While attending the NHRA U.S. Nationals recently, our Web guy, Nick Licata, had the forethought to grab some shots of several of the Gassers attending the NHRA's Salute to the Gassers. This celebration of the sport's early history included more than 35 of the legendary gas coupes and sedans that competed in NHRA races in the 1960s.
We may not see as many Gassers tearing up the tracks these days, but the style has definitely made a resurgence back to the street. Any one of the cars pictured here would make a killer hot rod for the street with a little detuning, and, in some cases, a couple of headlights.
As you can see here, almost any make or model can be gassed with the right attitude--it doesn't have to be a Willys. Think of all the money you can save by not having to re-chrome bumpers, upholster the whole interior, or add a stereo. One thing you can't neglect, though, will be the engine. A blower, stacked injection, or a tunnel ram is almost a must if you want to pull off the look with any kind of authority. Thankfully, a few companies are offering reproductions of many of the vintage wheels that'll look perfect for a new Gasser and are designed to run on the street--something many of the early wheels weren't meant to do.
Now, if we could just convince Nick that his wife's '65 Falcon needs a little nose adjustment.