So on the other thread (the “cheated-up” thread), it was mentioned on how lax the body rules had gotten with the SLM’s over the years before the advent of the ABC type body (or whatever it is/was called). I was thinking about how the (Super) Late Model body had evolved into today’s racer from the early to mid '70s, and how there’s not really much variety. What I see today is, basically a 2000-2006 style Monte Carlo type body, but it may have Ford Fusion, Dodge Charger, or, heaven forbid, Toyota headlight and taillight decals on it.
Now, years ago, I can remember that most tracks had rules that the motor had to match the body manufacturer, which meant if you ran a Ford body, you had a Ford motor in it; ran a Dodge, a Dodge engine, so on and so forth. I bet you’ll be hard-pressed to find either one today in a short track Late Model car, let alone a Toyota V8 in a Camry-bodied Late Model.
The other thing is…looking at just the body styles…all I had to do was go and look at the cars we ran over the years to see where we’ve gotten to at this point, just with the bodies.
So…here we go!
1973 - Golden Gate Speedway, Tampa: Freddy Fryar, Bobby Brack, and Randy Tissot in pretty much stock-bodied Chevy Chevelles (Brack and Tissot in 1965-bodied cars, Fryar is in a '69). I bet at least one of these cars has a big block in it, too. Steel and chromed bumpers, grille, and headlight bezels still on the stock front end. No spoilers.
1977 - Golden Gate Speedway, Tampa: Dave Scarborough in our car. '73 Camaro, all steel body (except for nosepiece). (Photo courtesy of Dave Westerman’s site, Florida Stock Car History). Front and rear fenders radiused quite a bit, but still a pretty much stock-bodied car. Still recognizable as a Camaro, and still has a stock front bumper on it (although it’s been drilled for weight).
1978 - Hialeah Speedway, Hialeah: Don Denney in our car, this time with a little more rake to the body. A little more plastic involved, with the nosepiece and the rear spoiler. Front fenders are bubbled up a little bit, most of the body stays the same. Got more of a lower front spoiler on it this time. (Photo courtesy of Bruce Griffin’s site, Florida Stock Car Memories)
1979 - DeSoto Memorial Speedway, Bradenton: Jimmy Cope’s very first Late Model ride, was in our car this year. Since Tampa had closed, we went to Bradenton on Friday nights and St. Pete on Saturdays. This is/was the same car as above, still pretty much stock-bodied.
1980 - DeSoto Memorial Speedway, Bradenton: This time, it’s Billy Gill in our car (Bobby’s dad). Our first “fabricated” body, mostly fiberglass from Howe (I believe). Aluminum front fenders. Same chassis as the previous cars, just with our first “built” body on it.
