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If we were to say the name “Robert Glenn Johnson Jr” not many people, besides hardcore NASCAR fans, would know who we are talking about. However, mention the name Junior Johnson and “Mystery Motor” and nearly every NASCAR fan knows what we’re talking about. If you haven’t figured it out, Robert Glen Johnson Jr and Junior Johnson are the same person.
The Mystery Motor refers to Junior Johnson’s most famous car, which was a 1963 Chevy Impala SS with an extremely rare Mk II engine. This engine was a very limited production model that was wedged between the Mk I 438/409 engine and Mk IV 427 engine. This engine only saw roughly 50 total units produced, though some claim there were only 18 ever produced, making it one of the rarest GM engines ever built.
Shortly after these engines went out to various Chevrolet drivers, Chevy pulled the plug on its race sponsorship and the owners of the cars were stuck with modifying and fitting the engines themselves. Junior Johnson’s Mk II 427 wound up being the most powerful built at the time and resulted in a total of seven wins, nine pole positions, 13 top-5 finishes, and 14 top-10 finishes in just 33 races in the 1963 season. Its overall power and rarity earned it the name “Mystery Motor.”
More @ Top Speed
Really neat. I had no idea you had seen the car and had the photo of Jr. Johnson with Dixie when I sent the article. Lots of cool cars in the linked post.
ReplyDeleteTerry
Fla.
:) Yes and that was in 2011. Everything was complete except the pavement of the track and then the man who was going to foot the bill died and his children refused to pay. A real shame and I've never understood that with it being so close to complettion, why there wasn't found a way to borrow the money. Too bad.
DeleteAlmost as good as the 66 Chevelle SS Smokey took to Daytona years ago , Bill Gazaway and NASCAR inspectors refused to pass it because " something just didn't look right " .
ReplyDelete" something just didn't look right " .
DeleteSounds like the rationale Obama would use. :)
Back when stock cars were stock, much moreso than today.
ReplyDeleteDan
Yes, Funny Cars are really funny today. :)
DeleteTerry, thanks for posting that and Brock thanks for adding your photos. Being something of a NASCAR purist I do need to point out a typo in the article. It says 438/409 MKI
ReplyDeleteThat should read 348/409. I'm sure most know that but it might be confusing to someone.
CH
I thought of the 348, but got off on another tangent and didn't check it further. My roommate in military school had one and it ran well.
DeleteA short story:
ReplyDeleteWhile working for an outfitter in Wyoming, we had a group from Hickory, NC, for a week pack in/fly fishing trip. They had with them, some "shine", that they claimed was Junior Johnson "shine". All claimed that it was premium hootch, but I cannot attest to that fact 'cause I had quit drinking several years before.
Seems that ol' Junior, kept with his old ways.
Bob
III
Seems that ol' Junior, kept with his old ways.
Delete:) He was sharp as a tack when we met him, although at first he didn't seem so, then a man came up and mentioned to Junior that he had suggested something that worked quite well for him years back and wanted to thank him very much. Junior remembered it explicitly and went into great detail.