Snake45 Posted March 24, 2021 Posted March 24, 2021 26 minutes ago, ksnow said: That GK website is an absolute treasure trove of primary documentation. When I do decide to build one, I'll definitely be using that for reference. I can't spend five minutes there without getting at least six or eight ideas for new builds I'd like to do.
ksnow Posted March 24, 2021 Author Posted March 24, 2021 After a VERY cursory glance of the GK web site, a gasser build has moved up my list of projects. I love the back yard ones, just normal guys with normal jobs who want to drive a fast car. Neat to see the small details. Things like mismatched front and rear wheels, towing setups, and almost level stance at rest. Paint jobs ranged from some pretty spectacular graphics to what looks like rolled on house paint.
Force Posted March 24, 2021 Posted March 24, 2021 The Byron's Gasser Madness site of Byron Stack was a great information site for gassers, Byron died 2012 but his legasy is still with us. Here is a link to his old site https://efregoso.github.io/gassermadnessus/ and the new Gasser Madness site https://gassermadness.com/
afx Posted March 25, 2021 Posted March 25, 2021 (edited) They are fun to build. Edited March 25, 2021 by afx
ksnow Posted March 25, 2021 Author Posted March 25, 2021 Was there any body lift on these? Or does it just look that way with the bigger rear tires (and trimmed quarters) and raised up front ends to level it out. Some of them look taller than modern 4wd pickups.
Snake45 Posted March 25, 2021 Posted March 25, 2021 59 minutes ago, TransAmMike said: Richard, the '55 is a beauty!!?? Thanks! My take on the classic but cartoonish Monogram Badman kit.
afx Posted March 25, 2021 Posted March 25, 2021 (edited) 10 hours ago, ksnow said: Was there any body lift on these? Or does it just look that way with the bigger rear tires (and trimmed quarters) and raised up front ends to level it out. Some of them look taller than modern 4wd pickups. 10 hours ago, TransAmMike said: The Falcon is super cool JC ? Thanks Mike. I used the Trumpeter Falcon chassis and the Revell '41 Willys suspension on my build without raising anything. The bigger tires raise the car significantly. Edited March 25, 2021 by afx
Scott8950 Posted March 25, 2021 Posted March 25, 2021 Some gassers were nose high, probably not successful cars but still had a look to them.
Ace-Garageguy Posted March 25, 2021 Posted March 25, 2021 14 hours ago, ksnow said: Was there any body lift on these? If by "body lift" you mean were the bodies raised relative to the frames (as on some "lifted" trucks, and of questionable functional value even there), the answer is unequivocally NO. The "gasser" frames were raised relative to the ground by suspension mods.
ksnow Posted March 25, 2021 Author Posted March 25, 2021 Looks like some had to be nose high just to clear the headers. Nice looking models, guys. I think I have a 51 Chevy in the stash that just might have to be built into one of these. Yes, Ace, I was asking about body to frame lift. It didn't appear that way in any of the photos, but I figured I'd ask anyway.
Draggon Posted March 25, 2021 Posted March 25, 2021 (edited) 38 minutes ago, Scott8950 said: Some gassers were nose high, probably not successful cars but still had a look to them. Look at the class designations. The first two are BM/SP meaning B Modified Sports. They aren't gassers. I don't remember what the deal is with L'il Crawl Along. My brain is telling me it wasn't in the US, but I could be mistaken. The last 'Vette looks like it has /MSP on the windshield. The T-Bird shown in the OP most likely is not a gasser since it doesn't have a roof, or at least the convertible top up. Edited March 25, 2021 by Draggon
ksnow Posted March 25, 2021 Author Posted March 25, 2021 Great analysis Draggon. In my limited reading over the last several days, topless cars were in their own classes, unless a hardtop was on.
Scott8950 Posted March 25, 2021 Posted March 25, 2021 44 minutes ago, Draggon said: Look at the class designations. The first two are BM/SP meaning B Modified Sports. They aren't gassers. I don't remember what the deal is with L'il Crawl Along. My brain is telling me it wasn't in the US, but I could be mistaken. The last 'Vette looks like it has /MSP on the windshield. The T-Bird shown in the OP most likely is not a gasser since it doesn't have a roof, or at least the convertible top up.
Snake45 Posted March 25, 2021 Posted March 25, 2021 The Modified Sports class used basically the same rules as the Gassers (so did the Street Roadsters) as far as allowable and prohibited modifications and so forth. The MSP class eventually went away and the cars got incorporated into the Gas classes, probably with few if any modifications. This MIGHT (I'd have to look at the rulebooks) have had something to do with wheelbases. When NHRA shortened the wheelbase length requirement around 1966 to let the Anglias in, that might have been when the MSPs went away.
Mark Posted March 25, 2021 Posted March 25, 2021 NHRA did fold the Modified Sports (and maybe some of the Street Roadster) classes into Gas in the late Sixties, IIRC. I seem to remember seeing pictures of Hugh Tucker's supercharged '28 Chevy bodied car running as a gasser towards the end of its racing career.
Draggon Posted March 25, 2021 Posted March 25, 2021 I'm getting schooled here, on a subject I thought I really knew. The 1960 NHRA rulebook says nothing about gas class cars needing to sit level, and does not have the 24" to crankshaft engine height requirement. The 1968 rulebook states that "bodies and/or frames may not be raised to gain weight transfer" and has the crankshaft rule. 1960: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2006u57wp7sqpxt/AAC9WnRAsXqmyEgvaR8KYSowa?preview=1960_Drag_Rules.pdf 1968: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2006u57wp7sqpxt/AAC9WnRAsXqmyEgvaR8KYSowa?preview=1968_Drag_Rules.pdf More rulebooks courtesy of VW93. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2006u57wp7sqpxt/AAC9WnRAsXqmyEgvaR8KYSowa
Snake45 Posted March 25, 2021 Posted March 25, 2021 In one of the NHRA rulebooks, I forget which one, maybe around '65 or '66, There's a photo of a Corvette coupe gasser sitting MUCH higher than the "lower edge of the body must not be higher than the axle centerlines" rule allows--right across from the page where that rule is stated! I spent about 20 minutes in the GK site yesterday and didn't get halfway through the gassers. It is a GREAT resource for getting the feel of what these things really looked like back in the day.
Scott8950 Posted March 25, 2021 Posted March 25, 2021 8 minutes ago, Snake45 said: In one of the NHRA rulebooks, I forget which one, maybe around '65 or '66, There's a photo of a Corvette coupe gasser sitting MUCH higher than the "lower edge of the body must not be higher than the axle centerlines" rule allows--right across from the page where that rule is stated! Those guys were masters at bending the rules with all kinds of tricks.
ksnow Posted March 25, 2021 Author Posted March 25, 2021 Seems like the rule book changes over the years moved the classes more towards going fast, than running what you brought or keeping the class "pure". But, they weren't exactly nostalgic like we are. They were doing it for the first time, going fast was the primary concern.
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