Dude, your content is always top notch. I thought i knew all there was too know about the Piranha. Boy was I wrong. I was one of the roughly million 12 year olds that had this model displayed over my bed.
Back about 67, we had the CRV 4 (or 5?) at our family house for a day or two. It was the yellow one seen crashed in the video. When we had earlier, it was gold. My dad was a manager at a central Illinois plastics company, and a Marbon salesman lent the car to my Dad for a couple days. I have several old slides of us kids posing with it in our front yard. In our little village, it was like a flying saucer landed.
I saw the Piranha run at Englishtown in 67. He match raced against Don Gay's blown 67 GTO. The first run Gay got out first,but by 200' the Piranha blew by. The next run Gay had to run his spare trans because it blew at the finish line. Same results, trans too. He sent his crew to the local Pontiac dealer to pull a stock trans out of a new car. Came back, installed it, had the Yankee Peddler do the burnout for him in his lane knowing it probably wouldn't last for a full run without the burnout. Same result,trans and all,except that as he blew by Walt stuck his arm up and waved bye bye! Two great showmen, Great show!
I don’t either. Hopefully the recent announcement and those hosts moving to RUclips will help this channel. DF is gaining subscribers decently so maybe a few collaboration projects will help.
I had the AMT model of this car as a kid! It came with a clear body, and I got the bright idea of spraying the inside of the body so that the super slick glossy finish would highlight the color on the outside.....it worked perfectly! Took it to the local fall fair and won a Blue Ribbon in the models category......it was a great looking model.
I grew up loving this stuf... in the 2000s! Parents had all this good dragster litature from the 60s and 70s, hot wheels, and real sports cars (like 1 1969 datsun fairlady) and TO THIS DAY I am sick with this... Thanks for the great vid, thanks mom n dad too for getting me into what was as its the very backbone of what is today and my peers just cant seem to grasp that :D
@aileenmorgan8276 Me too! When I was six (1963), my uncle gave me a 1/32nd scale hot rod kit, molded in red styrene plastic. I can still remember all the Testor's glue thumbprints on that first build. Spent many hours in a basement under a bare light bulb building dozens if not hundreds of model kits after that. My favorites were the "3 in 1" AMT kits (stock, custom, or competition), but I built kits from MPC, Monogram, Jo-Han, Aurora, Revell and Lindberg too.
Great story & photos ~ In that era I was a SoCal 10 year-old Mad Modeler Contest-entering kid with many many AMT, Revell, MPC and even OG Monogram kits like Black Widow --we're talkin' 1950s-era kits still on the Hobby Shelf. and others leftover from years before under my belt. My lifetime Gearhead Dad worked in Long Beach and as he - and I of course were Bachelors at the time, I regularly pestered and begged to go to Lion's on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. The Piranha was 'Super Boss' as us kids called everything then - I had the AMT kit and saw the car run then along with all the other Crazy, Innovative and Dazzlingly Beyond Cool Drag Heroes of the day. Just to say you're easily the most articulate, knowledgeable and great content ! -providing guys on the subject - I was there, I got an education and I know. Thanks for this great Piranha segment - Super Boss ! Cheers from a Classic 60s SoCal Kid
I believe i saw this run at Irwindale. I only lived about 4 miles from the track and spent a lot of Saturdays and sundays at the track. And later raced there in my black 64 cyclone.thanks again for the complete story.
I visited the Don Garlits museum earlier this year with my brother and took a couple of pictures of this car. Thanks for the video. I only wish I could have seen it run.
Brian - you have excelled yourself with this video! As a teenager in Newcastle in the North East of England I devoured Hot Rod and Popular Hot Rodding and remembered this car. What I didn't know that it was based on production road cars. The use of a plastic body on a fiberglass chassis reminds me of the Lotus Elite which was the first ever car to use fiberglass monocoque body. I'd love to see the Piranha resurrected with a Subaru WRX engine as it would be a stunner! Thanks again Brian and I look forward to seeing your next video - you make an old man very happy!
I know next to nothing about engines and so many other examples of what I consider engineering magic. The fact that I can enjoy your videos so much has to be a testament to your skills in bringing the technical, human and visceral beauty of these mechanical marvels to life. Thank you for the side-hustle you provide for my ADHD brain. Off to watch the tractor video, now!
More awesome content Brian! Thanks for sharing this history lesson. Can’t believe how many model cars they sold. Although as a youngster, I bought my fair share of them. Super cool 😎 and I’ve seen it at Big Daddy’s museum JT: Florida Dragstrip Riot
Wow- what a story, and from someone with such a nack for storytelling as well. Thanks Brain, the car community owes you a massive thanks for all you have done and currently do for the industry. Thanks for helping to keep the history alive so we can pass it on ourselves
I constantly leave these videos thinking how have i never heard of this. I don't sub to a lot of channels, less than 10 at the moment, but this one was a no brainer.
Great history. You filled in all the blanks, Brian. And a beautiful car. Lines are timeless. First book report I ever did back in elementary school in the 60's was King Of The Dragsters. I've always been a fan of Don Garlits.
Thank you for another interesting video, you really dug in on that one. Walt told me it was such a fun car to drive, zero problems. Always look forward to seeing what you've cooked up for us, thanks!
I have 5 blue Corgi 1005 and Husky Jr. Piranha die cast "Man From Uncle" cars that shoot a missile when you push down on the front suspension. Doing this pops the hood open and fires the pre-loaded missile.
Marmon, not to be confused with Zeppo Marx's Marman Products Company that is responsible for the v-band clamp. Yep, ol' Zeppo was a designer & engineer that we still thank today for the v-band clamp. Aside from being ubiquitous in the race car segment, the v-band clamp was also used to anchor the A-bombs in Enola Gay & Bockscar. Always Enjoy the historical content, Brian. Thank you.
Amazing I'm also very sorry motortrend had to disband the knowledge brain. But I'm really glad you all came here. Brian we need some merch from you to help you out. Classic inspired drag shirts maybe. A very nice mug. Just know america will miss the decade and half of turning on DSC and hearing your sound on the tube with racing. Please keep going. Your an Icon.
I have the AMT model kit of both the street Piranha and the funny car! Haven't put it together yet, but when I wanted to get into model kits I saw that one and bought it immediately without any context for what those cars were, because come on, they're just awesome-looking. Discovering the road car was Corvair-based made it even better, as Corvairs fascinate me in general! This video was exactly what I needed to properly appreciate what I've got, and probably motivate me to actually finish it lol.
OMG What great story after literally watching the story of Allis Charmers tractors today. I grew up 15 minutes from the AC plant in WestAllis Wisconsin and both of my Grandfathers worked for them. Gosh who knew that the story went into tractor racing. Thanks so much Brian for telling that story if it has an engine and makes load noises I love it. And I’m not alone
Truly great one here very well done sir! Building both real& model cars most my life this was truly a really special story I enjoyed very much thanks man! Salute!!!!!
Good one Brian! I had the model as soon as it hit the shelves! Pain in the butt to build but it was worth it. It'd be nice to find another in mint condition. (big bucks)! great story Buddy.👍
What the heck did we do to deserve two days of brians history extravaganza in one week?! Keep it rockin brian! And thanks again, I spoke with ecta this morning about approval to take on that tractor record!
Another GREAT installment! You are the KING of great topics Brian...and have to say, above all, its SO NICE to listen to your great videos because you narrate them yourself. Please never switch to AI voiceovers...! Keep up the great work! Thanks for all you do! USA-1
@@brianlohnes3079 I'm sure I'm not the first to say that you have a natural "announcers" voice. You could be on the radio, or better yet come up to New England dragway and call out the drags...!
@ I worked there for 15 years before I ran off and joined the circus to announce national events for IHRA/NHRA/ and virtually every other big one you can think of. It’s my favorite place in the world. I used to sleep in the tower.
@@brianlohnes3079 Sounds like you beat me to it. Great story! You definitely found your calling. Wish I knew you were in the tower, I'd have stopped in to say hi. I had no idea you were the voice of NHRA / IHRA...but I'll be listening for your voice from now on. Keep up the great work from a "fan" in New Hampshire USA
I built the 1/25th scale AMT model kit circa 1968. The kit had a clear plastic body to show off the early Hemi and the tube frame. "AMT presents Excitement in a box! Piranha" proclaimed the packaging. Minor detail: The street version was driven by Stefanie Powers in "The Girl from U.N.C.L E," a spinoff of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E."
@@brianlohnes3079in the TV series, The Man from UNCLE, we got to see the James Bond style gadgets in the car. In one chase involving the Piranha, it's being chased by several rocket firing gyrocopters. In other scenes we see the cars gadgets like a hidden radar screen in the dash and rocket launchers hidden in the rear of the car. AMT made a special UNCLE version of the model kit. It included a diagram showing the car's gadgets. It included rocket launchers in the gullwing doors. You could see the holes in the door for the rockets in the real car when the doors were opened. But they never used that feature in the TV series. There's a RUclips video about someone who tracked down and restored the TV car.
@richardb6260 Yes, sorry that I wasn't clear. I didn't say the Piranha wasn't used in "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.." I was pointing out that Stefanie Powers, later of "Hart to Hart," drove the thing, and that's who was depicted in the still photo in Brian's video.
Brian, you absolutely have to do a video on the late great Max Bulchowski and his legendary road racing car Old Yeller II, the home built car Max and his wife Ina built from scratch in their shop Hollywood Motors that sent every Ferrari, Alfa Ramero, Jaguar, and even the Maserati Birdcage, what was supposed to be the most advanced race car in the world at that time, packing back across the Atlantic to Europe with their tales between their legs, he beat them ALL. And the list of famous race car drivers that Max allowed to run it on weekends when they didn't have a ride is a who's who list of America's greatest drivers of the 60's, none other than Caroll Shelby, Phil Hill and other big names in 60's drove it with Hill once telling someone years later that it was probably the finest race car he ever drove. Max was also Hollywood's go to guy for modifying cars for movies including Herbie The Love Bug and the Mustang's and Charger's used in Bullitt along with many others, he also did some of the driving in Bullitt. Max and Ina's story is truly inspirational and one that makes everyone who hears it proud to be an American.
68 lb chassis. That unto itself is incredible. Running 8's with 343's. 7500 rpm-ish, at the stripe. No wings or winglets per say, just body swoop. If they would have enclosed the front wheel wells, , 200mph easy. Foose and Winfield, using what they have.
My dad was an avid model kit builder and I recall him building at least the funny car, but maybe others. He read the mags of the day and would have been just as knowledgeable and reverent as this narrator.
I knew Joe Anahory, fantastic guy. Very old freind of my dads along with Spider Razon, another of the OG Dead End kids. Unfortunately he's no longer with us, but Spider is, my buddy and I spent a few hours with him this past summer reminiscing
Wow! Dude you must really enjoy this to be putting in this much work. I’m no where near an expert on these cars but thought I at least some amount of knowledge about them. Impressive work! Thanks for bringing our history to light the way you do!
Brian, thanks for doing this video. There was more to this story than I thought. This is great stuff. I've added this video link to my video. Thanks for the hard work you do on all these videos. This made my day.
I use to go to Connie Swingle and Marie's house , and we talked about this car . Really sorry now that I didn't get anywhere near all the stories from Connie .
Note to youngsters: get the old timers talking! I learned a lot from my grandfather & his car club buddies who restored 1920s & 30s cars that I didn’t know was relevant until a couple decades later
Hey man, cool car thanks for this. Also, anytime the engine is mounted behind the driver before the rear wheels it’s called a mid engine car, anytime the engine is behind the rear wheels, it’s a rear engine car.
You Sir, make only amazing quality videos. I truly appreciate that too, as I really do love it when I see another one show up on my feed. Nothing your not aware of, I'm sure, just saying.
How the heck do you not have 100k+ subscribers by now, long time fan/subscriber of the channel. Please continue the awesome work you're doing!!! Thank you!!!🏁
This makes me think about what I consider the final years of true funny car innovation the 80’s . The minds of people like Tim Grose , Jim Head , Bernstein/Armstrong ,etc … I say Tim Grose because he always was trying a new trick of the week
Being a car-crazed kid in the ‘60s with all the racing innovation, slot-car tracks and models to build was an incredible experience and today’s racing world seems incredibly bland by comparison.
I remember the Pirahna well. I was a model building fiend as a kid, had my own wrecking yard in a box from 1 of those 1/12 scale models, a T-Bucket I believe. Those might have been AMT's, too. I kept my wrecking yard stocked by helping the local hobby/toy store do inventory once a year. The 1st yr I helped, I did it for money. The store was adjacent to a family owned variety store & pharmacy. The dad was the phsrmacist, 1 son ran a hifi-tv store added on the back & the other son ran the hobby store in an old shop next door. The front was closed & they knocked a hole thru the wall. They Summers family were friends of my mom, a single parent & they kind of adopted me. The 1st year I helped do inventory in the hobby store, it was a 2 day, doors closed event that was as much a family holiday/party as anything. Mom Summers & their daughter made picnic food & we had a great time. I got talking with the hobby store son & he said there was a huge problem w/ kids stealing parts from model car kits, making them unsaleable except as severe markdowns, which I'd buy when they got to 0.05 or 0.10.l, (gas was
Its been a few months since I've seen the road race car. The story of how it was found is interesting, if my memory is correct a few years ago the owner found somebody with file cabinets full of automotive history including all of the Piranha's. With out giving the owners name he should be easy to find and contact to get more history and find out about another super rare roadrace car he has.
He’s pretty public and it is a great story of finding it under the truck and then taking the paint off and discovering what it was. Seems like a neat guy.
Dude, your content is always top notch. I thought i knew all there was too know about the Piranha. Boy was I wrong. I was one of the roughly million 12 year olds that had this model displayed over my bed.
Glad it had some value for you!!!
@cdjhyoung that's neat !
Lmao, I was 12 and had one
Back about 67, we had the CRV 4 (or 5?) at our family house for a day or two. It was the yellow one seen crashed in the video. When we had earlier, it was gold. My dad was a manager at a central Illinois plastics company, and a Marbon salesman lent the car to my Dad for a couple days. I have several old slides of us kids posing with it in our front yard. In our little village, it was like a flying saucer landed.
That is absolutely amazing!!!!
@@brianlohnes3079 Totally agree. The 60's & the 80's were THE best times of this once incredible nation.
Nobody tells a story so well as you mr lohnes
No one builds a motor like you guys!!
Not even close!!
I saw the Piranha run at Englishtown in 67. He match raced against Don Gay's blown 67 GTO. The first run Gay got out first,but by 200' the Piranha blew by. The next run Gay had to run his spare trans because it blew at the finish line. Same results, trans too. He sent his crew to the local Pontiac dealer to pull a stock trans out of a new car. Came back, installed it, had the Yankee Peddler do the burnout for him in his lane knowing it probably wouldn't last for a full run without the burnout. Same result,trans and all,except that as he blew by Walt stuck his arm up and waved bye bye!
Two great showmen, Great show!
I don't understand how this channel doesn't have more subs. Thanks for doing what you do. Excellent as always.
Hey Josh, more coming in every day. It’s all good!
I don’t either. Hopefully the recent announcement and those hosts moving to RUclips will help this channel. DF is gaining subscribers decently so maybe a few collaboration projects will help.
@@PurpleNovember I just found Mike Cotton too.
I’m doing my part to spread the word! And the podcasts are great for when I’m changing filters & checking components up on a roof
Obscure, informative, but fun niche content.
Thank you Brian. I love these videos made by a real human with a true passion for what they are talking about and no AI making shit up
I’m anti AI for all the reasons. Appreciate you seeing that perspective. Thank you for watching it.
@ FK AI!🤘😎🤘🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺
Yes, a way too many millions being spent on Artificial Intelligence, instead of trying to correct Natural Stupidity!
Absolutely! Real investigation, clear storyline, great interesting teaching.
Humans: 1, AI: 0.
Way to go Brian!
Loved Amt in the sixties!
I had the AMT model of this car as a kid! It came with a clear body, and I got the bright idea of spraying the inside of the body so that the super slick glossy finish would highlight the color on the outside.....it worked perfectly!
Took it to the local fall fair and won a Blue Ribbon in the models category......it was a great looking model.
We did that with clear slot car bodies also at the time.
Thank you Brian. Sam Foose repaired my parent's steel bodied Islero in the early 1970s. Chip was in his shop from time to time, but was knee high.
Amazing!!
I grew up loving this stuf... in the 2000s! Parents had all this good dragster litature from the 60s and 70s, hot wheels, and real sports cars (like 1 1969 datsun fairlady) and TO THIS DAY I am sick with this... Thanks for the great vid, thanks mom n dad too for getting me into what was as its the very backbone of what is today and my peers just cant seem to grasp that :D
Love a story that involves model cars! That is how I got interested in cars
@aileenmorgan8276 Me too! When I was six (1963), my uncle gave me a 1/32nd scale hot rod kit, molded in red styrene plastic. I can still remember all the Testor's glue thumbprints on that first build. Spent many hours in a basement under a bare light bulb building dozens if not hundreds of model kits after that. My favorites were the "3 in 1" AMT kits (stock, custom, or competition), but I built kits from MPC, Monogram, Jo-Han, Aurora, Revell and Lindberg too.
Great story & photos ~ In that era I was a SoCal 10 year-old Mad Modeler Contest-entering kid with many many AMT, Revell, MPC and even OG Monogram kits like Black Widow --we're talkin' 1950s-era kits still on the Hobby Shelf. and others leftover from years before under my belt. My lifetime Gearhead Dad worked in Long Beach and as he - and I of course were Bachelors at the time, I regularly pestered and begged to go to Lion's on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. The Piranha was 'Super Boss' as us kids called everything then - I had the AMT kit and saw the car run then along with all the other Crazy, Innovative and Dazzlingly Beyond Cool Drag Heroes of the day. Just to say you're easily the most articulate, knowledgeable and great content ! -providing guys on the subject - I was there, I got an education and I know. Thanks for this great Piranha segment - Super Boss ! Cheers from a Classic 60s SoCal Kid
Fantastic memories. Thank you so much for sharing them!!!
I believe i saw this run at Irwindale. I only lived about 4 miles from the track and spent a lot of Saturdays and sundays at the track. And later raced there in my black 64 cyclone.thanks again for the complete story.
I visited the Don Garlits museum earlier this year with my brother and took a couple of pictures of this car. Thanks for the video. I only wish I could have seen it run.
As a preteen car nut when "Piranha Mania" happened this really put a smile on my face----------thanks Brian
Hellllllll yeah! Lohnes dropped another bomb ass video!
Trying! Haha
Brian - you have excelled yourself with this video! As a teenager in Newcastle in the North East of England I devoured Hot Rod and Popular Hot Rodding and remembered this car. What I didn't know that it was based on production road cars. The use of a plastic body on a fiberglass chassis reminds me of the Lotus Elite which was the first ever car to use fiberglass monocoque body. I'd love to see the Piranha resurrected with a Subaru WRX engine as it would be a stunner! Thanks again Brian and I look forward to seeing your next video - you make an old man very happy!
My early (shabby) Bugeye is fun with an as-driven weight of 3320: mid-rear engined with a weight of 2400-2600 would be all sorts of WHEEEEE!
Walt Steven's is an awsome guy. He helped me get started in business over 20years ago.His racing stories are legendary. Great video.
I knew Walt Stephens and I can tell you right off this was his favorite car
That’s fantastic!!
Another great video Brian! Thank you! I had the model and also viewed the restored car at Don Garlits' Museum of Drag Racing in 2015! Thanks again!
The car is just so stunning and I love the fact that it actually ran well!
Really enjoyed that, as a modeller and car enthusiast it combines my interests! Thanks, great film
Tune in next time for another binge worthy nugget of automotive history! Well done again thank you😊😊
I know next to nothing about engines and so many other examples of what I consider engineering magic. The fact that I can enjoy your videos so much has to be a testament to your skills in bringing the technical, human and visceral beauty of these mechanical marvels to life. Thank you for the side-hustle you provide for my ADHD brain. Off to watch the tractor video, now!
Wow. This is amazing and humbling. I am really thankful this stuff connects with you and more so that you enjoy it. Thanks again for watching.
Thought it was only a model car !!!😂😂
And now ya know!
Another Banger my friend!!!..Thank you for taking us back to the 60's and their awesome cars..Thanks Brian!!!..-John
More awesome content Brian! Thanks for sharing this history lesson. Can’t believe how many model cars they sold. Although as a youngster, I bought my fair share of them. Super cool 😎 and I’ve seen it at Big Daddy’s museum
JT: Florida Dragstrip Riot
This is the best Automotive/Racing/Plastic/Carbon Fibre history channel by far! Brian, your research and narration is always exceptional.
At the age of 11 I thought that was one of the coolest cars ever! I remember the AMT kit.
At the age of 44 I still think so! Haha
Wow- what a story, and from someone with such a nack for storytelling as well. Thanks Brain, the car community owes you a massive thanks for all you have done and currently do for the industry. Thanks for helping to keep the history alive so we can pass it on ourselves
Thanks a million Rebecca. Appreciate you watching!
Very informative. I remember the piranha car, and now i know the whole story. Just right amount of detail, keeping it interesting.
CHEERS from AUSTRALIA. As always- BEST drag racing (HA - and tractor) history stuff - and bring back many memories
Another great story, Brian. I knew the basics of the real car/AMT story. But your research fleshed it out so well.
Thanks for sharing, my friend !
I constantly leave these videos thinking how have i never heard of this. I don't sub to a lot of channels, less than 10 at the moment, but this one was a no brainer.
Thank you Brian! I try to make it worth people’s time to check this stuff out. If you come away with some new tidbits about stuff, that is a win.
Great history. You filled in all the blanks, Brian. And a beautiful car. Lines are timeless. First book report I ever did back in elementary school in the 60's was King Of The Dragsters. I've always been a fan of Don Garlits.
I am an unabashed Garlits fan. Greatest of all time. Bar none.
I built A LOT of models (mostly cars) and I had that one! The coupe street car reminds me of a Pontiac Fiero....
Thank you for another interesting video, you really dug in on that one.
Walt told me it was such a fun car to drive, zero problems.
Always look forward to seeing what you've cooked up for us, thanks!
I have 5 blue Corgi 1005 and Husky Jr. Piranha die cast "Man From Uncle" cars that shoot a missile when you push down on the front suspension. Doing this pops the hood open and fires the pre-loaded missile.
What an amazing story. Thank you Brian
Appreciate you taking the time to watch!
Amazing team / effort and cool car, never heard of it. Great story and Thanks.
Excellent story Brian. One to remember. Many thanks.
Plastic in Cars and trucks is here to stay......The AMT Piranha in Big Daddy museum.....Thank you Brian.....
Old F-4 pilot Shoe🇺🇸
Marmon, not to be confused with Zeppo Marx's Marman Products Company that is responsible for the v-band clamp. Yep, ol' Zeppo was a designer & engineer that we still thank today for the v-band clamp. Aside from being ubiquitous in the race car segment, the v-band clamp was also used to anchor the A-bombs in Enola Gay & Bockscar. Always Enjoy the historical content, Brian. Thank you.
Sad that Drag Season is done for a bit ! ( but ) Brian has more time for Us !! - Thanx
Thanks for watching this Darren!!
Amazing
I'm also very sorry motortrend had to disband the knowledge brain. But I'm really glad you all came here. Brian we need some merch from you to help you out. Classic inspired drag shirts maybe. A very nice mug. Just know america will miss the decade and half of turning on DSC and hearing your sound on the tube with racing. Please keep going. Your an Icon.
Recently saw this car at Don Garlits museum, and it is absolutely a gorgeous color in person!! Thanks dude!
Great documentary on a very popular drag car of the mid sixties.
I was looking for a movie to watch.
But this is far more exciting.
Thanks for your research.
Man what a time to be alive!! Thanks for the story Brian.
Your killing it as usual. 2 great stories this week alone.
My favorite channel on RUclips. Hopefully you start getting the subscribers you deserve. Thank you for the amazing content.
Hey, they’re coming! Thank you for being here early!
Another excellent delve into the weird and wacky world of sixties drag racing, cheers!
I have the AMT model kit of both the street Piranha and the funny car! Haven't put it together yet, but when I wanted to get into model kits I saw that one and bought it immediately without any context for what those cars were, because come on, they're just awesome-looking. Discovering the road car was Corvair-based made it even better, as Corvairs fascinate me in general! This video was exactly what I needed to properly appreciate what I've got, and probably motivate me to actually finish it lol.
OMG What great story after literally watching the story of Allis Charmers tractors today. I grew up 15 minutes from the AC plant in WestAllis Wisconsin and both of my Grandfathers worked for them. Gosh who knew that the story went into tractor racing. Thanks so much Brian for telling that story if it has an engine and makes load noises I love it. And I’m not alone
Always excited to see a new video from you. Thanks
Truly great one here very well done sir! Building both real& model cars most my life this was truly a really special story I enjoyed very much thanks man! Salute!!!!!
Good one Brian! I had the model as soon as it hit the shelves! Pain in the butt to build but it was worth it. It'd be nice to find another in mint condition. (big bucks)! great story Buddy.👍
What the heck did we do to deserve two days of brians history extravaganza in one week?! Keep it rockin brian! And thanks again, I spoke with ecta this morning about approval to take on that tractor record!
Another GREAT installment! You are the KING of great topics Brian...and have to say, above all, its SO NICE to listen to your great videos because you narrate them yourself. Please never switch to AI voiceovers...! Keep up the great work! Thanks for all you do! USA-1
Thanks a million and the scripting and reading is my favorite part!
@@brianlohnes3079 I'm sure I'm not the first to say that you have a natural "announcers" voice. You could be on the radio, or better yet come up to New England dragway and call out the drags...!
@ I worked there for 15 years before I ran off and joined the circus to announce national events for IHRA/NHRA/ and virtually every other big one you can think of. It’s my favorite place in the world. I used to sleep in the tower.
@@brianlohnes3079 Sounds like you beat me to it. Great story! You definitely found your calling. Wish I knew you were in the tower, I'd have stopped in to say hi. I had no idea you were the voice of NHRA / IHRA...but I'll be listening for your voice from now on. Keep up the great work from a "fan" in New Hampshire USA
@ any time you watch NHRA on tv, it’s me in the booth on FS1 and FOX!
Thanks Brian! I was unaware of this car. Now I want to visit The Museum of Drag Racing again! It’s been about 10 years anyway….
Never a bad time for a visit!
Man I LOVE the research you do!
Thanks!!!
It’s my favorite part of the process, by a lot!
I love your stories both informative and entertaining. Being a gear head and a history nerd it fits perfectly. Keep up the amazing content. Thank you.
The 1960's. It was a great time to be a kid and a car lover. "Freak of the week.'" Funny stuff.
Very interesting ! Well researched and presented as always. Many thanks.
Thank you for taking the time to watch!
great video. never knew about this car. keep it up. the wayne thoms anecdote was hilarious.
The dude put a kid through college on this one car I think. Hahah
@ i’ve seen a few of your videos and i just finished the allis charmers video. I’m subscribing i can’t wait to see more.
I really appreciate your attention to detail, as you did your research. Great job! Enjoy your videos.
I built the 1/25th scale AMT model kit circa 1968. The kit had a clear plastic body to show off the early Hemi and the tube frame. "AMT presents Excitement in a box! Piranha" proclaimed the packaging.
Minor detail: The street version was driven by Stefanie Powers in "The Girl from U.N.C.L E," a spinoff of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E."
Bam! This is great insight and an awesome story on the model!
Also used in The Man from UNCLE. There are a few chases where Napoleon and or Ilya are driving.
@@brianlohnes3079in the TV series, The Man from UNCLE, we got to see the James Bond style gadgets in the car. In one chase involving the Piranha, it's being chased by several rocket firing gyrocopters. In other scenes we see the cars gadgets like a hidden radar screen in the dash and rocket launchers hidden in the rear of the car. AMT made a special UNCLE version of the model kit. It included a diagram showing the car's gadgets. It included rocket launchers in the gullwing doors. You could see the holes in the door for the rockets in the real car when the doors were opened. But they never used that feature in the TV series. There's a RUclips video about someone who tracked down and restored the TV car.
@richardb6260 Yes, sorry that I wasn't clear. I didn't say the Piranha wasn't used in "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.." I was pointing out that Stefanie Powers, later of "Hart to Hart," drove the thing, and that's who was depicted in the still photo in Brian's video.
Brian, you absolutely have to do a video on the late great Max Bulchowski and his legendary road racing car Old Yeller II, the home built car Max and his wife Ina built from scratch in their shop Hollywood Motors that sent every Ferrari, Alfa Ramero, Jaguar, and even the Maserati Birdcage, what was supposed to be the most advanced race car in the world at that time, packing back across the Atlantic to Europe with their tales between their legs, he beat them ALL.
And the list of famous race car drivers that Max allowed to run it on weekends when they didn't have a ride is a who's who list of America's greatest drivers of the 60's, none other than Caroll Shelby, Phil Hill and other big names in 60's drove it with Hill once telling someone years later that it was probably the finest race car he ever drove.
Max was also Hollywood's go to guy for modifying cars for movies including Herbie The Love Bug and the Mustang's and Charger's used in Bullitt along with many others, he also did some of the driving in Bullitt.
Max and Ina's story is truly inspirational and one that makes everyone who hears it proud to be an American.
It’s an all timer and Max has been on my list. The Yates book about him is amazing.
Interesting automotive history, never heard of this before now.
Awesome vid, Brian! I built the model when I was a kid.
I love these kinds of stories! I've never heard of that one! Would have been fun to see race!
Agree, would have loved to have see Walt piloting this thing basically in the open
68 lb chassis. That unto itself is incredible. Running 8's with 343's. 7500 rpm-ish, at the stripe. No wings or winglets per say, just body swoop. If they would have enclosed the front wheel wells, , 200mph easy.
Foose and Winfield, using what they have.
My dad was an avid model kit builder and I recall him building at least the funny car, but maybe others. He read the mags of the day and would have been just as knowledgeable and reverent as this narrator.
I knew Joe Anahory, fantastic guy. Very old freind of my dads along with Spider Razon, another of the OG Dead End kids. Unfortunately he's no longer with us, but Spider is, my buddy and I spent a few hours with him this past summer reminiscing
Wow what an excellent excellent video and history lesson 😮😮😮
Thank you 😊 much
Sooooo cool❤please keep up the insanely good work 😊
Wow! Dude you must really enjoy this to be putting in this much work. I’m no where near an expert on these cars but thought I at least some amount of knowledge about them.
Impressive work! Thanks for bringing our history to light the way you do!
It’s my favorite hobby.
@ Glad to hear it! Not many have a PHD rabbit hole deep dives.
Brian, thanks for doing this video. There was more to this story than I thought. This is great stuff. I've added this video link to my video. Thanks for the hard work you do on all these videos. This made my day.
I use to go to Connie Swingle and Marie's house , and we talked about this car . Really sorry now that I didn't get anywhere near all the stories from Connie .
Note to youngsters: get the old timers talking! I learned a lot from my grandfather & his car club buddies who restored 1920s & 30s cars that I didn’t know was relevant until a couple decades later
Wonderfully interesting and so well researched as always.
Great story..actually that model kit is still available!
That is awesome on the kit!
I love listening to all of your off the wall crazy stuff. Thank you.
Hey Brian, thank for another kick ass video. Best content on RUclips.
Great story Brian, I miss the “Wild West Days” of drag racing!😊
Brian, F.Y.I The water vent tube into the headers was used until the mid 1980s. When most nitro racers switched to billet cylinder heads.
This is awesome knowledge. I really didn’t know that!
Hey man, cool car thanks for this. Also, anytime the engine is mounted behind the driver before the rear wheels it’s called a mid engine car, anytime the engine is behind the rear wheels, it’s a rear engine car.
Did you see the part where I went into this? Haha
BRIAN!!! hey great to get new episodes!! [since i binge watched all the back catalog!]
Wow, the names you’ve dropped in this presentation!!
Congrats great stuff.
I learned a lot about a car I saw and have a model of, On Man from UNCLE. Now i am informed.
You Sir, make only amazing quality videos. I truly appreciate that too, as I really do love it when I see another one show up on my feed. Nothing your not aware of, I'm sure, just saying.
Andrew, appreciate the kind words and you taking the time to watch and share them!
How the heck do you not have 100k+ subscribers by now, long time fan/subscriber of the channel. Please continue the awesome work you're doing!!! Thank you!!!🏁
This makes me think about what I consider the final years of true funny car innovation the 80’s . The minds of people like Tim Grose , Jim Head , Bernstein/Armstrong ,etc … I say Tim Grose because he always was trying a new trick of the week
Two in a row!!!! Keep them coming, love it!!!
Go baby go! Haha
thanks brian for a new video! sick af and watching some of your longer older stuff too
I'm glad the car still exists
Being a car-crazed kid in the ‘60s with all the racing innovation, slot-car tracks and models to build was an incredible experience and today’s racing world seems incredibly bland by comparison.
I remember the Pirahna well. I was a model building fiend as a kid, had my own wrecking yard in a box from 1 of those 1/12 scale models, a T-Bucket I believe. Those might have been AMT's, too. I kept my wrecking yard stocked by helping the local hobby/toy store do inventory once a year. The 1st yr I helped, I did it for money. The store was adjacent to a family owned variety store & pharmacy. The dad was the phsrmacist, 1 son ran a hifi-tv store added on the back & the other son ran the hobby store in an old shop next door. The front was closed & they knocked a hole thru the wall.
They Summers family were friends of my mom, a single parent & they kind of adopted me. The 1st year I helped do inventory in the hobby store, it was a 2 day, doors closed event that was as much a family holiday/party as anything. Mom Summers & their daughter made picnic food & we had a great time.
I got talking with the hobby store son & he said there was a huge problem w/ kids stealing parts from model car kits, making them unsaleable except as severe markdowns, which I'd buy when they got to 0.05 or 0.10.l, (gas was
Good stuff, always enjoy the class room.
Love this car. Is it just me, but the CRV-4 looks a lot like a Pontiac Fiero.
It definitely has Fieri vibes.
I was actually seeing a Lotus Europa, but Fiero too! Nice! Awesome vid as always Mr Lohnes!
Its been a few months since I've seen the road race car. The story of how it was found is interesting, if my memory is correct a few years ago the owner found somebody with file cabinets full of automotive history including all of the Piranha's. With out giving the owners name he should be easy to find and contact to get more history and find out about another super rare roadrace car he has.
He’s pretty public and it is a great story of finding it under the truck and then taking the paint off and discovering what it was. Seems like a neat guy.
The Man from Uncle car! When you first showed the CRV, it looked REALLY familiar, but I couldn't figure out why! Awesome!