History Comp Coupes, All but forgotten?

Here's Bob Gallahan and Ronnie Bohn's Comp coupe, the "Tin Lizzie". Strong runner out of Virginia. Ronnie was also flagman at Old Dominion Speedway and worked the counter at Big Ed's Speed Shop. He later had his own "Ron's Speed Shop". Great guy.

 

More of the same car

 

Never saw this action shot Dave. I had another picture of Ronnie welding the chassis but can't find it anywhere.

 

I have an original 1930 Austin Coupe and a 32 roadster. Both stock. After seeing these photos it is amazing any Austin/Bantam survived without becoming a drag car.

 

great thread guys, hope we can see more pics!

 

Bill Coburn and Neal Leffler took the engines from their respective comp coupes, and created the "Iron Mistress". It was way to heavy to live up to their expectations.

 

Didn't Cal Auto make fiberglass Bantam bodies for this application? I remember my visit to Garlits Museum and there was a comp coupe there with a fiberglass Bantam body on it, really neat! And then some years later I heard of a Canadian company that was repopping the body? I dunno, old age makes it tough to recall. But thanks Robert for this thread, I really like Comp Coupes/Sedans. Too bad Dean is right, NHRA has gone to homogenized drag racing, everything looks the same, the individuality has disappeared and with it the spectators for the most part. I got my first drag racing trophy at Dover (Wingdale, NY) in 1962 and back then the panorama in the pits was amazing with regard to body styles and engine brands.

 

The old cal auto mold is still alive and living here in norcal. I had the owner repop the body I`m using on my car. It`s stock height so I had to chop it 3 inches but it came out ok. I`m running a six with a glide and a modern cage so it doesn`t fit this thread with all this great old machinery being shown

 

Hollish brothers Miscalculation 1


The Sattlemeir's The Drifter

 

The other end.

 

Pierre Poncia, right?

 

Charlie's Business Coupe, owned by Charlie Mews, Pierre owned the engine and drove it, Pierre inherited it a while back. It was a staple at the Nostalgia Drags at Fremont, I even raced it once in qualifying. According to Pat Ganahl's book, Lost Hotrods 2, it started racing around '61 as Sumner & Burt, Charlie was a crew member at that time.

 

Great info Marty. Thanks to you and Pat. I first saw it at Sears Point and always enjoyed Pierre.

 

There is a facebook page, "Competition Coupes and Modified Roadsters" lots of pictures and history check it out if you facebook. They just posted this gem, the Honker honkin thought I'd share it, I love this car.

 

Threads like this continue to get me in trouble with the wife....

"Honey, I want to build one....."

 

No that is not Miscalculation.

 

Comp coupes don't come any nastier than Eddie Potter's "Sudden Death" Simca!

 

@nickthebandit P.M.ed my about this car-

Andy Sheehan from Connecticut.
He mostly ran a small block Chevrolet, but Andy did run a 322 Nailhead.

Nick's son Joe has the Nailhead in his collection

 

These were the Glory Day's of Drag Racing for sure!!!
For me personally today's version of drag racing does not even come close to what it was like years ago.

I would rather watch a Nostalgic Event any day.
Just my opinion.

Jimbo

 

Bringing this thread back to the top.

Could this become a new project???

Let's see some more.....

 

The coupe being towed by the Caddy is the car owned and driven by the Lyckliter (sp?) Bros. of Staunton, VA

 

The Bantam coupe was owned by Jake Shuljack, held the 1320 record for BFC, saw it at Bakersfield in '61 or '62.


Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Throw Down in T-Town..

 

Hello,

The Leffler Bros coupe, “World’s Fastest Coupe,” made a swing to the West Coast of California in 1959-60. They raced at a lot of the local strips. Here is a compilation of their run through several of the places where I filmed the drag races. (Lions and Bakersfield) It was an impressive coupe to say the least… Even though, he got a "California Stop" running start against the Gerry Card coupe at the 1960 Bakersfield Smokers Meet. Red light …? You be the judge… (The Lefflers moved to So Cal in 1960) Californian’s are known for their “California Stop” folklore, but, this super-fast, record holding, transplanted, visitor, takes the cake…a win is a win?

Jnaki