Front Engine Dragster Rescued from the Woods ~ Hot Rod Hoarders

The Hot Rod Hoarder digs a Hemi-powered front engine dragster out of the woods and reassembles it using the original parts from the 1960s.

The dragster was raced by Jim Smith in 1962, 1963 and 1964, and was then retired. The drag car was dismantled and spread throughout the woods in Jim’s backyard. Some parts were in the barn, some were inside other cars, while the chassis laid outside with trees growing all around.

Jim hand-built the slingshot dragster with help from his brother Tom, and they raced at places such as Harriman Dragstrip, Loudon Dragstrip, and Brainerd Optimist Drag Strip (then located in Hixson, TN).

The engine is a 354ci Chrysler Hemi that is modified with a Crower re-ground camshaft, Weiand Drag Star intake manifold, and six Stromberg 97 carburetors, which were modified for nitromethane.

The car had a direct drive (no transmission) and a rear end from a Buick ambulance.

Watch as they pull the remains of this front engine dragster out of the woods and re-assemble it using parts that Jim kept stashed away all these years…