Agreed. Jocko's 'liner was pure sex on wheels, and for being built in the 50's was way ahead of anything else in the innovation and looks department.
Don't know if this will work, found it on my photo album, but don't know who to give credit to.... Sent from my SM-G930P using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Dunno, but Ohanesian takes best pushcar.. Aussie '50's rails are few, and, generally, not what you'd call pretty. There was a bare T35 Bugatti with 'vette 283, that was pretty.
I purposelly used b&w photos because most of the colored ones are too new looking to tell whether restored or clones. I did say it was the sexiest didn't I. I'll let @Dean Lowe fill in the blanks. My favorite iteration. Now that's sexy!
I drooled over these icons in the little books and saw a few run in California in the late fifties and early sixties. What a thrill
It'd have to be Jockos' 'Liner. Which has already been mentioned. A very close 2nd would be the MagWinder, by Kent Fuller. Marcus...
Some great ones mentioned already. I've always been partial to Bobby Langley's Scorpion I. Maybe because it's a Texas car.
Hello, Great memories of very cool drag cars. I definitely was fortunate to be able to see these cars at the drags. For a young kid, impressive was not the word, outstanding would be more like it. For Gary R. and DDDenny, here is a retrospective of one of my favorites in all of the early days of drag racing. The Speed Sport roadster was so cool and sleek. It just looked fast, even sitting still. Yes, I saw Jocko's car in person at his shop in Long Beach and it was a nice design. But, to me, it never lived up to its fame and glory like the Speed Sport Roadster. That red, rear engine, roadster took on everyone and usually won. All the while looking like it was ready for a take off on an aircraft carrier. Jnaki Not only did it look good, but it was so loud just idling in the pits and racing. It definitely is one of my favorites. There have been many copies of a rear engine roadster everywhere. Prince + Sinead O'connor said it best: "Nothing compares to you..."
I am honored--simply via restoration--to be included in this group. My first choice would be the Syndicate Scuderia, followed by Glass Slipper and then Speed Sport II. But so far, you guys have picked all the right ones, for sure. Cheers, Pat Ganahl
Junji, the shot of Red racing Tony Waters is a classic. Apparently we are including roadsters in this thread, so Tony Waters "Giant Killer" blown Desoto T is very deserving of a place here.
Dean, I really was on the fence due to the title sexiest "dragster". I included the Speed Sport car for a few reasons, which I'm betting you will concur. The fact that it is one of the earliest, and nicely turned out cars and the fact that it was so competitive with the fuel dragsters in top eliminator. Just wish I had been born ten years earlier to have witnessed it.
Many have given the nod to The Glass Slipper, here's a pic of it vs. a short chassis dragster. So many beautiful cars on this thread. Pure art at it's finest.
Denny, I do concur. The Speed Sport roadster was one of the most significant cars on a drag strip in the late fifties. At one point Red broke Emery Cook's absolute top speed record, and for a time the roadster was the worlds fastest drag car. The blown version is my favorite because it introduced the world to Red's air scoop.
That was on display for last years 2016 Hot Rod Reunion at the Hotel we stayed at in Bakersfield. Quite a work of art, neat to be up close and admire the detail. A beautiful piece of drag racing history for sure.
The neatest dragster I saw was the CHEVY TWO MUCH twin engine dragster of Jack Moss of Amarillo, Texas in 58/59 at the Grand Island, Nebraska dragway. Awesome!
Hey PB, I am glad someone likes the new Iacono FED dragster. It is a wonderful rehab project we all know from the high standards of Pat G. I saw the original FED in the pits and it looked different than all of the rest. So, I just happen to be in the stands filming at Lions in 1960 and saw this orange flash with an unusual sound blasting off of the line. The original Ike Iacono FED at Lions in 1960. Jnaki
It was a neat car and from what I have read it was a real labor of love for Pat to restore it. I don't know how old I was but it seems like I saw it make a pass or two up north, perhaps Half Moon Bay. As I recall from reading about the car Iocono had a kid working for him that ran if for a while in green livery. Called it the pickle or something.
How about the "Shoehorn dragster" out of Falon NV? Been chasing the remains for years and just found out it was crushed in a junkyard.
Hey Dean, (OK to add in this modified roadster in the sexiest thread, the Speed Sport Roadster included) Tony Waters light, purple, roadster was one of our favorites at Riverside and Bakersfield. That purple roadster was such a complete race car. It looked good, plus, it was also loud and fast ! The crew always looked sharp with their matching purple, Bakersfield Smokers, Inc. jackets over the all-white outfits. In those days, for the Top Eliminator trophy races, this purple roadster took on everyone, FEDs included. Jnaki It is too bad we never saw them race at Lions in Long Beach. But, at their home grounds in Bakersfield, We saw him doing well until the Speed Sport Roadster showed up during eliminations. HISTORY OF THE LATE, TONY WATERS: In 1954, Tony built a crankshaft driven, supercharged DeSoto motor and put it into his 1925 Model T track roadster, which came to be known as the “Giant Killer.” A founding member of the Smokers Car Club of Bakersfield, Tony and his partner Jim Shughrue, became the guys to beat at the tracks around the Westcoast. With help from Irv and Gary Guinn of Bakersfield, Tony dominated the Roadster Class and ended up as the runner up in the 1st March Meet in 1959 at Bakersfield. (obit: Bakersfield 2012) (below, in the dark final 1959 race) photo credit: We Did It For Love
I met Tony Waters at Bonneville a few years ago. I'd always been a fan of him and his roadster. We talked for a while, and I was embarrassed to say – "Tony, I can't remember, but years ago I remember that your roadster held either the Top Speed or E.T. record, not just for roadsters, but for all-out dragsters, too. Which one was it?" He replied, "Both."
The Jalopy Journal
