Car Engine Pillows
Description: Back in the '30s, Phil Weiand didn’t have technology to assist him in finding customers for his performance intake manifolds. He did, however, have a bit of marketing savvy. Late at night, he’d go where the Los Angeles street racers gathered to set up their matches, scout out the losers of those matches, and ask them if they wanted to go faster, promising that his dual-carb manifolds would help them do exactly that. He delivered the goods and the rest is as they say, hot rod history.
Description: Like other performance pioneers, Ed Iskenderian was a Southern California hot rodder in the years leading up to World War II, learning speed secrets in an effort to make his own T roadster go faster. Grinding camshafts came after the war when a sudden demand for parts - fueled by returning GIs eager to get back to hot rodding - was so great that Iskenderian was faced with a long wait for a cam he wanted for his own car. Figuring he could do as just as good himself, he bought a surplus cylindrical grinder, converted it into a cam-grinding machine, and went to work. He wasn't just making a similar cam to those available at the time - he made them better, rightfully earning him the nickname of 'The Camfather.'
Description: This Pennsylvania-based performance legend started out as a maker of motor mounts for engine swaps and floor-shifters back in 1958, but they steadily expanded their product line through the 1960s. Hurst wheels, Line/Loc, and Swifter Shifter gloves were developed among other items, and later, Airheart Brakes and the Schiefer Manufacturing Company, which made clutches and other driveline components, were acquired. Hurst Performance floor-shifters were skillfully engineered, reliable and stirring in appearance, plus, their marketing was in tune with the times, catering to the flourishing muscle car movement of the 1960s. Their shifters infiltrated the drag racing, stock car racing, off-road racing and many other areas of motorsports.
Description: Tom Beatty was a dry lakes racer who later became a speed shop owner. There were a number of speed manufacturers during the 1950s producing racing cams, heads, etc. and Tom worked for a number of them and truly honed his craft. Tom Beatty Automotive Engineering made all kinds of engines for all kinds of go-fast applications, so whether you were breaking records at Bonneville, tearing up the quarter mile in Fremont, or forcing buddy to hang on for dear life at Lake Elsinore, Tom was your guy. From manifolds to superchargers, Tom made it to his exacting specifications which resulted in engines that ran stronger and pulled harder than anything the big name builders were making.
Description: Founded in 1925, Mallory initially developed OEM ignition systems for many early cars, but by the '50s, they were known for their aftermarket systems for hot rods and drag racers who needed more oomph to get their high-compression engines to light and for those needing more adjustability for fine-tuning and keeping their monster motors humming along. Mighty Mallory was a fun superhero inspired character introduced in 1962 and was most commonly found on decals handed out at drag racing events.
