Surprise Powertrain! 1968 Fiberfab Valkyrie
Most of the kit cars that we come across are unfinished projects. Perhaps they were on the road at one point, in “almost finished” condition, but have been parked for one reason or another. This 1968 Fiberfab Valkyrie would be considered finished by some folks, but not by others–but it’s certainly road-worthy and is being offered for sale here on eBay. The starting bid is $17,000 and the car is located in Prescott, Arizona.
While the Valkyrie (and its more common cousin, the VW Beetle-based Avenger) were evocative of the Ford GT40, it’s anything but a replica. The rear of the Fiberfab cars is noticeably higher and the kits made use of commonly available glass (that rear window is from a Mustang fastback). This car is said to have decent paint, but there are bubbles showing through in places and the seller is including some extra paint if you want to tackle the finish. There are also some extra stripes for the hood, roof and rear panel if you choose to follow the GT motif further.
The surprise drivetrain is visible in this shot, especially if you were expecting a flat-four! This Valkyrie features a bespoke tubular frame and a Chevrolet V-8. There’s a four-speed manual transmission connected to it that if I recall my old back-of-the-magazine ads correctly is Corvair-based (feel free to correct me!). I’m not in love with the Torq-Thrust wheel choice, but that’s certainly easy enough for a new owner to change. One other odd point that you can see in this picture is that there are no side windows, but the seller does include window frames. According to this original manual posted online, the Valkyrie and Avenger were designed to accept first-generation Mustang vent windows and 1966 Ford LTD four-door (!) side windows, along with modified Volkswagen Karmann Ghia roll-up mechanisms. More homework for the new purchaser!
One of the odder choices made by whoever assembled the car is bright blue LED interior lighting. The steering wheel is removable for easier access. Unlike the GT40, the doors do not go into the roof, so flexibility is important!
The 350-cubic-inch V-8 combined with a stated weight of less than 2,000 pounds should lead to startling acceleration. I hope the suspension and brakes have been suitably dialed in. What do you think of this Valkyrie? Have you ever owned a Fiberfab kit car?
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Comments
Yea, that running a Corvair transaxle. Even with the 4 spider gear mod. I would consider this to be the fuse in the drivetrain so don’t even try to dump the clutch. Actually a pretty good looking car that should be lots of fun when sorted.
I wonder what the front end would look like with
proper turn signals & rectangular head lights.
Careful suggesting rectangular headlights there angliat,you’ll get the Jeep YJ haters whining..
Funny looking tubes! “…tubular frame…”?
Wrapped exhaust.
As I recall, Car & Driver mag built one (probably more accurately, had one built) back in the late ’60’s – early ’70’s. I bought every issue till it was done.
And yes, SMC/Corvair transaxle. As I recall, if one had enough money, a ZF?? transaxle could be substituted.
My teenage brain lusted after one of these at the time.
I can still remember the Car and Driver series on Don Sherman’s building of one of these while stationed at the Army’s Yuma Proving Grounds. The article (or series?) was entitled The Proving Ground Papers, as I recall.
The article really sunk into my consciousness, and it made me a rabid C&D reader for years…..but not for a long time now: the rag has changed so.
Anyhow, here’s the only mention I’ve found of Sherman and his car: a pretty neat article
https://www.hagerty.com/media/archived/mid-engine-memoir/
I might also admonish us all to get into the way-back machine back to the mid-late 60’s and appreciate the Fiberfab products and the folks who based cars on them, waaaay back then, in the context of the time. All-in-all, pretty amazing: the effort the company undertook to design, tool, and manufacture so many car bodies and chassis and to successfully market them. Then those risk-takers like Sherman who had a dream and dove in and built a car.
Part of our automobile hobby heritage. Should be appreciated.
PS: not sure if there was a Corvair transaxle to Small Block Ford adapter kit back then, maybe explaining the Chevy in this car.
ZF transaxle certainly wasn’t an option, given the price and availability of those in the late 60’s. Probably wasn’t until Ford dumped all the Pantera spares (as I’ve heard alleged) that the ZF became more available.
There’s more in this car that binds us than divides us, as all your interesting comments have shown.
yep, I was a C&D fan from about 17 to in my 30’s before life got in the way of coming home with a arm full of the latest issues and flopping on the couch for a few hours
Powered by Chevy? Not worth a dime.
What’s wrong with a small block Chevy? I’m not trying to deny your opinion but why do negative. I have run them in everything, including the ’30 Model A I have now.
Chevy in a Chevy
Ford in a Ford
Chevy in a street rod that’s old school. Not today.
What if I took a historical corvette and put a Boss 302 in it? Just not cool.
I agree with Fran, the SBC is the commodity engine of commodity engines and the easiest fit at the time because there was a Crown adapter plate. Most GT40 enthusiasts preferred the look of the SBF with the “bundle of snakes” 180 degree exhaust. The SBC is a compromise in aesthetics and authenticity, heavier too.
What is wrong with a SBC? They are a dime a dozen and everywhere, and in every brand of car. They are the hamburger of engines. If you had a choice of a hamburger or a T-bone which would you choose? Not to mention that they only belong in Chevys.
Agreed. If I go to a car show, and see a sbc in anything other than a Chevy, I walk right on by…usually shaking my head
Hi,
Chevy makes some nice engines, all the LS models are highly desirable.qqqqqqqqqqqq
I owned an Avenger GT. I did not do the build out. Truthfully, it was one of the worst cars I ever owned. The list of unresolved mechanical issues is too long for this comment. After a few months of trying to sort it out, I gave up and sold it. I went on to run Tom Mcburnie’s shop for a short time. Yet another story. I still have some interest in kit cars, but not much.
I had the JAMICAN, front engined car but I got a ride in one of these back in the day. Without dumping the clutch you did not accelerate but it was more like being launched by an aircraft carrier catapult. At the time I also owned a Lotus Europa and it was much like the Europa but with muscles.
Visibility out the back was terrible at best, fender or door mirrors and a great deal of attention were the only things keeping you from turning into your fellow drivers on multi lane roads. Or you had the option of hitting the GO peddle and moving to a space you knew was empty. There are two other cars that I had the opportunity to ride in that equaled this car in some respects, one was a GT-40 the real one and one was a Mclaren MK -8A around a race track. No other street car I have ever been in felt as close to those two cars.
This is huge bang for the bucks but know a GREAT Mechanic and Fabricator to help you and a really good interior shop. To the new owner Good Luck and have a wonderful time.
I have driven the Avenger configuration and it was horrible. This appears to be Corvair bits including the drum brakes. With no bids, I am not the only one who feels it is over priced. Proportionally these cars are more narrow than a GT40 but builders did not consider that in wheels/tires or power train. Now that FWD choices are numerous there are systems that would be better balanced. A Taurus SHO (Yamaha) V6 or V8 transverse mount would be interesting. I question this stated weight with a cast iron SBC. With the advent of accurate GT40 replicas, these interpretations become irrelevant.
Fran! If you want to put a Ford engine in a classic Corvette I have no issue with that. You own it. I know someone who put a Ford engine in a ’55 Chevy and I had no issue with that. This car, however, is a kit car. Why not Chevy?
Hey you just gave me an idea. A new corvette with a 05 FGT engine.
Seriously your right it is a kit car. Thus it really doesn’t matter. People today don’t even know what they are looking at
Fran and J R. I have no problem with any engine that anyone wants to put in anything. I was at a car show last night and a guy had a Studebaker engine in his 35 Ford pickup. It was loaded up with vintage speed goodies. He’s had that truck for 35 years. I liked it, lots. My point is, if you own it, put anything you want in there. I’m definitely not one to be critical of anybody’s choice.
There are obviously no constraints legal or social on assembling various brand parts to make a vehicle. In many circumstances like the one you mention, where a guy had his truck at a car show, the owner is displaying the truck to solicit views and comments. What are the chances he created the universally approved vehicle? On the subject of show cars and critique, a local guy has a radical custom 1951 Studebaker bullet nose Starlight Coupe with a SBC. I saw the car at a show years ago, and he was wringing his hands because a motor mount broke and went to WOT when the engine lifted on the way to the show. Link rod throttle linkage. I saw the same car and guy recently and looking art the engine I asked “no cable throttle yet? He looked at me like I was an alien and I asked “how are the motor mounts?” “I never had a motor mount problem”. I could see him squirming, he could not accept a critique.
Four hours left, zero bids, sits way too high!!
‘tube chassy’ (strong/light)? That aint no tube chassy, eh?
GT40 replica? (or ‘take off’) Y not the ford motor (302 Windsor
won all those races). Later I believe actual ‘implants’ included 425.8ci, 2X4v Holley 780 in MkII. MkI = 289ci, 4X Weber2v
I have a Jamaican, fantastic car, red now.
Cheers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXWnuG9XCLs
My last comment on my any engine in any car concept. I have a 1930 Ford Model A streetrod. It is chopped 3″, filled roof, Mustang Ii front suspension, Volvo trailing arms with coil springs with a 8″ Ford rear. It has a 350 Chevy engine, turbo 400 transmission. It has been to many shows and gets lots of compliments. It has been DRIVEN to every show it has been to. I’m in northern Vermont and those shows have been in Nashville, Louisville, Florida many times. If somebody walks by, shaking their head at every Ford with a Chevy engine in it, their neck must be all worn out by the end of the show because those cars comprise, my guess, 1/3 of the cars at the show. I’ve never cared about what others thought about my cars and I love talking to others about theirs, never being critical of their work or their choices. That’s what a true enthusiast does.
This, btw, is mine. Yep, small block Chevy and proud of it.
Brian, My career was product development/mechanical engineering. BS was not tolerated; engineering worked or it did not. One could not fear failure.
You are likely aghast that I took a 1968 Excalibur Phaeton with a SBC/auto and I threw out everything. It still has the Studebaker Avanti chassis but now the frame has structure. The engine is a Lexus 2JZ with manual five speed and Lexus liquid engine mounts. The suspension/steering is power Lexus R&P with Lexus 4 wheel disc brakes. The body is now a 1929 Mercedes SSK step-over Roadster with soft top and side curtains.
So there can be Excalibur, Lexus, Chevy Mercedes and Studebaker haters.
I’m not aghast at anything that anyone wants to build, buy, create. That’s why I love the automobile hobby. Anything goes and we all should appreciate what others have done. My car was built in 1993 and has been dependable and safe. Is it as sophisticated or highly technical as yours, obviously not. I love the car, drive it often and go on long trips with it and that’s all that matters to me. Your car is beautiful. I’ll disagree with you on one point, I don’t hate anybody’s choice or any particular brand.
luv the drivetrain, not a fan of that body.
It has an ass-end only a mother could love……..
This one would be fun. Id have to lower it some though.
Its fine by me. I respect anyone that takes the time, money and effort to put a car together, even if its not to my liking. Because its not easy, at least not as easy as it is to be an armchair critic.
Sure, I can see reasoning for keeping the bloodline going if you are building a Chev/Ford/Dodge/Hupmobile etc. But this is a Fiberfab kit car. You put in whatever engine you have access to. Are you going to say that he had no right to paint it whatever colour he chooses?
This car is for sale again in Northern California on Facebook Marketplace. Still has the Arizona title. It’s taken a few dings to the nose. I agree the stance is off. Didn’t mention no side windows. Still 17,000.00