My dad and I pulled a Hemi powered dragster out of the woods and put it back together using parts that the previous owner had kept since the early 1960's. You may have seen a glimpse of this car in Hot Rod Magazine (April 2017) or on the web, but I wanted to tell the whole story on my Youtube channel. The video is little over 17 minutes long, and shows some old photos, as well as how we found the car and what we did to piece it back together. Jim Smith built the car and raced it from 1962 to 1964 in Southeast Tennessee...when he quit drag racing, he hung the chassis in his Dodge/Plymouth dealership, and eventually retired it to the woods with a bunch of other old cars. I loved learning about the car from the man who built it and then scrounging around in the woods to find all the parts and pieces. We pieced together what was left of it (plus a few other parts necessary for it to roll), and took it back to the woods where we got it. Anyway, the video tells all...just figured you guys might like it. Pictures: Video: The car is very rough, but that's to be expected. I don't intend on the car ever being drivable, but I do plan to someday build the bodywork like it had in the '60s and build a usable engine so that we can fire it up from time to time. As it is right now, it's just on static display in our garage full of old drag car junk. My long term goal is to haul it up to Bowling Green to display at the Hot Rod Reunion.
Very cool story and vid. What a treat it must have been for him to get to see it together again. You done good, son
Cool story. Im in cleveland. We have a cruise in once a month at shake shack. Would love to see you bring it by. I would bet a lot of the crould would know about it since most of them are retired. Sent from my smartass phone when it wants toThe H.A.M.B. mobile app
Today is the day of the HAMB DRAGS!!!!!!!!!,...…. so think about it. It doesn't always have to be static, I'm sure that more people than me would love to see the old girl burn some rubber! Oh well, it's totally cool as is! -Dave
Very very very cool. I love the old and new pictures with the black tie! Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
He was as cool as they come. He was also a school teacher and principal during the 1960's. Very talented and very smart guy.
Very inspiring. Love what you Coool guys do for the old 'stars'... Remember the days like yesterday, my bud had a NEW '63 Plymouth 426, I tuned it. Street racing, it made us $$$... Engine in the digger looks just like the one in our '31 Plymouth P-A Coupe. 392 with six 97s, Weiand Drag Star intake, six Stromberg 'Firepots'. Howard's cam, Crane pushrods, JE pistons, Grant rings. My old bud passed away a couple of years ago, has a grown son that has the old Plymouth Coupe now. (Car was kept inside, since...1969???) Jack's son is working on the '31 Plymouth now, wish Jack was alive to see it... Kudos to you, you guys are priceless.
I was thinking the same thing, but considering all the other cars parked there a 1963 Plymouth makes a lot more sense.
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