Check out this excellent new video from The Henry Ford featuring one of its prized possessions, the Summers Brothers’ Goldenrod. Fifty years ago this week, Goldenrod ran 409.277 mph, a record speed that stood for 42 years. Here’s the story.
Thirty-two feet long but only 48 inches wide, Goldenrod was built by hot rodders Bob and Bill Summers with just one objective: to be the fastest wheel-driven vehicle on earth. Goldenrod’s drag coefficient was .1165, slicker than a bullet; its frontal area was a tiny 8.53 square feet. At the Bonneville Salt Flats on November 12, 1965, Bob Summers drove the missile-like machine, powered by four Chrysler hemi 426 CID engines, to a two-way average of 409.277 mph. The speed record stood for 42 years, 9 months, and 14 days.
In 2002, Goldenrod was acquired by The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan, and after a painstaking restoration/conservation supported by a federal grant, the streamliner was installed in the museum’s transportation collection in 2006. Curator Matt Anderson is justifiably proud of Goldenrod, as you can see in this beautiful new video produced to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic record run. Enjoy.
Bob and Bill Summers were my brothers. I was the little sister. I’ve always been so proud of them and what they accomplished. I was lucky enough to be there when they broke the record (17 years old). I just want to thank you for putting together such a remarkable documentary. My dream is to one day make it to the Henry Ford Museum to see it again in all of it’s glory. Thank you for appreciating this beautiful automobile! Maybe someday I’ll see it there in person.
I worked for Bob & Bill @ their shop in Ontario. back in the early 70’s. they were great guys to work for, and get to know. Never worked on the Golden Rod, but did get to see it once. Quite an engineering achievement. Glad to see it restored, being taken care of, as it should be.
Nice detailed history! Really disliked the ADD video cuts at the beginning. All of the wonderful details just flew by. Even the cutaway was far too short to even read the captions. Giant headlines were not a plus either. Views of details, workings, and even inside were great, but way too short. Rather any narration was voiced over to show the subject, not talking heads!