The Jalopy Journal

**Jive-Bomber** · 02-19-2010, 08:25 AM

Yes, this is the famous Chrisman Brother's dragster you all know and love. In the late 30s, this car was created by Harry Lewis as one of the first purpose-built "Modified" racers. It changed hands quite a number of times before ownership by Road Run...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

1950ChevySuburban · 02-19-2010, 09:14 AM

Cool little car, simple and perfect!

29 sedanman · 02-19-2010, 09:31 AM

It is great to see this feature on the HAMB. Dougs son, Roy is a good friend and a long time HAMB member (Racer5C) and is a big hot rod and racing history buff. I know he will enjoy seeing this.

Joshua Shaw · 02-19-2010, 12:58 PM

One of Doug's sons, Roy Caruthers (Racer 5c) will chime in with TONS of info.. That car was defiantly super nice for the era sporting lots of chrome. Roy has a Flatty powered Model A that my ol' man lettered #'s on the door and put the C&C Spl. on the hood like the modified.

Good story.. Thanks,

Joshua Shaw

racer5c · 02-19-2010, 01:47 PM

I am working on a replica, but finding all the correct parts is kind of hard, I finally scored the correct 1923 franklin front axle and steering. Hope to have it done within the next year

Roy Caruthers

woodbox · 02-19-2010, 02:14 PM

We have a clone of this car here in NZ. It has been driven in every kind of speed event possible I think, including Drags, Salt, Hill climb, Dirt track, even on the road.
Here is some shots from another forum of the Dust-up dirt track racing.

racer5c · 02-19-2010, 03:58 PM

My replica will be of the car as it was when my dad had it

Ron Mayes · 02-19-2010, 04:03 PM

I have a pic of my Dad standing beside it, taken just before WW2 ( ill find and post) Roy what other parts do you need ??

racer5c · 02-19-2010, 04:34 PM

trying to figure out what to do for hubs, and a few other odds and ends have most of the hard stuff finally, actually I got an e mail from my step dad yesterday he had lunch wth Chrisman yesterday and they were discussing the Franklin Hartford Friction shocks on the car, I don't think they were on it when my dad had it, but I am not sure.

"They are Franklin Hartford friction shocks. He made the rears and the fronts are the original"

**Jimmy B** · 02-19-2010, 05:27 PM

For a car that had so many owners it is amazing how little its overall appearance changed.

Definitely the most beautiful modified ever.

**wizzard23** · 02-19-2010, 05:45 PM

I built 2 models of this car several years ago. The black #6 and the Christman version. Gave them both away, so no pics. I always liked this car and it's good to see it on here.

Theo Douglas · 02-19-2010, 06:27 PM

Great post! And you know what else is interesting about it? Apparently Earl Bruce wrote the story headlined "Hot-Rod Jockey."

Was he a magazine writer--and a '29 roadster owner--in addition to running the Big Top bar and owning (still) that '40 Ford with blanked-out quarter windows?

Someone should do a post exclusively on Earl Bruce.

Just sayin'!

**GARY?** · 02-19-2010, 08:41 PM

The Caruthers era of this car is my favorite.
There's a great Gus Mannum drawing of it when it was Doug's. I'll try to scan it.

thanks for getting this thread/ball rolling.

Joshua Shaw · 02-19-2010, 10:21 PM

I got it Corn boy.. Good call!!!

**The37Kid** · 02-19-2010, 11:40 PM

I just like OLD stuff, what was it it running back in the Banger days with Buffalo wires?

Ron Mayes · 02-19-2010, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshua Shaw

I got it Corn boy.. Good call!!!

That would make a Killer shirt

**Jimmy B** · 02-20-2010, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The37Kid

I just like OLD stuff, what was it it running back in the Banger days with Buffalo wires?

originally had a Rajo T and later updated to what I believe was a Miller-Schofield topped banger.

DirtyWoody28 · 02-20-2010, 12:49 AM

what is that grill shell off of?

**The37Kid** · 02-20-2010, 01:56 AM

Thanks Jimmy! That looks like a BB RAJO, the head to have back in the day.

racer5c · 02-20-2010, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtyWoody28

what is that grill shell off of?

I have been told two different things, originally I was told it was a modified 32 chrysler, but Jim Miller from the AHRF told me he has documentation that it is a Miller Grill Shell

02-19-2010, 08:25 AM	#1
Jive-Bomber Alliance Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Moraga, Ca Posts: 2,419	The Doug Caruthers Modified Yes, this is the famous Chrisman Brother's dragster you all know and love. In the late 30s, this car was created by Harry Lewis as one of the first purpose-built "Modified" racers. It changed hands quite a number of times before ownership by Road Run... To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

02-19-2010, 09:14 AM	#2
1950ChevySuburban Member Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 6,239	Re: The Doug Caruthers Modified Cool little car, simple and perfect! __________________ *My '29 Sedan build thread can be viewed here:* /showthread.php?t=635145

02-19-2010, 09:31 AM	#3
29 sedanman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Indy Posts: 2,324	Re: The Doug Caruthers Modified It is great to see this feature on the HAMB. Dougs son, Roy is a good friend and a long time HAMB member (Racer5C) and is a big hot rod and racing history buff. I know he will enjoy seeing this. __________________ Tracy Turner

02-19-2010, 12:58 PM	#4
Joshua Shaw Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cincinnasty Ohio Posts: 2,076	Re: The Doug Caruthers Modified One of Doug's sons, Roy Caruthers (Racer 5c) will chime in with TONS of info.. That car was defiantly super nice for the era sporting lots of chrome. Roy has a Flatty powered Model A that my ol' man lettered #'s on the door and put the C&C Spl. on the hood like the modified. Good story.. Thanks, Joshua Shaw __________________ In Racing, You can be CHEAP, FAST, or SAFE... ...pick TWO.

02-19-2010, 01:47 PM	#5
racer5c Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Indianapolis In USA Posts: 2,174	Re: The Doug Caruthers Modified I am working on a replica, but finding all the correct parts is kind of hard, I finally scored the correct 1923 franklin front axle and steering. Hope to have it done within the next year Roy Caruthers __________________ Proud Member of the S.C.T.A. Road Runners, and Indianapolis 500 Oldtimers

02-19-2010, 02:14 PM	#6
woodbox Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Whangarei New Zealand Posts: 592	Re: The Doug Caruthers Modified We have a clone of this car here in NZ. It has been driven in every kind of speed event possible I think, including Drags, Salt, Hill climb, Dirt track, even on the road. Here is some shots from another forum of the Dust-up dirt track racing. __________________ There is only one sure thing in this life.....and that's doubt.....I think!

02-19-2010, 03:58 PM	#7
racer5c Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Indianapolis In USA Posts: 2,174	Re: The Doug Caruthers Modified My replica will be of the car as it was when my dad had it __________________ Proud Member of the S.C.T.A. Road Runners, and Indianapolis 500 Oldtimers

02-19-2010, 04:03 PM	#8
Ron Mayes Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bowling Green Ky Posts: 679	Re: The Doug Caruthers Modified I have a pic of my Dad standing beside it, taken just before WW2 ( ill find and post) Roy what other parts do you need ?? __________________ Wynonna's got a big brown beaver

02-19-2010, 04:34 PM	#9
racer5c Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Indianapolis In USA Posts: 2,174	Re: The Doug Caruthers Modified trying to figure out what to do for hubs, and a few other odds and ends have most of the hard stuff finally, actually I got an e mail from my step dad yesterday he had lunch wth Chrisman yesterday and they were discussing the Franklin Hartford Friction shocks on the car, I don't think they were on it when my dad had it, but I am not sure. "They are Franklin Hartford friction shocks. He made the rears and the fronts are the original" __________________ Proud Member of the S.C.T.A. Road Runners, and Indianapolis 500 Oldtimers

02-19-2010, 05:27 PM	#10
Jimmy B Alliance Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Tweed Valley, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,085	Re: The Doug Caruthers Modified For a car that had so many owners it is amazing how little its overall appearance changed. Definitely the most beautiful modified ever. __________________ I don't paint by numbers. Hot Rods of the Dry Lakes Era jimmy

02-19-2010, 05:45 PM	#11
wizzard23 Alliance Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Skid Row KS Posts: 686	Re: The Doug Caruthers Modified I built 2 models of this car several years ago. The black #6 and the Christman version. Gave them both away, so no pics. I always liked this car and it's good to see it on here. __________________ Cheap Bourbon Whiskey and Pearl Snap Shirts

02-19-2010, 06:27 PM	#12
Theo Douglas Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Long Beach, CA, USA Posts: 812	Re: The Doug Caruthers Modified Great post! And you know what else is interesting about it? Apparently Earl Bruce wrote the story headlined "Hot-Rod Jockey." Was he a magazine writer--and a '29 roadster owner--in addition to running the Big Top bar and owning (still) that '40 Ford with blanked-out quarter windows? Someone should do a post exclusively on Earl Bruce. Just sayin'!

02-19-2010, 08:41 PM	#13
GARY? Alliance Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,681	Re: The Doug Caruthers Modified The Caruthers era of this car is my favorite. There's a great Gus Mannum drawing of it when it was Doug's. I'll try to scan it. thanks for getting this thread/ball rolling.

02-19-2010, 10:21 PM	#14
Joshua Shaw Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cincinnasty Ohio Posts: 2,076	Re: The Doug Caruthers Modified I got it Corn boy.. Good call!!! Attached Thumbnails __________________ In Racing, You can be CHEAP, FAST, or SAFE... ...pick TWO.

02-19-2010, 11:40 PM	#15
The37Kid Alliance Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ridgefield, Ct. Posts: 15,683	Re: The Doug Caruthers Modified I just like OLD stuff, what was it it running back in the Banger days with Buffalo wires?

02-20-2010, 12:49 AM	#18
DirtyWoody28 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: columbus oh Posts: 598	Re: The Doug Caruthers Modified what is that grill shell off of? __________________ How to kill a rat: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=448252

02-20-2010, 01:56 AM	#19
The37Kid Alliance Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ridgefield, Ct. Posts: 15,683	Re: The Doug Caruthers Modified Thanks Jimmy! That looks like a BB RAJO, the head to have back in the day.

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