Author Topic: Puzzle #1801 - Barns and Larsen Chrysler Hemi/Firepower Sorrell Dry Lakes Car (Read 1066 times)

Otto Puzzell · « **on:** December 05, 2010, 04:24:34 AM »

Please, respond below and share your knowledge of what this vehicle is, who built it, and its source of motive power.

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Also, please be sure to check out our other puzzles, and, please post a puzzle of your own if you'd like - the more, the merrier.

Thanks!

Otto Puzzell · « **Reply #1 on:** December 12, 2010, 03:29:21 AM »

Time for an Expert opinion.

Hubert · « **Reply #2 on:** December 14, 2010, 07:45:45 AM »

From Eastern Europe ?

Ecnelis · « **Reply #3 on:** December 14, 2010, 09:32:20 AM »

Abarth-ish?

Otto Puzzell · « **Reply #4 on:** December 17, 2010, 09:31:02 AM »

Quote from: Hubert on December 14, 2010, 07:45:45 AM

From Eastern Europe ?

No

Otto Puzzell · « **Reply #5 on:** December 17, 2010, 09:34:01 AM »

Quote from: Ecnelis on December 14, 2010, 09:32:20 AM

Abarth-ish?

Other than a visual resemblance, no connection I'm aware of.

woodinsight · « **Reply #6 on:** December 18, 2010, 03:02:48 PM »

American?

Otto Puzzell · « **Reply #7 on:** December 19, 2010, 03:48:37 AM »

woodinsight · « **Reply #8 on:** December 19, 2010, 06:06:17 AM »

For use at Bonneville?

Otto Puzzell · « **Reply #9 on:** December 19, 2010, 06:24:32 AM »

barrett · « **Reply #10 on:** December 19, 2010, 01:07:08 PM »

Is this Denny Larsen's Sorrell?

Otto Puzzell · « **Reply #11 on:** December 19, 2010, 01:25:02 PM »

Quote from: barrett on December 19, 2010, 01:07:08 PM

Is this Denny Larsen's Sorrell?

Larsen is involved - locked for you to flesh it out

barrett · « **Reply #12 on:** December 19, 2010, 01:36:51 PM »

Wait - is it not the Sorrell then? In that case I'm not sure I have any idea...

Otto Puzzell · « **Reply #13 on:** December 19, 2010, 02:00:31 PM »

My reference is a very old magazine article, dating to the time this car was current

barrett · « **Reply #14 on:** December 19, 2010, 02:05:22 PM »

"Denny Larsen built a red, white and blue SR-100 with a gull-wing hard top for the 1954 Bonneville Speed Week. This car was featured on the cover of Rod & Custom May 1955 and went an astounding 174 MPH on the salt"

Otto Puzzell · « **Reply #15 on:** December 20, 2010, 03:13:44 PM »

That's close enough for me. I had another name (in conjunction with Larsen).

Still need the rest of what the posted puzzle asks for...

barrett · « **Reply #16 on:** December 20, 2010, 03:54:31 PM »

Well I'm afraid the sum total of information on the web I is what I have quoted above, and my one printed reference doesn't make any mention of the powertrain either, so I'm afraid I'll have to hand this one over

Otto Puzzell · « **Reply #17 on:** December 20, 2010, 04:00:48 PM »

Fret not. It's mentioned in a couple of different sources.

I'll give you a 48 hour exclusive.

Otto Puzzell · « **Reply #18 on:** December 25, 2010, 04:06:50 AM »

Open to all.

woodinsight · « **Reply #19 on:** December 25, 2010, 02:43:02 PM »

All I can add is the following quote from one of the books in my library -

'The Sorrell SR-100 was a slick aerodynamic skin and therefore popular with both road racing and dry lakes racers. Denny Larsen set a D-Modified record of 178.068 mph in a Chrysler-powered Sorrell SR-100 with a custom-fabbed bubble top. Sorrell so liked the bubble top that he added an optional teardrop-shaped hardtop to his production line.'

I think the point should go to Barrett as he correctly identified the car and all I have done is to add what engine it used.

Anyway, Merry Christmas to you Otto and Barrett and I look forward to more of your interesting puzzles in the near future.

metalshapes · « **Reply #20 on:** December 25, 2010, 04:53:43 PM »

From a book I have.

" Denny Larsen's Streetliner featured a modified fiberglass Sorrell body, tubular spaceframe, and a Ray Brown built, injected Chrysler; it turned better than 183mph on gasoline in 1954.
The car earned its nickname by being driven the ten miles back and forth between the salt and Wendover."

The pic shows that goes with that text shows the car without its nose, so the early injected Hemi, with a tall magneto sticking out over the block is visible.

metalshapes · « **Reply #21 on:** December 25, 2010, 05:19:43 PM »

An other interesting thing in the pic in the puzzle is that its using Divco Milk Truck Wheels on the rear.

Which is also a nickname, they were not original equipment on Divco's.

They were 18" X 3 5/8" Kelsey Hayes wheels, that were sold for trucks that had to go on unpaved roads and needed more groundclearence.

But because they shared the same boltpattern the early Fords had it was a cheap way to use second hand Firestones that had been used at Indy.

Otto Puzzell · « **Reply #22 on:** December 26, 2010, 07:45:22 AM »

Quote from: woodinsight on December 25, 2010, 02:43:02 PM

All I can add is the following quote from one of the books in my library -

'The Sorrell SR-100 was a slick aerodynamic skin and therefore popular with both road racing and dry lakes racers. Denny Larsen set a D-Modified record of 178.068 mph in a Chrysler-powered Sorrell SR-100 with a custom-fabbed bubble top. Sorrell so liked the bubble top that he added an optional teardrop-shaped hardtop to his production line.'

I think the point should go to Barrett as he correctly identified the car and all I have done is to add what engine it used.

Anyway, Merry Christmas to you Otto and Barrett and I look forward to more of your interesting puzzles in the near future.

That's the ticket. Since the puzzle asked for the engine and the car, the point is rightly yours. Being the kind-hearted soul I am, and with this being the Christmas season, you both get a point.

woodinsight · « **Reply #23 on:** December 26, 2010, 11:40:11 AM »

Thank you!

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Author Topic: Puzzle #1801 - Barns and Larsen Chrysler Hemi/Firepower Sorrell Dry Lakes Car (Read 1066 times)