This car was a test mule with a nice paint job!
The geometric pattern seems to echo the red Maverick.
This car was a test mule with a nice paint job!
The geometric pattern seems to echo the red Maverick.
From Hot Rod, November 1975
“They all laughed when Gapp & Roush first fielded this 4-door Maverick, but not anymore. Wayne Gapp drove it to his third straight NHRA Pro Stock title of the season after qualifying with a 8.85 for third sport, beating Lamar Walden, Reid Whisnant, Lee Edwards, Low Qualifier Wally Booth and Richie Zul’s fantastic big-block Camaro on the final, 8.83 to 8.95.”
Drag racers, by nature, are very dedicated people. They work endless hours in pursuit of extra horsepower and tuning tricks. Wayne Gapp is a young man who was able to utilize his hobby (drag racing) to improve his craft (engine builder). Wayne has put in countless developmental hours in Ford’s dynamometer laboratory, testing and improving the “breed” to provide Ford car owners with quality engineering. Many of the tips Wayne picked up on the job have also been applied to more than a dozen Wayne Gapp owned/driven vehicles during the past decade. Prior to joining the professional ranks, Gapp campaigned a fuel funny car in the midwest which dominated the action wherever and whenever it appeared.
Leaving Ford in favor of his own engine building business, Wayne built a Pro/Stock Maverick with Boss 429 power. After spending three years working on the development of Ford’s mystery motor – 429, Wayne’s low qualifying times at major events were only a surprise to his competitors and the spectators.
In addition, to Gapp’s immaculate Maverick, watch for a new Pinto from the Gapp-Roush stables in ’72. You can bet it will be double tough.
I really don’t know much about this car. Story from Dad is that there was a hole in rules that would allow this car to run and win class in Super Stock/HA which they did at Indy in ’72.
Beyond that entry I’m not sure how much they ran this car.
The caption of the photo reads:
Although best known for their Ford Pro Stockers, the team of Wayne Gapp and Jack Roush actually drove a Cobra Jet-powered ’69 Ford Mustang in the early 1970’s in the Super Stock/H Automatic category.
Here’s another pic of the car that I found in my Dad’s files:
I’m not a huge fan of this car for a variety of reasons. I think the paint scheme sticks out like a sore thumb compared to the rest of the vehicles.
However, while visiting my Dad last weekend I came across some pics of it. Here’s the first:
Check it out. This is the right half of a full page 1970’s ad for MPC model car lineup.
You could get the Mummy machine…The Grand Superfly(!!)….and…
WHOA! The Gapp & Roush Pinto model? NHRA National Champs! I’ll take 2!!
Nice shot of the 73 Pinto leaving the starting line. WG Driving. Roush in the background.
Another ad from back in the day.
Who remembers those cardboard oil containers, eh?
I don’t know the whole story behind these cards. Looks like the AHRA (American Hot Rod Association) worked with Fleer to put out these cards for 3 years(?).
Regardless, here is the Wayne Gapp card for 1972. Features the Blue Maverick.
Here is the back with a nice blurb.
Fun stuff!
Winners of the IHRA U.S. Nationals in 1974.
Strange that the NHRA and IHRA had a race with the same name.