Unfortunately, David's 'Cuda...
Unfortunately, David's 'Cuda suffered a broken driveshaft, which limited his quarter-mile time to 13.70 seconds and prevented him from making any more runs. Once home, a new shaft was installed, getting his car back on the road. We feel sorry for the back tires. . . almost!
Pretty in Pink
We love it when we meet guys that are really passionate about their cars, and David Barelle is just that kind of guy. Having owned this 71 'Cuda since it was almost new, he has grown quite fond of it, even naming it "Laura." We can't say that we blame him for liking his car so much since it has outlasted a couple of wives! Enjoying these cars is what the hobby is all about, and no one enjoys his car more than David. When we asked what he uses his car for, his reply was the following: "Burning the tires, driving my kids around, more tire burning, showing off, racing, burning tires, show it (burning tires), burning the tires, then racing it more, and then more tire burning. Is that not what one does? Did I mention I burn the tires?" We get the idea that David enjoys beating on his cars as they were intended to be beat on. Giving his 'Cuda the ability to "burn the tires" is a 440 Six Pack engine with 906 heads and a .545 lift Crane hydraulic flat-tappet cam. The transmission is a rebuilt TorqueFlite with a TCI 3,500-rpm converter. Headers and Flowmaster exhaust help dispose of spent gasses, and a 4.10 Sure Grip helps transfer the torque to the pavement. We commend David on his willingness to drive his car regularly, and he definitely won points with us for letting us drive the car during the road test portion of the challenge-this is one nice ride! Unfortunately for Dave, a broken driveshaft was the price he paid for beating on his car. This incident netted him a 13.70 on the track, which is a number he certainly could have improved on had he been able to make more passes. Nonetheless, David and "Laura" tied for a sixth place finish in the True Street Challenge.
 David Barelle is definitely...  David Barelle is definitely into pink as indicated by the decal on his windshield. He has owned this car almost since new, and longer than he can remember (we know the feeling). The restoration took five years, but the results were well worth it. |  Though a clone, this '71 'Cuda...  Though a clone, this '71 'Cuda has the look, feel, and power of an original Six Pack car. Plus, it's a blast to drive without the worries of someone hitting it and destroying an original rare car. The engine bay is as clean and detailed as the rest of the car. |  Did we mention that David...  Did we mention that David has a thing for pink? If the FM-3 paint scheme doesn't attract your attention, maybe the giant stuffed Pink Panther will. The interior of this 'Cuda was restored by David in black vinyl with a little help from Legendary Interiors. |
David performed much of the restoration work himself including the interior. Legendary seat covers and carpet were installed, and the factory gauges were refurbished and brought back to working order. The black interior is a striking contrast to the pink exterior and really makes the car stand out. Since he drives this car regularly, a Sony sound system was installed to provide entertainment. If not for a broken driveshaft, we're certain David's 'Cuda would have placed higher than sixth in our challenge.