Graham Ellis, 70 Plymouth Superbird, Pro Mod

Early days on the chassis jig showing four-link, A frame and basic chassis tubes.

2008 SPRC Best appearing car

Details of the Mark Williams Modular axle. This model is designed for four-link and coil-overs so special brackets were made for the standard ARRC push rod suspension.
Later shot during trial assembly shows pivots for push-rod suspension. Shock are replaced by rods for this assembly.
Top view shows main cage, funny car driver cage and motor plate.
Supports for the gear box slider rails.
First roll out from the garage ....
... for the Santa photo shoot, and we didn't pick the tallest guy just to make to car look low, it is low.
Chassis builders and customers do all look as if Christmas has come early and Santa has delivered their present.
Chassis just back from paint
Suspension, axles and wheels mounted for ease of movement in the workshop.
During final assembly, fire bottles mounted, steering, most brake and fire extinguisher plumbing in place.
Fabricated fuel/oil tanks.
Custom made controls sharing common shaft. Note top loop on throttle to allow positive pull back.
Chassis with some tin work installed and nearly ready to meet the body on trestles in front.
Ready to roll at 2008 Easter Thunderball in temporary basic black paint scheme.
Only one run because of bad weather but a 1.08 60ft time out of the box.

This picture courtesy of and © Ivan Sansom.

First run in anger in Qualifying 1 at the 2008 Main Event, result 6.830 at 213 mph.

Is this car low or what ? the Superbird is almost hidden behind the Santa Pod burn out barriers.

This picture of the car at home base courtesy of Tog at Eurodragster. Click here to see the complete feature.
Final re-assembly after paint and Matt Woods hard at work on a photo shoot outside the workshop. See the results below.

We know Santa wanted this ride and now Elvis has tried it for size during the Euro Finals.
Graham and the crew fire up the 'bird at the Santa Pod Euro Finals.
Sadly Graham only managed a burnout before being shut down by the start line crew.

This picture courtesy of and © Roger Gorringe. See more of his excellent pictures at www.nitroexposure.co.uk

Graham won the UK Finals which were held in good weather. Click here to see a burnout and here to see the run. These do take a little while to load even over broadband.

Compare Graham's car with an original taken from conceptcarz.com, click here to see their whole page of 'birds. 
Cover car and middle spread in American Car World ( www.americancarworld.com ) based on a brilliant set of pictures by Matt Woods. See more of his work at  http://www.mwoods.co.uk

 

In the staging lanes at the 2009 Easter Thunderball. Click Graham Ellis top run to see the car in action.

Click slow motion to see a burn out from the 2009 Main Event

Graham's crew pack the chutes at the 2009 Summer Nationals. Click smokey burn out to see it.
Graham towing back down through the pits, click 6.28 to see a great run.
Graham seen on a wild burn out courtesy of Eurodragster; the 'bird also featured on the cover of the Summer Nationals programme.

In the staging lanes at the FHRA Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland in 2009. Click Finland launch and run to see the team in action.
Towing back down in front of the Finnish crowd.
 

Graham is guided up to the line by his crew at the 2009 Euro Finals, click burnout and 6.24 to see a Tog's eye view of one of his best runs.

Graham on the weighbridge after a run at the 2009 National Finals, click chutes to see what the 'bird looks like at the end of a run.
Date  27-Feb-2012

Pictures and video by

Ivan Sansom, Roger Gorringe, Andy,  Luke, Matt Woods, Webmaster &