6_39

transmission in a way that would bring tears to your eyes, slamming shifts home through the non-synchro gears with lightning speed, and he finally got the gigantic unit to rumble through the quarter-mile in under 30 seconds. In all, an impressive time for the monster, though, as in the case of the six cars, thereal action was being saved for Bridgehampton. AROUND BRIDGEHAMPTON The first day at Bridgehampton was planned as a shakedown for both Gregory and the cars. Masten was anxious to get a fair amount of practice in each of the automobiles before he began the three timed laps that would be run as an official segment of the test. At the same time, the entrants wanted the opportunity for final tuning before trying any really hot laps. The day was uneventful for the most part, except that the Comet, the Fairlane and Chevelle overheated on their -initial runs, and Masten expressed dismay over the long throw from second to third gear in the SS 396. This was corrected by the		Hurst guys, who shortened the lever travelwith a few adjustments. After all, they're in the shifter business, aren't they? The Comet smoked furiously on deceleration, but Moore and his boys assured us it only because "we set her up a little loose," but still within the factory specifications, they maintained. Late in the afternoon the Oldsmobile's limited-slip differential failed, but was repaired following an emergency trip to a nearby dealership for spare parts. The weather did not co-operate and it took us three full days of running at Bridgehampton before we completed the timed laps and the braking! tests. It got foggy and then it rained and the wind blew and we sat for hours waiting for the track to dry. One of the first cars to take its three flying laps (of,ficially timed by Heuer watches) was the Comet and it was simultaneously the fastest and the untidiest of the bunch. After turning in the top time of 2:05.8 (81.9 mph) the eversmoking engine blew up on the back straightaway and spread a trail of oil in the groove. A connecting rod holed the block, putting the

PHOTOGRAPHY: ALFRED FISHER

BUICK SKYLARK
GRAN SPORT

FORD FAIRLANE GT/A

MERCURY COMET
CYCLONE GT

Price as tested
$3978.04

Price as tested
$3059.34

Price as tested
$3550.00

Engine displacement
(cu. in.) 401

Engine displacement
(cu. in.) 390

Bore & stroke (in.)
4.18 x 3.64

Bore & stroke (in.)
4.05 x 3.78

Carburetion Single 4-bbl

Compression ratio
10.25 to one

Compression ratio
10.5 to one

Horsepower @ rpm
340 @ 4600

Horsepower @ rpm
335 @ 4600

Torque @ rpm
445 @ 3200

Torque @ rpm
427 @ 2800

Transmission
2-speed automatic

Transmission
3-speed automatic

Transmission
4-speed manual

Rear axle ratio 3.36

Rear axle ratio 3.89

Rear axle ratio 4.11

Wheelbase (in.) 115

Wheelbase (in.) 116

Track, F & R (in.) 58-59

Track, F & R (in.) 58-58

Length x width x height (in.)

204 x 75 x 54

197 x 74 x 55

203 x 73.8 x 54.3

Test weight (Ibs.) 3550

Test weight (Ibs.) 3640

Test weight (ibs.) 3474

Suspension

F:		Ind., unequal-length wishbones, coil springs, anti-sway bar
R:		Rigid axle and locating links, coil springs, anti-sway bar

F:		Ind., upper wishbone, lower link and drag strut, coil springs, anti-sway bar
R:		Rigid axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs, coil springs

F:		Ind., unequal-length wishbones, coil spring, anti-sway bar
R:		Rigid, semi-elliptic leaf springs, coil springs

Brakes F & R (type & dia.)
9.5-in. drums

Brakes F & R (type & dia.)
10-in. drums

Steering Recirculating ball

1/4-mi. acceleration

14.92 sec. @ 95.13 mph

14.26 sec. @ 99.00 mph

13.98 @ 103.8 mph

Lap time (Bridgehampton) 2:08.5

Lap time (Bridgehampton) 2:08.1

Lap time (Bridgehampton) 2:05.8

Panic stop (80-0 mph)
5.0 sec

Panic stop (80-0 mph)
5.6 sec.

Panic stop (80-0 mph)
N.A.

CAR and DRIVER		MARCH 1966
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