The allure of 1950s and 1960s car designs is undeniable. When you combine it with a roaring big-block engine, the result is a phenomenal combination. Brandon Beach embarked on an exhilarating journey behind the wheel of a 1958 Chevy Bel Air known as “Daddy’s Thing.” As the mighty cubic-inch Chevy engine unleashed its full horsepower, the car’s front end soared towards the sky.
Originally built and raced by Frank Marshal during the 1960s and ’70s at Oswego Dragstrip and Lake Geneva Raceway, Daddy’s Thing changed hands a few times before finding its way to Ted Beach. Ted painstakingly restored the Chevrolet, intending to race it. In 2013, Brandon, Ted’s son, eagerly took over the reins and achieved impressive speeds, clocking in at a quick 9.93 seconds at 135 mph.
Propelling the Bel Air is a massive 540 cubic-inch big-block Chevy engine, still equipped with the original tunnel ram intake from Marshal’s era, complemented by a pair of 750cfm Holley carburetors. This formidable power plant is mated to a TH400 transmission, efficiently channeling power to a set of Mickey Thompson slicks. Daddy’s Thing is no lightweight contender, tipping the scales at a substantial 3,705 pounds with Brandon securely strapped into the driver’s seat.
During a thrilling run captured on camera by victoryredcolorado, Brandon faced a challenging moment as Daddy’s Thing initiated a massive wheelstand, causing the wheelie bars to twist and the car to approach the wall at an alarming speed. Brandon had to make a split-second decision and opted to lift, resulting in the heavy Chevy crashing forcefully back onto the surface of Route 66 Raceway. Fortunately, the damage was limited to one of the control arms, an issue easily fixable for Brandon.