtime car owner Junie Donlavey gave many of NASCAR’s biggest stars their starts. Bill Dennis, Jody Ridley and Ken Schrader all won Rookie of the Year honors in Donlavey’s No. 90 Fords. His biggest win as a car owner was Ridley’s 1981 Dover victory. In all, an incredible total of 60 different drivers drove in NASCAR Series races for Donlavey.
31 years later, Junie Donlavey would still talked about how friendly the French people treated him and his # 90 Truxmore Ford Torino race team with drivers:Dick Brooks and Dick Hutcherson,during his 1976 24hrs. LeMans race trip in France.

Driver Ray Hendrick posted more than 700 victories on the modified and late model sportsman circuits, a record that earned him the distinction of being one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers. Ray Hendrick passed away in 1990.
The International Motorsports Hall of Fame was founded in 1982 by William France Sr., the founder of NASCAR, and is currently located in Talladega, Alabama USA adjacent to Talladega Superspeedway.
Sincerely yours,
Dennis Garrett
Richmond, Va. 23225 USA

[Christoph]

Hello Dennis,

the door sheetmetal with the 25B race number on it is not part of the Torino. Steve should post here what it is and where it came from.

It is great to know that Junie will be inducted in the Hall of Fame during his lifetime. He sure deserves it.

[steve]

its off Jerry Nadeau's hendrick motorsports #25 test sheetmetal for the daytona 500 from 2001?.

[Günter]

Yesterday I have seen the movie "Speed fever" http://www.ofdb.de/view.php?page=film&fid=26402
There are also some old Nascar scenes. You can see in superslowmotion the Trxmore Torino in the pits fueled and serviced by the crew.
Good luck for your project.
Günter aka jackie
http://v8garage.blogspot.com/

[Christophe]

Hello Günter,

thanks for the information. I'll check on that movie :-)