History The Chrisman family before the famous Super Cyclone Comet

Get this done first LOL all credit to: https://federicodecalifornia.wordpr...rnias-baddest-hotrodding-family-the-chrismans

The Chrismans were an interesting family this a is a story history BEFORE THIS


Jack Chrisman in his Nitro-Burning Comet Super Cyclone~Fontana Drags, 1965


In 1950 Art & Lloyd had been racing a modified ’32 Ford roadster on the dry lakes like Harper & El Mirage, north of L.A., near Palmdale in the Mojave.

Ed Losinski/Chrisman’s Garage ’32 Highboy-El Mirage Dry Lake-1949



Then in 1953 they set their sights on the Salt Flats at Bonneville & built the nastiest Ford coupe they could conjure up. Based on a 1930 ‘A’ Coupe, Art & Lloyd built a very hi-tech for its day-tube frame, dropped in an injected, bored & stroked Flathead V8, running on a 50/50 Nitromethane & Pump Gas mix – behind the driver with a sectioned, lightened chop-top body channelled over the frame, and an ingenious streamlined nose made from 2 ’40 Ford hoods laid top-to-bottom, the Chrisman’s built what could be considered the world’s first Fuel ‘Funny Car’. A design concept basically shared by all Fuel dragsters & Funny Cars racing today, over 50 years later. but no one knew that…yet.

The Chrismans roll out the very High-Tech Chrisman Coupe – ‘Straight Outa Compton’, 1952



In 1954 the Chrismans returned to Bonneville, with a new Ford V8 in the Coupe, and used its previous engine for the Roadster, now fielding 2 cars on the Salt, and sponsoring a third. It would be 15 years before other Race Teams would have the organization, skill and funding to field 2 and 3-car teams. Today it takes millions of company sponsorship dollars to do so. Sporting a new Super-Flathead V-8, with Ardun ‘Hemi’ heads, the predecessor to all current drag-racing engines, The Baddest Motor Scooter of its Day. With about 285-300 hp available, the Chrisman Coupe was approaching200 mph on the salt.

The Chrisman Roadster & Coupe in the Background, Bonneville


The Chrisman Coupe • Wendover Motel, Utah ~ Ready to Make History



In 1955 The Chrisman Boys, Art & Lloyd, returned again, this time with a blown Chrysler Hemi, capable of pushing the Coupe well over 200 mph. The Chrismans withdrew from competition after a friend was killed that day in another car. Shortly thereafter the Chrisman Coupe was sold, never to be raced (by Art & Lloyd) again. In 2008, the restored version of this car was sold at auction for over $500,000.00 and is displayed at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, not far from where it was built in the Chrisman’s Garage in Compton, not 5 miles away, 50-plus years before.


Evil Chrisman Bros. Coupe- Bonneville 1954. Nasty & Feared by the Competition.


The Chrisman Coupe set up for Drag Racing, Pomona, CA 1954



In between runs, The Chrisman Coupe chasing the 200MPH Club at Bonneville



Along comes Jack.

Keeping it All in the Family, along came nephew Jack Chrisman, following in his Father’s and Uncle’s footsteps…in the late 50’s, Jack built early innovative race cars for the dragstrip like the ‘SideWinder’ – one of the first with a rear-engine (and sideways-mounted, for balance), preceding the current practice not widely used until 15 years after this car was first built & ran, in 1959.

Jack Chrisman ‘SideWinder’ Dragster-Lion’s, Long Beach 1959




About 5 years later, having earned a reputation as some of the Baddest HotRodders Anywhere, and now getting some albeit, Undercover Financing from the Ford Motor Company, Jack Chrisman stuffed a leftover 427 Big-block Ford engine into a brand-new ’64 Mercury Comet.

Jack Chrisman unleashed his Monster Comet on the Drag Strip and sanctioning body NHRA didn’t even know what to call it or how to classify it, the Ultimate Sleeper – The World’s First ‘Funny Car’. Chrisman created a spectacular Mind-Blowing Crowd – Pleaser – a California Hot Rod Revolution that would set Drag Racing on its ear, and Detroit scrambling to create cars to emulate that Evil ‘MuscleCar’ Style….The Chrisman Comet Super Cyclone. A Small, Safe-looking Family Car with a 750-horsepower Monster Motor .

Jack Chrisman-Nitro-Burning Blown Hemi Super Cyclone- The 1st ‘Funny Car’ -1964




And History was made with the Super Cyclone it became a very well known drag car.

Art, Lloyd & Jack Chrisman had and would go on to build several other Winning, Feared, and ultimately Legendary Hot Rods and Race Cars over 30 years, some of which now reside in Museums.

Truly one of the more successful families of drag racing and Bonneville history.

 

Great read,thanks.

 

very Cool - Thanks

 

Thumbs up!

 

Great history lesson, thanks

 

Good stuff as always, thanks

 

How'd the chopped '29 Sedan get left out? In 1954, HRM ran a 2 page story and photos of Art's full fendered '29 A sedan, full fendered and flathead powered... The name of the article was "Torrid '29 Tudor!"
Inspired me to make a model of it.
1/32 scale was Revell's 1915 Centerdoor Model T sedan. Jeweler's saw got practically worn out on that one, cut that T into many pieces to emulate a '29 'A'...I used running gear, engine, wheels from the Revell 69 cent 'Hot Rod.
Really driven on that project...took a week of school nights, made drawings in class...LOL
After much filing and sanding, fenders looked more 'A'-ish, as did cowling and top, it was quite recognizable. Whew!

 

I wondered why the sedan was left out too. Also, the roadster was a '29 on '32 rails, not a '32.

 

Jack Chrisman was Art and LLoyd's uncle, not a nephew and a pioneering driver in the purple '29 sedan, the early sidewinders, Howard's cams "Twin Bear" dragster and Mickey Thompson's Pontiac powered dragmaster cars before the Comet. A genuine racing family, top to bottom.

 

June 24, 2017 Lions Dragstrip Museum, Long Beach,CA


Hello,

The Jack Chrisman sedan was on full display at the recent Lions Dragstrip museum opening. It has been reconditioned and looks, just fabulous. It was located in the “Jack Chrisman” corner, along with a ton of memorabilia and the Howard Cam Special, “Twin Bear” display. (with the sloped plywood nose) This Twin Bear was also reconditions with the look of the late 1960 still ringing in the air. Check out the optional metal nose and drawings...

Jnaki

The Twin Bear was captured in its silver look, but later in 1960, they painted it the maroon color and added the racy plywood.

twin bear: early version...all aluminum

 

Man would have loved to see this make a pass or three!

 

Great video Junji. Looks like Lefty beat Jack that day.

 

Can you like something twice? Thank you!!

 

Great post! Obviously Jack's cars have always interested me,
( my avatar)I have a photo on the wall of my shop of his '64 A/FX Comet that he sent me back in the 80's.
I had the pleasure of visiting Art at his shop in Santa Ana a few times, he was always very friendly and went out of his way to show us what he was working on. A personal tour of his engine room was always a memorable event.
One time when I was in So-Cal for the Grand National Roadster Show I had lunch with Art, his son Mike, Roy Fjstad, and Thom Taylor, I felt I was dining with hot rod royalty that day.

 

Some further good reading.
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/hrxp-1107-chrisman-barris-dobie-gillis-coupe/
http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=Art_and_Lloyd_Chrisman's_1930_Ford







https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/chrisman-tudor-info-please.239558/

 

From the hot rod article Mgtstumpy found

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/hrxp-1107-chrisman-barris-dobie-gillis-coupe

The Coupe's Competition Debut Was Captured In A Killer Image From The '53 Bonneville Nationals. Note Its One Year Only Entry Number, 638, And The Absence Of Wheel Discs. Other Shots From This Year Show Both The Inside And Outside Of The Covered Front Wheels. These 18 Inch, Magnesium Halibrands Wore Firestone Indy Car Rubber. Extra Streamlining Was Achieved By Taping Up The Front Windshield And Door Gaps, Contributing To A Top Speed Of 160 Plus.



One Of The First Photos Of The Rolling Chassis Shows Art (left) And Lloyd Chrisman Surveying Their Rough Bodywork Outside Chrisman's Garage In Compton, California, In Early 1953. The Low, Sleek Stance Was Created By Grafting A Chopped '35 Ford Cowl And A Pillars Onto The Severely Chopped '30 Coupe Body. The Small Scoop In The Center Of The Cowl Directed Air To Art, Who'd Struggled With A Lack Of Fresh Air While Driving Chet Herbert's Beast III The Previous Year.



Rear View? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Rear View! The Stock Decklid Was Replaced With A Single Sheet Punched With 98 Louvers. We Wish We Had A Photo Of The Full Bellypan, Also Liberally Louvered. A Pair Of Nerf Bars Attached Through The Square Openings In The Bottom Of The Panel.



Art's Dog Demonstrates The Airplane Seat's Close Proximity To Both The Windshield And Whatever Engine Was On Board To Chase A Particular Class Record. Here, A Flathead Mock Up Motor Wears Three Strombergs. Note The Innovative, Quick Disconnect Front Motor Mount, Which, Along With A Dozen Bolts Attaching The Transmission And Rearend, Enabled Quick Engine Swaps. Just Below The Door, You Can See The End Of The Lower '40 Ford Hood.



In 1955, The Coupe Received A 331 Inch D Class Hemi. On Wednesday, While Running Around 180 Mph, Art Spun Out In The Third Mile One Of The Few Times In A Long, Illustrious Driving Career That He Lost Control. He Later Said That The Course And The Lack Of Rear Suspension Contributed. On Thursday, He Ran 193 But Broke A Valve. On Friday, With A Borrowed Valve, He Turned 195. On The Final Day, Saturday, He Set A New Record Of 190.839 Mph.



Yes, 1954 Was A Wet 'n' Windy Year On The Salt. This Is The First Appearance Of Flat Wheel Discs With Protruding Spindles. What Look Like Dark Areas In The Tires Are Sections Cut From An Old Tire To Protect The Super Thin Firestone Indy Car Rubber On The Trailer. Despite The Unfavorable Conditions, Art Pushed The Coupe To 180 Mph, Running Two Different Motors. The C Class, 258 Inch Harry Duncan DeSoto Was Built By Tony Capana Of Wil Cap, Using A Stock Bore And Stroke Block Fitted With 7.5:1 Pistons, '54 Chrysler Heads Ported By George Austin, A Herbert Rollercam Cam, A Vertex Mag, And A Hilborn Injection.



Three Of The Greatest Racers And Two Of The Most Significant Cars In The History Of Straight Line Motorsports Make Up A Classic Photograph. Art (left) And Lloyd Are Swapping Gears In The Halibrand Quick Change While Art's Father, Evert, Tends To The Former Oval Track And Lakes Racer That Evolved Into One Of The First Dragsters. Von Dutch Lettered Both Race Cars, Along With The Chrisman's Garage Shop Truck. The Coupe's Aluminum Fuel Tank Held 3 Gallons Of Either Gasoline Or Nitromethane And Methanol. Cooling Water Was Contained In Twin 5 Gallon Jerry Cans Strapped To 5 Gallon Jerry Cans Strapped To Either Side Of The Engine. Notice The Solid Halibrands And Indy 500 Tires.



Here's How The Car Was Last Seen On The Salt, In The Late '50s, When Owned By Harry Duncan. Art Continued To Drive At Bonneville But Was Fast Becoming A Drag Racing Hero (especially After Winning The Inaugural Bakersfield March Meet In 1959). Note The Protective Rubber Beneath The Coupe's Tires And The Injected Hemi In The F 100's Bed. The Entire Rig Was Flamed And Lettered By Von Dutch.



Who Says Barris Didn't Do Any Work? In Early 1960, George (right) Is Hanging A New, Half Gullwing Door While Hershel tapes it up




Greg Sharp Was 15 When He Shot The Reconfigured Coupe At The '61 Long Beach Motorama.



We Can Almost Hear The Gasps From Chrisman Fans When This All Barris Cover Arrived In The Mail. Nevertheless, The XM:SC 210 Was Such A Perennial Favorite On The Car Show Scene That ISCA's Bob Larivee Bought The Car From Barris And Kept It For About 25 Years.

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/luckys-chrisman-coupe-build.319345/page-4
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=3553
Best belly pan I could find on the interweb. You can see the louvres under the QC.



Another good article to read from Hot Rod Milestones: America's Coolest Coupes, Roadsters, and Racers

Even an Ozzie land speed site has a write up where the author asserts that due to the death of someone on the salt, the focus shifted to drag racing; and another, http://wediditforlove.com/Chrisman.html

All business from this angle and a great colour: looks similar to an old local Ford colour, 'Walnut glow'

 

Several years ago Art told me the story of restoring the coupe after Barris did his thing . It was quite a story and let me say this ,, George Barris was not one of Art's favorite subjects . The restoration turned out in typical Chrisman fashion , perfect .

 

Some people are pioneers and can't help but lead the pack and dominate.

 

62417

Hello,

Last Saturday at the opening of the Lions Dragstrip museum at the Price Automobilia complex in Long Beach, there was a corner of the room that was the “Jack Chrisman” corner. It was pretty comprehensive with racing gear, leather driver’s outfit, trophies, great historic photos, the famous sedan, the Howard Cam Twin Bear, the Thunderbird that he won at the Nationals, a fire suit and the A/FX comet.

Jnaki

The early stuff, sedan, Twin Bear, memorabilia, etc. had more people browsing than the A/FX display. Most of the people there were very early racers from So Cal and knew the history of the early memorabilia that sparked their interests. There was something for everyone from every time period in the drag racing timeline from Lions. For the future, permanent display, the Twin Bear film clip may be added on a separate monitor for all those to see the race car in action.

 

Yes, The '36 moredoor was a March 1951 Hot Rod feature. Bob

 

these ar from the other site mgtstumpy found: http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=Art_and_Lloyd_Chrisman's_1930_Ford





The car as it looked like in 1954 when Harry Duncan was the owner



As it appeared in The many loves of Dobie Gillis after George Barris had purchased it.

 

Did the Comet ever get SOHC power? Looks to be a regular 427 in it.

 

The car received a cammer engine when the updated the '64 car with '65 "sheet metal". So the original '64 car does not exist in the appearance as originally raced.

 

loudbang, VERY COOL.

 

A quiet Saturday morning at the shop a few years back

 

Great thread

 

Since the title of this thread refers to the family, thought it might be appropriate to mention that Jack's daughter Lana is the new chair-elect for the SEMA Businesswomen's Network. She's currently VP of McLeod Racing.

 

Hell Yea that info is welcome.

 

I didn't get to see Art smoke the tires in the Chrysler powered "Hustler" at Bakersfield back in the day but did enjoy seeing him doing it there again at several CHRRs. He burnt the place down!