While this Model A isn’t one of the first Gassers ever built, I’d say it was built some time in the early ’60s, it has a great look to it and is definitely the real deal. I’ve seen a number of more recently built Gassers and they just aren’t quite the same as the ones built during the Gasser era of drag racing. They have a certain purposefulness to them that I really appreciate. Everything you see here had one purpose, to make it go faster down the quarter mile! It was recently found in a barn, where it had been parked since 1968. It’s in need of a lot of work now, but it sure would be a fun project to undertake. If you’d like to take it on, you can find it here on eBay in Batesville, Indiana with a BIN of $22k.
Based on the engine, various other parts and the style of the interior, I’d guess who ever built it started putting it together in the late ’50s or early ’60s. The engine is a ’62 327 V8 with heads from a ’65. The supercharger and Hilborn fuel injection don’t have date codes, but they look to be about the same vintage. These cars were typically upgraded as time went on, getting a bit quicker with each part, so it’s hard to know for sure exactly when they were built.
The seller claims it was drag raced in ’68, right before being put in storage. No reason is given as to why it was parked. Perhaps it was too scary for the owner or maybe it just wasn’t fast enough. Although the most likely of reasons was a mechanical failure of some type. The seller has the engine partially disassembled, but no reason why is given. They do state that the engine turns by hand, so hopefully it still has compression and no damage!
Gassers really are an interesting part of drag racing history. You might have seen them on the street from time to time, but they were built for one purpose and that was to go fast in a straight line. As much as I’d love to drive this one down the road, the solid front axle probably isn’t the best for handling or comfort. It will be interesting to see what this one goes for and what ends up happening with it. So would you restore this dragster or would you put it back together, only updating what’s necessary to get it back on the road and safe to drive? I’d go for the later option, but what about you?
Clean it up, make it a show car.
May as well start from scratch, if you’d like to run the 1/4 mile with a gasser.
This car would not pass a safety inspection at any drag event without a thorough upgrade and refitting.
I looked at this listing, and immediately thought of this one:
http://barnfinds.com/period-drag-racer-1931-ford-model-a/
For once, Josh, I’m diggin’ the patina! Clean the windows, make it run and stop — as well as it could, anyway — and enjoy! This car has a look it would be very difficult to recreate.
I doubt it would be fast enough to be a whole lot of fun as a racer, but as a show/exhibit/occasional drives piece, it’s already a winner.
You could run it at the strip as long as you didn’t go below 12 seconds 1/4 mile. Of course you would need belts in it, but I love these suicide rides. I love to drive this!
Love everything about it, hopefully someone does a sympathetic restoration (with the obvious safety improvements) to run vintage exhibition. Static it’s menacing just as I remembered these things, but who wouldn’t want to feel the ground shaking as it hops off the line. BTW, anyone notice what that lightweight seat is? Eames fiberglass office chair with the wire base cut down! Must have been a popular choice, there’s one in this gasser featured a year ago:
http://barnfinds.com/period-drag-racer-1931-ford-model-a/
It should be left as is and put in a museum as it is an excellent example of our past automotive history.
Looks like something Herman Munster and Grampa built! I think it freaky-cool.
Get it safe, leave as much original as possible, run with these guys
http://www.southeastgassers.com/
I suppose because it was built 50 years ago when there were lots of As around it is historic, but, sorry guys, I still think this is an ugly thing to do to what was likely a driveable stock coupe. What a waist. Build stuff like this out of bodies that are already beat.
First picture above: I just found a new background wallpaper for my PC !!! Absolutely love it. Regretfully, any work that goes into making it drivable and (somewhat) safe, will take away from the allure.
That is just cool,the troublemaker that still resides in this geezer,would love to put it back on the street and really blow the doors off some of the obnoxious little twits with their ridiculous lowered,wheels on their sides,POS’s.
Seems more like mid-60s with the piecrust slicks and the injector scoop and the 12 spokers on front. Pretty cool!
Lion, when this was built it was a $50 car, if that. Now, even restored, it isn’t worth more than $8k.
Lion, when this was built it was a $50 car, if that. Now, even restored, it isn’t worth more than $8k. And with no front brakes, it makes it more fun!
Clean it up, get it running to it’s former glory, make it safe to drive and go for it.
I’d definitely leave the blue plex in place if it’s in good shape. If not, I’d put blue plex back in it.