Testers had some bother matching these numbers. The Shelby GT500 was hampered by a 3950-pound curb weight, some 600 pounds heavier than a two-seat Chevrolet Corvette coupe, for instance. Significantly, where the Mustang GT put fifty three p.c of its weight on the front axle, the Shelby GT positioned 57 % of its weight there. Blame the iron block V-8, supercharger, and water-to-air intercooler.

Roos, a affected person, decided, resourceful man, disassembled the car. Each bolt, every bracket was analyzed. Surplus materials was minimize away wherever attainable. Studs, screws, even cotter pins were shortened. The sizes of clamps, nuts, and washers were lowered. The heavy carbon steel body was replaced by one made of lighter alloy.

The Restricted marked the end of an era at Buick. Harley Earl, GM’s styling director for greater than 30 years, Hydraulic Control Valve retired that yr. So did corporate president Harlow Curtice, followed shortly thereafter by Buick chief Ed Ragsdale. A new group, with a new outlook, would be chargeable for guiding Normal Motors’ oldest division successfully into the Sixties.

Holden was locked into this body fashion for the next three years, during which time not only was the recent-confronted Falcon launched as competition but also the daringly completely different and vastly extra powerful Valiant from Chrysler. (Even the Mark II Zephyr, introduced in 1956, was thought of to be extra fashionable in look than the Holden.)