‘Honkytonk Special’ 4-door Impala Looks to Invade the Nines at Sick Week
After a successful showing at the 2022 Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive in the 275 Street Race class, it could be a safe assumption that James Rowlett would return in the 1995 Ford Mustang called ‘Roxanne.’
But instead, James will park Roxanne is favor of his newest acquisition, a 1968 Chevrolet Impala 4-door he calls ‘HonkyTonk Special.’
“After driving the Impala for a week plus, it’s so much more fun than an automatic, so I decided to take it,” said James of his decision. The 4-door Impala gets the fun factor from a 4.8-liter LS-based engine with a LSA blower on top from R & D Fabrication.
Backed by a TKX 5-speed manual transmission from American Powertrain and a Quick Performance 9-inch rear end, plus Viking Performance coil-overs on all four corners to dampen the ride and launch correctly, James has outfitted the 4-door for fun and fast times.
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“After many years lurking and helping, my first drag-and-drive with my own car was Hot Rod Drag Week 2017,” said James. “Since that year, I've been wide open doing more Drag Weeks, Midwest Drags, and the first Sick Week.” “Sick Week in Florida in February-most of us don't have good weather for several more months, so it's a getaway,” James continued on why he’s returning to Sick Week. “It would be cool to go 9.99 in this big ass car.”
- Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of James Rowlett.