It took me a while, but I was able to find some history on this very unusual land speed record car called “The Anteater.” It’s currently listed for sale here on craigslist for $1,500 and is located in Pinon Hills, California.
If you look closely at the sides of the car, it was sponsored by Riverside Motorcycles. As it turns out, the owner of that business, George Conboy, was also the owner, builder, designer and driver of the Anteater, which was originally powered by a turbocharged Kawasaki motorcycle engine (no longer present).
The car features VW bug front suspension. As it turns out, we at Barn Finds have featured one of Mr. Conboy’s earlier record vehicles previously here in this post by David W. And from what I can tell, the Anteater ran at Bonneville as late as 1982. And since it was found near El Mirage Dry Lake, it probably ran there as well.
If any of you happen to know of Mr. Conboy, please fill us in on more of the details. Would you be interested in restoring this period piece? Assuming a 750 cc engine, it looks like the Anteater would currently be in SCTA class J/BFL (for 31 to 45 cubic inch blown fuel lakester) where the current record for the measured mile is 211.88 miles per hour! That’s scary fast!
This thing looks scary at 60 mph!
It’s cool, but what do you do with it. At least it’s inexpensive. At worst, someone can hang it from the rafters or on the wall of their shop as the ultimate piece of garage art. I know a couple of people that have done so with obsolete 70’s short wheelbase rear engine dragsters, they look great aged body and paint work.
Steve R
And it’s gone. Would have made for an interesting project bringing back to life.
Would’ve been something if it were
converted to an EV and run on the salt
flats. There are now electric drag cars
like the white Datsun 1200 that beat the
pants off a Camaro at a dragstrip in
Oregon a few years back. These vehicles
launch off the line really well and make a
great deal of torque as they fly down the
track. 8eally neat find! One of the best
finds I’ve seen here.
It would have been interesting to put one of my Kawasaki 750cc H2 engines in.
Bonneville 1972. George Conboy (with the elevator shoe) with Burt Munro (blk Indian shirt) examining one of Conboy’s land speed motorcycles after it caught fire.
@JunkFixer – Your comment is spectacular. It breathes life into the humdrum “here’s another car… oh, boy I’d really like to have it… blah, blah, blah.”
You can practically smell the oil in the salt air. Thank you.
Your first thumbs up was mine.
more detail
@JunkFixer – If I didn’t know better, I’d say that gentleman in the black hat, center, back, was Smokey Yunick.