Timmy Keown's show car a cousin to the "Black Widow"

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 6:56pm — Diane Dyer

Morgantown resident Timmy Keown’s 1957 Chevrolet Sedan is a cousin to the Black Widow car. The one fifty, or 150 is not the usual 1957 Chevy Belair that you see. The 150 is a special model that General Motors made especially for Police departments, Taxi Companies and Delivery Companies. In its more unusual form it rolled off the assembly line ready for drag racing known as the “Black Widow”, mainly because of its racing bite and because it came in only black and white.

Timmy’s model of the 150 came with a fuel injected 283 cubic inch engine which was rated at 283 horsepower. The fuel injection would have added about $480 to the the base price of $2,238 of the vehicle. Other popular options for that year were Power Steering: $70, Power Brakes: $54,Power Windows: $102, Power Seat: $43, Air Conditioning: $565.

Timmy has finagled and tinkered with the car until he’s got it just about to where he wants it. It sports air conditioning, power steering, power windows and a new engine that puts out over three hundred and fifty horsepower. He and his son Jon annually take it to show at the National Hot Rod Reunion which is held over Father's Day weekend at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green.

The Reunion is a huge gathering of race cars, show cars and anybody that just plain likes old cars. The Event this year drew 38,000 participants in just one of the three days that it is held. The cars are often one of a kind and the action is non stop but the best parts is as Timmy puts it “It’s great to get back together with real friends”.

Show cars at the Reunion.