History 'The Duke' 5 window drag coupe

So it's a familiar story. Whilst browsing your social media a picture pops up that piques your interest and you want to know more information about it.
Having just been lucky enough to score a 5 window coupe, historical pictures with these as the subject have become a source of inspiration.
So I discovered this picture from back in the day of a really cool drag coupe christened 'The Duke'. Being so distinctive I thought a google search would throw up more info on it but no, this appears to be the only snap of it.
So does anyone else have the skinny on this rad bit of history?
Untitled by Gavin Meanley, on Flickr

 

I would say that was in the early days of drag racing when some of the drag cars were re-birthed sprint cars like the one on the left. Possibly late 50's based on the cars in the background. That would be a good base for your build as you never got any fenders and could just buy some glass rears and trim them to suit. I don't think the rear slicks would be ideal in your case though LOL

 

Following.

George Klass, our resident drag racing expert, has this under his copy of the pic.

http://georgeklass.net/altereds.html

There's a lot going on in this photo. In the center is "The Duke", a 5-window Ford coupe running in the C/Altered class and on the left, a maroon colored sprint car turned dragster, and the guy on the right working on what appears to be a blue hemi powered dragster. On the extreme left, and out of view in this photo, is most likely a big breasted lady in a halter top, which is why all the guys in this photo are looking in that direction. If the black '56 Chevy in the background was brand new on the day this photo was taken, it would have been 62 years ago...

 

Sure looks to be a poly engine which would make it very unique!

 

Killer coupe.

 

I’ve been trying to blow up the original on Klass’ website, to read the signage in the background.

 

Still no real info on the car but I did uncover another cool picture of it.
Untitled by Gavin Meanley, on Flickr

 

Well, there's a '57 in the background, so we've bumped it up a year.

 

More pieces to the puzzle.
A friend posted this picture on instagram and, after checking out the wicked 34 with the engine set back, I realised it was 'The Duke' in the other lane.
Untitled by Gavin Meanley, on Flickr
Another friend managed to find the race programme and the car was entered by R.D. Dodson of Fort Worth TX who also ran a rail in the same year.
A quick google search revealed that, prior to being christened the Duke, the car was featured on the front cover of LIFE magazine in April 1957.
Untitled by Gavin Meanley, on Flickr

So a bit more of the history is unearthed.

 

It is nice to find the history. Many of these old hot rods could really tell us some stories.

 

Sweet racer.

 

Very cool.

 

I've loved that issue of "Life" for years. No wonder I thought the Duke was so cool.

 

Neat story so far and just a cool name.

 

@ukgav can't wait to see your take on 'The Duke' maybe a John Wayne fan perhaps...

Darn good detective work Hambers...