Tom Prufer built his first dragster soon after he moved to the SF Bay Area in 1957 (for a job at Lockheed in Sunnyvale, CA) ... Here it is (with a body by Charlie Hall of Tucson, AZ) in February of 1958: Tom's 1st dragster at the 1958 National {Oakland} Roadster Show (photographer unknown) This first dragster was very ill handling, so Tom had John Patrick of Phoenix, AZ build him a chassis identical to Patrick's successful Power King dragster ... Prufer named his second dragster the Power King "Too" ... Here's some pics culled from the internet: Prufer's Power King "Too" dragster (foreground) with Patrick's Power King dragster (background) ... circa 1960 (the day Tom picked up the car) The Power King "Too" dragster circa 1961 with Tom (standing) and his "shoe" Jim Belland (behind the wheel) The Power King "Too" dragster at a Redding, CA photoshoot for the March 1962 issue of ROD&Custom (by Ralph Ehorn) An illustration of the Power King "Too" dragster (by Ramirez) Tom's third dragster was a full-bodied AA / Top Fueler ... with a Kent Fuller chassis & aluminum body by Jack Hagemann: Tom's 3rd AA/TF dragster at the 1963 San Jose Autorama (photo by James Handy) Tom's 3rd AA/TF dragster wheelstanding at Bakersfield in 1963 (photographer unknown) Tom's 3rd AA/TF dragster in the pits at Fremont in 1964 (photo by my father)
In the early '70s, Tom built this '29 Hiboy Roadster: photo by Gray Baskerville Prufer's '29 Hiboy at ANDY's 6th Annual Hot Rod Picnic - August 1972 (photo by my father) Prufer's '29 Hiboy at the 25th Annual Grand National Roadster Show - February 1973 (photo by my father) Prufer's '29 Hiboy at the 25th Annual Grand National Roadster Show - February 1973 (photo by James Handy)
There is a time for everything. And a season for every activity. RIP Tom Condolences to family and many friends
Arguably the most famous Hot Rod that Tom Prufer ever built was the "Cop Shop Coupe": . . . which was modeled after this Dave Bell illustration: NOTE: This car has several connections to the H.A.M.B.: chassis by @Pete Eastwood . . . paint & flames by @RodPowell . . . once owned by @ChuckRodgers . . . more recently owned by New Zealand HAMBer @Greg Stokes . . . who earlier this month, announced that he sold the car and that it is headed back to the United States!
R.I.P. Tom Prufer I didn't know that he was a dragster owner, builder, driver of dragsters in the early 60's, I only knew him from the Cop Shop Coupe and his other high profile hot rod builds. An early A Roadster built by Tom is for sale in the HAMB Classifieds https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1929-ford-tom-prufer-roadster.1333217/#post-15590307
I met Tom when he lived near me years ago. He was a very interesting man and I enjoyed visiting with him. He told some great stories. He will be missed.
A Hot Rod Hero for sure, his builds were always benchmarks and always had “the look”. A friend of mine purchased Tom’s ‘32 three window from him years ago, sadly he passed suddenly and the car went to the Munz collection where it was recently auctioned to a new owner. RIP Mr. Prufer. https://www.mecum.com/lots/1127707/1932-ford-tom-prufer-coupe/
Tom was a class act all the way through! I was honored to have talked too him many times over the years at shows and runs. He leaves a huge talent void with his passing.
I first talked to Tom on the phone in early 1986, about bringing a Nostalgia Top Fuel car to Fremont in May, we remained friends ever since. Above and beyond his huge influence on the Hot Rod public, the Nostalgia Drag race movement owes him so very much. If anyone hasn't read the two part story that Pat Ganahl wrote in Rodder's Journal, you will read a fascinating piece on the life of a Hot Rod Legend, it was also some of the best work by Pat. RIP old friend, you were a class act !
Very sorry to hear that. His cars were always close to my heart, big tires in the back and lots of heat under the hood. -Abone.
FYI: Prufer actually started building dragsters in the late '50s (NOTE: I recently updated post #3 with more info & pics) . . . but Tom never drove any of his racecars . . . he hired the likes of Jim Belland, "Jet Car Bob" Smith, & Gerry “The Mad Austrian” Steiner to pilot his dragsters.
My father shot several photos of Prufer's cars in the '60s, '70's, & '80s . . . some weren't very "HAMB-friendly" . . . but I always dug his Track-T (with flames by @RodPowell): at the Grand National Roadster Show - Oakland Coliseum - February 1974 (photo by James Handy) at the 8th Annual ANDY'S HOT ROD PICNIC - August 1974 (photo by my father) cover photo for the October 1974 issue of ROD ACTION magazine (photo by James Handy)
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