2017 Special Construction Slingshot Dragster

Harkening back to the drag strip days of yore, people were constantly wrenching to find a way to do the quarter mile just a bit faster than everyone else. Born over 50 years ago, Slingshots got their name from the extreme rearward positioning of the driver's torso behind the axle and slicks. In the early years of drag racing, the front-engine slingshot dragsters stood above the rest. The cars, also known as Top Fuel dragsters, run on a mix of approximately 90% nitromethane and 10% methanol rather than gasoline or simply methanol. The cars were purpose-built for drag racing with an exaggerated layout that resembled open-wheel circuit racing vehicles. However, slingshot dragsters are much longer, much narrower and are equipped with large tires in back and small tires in front. Built by professional chassis builders, they were constructed by bending and welding together tubing and with the engine in front of the driver, as traditionally placed in race cars.

For consignment, a bit of drag racing history in the current form of a rail. This project built by the consignor and his son, saw a few runs on an airstrip, but had never been run on an actual 1/4 mile track. It has all the fixings to do so in a vintage class. Health issues forced the duo to abandon their quest, but now one man's quest becomes another's dream where we have the capabilities to experience a run in “Big Daddy” Don Garlits style.

Exterior
Long and lean with a monster in the middle we note this tube framed car with virtually bicycle wheels and tires upfront, a simple mechanical steering, 3 gallon fuel tank and battery mount. A metal drivers' cockpit is formed just behind the engine, and has a roll cage which is able to fit a larger driver despite having to climb over the rear differential and through the cage. The framing structure for the cockpit is all drilled for weight loss. Rear wheels are 15-inch aluminum slots and are wrapped with 33x10.5-15W slicks.

Interior
Keeping things ultra simple we see a racing seat in black vinyl, 5-point racing harness, aluminum fabricated steering wheel, quick shift shifter, and metal pedals. That will about do it, as now you can fire it up and jet down the track, and hope that rear housing stays together!

Drivetrain
Plopped right in the center of this car is the 351ci Windsor V8 alcohol guzzling engine which the consigner stated produces 365 HP's. It is topped with a Quick Fuel 650cfm double pumper carburetor in 4-barrel form and throws major power back to a 2-speed automatic Powerglide transmission equipped with an Ultra Bellhousing, and a 4500rpm stall converter. Between your legs is some more excitement in the form of a Ford 9-inch locker rear with 3.70 gears. Zoomies Headers with upwardly mobile short pipes reach for the sky and pump out the exploded gases and create a column of power as she muscles down the track.

Undercarriage
Wilwood 4 piston rear brakes are on, as well as a Super Quad drag parachute for the hooks at the end of your low ET run.

Drive-Ability
Lack of alcohol (the kind used within the operation of this engine) prevented us from actually doing a run, as well as a straight uninterrupted stretch of pavement. She will crank, and the consigner stated runs well.

EXTRA!
A new category for this writer in that I need to state that there is a special built trailer that is an easy load and unload, fits into a standard garage, and is in excellent condition, so you will have a way to take it home, prepare it and get to the track.

Harken back to the old days at the drags where the tree actually used all the lights, the tires smoked on the way down the track, and these unwieldy rails were constantly breaking their own records. This is your opportunity to go vintage drag racing in a fine example of a hand built slingshot. Test your courage, and your skills as you tear along the dotted line.

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.