It takes very little to get the guys a’runnin’ over when we mention the venerable Linda Vaughn. The effervescent spokes model for Hurst Shifters during the mid-1960s all the way…heck, who are we kidding?, until today. Linda is still one the most iconic personnas of vintage racing and continues to attend shows, events and sign autographs for doting admirers.

This video is a great piece of history, capturing a snapshot of the muscle car heyday – namely the US Nationals from – what we can deduce as 1968. Atop her custom platform above the rear decklid of a then-new black-and-gold ’69 H/O convertible (there were only two built, both by special request of George Hurst), Ms. Hurst Golden Shifter herself, Linda Vaughn waves to the crowd and even plants a wet one on legendary NHRA chief starter, Buster Couch.

Linda atop the Olds for a slow pass down the 1320 to the crowd’s delight before the film cuts to television star and host, Dick Smothers and his tuned ’68 Oldsmobile. The Olds wasn’t a 4-4-2 as many mistake it for, but a W-31, or a Ram Air small block 350 with a manual four-speed – the shifter appropriately provided by Hurst. The film shows Dick rowing away on the manual with gusto.

Comically – and somewhat appropriate given the comedy duo’s penchant for satire, the announcer claims a “10 second pass” while the velocity of the shifts and the body language of Dick – in addition to our understanding that the likelihood of a 10-second pass in 1968 out of a W-31 is all but impossible – speak otherwise.

Unfortunately, you’re going to have to click THIS LINK to watch the minute-long video.