saw this a few years ago, didn't think it really ran:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbMprGph5Qb/?hl=en&taken-by=zwart

 

Cripes! Is that a flathead V8 in the back of that thing!

 

Bigger question is: How does it stop?

 

drum brakes on all 4 wheels? Very badly...

 

It's an old drop tank, isn't it? Have never seen one in the flesh.

 

How cool is that!

 

Agree. I love watching historic aircraft - but you still get the feeling, Yike, that's the same age as my grandfather..... How safe is it?

 

Darwin Award to anyone who’d drive it. Safety? What’s that?

 

driven by well known LA stuntman riley harper:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbFVO68DueU/?hl=en&taken-by=lifeof_riley

 

very popular in period with the salt racing crowd.

 

In case anyone has a spare drop tank and no regard for safety.... Does show some fascinating shots of how everything is crammed into one of these though.

http://www.bellytanks.com/1951/“how-to-build-a-belly-tanker”-by-tom-beatty-1952

 

That is so cool, I'm very envious as I've never gotten the chance to see an authentic drop tank car in the flesh.

 

Looks super fast! You have to have a lot of adrenaline rush while driving

 

some photos from a recent dinkee article:

 

and j zwart still commutes in it:

 

Commutes where?

In his own private city?

 

latest shot from JZ:

 

The dinkee article is a different car.

These are called belly tankers as they are made from airplane drop tanks for high speed runs in Salt Lake/Bonniville or the in the CA desert dry lakes. The idea was the fuel drop tanks from air force planes are aerodynamic, so they are perfect for max speed runs.

There are a few still around in SoCal.

The OP pictures are pretty old that’s the old 2nd location of the Original cars and coffee at the Ford building in Irvine now Taco Bell HQ.


I need to go back to speed week. I crewed a car that had a record for about 20 minutes...