I always put "dragster" into the search engine on e-bay... just to see what's out there... to get a feel for things... and to admire what my minimal car budget can't afford. So a week and a half ago... I put "dragster" into the search engine and came up with a pretty neat, but scruffy old rail. My first thought was... "That's a Kent Fuller Dragster!"... Now not having the $3500 opening bid in my car fund... at the moment... or any moment for that matter, I kinda blew it off. But I was curious... so I e-mailed my buddy Mike, who is friends with Kent Fuller... and asked him to take a look at the pics from the auction. Mike said that Kent is quick to point out cars that are NOT his... and when he said "I can't tell, I need to see more pics"... I was encouraged. I put a call into my older brother, who is looking to build a FED... and is keen on those early 60's rails. He was game to buy it... but was on the fence about spending money on something just because I thought it was a Kent Fuller car... and that Kent himself could not confirm it as being his, kinda factored in too. John is also building a house... so it was also an account of bad timing, money wise. Well... the auction ended... and the buyer won the thing for $5200... and then... after looking at the pictures some more... Kent confirms that it IS one of his early cars... built right around the time of the Greer Black Prudhomme car... Double damn. Now, I want to make it perfectly clear that I am the one that dropped the ball in getting the info about the real identity of the car in time for the auction to end... if I would have had my shit together, I could have found out in time. But due to my brother's luke warm commitment to spend the money, I didn't sweat it. More importantly... I am posting this to the HAMB in hopes that the buyer of the car is someone who appreciates the historical value of a Kent Fuller creation... and restores the car to Cackle... or to run.... and maybe, just maybe, someone here knows him, and can put him in touch with Kent... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=66467&item=4538795403&rd=1 Happy hunting boys and girls! Sam.
Yeah, I know... This guy came by my house the other day, he was on a Road trip. With a Austin Body in the back of his El Camino that he wanted to get rid of. So he gave it to me, and said " Just ignore all P/Ms you'll get from a guy called Sam..." Wow... Talk about a good deal!!
You can't win 'em all,Sam but it is encouraging to see stuff like that is still out there. I ,too hope the new owner appreciates what he has bought.
There's a 1965 Woody Gilmore FED on there right now that I've been watching,but I know I'll never get to bid on it.
Sam, know that you know its a Kent, what would it be worth... since you said it was a bargin.... I have no clue as to what an early frame is worth..
I'd say at least double of what it sold for... and a hell of a lot more if it was restored, or restored to run. I just hope the new owner restores it... Sam.
Just when I think I'm finally learning to be cynical, this stuff pops up. Amazing how a Woody or Kent Fuller car can still reappear in 2005. A few weeks ago, Lockjaw and I realized we had a famous old Gasser sitting in the shop (can't discuss it yet, as Lockjaw is trying to buy it from the customer, and it's a tricky deal). But it seems there were a lot more Gassers than T/F dragsters, so it's not quite as special as this deal. Sorry it didn't work out Sam, but I guess it just wasn't meant to be...Yet.....
Sam....not to hijack your post but I have the body to an old FED. I was supposed to work on it for a guy but he is a flake. He dissapears for long periods of time. The car came from the New England area. It has a Tony Nancy seat in it. The body has a badge on it. I forget if it's a Gilmore or what it is. Pretty cool. I'll have to see if the guy will cut loose with it. Clark
That sounds cool Clark! Would you build it for yourself? What I am finding out is... the swoopy aluminum bodied dragster era went full swing shortly after Kent Fuller began doing them... so that makes this e-bay car an early effort... and a splendid one at that! Not to mention that, when cleaned up and painted right... it would be a stunner. Sam.
I've got too many projects now. Plus I'd like a short wheelbase one if I got one. He thought this one was the New Englader or something like that. Clark
That's a killer deal. It's nice to know this stuff can still be found for reasonable prices every once in a while.
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