Whatever happened to the Chicken Hawk?

[Peanut]

Most of you have read about the sad fate of Ted Harbit's storied and beloved Chicken Hawk '51 Commander starlight coupe, as it rolled several times on its final trip down the drag strip in 2009.



If anybody can help me credit the above photo, please do.

Thankfully, Ted recovered from his rather serious injuries, and has taken to the drag strip several times since then.

What I want to know is; where is the Chicken Hawk now? Was she cannibalized for Ted's other racing pursuits? Are there any plans for a final resting place for her remains (SNM, hint, hint)? We're a photo-hungry lot, so fresh images are always a bonus.

[mbstude]

The last I heard, Ted still had what was left sitting in a polebarn.

Lots of pieces went to various people. I've got a chunk of a front wheel hanging in the garage.

[Milaca]

I have a piece of it's broken grill in my garage.

[ROADRACELARK]

I've got the "bomb site" from the instrument panel, autographed, in my shop hanging on the wall next to a picture similar to the one above.

Dan Miller
Auburn, GA

[Peanut]

So I guess the chances of the parts re-combining "Christine-style" are pretty remote at this point. Oh well, she had a great run.

[mbstude]

So I guess the chances of the parts re-combining "Christine-style" are pretty remote at this point. Oh well, she had a great run.

That would be totally up to Ted. I'd like to think that he's used anything usable on his other race cars.

[BobPalma]

So I guess the chances of the parts re-combining "Christine-style" are pretty remote at this point. Oh well, she had a great run.

Probably so, Matt. Valuable pieces have been removed by Ted for his use and, as noted above, a few momentos survive elsewhere.

The "remains," the bulk of the damaged car, are still at Ted's, stored inside.

Here is The Chicken Hawk's speedometer; the same one that was in the car when he bought it in 1961 and when he removed it in 2009, now entrusted to my care and permanent custody:

[DEEPNHOCK]

This is stabbing at Ted, you know...
It still hurts his heart...

[BobPalma]

This is stabbing at Ted, you know...
It still hurts his heart...

'Still somewhat true, Jeff...but over a year ago, he had "picked" it to such an extent that he was ready to haul the remains to the junk yard and take scrap value for it. Seriously.

A life-long friend of Ted's continuously from grade school stepped in and said, "Nothing doing; if you don't want it at your place, bring it to mine and it will be stored inside until after we're both gone."

At that point, Ted thankfully decided to keep it at home after all. BP

[Bob Andrews]

I have the gas pedal from that car, that spend so much time mashed to the floorboard. My plan for it is to combine it with an autographed copy of that turning wheels featuring the car, and that great custom photo I had done, and give the package as either an auction or raffle item for a suitable benefit at some point. Or maybe it will end up in some museum. Plenty of places for a memento package like that of one of the greatest race cars to ever exist!

[DEEPNHOCK]

He should crush it into a blue cube and keep it as a doorstop then...
It could hold the door open at the SNM...
Picking at it reminds me of King Tut's tomb.

'Still somewhat true, Jeff...but over a year ago, he had "picked" it to such an extent that he was ready to haul the remains to the junk yard and take scrap value for it. Seriously.

A life-long friend of Ted's continuously from grade school stepped in and said, "Nothing doing; if you don't want it at your place, bring it to mine and it will be stored inside until after we're both gone."

At that point, Ted thankfully decided to keep it at home after all. BP

[BobPalma]

He should crush it into a blue cube and keep it as a doorstop then...
It could hold the door open at the SNM...
Picking at it reminds me of King Tut's tomb.

Trust me, Jeff; the "picking and parting" was 100% his idea...a somewhat surprising one, admittedly. BP

[Peanut]

It strikes me as rather amazing that the plastic bullet survived the crash intact. The way the front end was folded down, it seems nearly (but, obviously, not entirely) impossible.

Whatever the fate of the car, I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say that we're all thrilled that Ted is still here to part her out or not!

[BobPalma]

It strikes me as rather amazing that the plastic bullet survived the crash intact. The way the front end was folded down, it seems nearly (but, obviously, not entirely) impossible.

Whatever the fate of the car, I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say that we're all thrilled that Ted is still here to part her out or not!

GOD intended Ted and the bullet(!) to survive, Matt.

It's as simple as that.

Some things are irreplaceable. BP

[StudeMichael]

The ultimate would be to clone it and create the "Chicken Hawk II".