Third Time's The Charm

Stealth Is as Stealth Does

Story and Photos by Ro McGonegal
Wheelstand Action: Chris Kelly

When you see this Chevelle, think of that evil jack-in-the-box snapping out of its hidey hole, razor teeth sparkling as it rips your head off resultant. Blood spatters.  Meantime, the nasty thing is back in his box before anyone can say boo. Hah! Welcome to Memphis.

For most of its hot rod life, Kevin “Umgowah” Thompson’s ’65 Malibu has been the epitome of stealth. Had the stuff goin’ for it: steel wheels, dog-dish ’caps, and that flesh-colored original GM Sandlewood “paint.” It’s enough to upset a turkey vulture’s stomach. It was quick and powerful but carried “stealth weight” that it did not need. In spite of its heft and traction deficit, the thing cranked off low 9.40s at 145 “on the edge the whole way,” opines KT. As such, the ’Bu had hit the performance nail strip and it would ascend no higher.

As its old self, the engine was 580-inch, high-comp Milodon Rat clone. Race gas was mandatory. For better or worse, the Hot Rod Pump Gas Drags changed all that. KT’s entry was accepted for the second event. He had a few months to make a drastic conversion centered on a new motor combo and the shameless shedding of ugly fat. Naturally, this all went against KT’s credo: Keep it as stock-looking as possible, and never ever cut the car. To fit anything larger than a 9.00x29 slick (the biggest tire that would fit in the factory wheelhouse) he’d have to crumple up his credo and mini-tub the Malibu.

Traumatized by the thought of the impending chainsaw massacre, KT looked north to Atoka, fetching body/tech experts Todd McCutchen and Benny Smith (collectively aka The Machine). The Machine did the cutting and the fitting while KT sourced a fabbed 4130 9-inch housing, narrowed it 4 inches per side, and gave it a back brace. Todd and Benny were there three nights a week for a month running the Sawzall, measuring, and making templates for the new flooring and sheetmetal.