Woodill Wildfire 1952

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Sick Cylinder

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Woodill Wildfire.jpg


I first came across this car when it was featured on the Discovery Channel show Fast n Loud.

It was the brainchild of Blanchard Robert "Woody" Woodill and was available from 1952 to 1958. The Wildfire is credited with being the first complete fiberglass car available with approximately 15 produced by the factory and another 285 sold as kits.

Most were originally powered by Ford Flathead V8's - an engine designed in 1932 and for which an overhead valve conversion kit was available from Zora Arkus-Duntov and his brother Yura this was known as the Ardun head .

Ford Flathead Ardun Head.jpg


Zora Arkus-Duntov went on to become known as the father of the Chevrolet Corvette. I am sure some of the Woodill Wildfires would have been made with Ardun headed Ford Flathead V8's - so that is the version I would love PD to make available in the game.

The following pictures show a nicely restored Woodill Wildfire featuring a tri-power carb setup.

Woodill Wildfire 1.jpg

Woodill Wildfire 2.jpg
 
I also saw this car on Fast n Loud - as Americas first fibreglass sports car I think it has enough historical significance to be added to the game. I can't imagine the performance would be too good if it was fitted with the old side valve flathead V8 Ford lump, but the OHV Ardun heads would certainly make that motor sing. For years those heads were the hot ticket for performance fiends until more modern OHV V8's became available.
 
The following clip from a 1955 TV show features a Woodill Wildfire being built with an old Ford saloon being used as a donor car.

 
Pictures of the factory built Woodill Wildfire restored on the Fast n Loud show. Personally I would have restored it, but kept it as original as possible - they changed the wheels and shortened the windscreen, altered the bumper mountings.

Woodill Wildfire compilation.jpg
 
I'm surprised this one isn't much more popular - perhaps a lot of people have never heard of it? I hadn't until I watched the episode of Fast n Loud.
 

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