History TRADITIONAL GASSERS, Gas Class cars and modern TRADITIONAL cars.

Great batch Gary.

The Willis sedan looks to have the first prototype Moon tank.

 

The “Gold Rush” Model-A Ford two-door sedan plants the tires on Fremont’s sticky starting line against a Willys coupe. American mag wheels up front and front-end lifting power says this was a serious C/Gasser!



Keeping alive the CA blown Gasser tradition was the bright yellow Brasher & Cummings ’33 Willys coupe. “BC” was identified with the newspaper cartoon stone age characters.



L.A.D.S., best known as “Lions” or “The Beach” was Lions Associated Drag Strip, on the Long Beach harbor property. This fabled track finally closed in the 70’s but remains as one of drag racing’s most hallowed grounds. Bowlan & Bates’ A/Gas ’41 Willys pounds out a run with the famous sign in the background. Yes, the grandstands were that close to the action!



One of the most recognizable A/Gas coupes in the nation was this ‘Willys coupe. Grist Brothers chopped the top and added sharp, black paint.



Sleek profile of Grist Bros. Willys made it fast. Power from a 430 CID Lincoln engine pushed the car to NHRA A/Gas record and frequent appearances in ads for “Dempsey Wilson Racing Cams”. At Pomona.



Hamberis & Mitchell’s ’33 Willys was light and fast, powered by a blown small-block Chevy, shown here at the NHRA Nationals, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Clermont, Indiana. Note comic engine crank handle. Mike Mitchell later became a Funny Car legend as “World’s Fastest Hippie”. (Jim Hill photo)



For over 50 years the drag strip outside Bakersfield, CA has hosted historic events such as The March Meet and now the California Hot Rod Reunion. Here, in the 1960’s, a primered, just-finished Willys shows why the Famoso track has been known for its traction.



Ron Rinauro’s ’33 Willys A/GS ran often at Fremont. Like his famed “Blown Hell” ’55 Chevy, a Ted Gotelli built blown engine provided power.



The Jim Shores & Skip Hess ’48 Anglia used blown Chevy power to gain a reputation as an A/GS headliner. Wheels-up launches and big-noise were its trademark.



All-steel front end and unblown small-block Chevy power was the starting point for the Herrera & Sons ’48 Anglia. “Doug’s Headers” was original header firm founded by Doug Thorley.

 

Larry Hedlund’s ’57 Chevy was a regular at Lions Drag Strip, in Long Beach. The “Gasser Passer” ’57 Bel-Air ran 10 lbs. per CID D/Gas and 11 lbs. E/Gas.



Kohler Brothers’ “King Kong” started out as an unblown B/Gasser with injected, small-block Chevy power before adding blown big-block Chevy for A/GS.



Seems like ’33 Willys coupes were found on every street in California during the 60’s, and most became Gassers! Here’s the Warren-Miller-Warren ’33.



By the early 1960’s NHRA’s Winternationals had found a home in Pomona. Here the famed Grist Brothers big-inch Lincoln powered, chopped-top Willys takes on a C/Altered Model-A during Little Eliminator running. Note big Winternats banner and at rear, “Capitol Records” sign!



Steve Korney’s “Goldfinger” was built for match racing but ran often in BB/Altered with blown Chrysler Hemi power.



Butch Thunney’s famed red-white-blue, straight-axle, fiberglass front cap ’55 was a C/Gas staple in Street/Modified Eliminator for several years. Injected small-block and a four-speed were his calling cards.



K.S. “Tiger” Pittman found match race bookings easily available, and moved his operations east. KS joined the S&S Racing Team, from Falls Church, VA while running this ’33 Willys, blown 480 CID Chrysler powered.



Funny Car headliner “Lil John Lombardo’s beginning fare wasn’t quite as glamorous, but probably just as much fun! Here his ’37 Chevy Gasser gets away at the Winternationals, Pomona.



This old, faded photo from Dave Facey shows the MGM Racing Team, C&O Hydro, ’40 Willys truck pushing back after a run in B/GS at Winternationals.



Gary Burgin would later gain fame with his “Orange Baron” nitro Funny Cars. Here’s his early effort, an A/GS Willys in the pits.

 

Come on man, this car is totally OFF TOPIC and mot even close to the HAMB limits.
Traditional gassers please, not VEGA FUNNY CARS! Jeeez, YOU should know better my friend!
THANKS FOR DELETING IT!

 

I know, I apologize, I can delete it.

 

The Brasher & Cummigs '33 willys

Flurtin With Disaster (Owned by Jim Tipper)

Rolled in '87

Restored Version

 

This ’41 Willys, running in D/Gas, out of Antelope Valley Speed Center, was an attractive, flashy regular in California Modified Eliminator racing.



Panella Brothers ran a Southern Cal trucking business, and ran this famous blown Chevy powered, B/GS Anglia, “Il Padrone” in Super Eliminator. Driver Ken Dondero was a master of 8,500 rpm, power-shifts with a modified, crash-box Muncie M-22 four-speed.



Bob “Bones” Balough gained a reputation as an accomplished driver of numerous blown Gassers. The Bones-Dubach-Pisano ’33 Willys was one of Bones’ best efforts. The late Joe Pisano, founder of Venolia Pistons, was a partner in the 392 Chrysler powered A/GS car.



Bones is half a length behind Junior Thompson’s Austin in this A/GS face-off. Arrid background says this could be Riverside, or Carlsbad tracks.



Teixeira Brothers have long been known for immaculately finished, fast race cars. Their B/Gas, ’41 Willys carries stock Willys front cap trim, headlights and a custom grille with Chevy power inside.



that is it for California cars

 

I saw this survivor, originally from Ohio, back in 08 at a Hatfields open house event here in Texas.

 

that is it for California cars

Hey,
There were a lot of unknown fast gas coupes and sedans in So Cal that were not documented from the photogs at the big meets. They were the backyard builders with small budgets and the determination to build something fast. Here is a red primer sedan from 1959 at Riverside Raceway. It was fast and quick off of the line. Check out the wheelie shift…Wahoo…

Jnaki



Also, another unknown that was a fast 40 Willys for the B/Gas, then C/Gas class competitions.

Thanks...Rruss

 

Here's a couple of real deal Gassers that were at the GNRS - One Restored, One Not


If you were in So Cal in the 60's, you knew these two cars!

 

This car ran at Vacaville Ca on Sat nights a very clean well built car painted light gold sbc 4spd.

 

This shot looks like it may be from the Indy Nats in 1961? I'm looking for shots from this race, mainly the Super Stock and Optional Super Stock cars. Do you happen to have anymore of those?

 

This 38 belonged to a friend of my dad.
Do you remember where you got them?

 

I think I found them here on the HAMB.

 

No, sorry. Found it on google, I think it came from a pinterest page....

 

Look at George Klass Remembers-TONS of very early Super Stockers there

 

Surprised to find a '46-'48 Plymouth!

 

Lots of cars besides Willy, Anglias and Chevies! The lower classes had a variety of makes.

 

I know.
But as an owner of one, I can tell you you don't see a whole lot of these in any form.

 

Not sure about the year but the photo is definitely from Indy--that is County Road 300 N at the right of the photo.
Have you checked out Larry Davis' "Super Stock, Drag Racing the Family Sedan" book?

Roo

 

Let's get back to Gassers guys! I'm guilty too, use the "conversations" for this stuff.

 

OK Gaz,
here are a few from Australia, some of which may push the boundaries of the thread but they are what we ran in Oz in the early days of the sport there.

Alf Mullins' Brutus with a blown slant six Valiant

The same car later in life when owned by Adrian Seaman

Warren Goodall's injected Chrysler wedge powered Austin A 40-later had a blown 392

Geoff Mee's Holden six powered Thames

Jeff Burnett's blown Holden six powered early Holden

The Gatt Brothers *Ben and Joe) Y block Ford powered Anglia


Bill Pound's Mirage, a blown small block powered FJ Holden


Roo

 

I'm aware of Klass's site. In fact some of my photos have made it on there. I also have Larry Davis' book and have talked to him several times. I have many photos from Indy '61 and am always looking for more. I've searched the web and found mostly the same shots that are on Klass's site.

I'm positive this is Indy in '61. That red '61 Impala looks to have S/S on the rear window, maybe OS/S. I'm always looking for the more obscure photos from this event. In my opinion it was one of the most important races in door car racing ever but there is very few photos around. I have one very bad 8mm home movie of the S/S cars racing but that is the only video that I've ever found.... Frustrating....

 

C/GS supercharged?



Note the massive traction bars on this Colson & Wood car




Hydro- therapy willys




Hall Chevrolet





Tinker Toy by Mitchell& Biles

 

Comet Cleanser D/G

 

Whole bunch of Chevy gassers today

 

LMAO..Gassers on Facebook..Not a clue!
If you like fake spindle mounts, that's the place to go.