Dave Billadeau

Plymouth GTX Hemi (amongst others!)

Dave's first run down the track was in a 318ci '70 Dodge Challenger with a four-speed 2.94 gears and no limited slip, he ran a 19.2. Not so long after passing his driving test, young Dave bought this GTX and it has seen many a mile, many a modification and many drag strip passes since that day. The car retains much original spec and it's quite a rarity; one of around 7000 '70 GTXs, this one factory-equiped with a snazy gold interior and side stripes.

Two tons of 40 year old technology (not Dave, the GTX) is now running a 580ci all-aluminium Hemi that pushes the car into the 9s. Dave's day job is Billadeau Speed & Automotive, where he has been modifying and restoring muscle cars (particularly those of the Mopar persuasion) since the early '90s. BS&A is a sponsor of the A/SS series. A couple of years back, Dave managed to squeeze enough hours out of the day to undertake a full restoration of his GTX.  

Side projects have included: a 4-door sedan... with a difference. A proper sleeper, this 1969 Plymouth Satellite is rock solid, says Dave, "with faded metallic brown paint, re-upholstered seats, mint door cards all in black. It's sat on cop car 7x15 rims, new rear 275s, and matching rims with almost new slicks. "It has a 8.75 rear, 489 casing, 3.55 Suregrip, all new, with large yoke. Superstock springs and it's fully painted on the underside."

"The 727 trans has a Cheetah full manual valvebody with 10" TCI convertor, built by Watts Transmissions. It has a Turbo Action shifter. The 440 engine has forged pistons, .030 overbore, forged rods, steel crank, fully balanced, ARP bolts, high volume oil pump, closed chamber heads, mildly ported, big valves, Comp Cams springs, retainers and locks, Comp Cams .545 lift Hydraulic cam, lifters and pushrods, Crane Gold aluminium roller rockers, Torquer2 intake, 850cfm double-pumper, twin snorkel air cleaner with K&N filter, MP ignition, Accel coil and leads, mini starter, all painted orange to look stock."

Dave sold on the sleeper and is now back behind the wheel of the GTX. But the latest side project is a '64 Plymouth Fury. Finished in white, this baby features a 426 Hemi with a brace of four-barrels on a Cross Ram setup. Sounds way cool, look out for that at the strip. Dave has just had it dyno'd, it made 550hp/480ft lbs torque, "Not bad for a street engine, eh?" added Dave! Dave's now giving it some strip action to prove the car, before it goes up for sale. And there's another Fury too, the Billadeau Courtesy Car!