Pro Stock Evolution

The subject is the 69 BOSS Mustang that I ran from early 69 through 72. These renderings are only a few of hundreds that I studied in preparation for the multitude of changes the car went through. Obviously, attention was paid to both aerodynamics (when allowed) and chassis. These pictures illustrate that changes were not simply a "reaction", but carefully thought out packages with the "total package" in mind.

The drawings have NEVER been shown previously. Enjoy.

- LW

Click on these thumbnails to see a reasonably sized pictures, or select the bigger full version.

Full 1159 x 109 (111 KB)	Stock BOSS 429 Mustang, full roll cage and chassis connections, acid dipped body & windows, staggered front axle centerlines, all our own engine modifications to NASCAR 429 engine.
Full 1542 x 756 (103 KB)	The suspension location points have been raised front and rear providing a lower CG and improved areo package including scoop.
Full 1542 x 756 (103 KB)	The final configuration with all new "pyramid" chassis, much lower CG, sectioned and wedged body portions (there were no templates in those days), aero front and rear package. As far as the rules could be pushed, and then some.
Full 1533 x 856 (113 KB)	This picture based on the BOSS shows that in 1970 I had already begun to "visualize" the chassis concept, which I named the "asymmetric pyramid". This concept will emerge for real in some more photos.
Full 1533 x 856 (113 KB)	This T-Bird drawing was the product of my interpretations of the 1983 T Bird "shape". This early side view will also show up again in what is perhaps the most innovative Pro Stock program of all time.

The Funny Car Concept

The Funny Car Concept drawings depict a chassis that I originally engineered in the fall of 1967. The entire concept was the direct result of the death of my Bride to be. As both school and life were totally rearranged, I decided that my life from that point forward would be devoted to the only (other) thing that interested me - cars.

The notion of a variable (torque sensitive) wheelbase was based on the fact that in 67, funny cars either spun or wheelied and a "perfect" run was simply not possible. By using a torque reactive rear end locator was really the answer. If the car was on a loose part of the track, the wheelbase remained short enough to provide the optimum center of gravity and conversely, if the car was on a sticky portion, the wheelbase and CG would change to just allow front tire contact. Yes, the driveshaft was three pieces and telescopic. With the original Mustang body the larger reports won many engineering awards at Washington University, as the variable wheelbase floored the few automotive type professors.

During the BOSS program, the body and chassis continued to evolve. The narrow chassis was years ahead of anything that had run and when Ford released the Torino lines to me in 69, I immediately took the NHRA body height and width rules and the mini Torino was born. The use of flow through body configuration was used to create less lift and the chassis was updated to handle the BOSS 429 rather than the 427 SOHC. I again was rewarded for the program at SMU and both they and my parents were floored when I left school to do "cars" full time.

With my Pro Stock record at FORD, I had been promised the funding to build 3 prototypes as soon as FORD was able to "dump" Mickey Thompson. Unfortunately, dumping Mickey occurred at the same time that the racing program was killed in the great restructuring of February 1970.

Enjoy the stuff, as other than some professors, these have never been seen until now. They do once again illustrate the fact that the entire package was taken into account prior to construction and very few details were overlooked. When the Torino configuration had been finalized for almost a year, Gene Snow told me that aerodynamics were unimportant!!

- LW

Full 1462 x 722 (103 KB)	Sideview... Click on these thumbnails to see a reasonably sized pictures, or select the bigger full version.
Full 1070 x 831 (76 KB)	Frontal view...
Full 919 x 489 (78 KB)	Airflow over chassis...
Full 1402 x 727 (101 KB)	Side view of the chassis and general layout...
Full 1336 x 856 (119 KB)	Overview from the top of general layout...
Full 1603 x 1208 (199 KB)	Variable wheelbase geometry. This is a geometric drawing of the angles involved.

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	Pro Stock Evolution & The Funny Car Concept