Hot Rods Oddball 60s gassers

Jim, So you like those 90's front wheels?

 

What Phil said!

 

One of the worst marketing crimes/genius was bringing out multi spoke wheels and calling them 'gasser' wheels.
Which of course, they are not.

Seem to be almost compulsory now if you want a 'gasser.'

 

I can look past the wheels. I actually have a set of those wheels that I got Cheap. I use them for rollers on a lot of my builds. I really want et 5 spokes on the front and mag 4 window halibrands or mag americans in the back.

 

The original and still correct "Gas Class Car" Means that it has a body that is not chopped channeled, or sectioned, Has fenders and has an engine swapped into it that did not come in that model of car.
In 1957 a 52 Ford that was lowered to the ground, and had a 312 Thunderbird special engine in it with an overdrive trans behind it held the C/G record at Ellensberg drag strip. In 63 My buddy's 55 Chevy two door with a 62 327 and three speed got put in Gas class at Ellensberg when we drove it up to race. High school kid with a street car with whitewalls and black painted wheel with factory manifolds and dual exhaust running against a trailered race car that ran on the national record and getting his butt wooped terrible. We had fun and he got a few timing slips for bragging rights.
Jacked up race cars where just becoming common in the early 60's. I helped a couple of buddies put taller springs in their 55 Chevys including the one with the 327.

 

Dear Jose, I hear you, But I hear Lloyd too. Isn't there room in this wide world for everyone? I mean really, We're all very fortunate that any of these shenanigans can legally run down the road today. Live and let live.

 

The Bad Banana was originally run by his Dad and now Rusty. It definitely lives up it's name!!

 

Odd-Bodkins:

 

That car is pro street and not traditional. Those rear tires were never available prior to 1965. Am I correct on that @Moriarity ? To each their own, but before I go, what size "motor" is in that car?

 

I sometimes wonder how many of the strong opinions around here have a foundation of actual knowledge and experience.

There are various levels of hot rodding. And a place for almost everybody. Lucky for me, cuz I think I'm of the lower echelon. LOL

 

I am sorry I started this mess. All I wanted was some pics of gasser style cars made from uncommon vehicles.

 

It's all good Jim, I never realized there were such tight parameters until I stuck the straight axle under my car. It's been called everything from stupid to cartoonish lol, but I enjoy it!

 

Unfortunately yeah that's all I've got. Agree that it's a badass car though. And yes I enjoy my car very much, it's a great driving car, and as for the axle, it was the widest that speedway offered I'm sorry for slandering the gasser term, that's why I generally just call my car a straight axle car

 

I wasn't bickering man, just sticking up for what I was saying. Let's just agree that if it didn't race in the gas class prior to 1965 that it's not a gasser. It was just a term to me.

 

In the early days some of the cars sit high all around, this is the pretty famous Oddy Austin in the beginning and of course it changed as technology changed through the years.



And what was done on the west coast wasn't done on the east coast, so just because it was done a certain way in your area doesn't mean that's how it was done everywhere.
As always the HAMB is full of opinionated people (including those in charge) so there's going to be banter but I don't think it's bickering, but if it is they were bickering back in pre 65

Tall boys

 

I watched a video on you tube about this Volvo a while back.

 

1964 Tempest convertible

 

Jeez, now I'm lusting after early 60s Pontiacs

 

1961 Pontiac Tempest

 

'nother Tempest

 

That's too many letters for the people who should be using it.

 

AHRA allowed a 4” top chop in the gas class cars. NHRA also I believe. In the early days of the class, cars also had to have current license plates and registration. There were no restrictions on equipment (speed). Only gasoline, no nitro or alcohol. Hence the gas class name. Working head lights and tail lights, horn and wipers.

 

So is this sinister example a 1963 Mercury Comet?

 

Funny, I probably posted the Chuck Finders picture 50 times in the last 10 years. And here we are having the same discussion after all this time. I don't usually post on the threads any more, but as long as I'm here and the picture is still saved.......

 

Chuck no doubt had his hands on more of these cars in some form or another than most from this era.

 

Is that a marlin or an early charger? I can never tell the difference.

 

Marlin

 

Wow, thats unusual and really cool!