The first rear engine dragster

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Mon Oct 29, 07 3:00 pm

I wouldn't kick that Hemi powered Hiboy out either!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon Oct 29, 07 3:06 pm

Ne neither Ivor. That was the car that caught my eye. Thats a period perfect piece. Everything about it is spot on.

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Tue Oct 30, 07 10:35 am

That Stardust funny car is of course one of Don Shumacher's early rides.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Oct 30, 07 11:09 am

pete walton wrote:Came across this .Its supposed to be the first rear engine dragster ever built .Built buy Doorman and Koopman in late 69

Just seen this thread!

That rear engined Dragster looks a lot like one raced in the early '60s by (I think) Tony Nancy.

I will look it up tonight.

But for sure there were a few rear engined dragsters in the early '60s so not sure what exactly they are claiming.

For a start most of the piston aero engined cars were rear mounted before they banned aero engines from competition.

AllKiller · Post by **AllKiller** » Tue Oct 30, 07 2:32 pm

Pete, i guess Stardust would have been a A F/X car bordering on the upcoming Funny car class

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Oct 30, 07 3:02 pm

I just checked and there were many rear engined dragsters in the 50s let alone the 60s. I have old magazines with photos of loads of them. So he is talking 100% American Bull.

The Tony Nancy car I was thinking the one above looked like is pictured here from '64.
Looks rather similar to me? And it's a "badged" as a Plymouth.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Oct 30, 07 3:36 pm

pete walton wrote:I must admit i always assumed Don Garlits was the first man to put in the rear .after the accident he had

I put that one right a few weeks ago.

the dodge · Post by **the dodge** » Wed Oct 31, 07 8:54 am

he did and he's correct i bought a book on the birth of drag racing loads of racers tried rear engines - seems they prefered getting a face full of flames and their nads wrecked to having the engine behind them!!
they also did other strange stuff like having 2 engines and 4 driving wheels! it seems big daddy was the one who made it famous with the rear engined top fueler and the rest as they say is history

anybody know if theres any plans do historic slingshot races in the uk, its getting popular in the us

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Wed Oct 31, 07 9:42 am

the dodge wrote:it seems big daddy was the one who made it famous with the rear engined top fueler and the rest as they say is history

Nope. He was not even the first event winner with a rear engined dragster.

However he and others proved they were competitive and safer. All the racers quickly changed to rear engines over the course of a year or two. Don just happened to be the guy to beat at that time and the car became famous.

It always amuses me how Americans just change history how they want whenever they want.

the dodge · Post by **the dodge** » Wed Oct 31, 07 10:38 pm

dave as you previously wrote:

OK here is the full story.

There had been rear engined cars over the 60s but non got anywhere. the slingshot was King.

The very first rear engined Top fueler to win a major event was Dwayne Ong's "Pawnbroker" at the end of 1969. The car also won the AHRA Summer Nationals in 1970.

6 months later Don Garlits brought his version out at the Jan '71 Lions Drag Strip Show. This was after he lost half his foot during 1970.

so you are correct but due to big daddy being a massive star at the time he gets the plaudits for rear engine top fuelers

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Thu Nov 01, 07 8:45 am

Just re-read your first post there. I didn't quite get your meaning when I wrote my reply. Sorry.

Mopar Muscle Association UK

The first rear engine dragster

Re: The first rear engine dragster