This Guy’s Garage – September 2013

Imagine if you walked into your neighbor’s basement and stumbled on a scene like this. Almost 30 years ago, Bob Akin bought his first old Indy race car, the ’61 Autolite Dealer’s Association Special. He paid $850 for it, which seems like an absolute steal now. It was this car that set Bill on a path to resurrect old Indy race cars and reignite that special time when Offy-powered roadsters dominated the Brickyard during the ’50s and ’60s. But, Bill is into way more things automotive than just Indy roadsters with handbuilt aluminum bodies. “My first new car was a ’65 Dodge Dart with a 273, four-barrel, and a four-speed…you could call it a mini–muscle car. Then, 10 years ago, I found a ’65 Dodge Dart at Pomona, and I built a clone with a 273, four-barrel, and four-speed.” He’s also built a somewhat eclectic ’64 Valiant two-door post with, as Bill calls it, the largest small-block he could build: a 426ci small-block with a 340 Six-Pak intake. Bill says, “It’s kinda like a rat rod.”

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Photo Gallery: This Guy’s Garage – September 2013 – Car Craft Magazine