This abandoned dragster has MAJOR history, dating back to 1957 in California! We got our hands on this front engine dragster a couple years ago, and I was able to determine that it was once the Lincoln-powered H&H Garage Special, owned and driven by Tets Ishimaru. This historic drag car was in a scrap pile about 20 years ago in a nearby town.
Luckily, a local hot rodder saved it and we ended up buying it many years later. I went on the hunt for information regarding this car's history. To my surprise, it was not raced here in Tennessee! This dragster raced for three years in NHRA competition, racing in Southern California, as well as two consecutive years at the NHRA Nationals (1958 in Oklahoma City and 1959 in Detroit). This car has TONS of history, great old photos and, yes, historic video footage from Junji Nakamura!
This was a high end car for its day, built with aircraft PBY tubing (chassis by Joe Itow Automotive). It had a BRAND NEW Lincoln engine in it, and some experimental supercharger and fuel injection setups through the years. What an absolute treasure!
#hotrodhoarders #dragster #abandoned
