Voodoo Magic: Jerry Gardner's Voodoo Special

11 America ’ s Most Powerful Special The 1942 flathead Cadillac engine that Jerry used was offered from 1936 to 1948 in virtually unchanged form. Compared to other engines that could have been used, it had the largest cubic inches available. Here ’ s what I was available in that time period: Cadillac: • 1936 - 1948: 346 cubic inches (flathead) • 1949 - 1955: 331 cubic inches (overhead valve) Lincoln: • 1948 V - 12: 292 cubic inches • 1949 - 1953 V8: 336 cubic inches Ford: • 1946 - 1953: 239 cubic inches Mercury: • 1949 - 1953: 255 cubic inches Mopar: • Chrysler: 1951 - 1955: 331 cubic inches • Desoto: 1952 - 1954: 276 cubic inches • Dodge: 1953 - 1954: 241 cubic inches So far, this is the only known American fiberglass special that ’ s known that uses this engine. Jerry was building Voodoo with the largest engine ever attempted in a postwar fiberglass sports car special – quite an achievement for a young man with sports car dreams. While a smaller more powerful overhead valve engine may have been a more efficient choice, no one can take away Jerry ’ s accomplishments – building an American fiberglass special with the most powerful engine of its day.