Back to the Future – A Drag-and-Drive Chevelle That’s a Flashback to the Past, While Prepping for the Future
While some are able to hang on to their first car, others can’t for a variety of reasons. Whether it’s tough decisions that force the sale, or a willingness to move on to a different ride, a person’s first car will reflect on them.
In the case of Tor Nupen, remembering his first car, combined with wanting to participate in a drag-and-drive, led him to this 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle.
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“I’ve had cars since I was 16 years old,” said Tor. “My first car was a ‘69 big block Chevelle. I’ve mostly street raced. and did some small tire 10.5-inch tire racing at my local tracks. With raising kids, and having responsibilities the car was sold.”
Tor didn’t forget that Chevelle, and although he didn’t buy that one back, it had an effect on him, and the ’68 Chevelle he now owns. “My daughters call it Ronda after a friend of mine who owned it previously,” Tor said. “I was able to purchase the car from a gentleman named Jeff Wolfe thanks to Gary Lau.
“Ron owned the car in the 1990s, and I was obsessed with it. When it came up for sale in the early 2000s, I had little kids and no money. So, as soon as Gary told me I had a chance to get the car in early 2019, luckily, I was in a position to buy my dream car.”
After purchasing the car, Tor was making plans to take the car to Hot Rod Drag Week, and although he couldn’t get the Chevelle ready in time, Tor made an appearance at the event and was forever changed on his plans for the classic Chevrolet.
“I met Harry Haig at Virginia Motorsports Park with his orange ‘69 Chevelle on the first day of Drag Week in 2019,” said Tor. “I knew at that moment I wanted to do a big block 540 cubic inch with twins.
“I’ve wanted to do a Hot Rod Drag Week ever since David Freiburger started it. My biggest goal and challenge is to complete a drag-and-drive with a car that my sons and I built.” Tor and sons Erik and Noah dove into the build, which packs the previously desired 540 cubic inch big block powerplant with a pair of Precision Turbo & Engine 76-millimeter turbos.
The engine is backed with a Turbo 400 transmission and a Gear Vendors Overdrive unit, plus a Strange Engineering 9-inch rear. AFCO shocks, TRZ Motorsports suspension, and TBM Brakes sits at the four corners.
To get the car ready for testing, as well as the 2025 edition of Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, Tor went to FuelTech to get the Chevelle tuned up. “I knew the trans was a weak point,” said Tor. “I just didn’t know it would burn up on the sixth pull. It’s probably a good thing it happened there and not on some back road in Ohio.”
Before the transmission waved the white flag, the Chevelle spun the hub dyno to 1311 rear-wheel-horsepower. “The unit that Coan built me should be able to handle whatever I throw at it,” said Tor.
He’s already been testing to get ready for Sick Week, where his wife Michelle will join him as co-pilot. “She’s been there since we were kids in high school,” Tor said. “She’s been by my side at all the street races, and every crazy hot rod I’d drag home.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Tor Nupen.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com