NHRA Museum visit

[427TJ]

Had a couple of hours in L.A. on Thursday afternoon so I grabbed an Oldsmobuick from Thrifty and sped out to the NHRA museum in Pomona. I got there at 3:15 and was the only one there until they closed at 5:00.

Replica of Tommy Ivo's 1961 "Showboat" 4-Nailhead Buick, 4-wheel drive dragster. The real Showboat, converted to a Riviera-bodied exhibition car, is being restored to go on display beside this breathtaking replica.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA027-1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA028.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA029-1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA030-1.jpg

Tommy Ivo's T-bucket, built in 1956 using the Grabowski car as a guide.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA090.jpg

[427TJ]

The Sam Barris '49 Mercury custom, thought to be the first chopped '49 Mercury. Breathtaking. It is on display alongside the George Barris built Hirohata '51 Merc, owned by Jim McNeil since about 1960 and bought off of a used car lot!

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA065.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA007-1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA019.jpg

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http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA020-1.jpg

[427TJ]

Barris-built '55 Chevy "Aztec."

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA009-1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA042-1.jpg

[427TJ]

Barris-built "Blue Danube" '51 Buick. I think this is a replica.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA013-1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA014-1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA059.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA060.jpg

[427TJ]

Replica of the breathtaking Barris-built Matranga '40 Merc.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA015-1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA050-1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA052-1.jpg

[427TJ]

Rod & Custom "Dream Truck," built by Spence Murray from a c50 Chevy pickup. "Arin C" refers to the magazine, as well as cartoon character "Arin Cee" from the early '60s issues.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA048.jpg

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http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA049.jpg

[427TJ]

Ed Iskendarian's high school hot rod, built in the late 1930s and probably not changed one bit since. He made the valve covers for the ohv conversion in his high school metal shop class, about 1939.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA031-1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA032-1.jpg

[427TJ]

"The Bug," thought to be the first purpose-built "rail" dragster. Santa Ana c1950.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA033-1.jpg

[427TJ]

Stone, Woods, Cook '41 Willys "Swindler A." The original SWC car, "Swindler II," has also been restored. The A is the second car the team fielded and this is its c66 configuration.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA001-1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA047.jpg

[427TJ]

'63 Plymouth "Melrose Missile" S/S car.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA036.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA039.jpg

[427TJ]

Tom Jacobson '62 409 Chev. Hey Verne, is that Danube Blue?

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA003-1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA002-1.jpg

[427TJ]

Doug's Headers altered wheelbase Chevy II, "Chevy 2 Much."

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA035-1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA040.jpg

[427TJ]

Classic 392 Chrysler in an early-60s digger. Note the Tony Nancy injector cover.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA058.jpg

The wall art above the car. The timeless Torq Thrust!!!

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA061-1.jpg

[427TJ]

Reath Automotive '37 Fiat Topolino.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA067.jpg

[427TJ]

The "Glass Slipper" c1956 dragster (R) and the Speed Sport rear-engined roadster (L).

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA070.jpg

[427TJ]

Late '50s Olds powered dragster.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA069.jpg

[427TJ]

Imagine sitting in there in 1956, in your t-shirt, open-faced helmet, and goggles, waiting for the flagman to jump.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA076.jpg

[427TJ]

Art Chrisman's "Hustler I."

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA078.jpg

[427TJ]

Greer-Black-Prudhomme c62 dragster. "Sanitary" only begins to describe the build quality of this car.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA080.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA077.jpg

30-inch wood model.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA006.jpg

[427TJ]

Jim Nelson/Dode Martin twin-SBC, twin-blower Dragmaster chassis dragster.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA082.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA081.jpg

[427TJ]

Neat photo of Don Garlits at Bakersfield on his first trip to California, I think it was 1957. Note six-carb setup. There's the open-face helmet, sunglasses, and t-shirt!

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA079.jpg

[427TJ]

Chrisman's first dragster, #25, which won the first NHRA nationals in 1955.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA085.jpg

[427TJ]

Mickey Thompson's 4-engined (blown Pontiacs) streamliner.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA087.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA086.jpg

Model of the car and a Bonneville record album!

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA084.jpg

[427TJ]

AMBR winning Flint roadster in front of its early 50s HRM cover.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA091.jpg

[427TJ]

The display cases are worth the admission alone.

Nice pair of Monogram 1/8 Big Deuce kits.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA071.jpg

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Hey old guys, remember metal lunch boxes?!?! I can almost smell the thermos full of warm, near-stale milk!

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA073.jpg

Neat hand-made wooden model of KS Pittman's '33 Willys, presented to KS at a gasser reunion several years ago.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA005.jpg

[427TJ]

I think this is Wally Parks' A roadster. Not sure if it is the actual car or a replica--I didn't see a display placard.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA088.jpg

[mockingbird812]

Bill,

Great shots. Thanks for taking the time. Wow, had the whole place to yourself. Must have made it more special.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Verne_Frantz]

Bill,
Thank you so much for sharing the photos from your trip. Christman certainly built some beautifil cars!

It's deceiving with the lighting in there, but I'm pretty certain Tom Jacobson's car is Nassau Blue.

Verne http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Salvatore]

Great pictures Bill! That is really a neat place isn't it. Old drag cars rule! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[Rixls6]

Thanks for the free tour. Awesome pieces of history. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Yep! I remember the metal lunch boxes too.

[Dog427435]

Arin C and the Dream Truck - boy it's been a long time since I read Rod & Custom. Had every issue when I was a kid and drooled over that truck, the customs and the big motored rods! George Barris was a God back then.
And what an assortment of drag cars - some of the BEST!
What great shots thanks for that piece of nostalgia!!

[x Baldwin Motion]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gifGreat tour!! Thanks, Bill, for posting!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headbang.gif

[427TJ]

Here's one I forgot to post, a remaining section of the plywood "Barris Kustom City" sign from the Lynnwood location, circa-1955. If you look closely you can see this section of the sign in the photo at upper left. Photo at upper right is George Barris's older brother Sam.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/NHRA%20Museum/NHRA046.jpg

[Eddie M.]

Very cool Thanks Bill http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Seattle Sam]

Nice tour, Bill - thanks!

[JLerum]

Great Post!!!!! History showing the good side of man kind.

Jim

[Xplantdad]

Thanks for taking the time to post the pics and give us the tour Bill!

[47Hammer]

Bill, Did you fly into Ontario International?, that seems like an easier drive to Pomona, straight out the 10 freeway. That museum is just an hour drive from our house and they have many of the cars from the old days when we were teenagers. Thanks for taking the time to take us back. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[427TJ]

My layover hotel is the Westin at LAX and the Thrifty car rental is right next door. Ontario (ONT) layovers are much less convenient and are shorter (rest period) than LAX layovers. It's so easy to get a car the Thrifty that I prefer the LAX to the ONT layover. (There is a method to my madness!) Next time I have a long/all-day LAX layover I'll PM ya!