Prismacolor pencils on white archival stock 9"x 4"© Paul Chenard 2008
Gary Grant Collection
The American hot rod scene developed very quickly after WWII. G.I.’s with speed on their minds picked up surplus WW2 fighter belly fuel tanks, and build hot rods around them.
One of the best known is the So-Cal Speed Shop “Lakester”, built by Alex Xydias. It was built using a P-38 belly tank, with a flat-head v-8 stuffed in the back.
In 1951, at the Bonneville Salt Flats, the So-Cal team ran the racer at 145.395 mph, a new record for their class.
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3 comments:
Big Brass Balls.
Yup, they were a pre-requisite to driving these Hot Wheels ... as least there weren't any walls.
... lots of guts, and sometimes some glory.
Cheers!
wonderfull paul,great image!
love those belly tank record cars
so simple and effective
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