The 409 Chevy
Drive a Chevrolet car today and you might wonder why there is still such a fuss made about the 409 Chevy of yesteryear. To say that the current range of Chevrolet automobiles is middle of the range is perhaps being too complimentary to some of them, which in comparison with some of their competitors have luck lustre performances. What a far cry these model Chevrolet examples seem to be from the early 1960's when the 409 Chevy was to make its mark on US automobile history, particularly in the racing and drag-strip sectors.
In fact, the number 409 referred to the engine rather than the model of the car. However, this engine changed the fortunes of the Chevrolet brand. This was particularly true in racing circles. This was to be a shock to many because at the time of the introduction of the 409 the company had ostensibly withdrawn from this sport.
The new 409 V-8 engine, which could create 360 horsepower and was even able to extend this to 400 horsepower if suitably encouraged by enthusiast, was first seated beneath the hood of a Chevrolet in 1961. In road production models it was to become the popular choice for the Chevrolet Impala, particularly the SS version.
However, it was on the race track that the 409 Chevy made its biggest impression. It was the performance of the 409 Chevy at race events that finally convinced muscle car drivers that this car was special The word on the street was that there was a new mechanical phenomenon in the making, this being the 409 engine.
It all started with the 1961 National Hot Rod Winter Nationals in Pomona, California. Don Nicholson quietly drove his Chevrolet into the arena and set it on the grid, receiving puzzled, if not scornful looks from other competitors. However, when the starting pistol fired these same competitors were left staring up the exhaust of Nicholson's Chevrolet as the 409 engine propelled it to 60mph in less than six seconds and, after reaching speeds of nearly 106mph completed the quarter mile in a staggering 13.58 seconds. The 409 Chevrolet had arrived.
Nevertheless, despite its astonishing racing performance and the interest it generated, this did not immediately convert to sales of the production models carrying this engine. In 1961 less than 600 purchasers were convinced to shell out the addition dollars required to own this new power block.
Undaunted by this poor showing, Chevrolet approached the racing world in 1962 with renewed vigour. Refined with two four-barrel carbs and other technical adjustments the upgraded 409 could produce a horsepower outlet that mirrored its number. The race track success was almost instantaneous. Hayden Profit won the Mr Stock Eliminator title and Nicholson repeated his Winter Nations Success of the previous year. However there was more to come. A Bel-Air coupe hit the drag-strip in this year. It reached 115mph during the quarter mile, which included an unbelievable 0-60 in four seconds. The result was immediate production car success, with 15,000 customers buying Chevrolet with this new engine unit.
Although 1965 saw the demise of this incredible engine, it is still fondly remembered by the drivers of the time, many of whom believe it can never be bettered.
