Projects Dragmaster Dragster Found Hanging On A Wall.

My son was on Central Motors Body Shop facebook page back on April 2015 looking at distressed interior pictures when this dragster hanging against the wall caught his attention. Central Motors is in Dumas TX., about 40 minutes from our home in Amarillo. My son knows Bobby the owner so after a few phone calls we made the deal and 3 weeks later the dragster was at our shop.

 

Bitchin!


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Score!!!

 

We got it to our shop and replaced 2 of the 3 bent frame tubes, rebuilt the steering box, and cleaned the home made butterfly style steering wheel before deciding to document the build with pictures. This is going to be a cool build resurrecting a vintage dragster.

 

Bobby at Central Motors told us the Dragster was a Dragmaster that is unique because of the right side steering, and that he had bought it from a moderator here on the HAMB "Royalshifter." I did a search and found a thread started by Kiwi Kev 02/25/07 "Look what some lucky bastard by the name of Royalshifter scored" It gave some history of the Dragmaster, and how Royalshifter found it at Turners Auto Salvage. Here are 2 pictures of the chassis from the thread as found by Royalshifter.

 

Nice knuckle, nice pan, nice digger, what mill ya gonna use?

 

It's going to be a 283 sbc, Hilborn injected, 6-71 blower, bored and stroked, with period correct speed equipment.

 

Sounds sweet.....4 port injection?

 

do you know who campaigned that dragster?

 

Dragmaster was around in my younger days and they did not appeal to me then, however I would love to have that one. On the plus side they were very comfrontable to sit in, good vision and good safety for the time.

 

2 port for the time

 

It's going to be a 2 port, I've been researching since we got the car in 2015 and have been lucky enough to find some old timers that are searching for pictures also. Before the Dragster was purchased by Turners Auto, it was found at San Luis Obispo CA. The car was always black, including the interior. Maybe this thread will help with the search for history.

 

Actually he bought it from me and I bought it from Royalshifter a couple years before that, when he had it advertised in the classifieds.

 

Thanks, that ads to the history I'm putting together. I tried to research the old classifieds here to see if I could find what it sold for originally but didn't have any luck finding the original ad.

 

Cool thread!

 

1947 Canuk: Charles....is that you?
Rich

 

It's me. Stop by when you get the time.

 

Make sure you read the NHRA rulebook and check with your local NHRA chassis inspector to see if it can be made NHRA legal. In the state it's in now you won't be able to run it. Many guys just like taking their vintage dragsters to events just for show. So by all means it's a great project either way.

 

Great start for a period correct dragster. This is going to be COOL!!!

 

Call Jerry Turner, he owns Turner's Auto Wrecking in Fresno. Jerry is 88 years young and grew up working that yard. Don't be surprised if he remembers the car. He has an amazing memory. As far as parts goes, I think Jerry has at least one of every part ever made. I recently took a friend there for the first time and all he says now is " I gotta go back, I gotta go back!". If there is a history, Jerry will know something.

 

yep - Cool project

 

I remember that dragster, and it's story here on the HAMB. Every time I see a short wheel-based FED, it makes me regret selling mine in the later 80's. It still races in Oregon, but now has a Ford motor; last I knew, it was called "The Oregon Outlaw II". I called it "Short Circuit" when I owned it because of the 120 inch wheel-base. Of all my drag cars, it was the one I had the most fun with. I still have my fire suit (does't fit any longer???), and a spare (new) parachute pack left over. NHRA Rule Book will get the specs you need, but it probably won't tech; for one thing, the lower rail has to be continuous, and can't be notched like the old Dragmaster's were. For a static display it's fine, and there are't a lot of Dragmaster's left. I'll be watching this build. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

Hello 1947k,
Great find and rebuild coming... Here is a collection of the original Dragmaster Group from Carlsbad, CA back in 59-60. Also, there are some variations of the chassis and owners. The original group (Dode Martin/Jim Nelson) was all over So Cal racing their design with a Potvin style 671 blower. They always put on a great show. Dode Martin is still around in San Diego County. I was able to be at Lions, Riverside and Bakersfield to film them in action.
Jnaki
Here is a photo from Bob Schlegel of Hellzapoppin A/Gas dragster that is right up your story build. It is from this book:


complete dragmaster clips so cal...

 

It would be a shame to chop that car up to make it comply with modern NHRA rules....There are some vintage events,and tracks out there that would let you do a faithful restoration of it,then make "exhibition " passes with it.
That car would be perfect for the Meltdown Drags in Byron Illinois in July!

Scott


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I was going to say the same. Rad shop and toys inside! Good luck with the project.

 

To find a car in this good a condition is remarkable, and should be kept as is and restored, to take and try and make it legal devalues its worth, its like using a $100 bill to make a counterfit $20 bill

 

Nice addition to the other cool toys you have.

 

Due to the design of the Dragmaster the car can not made current NHRA legal. Restore it to 1962 and mae some limited runs wherever you can. Look up Pete Robinson,s car and go from there. Keep us posted.

 

Nice!

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