The Malibu and Laguna did share a lot of the same characteristics so they are easily mistaken for one another. The first one that came to mind when I saw Allison as the driver was the Laguna, but when Dave mentioned the Malibu I started to second guess my recollection.

'This Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna #12 NASCAR racecar was built and raced by Bobby Allison.'

1973 Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna NASCAR Images, Information and History | Conceptcarz.com

 

Wow Mike the similarity is definately Uncanny!
Maybe Im wrong...and your right?
There both from 1973. (your pic and duanes)

 

Um.... you know.... that Earnhardt/Allison shot was from 1986.... Gordon didn't start driving until the last race of '92..... there is no rainbow warrior in that shot... not driven by Jeff Gordon anyway....

 

I was thinking that's a Tide machine that we see in the background, but that isn't until '87...

 

Not that it matters but isn't a Laguna just a Chevelle and isnt a Chevelle just a Malibu...with different options. I always thought a Laguna was pretty sharp.
Today's shot was a nice one Duane, Can't get enough of that one guy!

 

Picture might be from 87. i thought 87. has the filler plate on the headlight to make them more aerodynamic. could have just been superspeedways though

 

Maybe..Is bill elliot in the Melling sponsored T-Bird...
For asec I even thought tim ricmond in his ol milwaukee sponsored ride...Hmmmm But the nose color is to bright for that....


Your right Jerry..laguna,malibu is 1 in the same...
Just the factory gave them different option to seperate the 2..Is my best guess....

Malibu standard options
Laguna all the bells and whistle options? also came with a Landau top.

 

Hmm... it said Melling on it, but was primarily sponsored by Coors...





I hope the Melling oil pump wasn't at fault, I have one ready to put on my 360 when I start building teh engine next weekend....

 

Strange that I immediately thought melling pumps...Hence the possible failure in the pic (as u said)

Maybe I mentally passed on the coors sponsor...(Since I dont drink lightly watered down beer! )

Martinsville always was a tough track for motors...even today...its still an issue!

Lets just hope the one your purchased doesnt fail you Duane!
Good Luck on your build!

 

The top end has almost always been where the failrues in teh engine are. The bottom end has always been pretty stout. In the 90's, there was this big secret race to build the best valve spring. Hendrick even hired a company that, at one point, exclusively built the valve train for Hendrick engines. That was part of why Jeff Gordon won 13 races in 1998. The next year, Roush figured out the same trick adn a little more and won a stack of races between his cars and ended up getting the Yates car of Dale Jarrett to win the championship.




Anywho, Classic NASCAR Photo of the Day: Lets get back to the dirty roots of NASCAR!!!



I'll just let you guys look at the cars and figure out what year it is. It's Asheville-Weaverville speedway.