(Photos by Jeff Karabin) – We got a note last weekend from Jami Russell who let us know that he and his dad Bob had put the finishing touches on their family’s new nostalgia funny car and he sent us along a bunch of photos and information to show as well. After running sprint cars for years, the Russells have fallen hard in love with the world of nostalgia funny car racing and this 1976 Mustang II is their steed. While you will see an injected big block in the car below, the plans are to step up to a supercharged combo when they are comfortable getting the car down the track. They will be competing with the Great Lakes Funny Car Association which is a cool group that runs a ton of match races and events around the center part of the country every summer. These guys are definitely doing it the right way and are working at the pace that makes them comfortable and not blowing stuff up every run.

Here’s a rundown of what you are looking at:

1976 Mustang II – new from the ground up. 120″ Chassis and Body from Bob Rosetty/Funny Farm Fabrication

Paint and Body Work – Colors and Bodywork by Dave Sano of Sano’s Autobody in NJ. Air Brush and Lettering by the great Glen Weisgerber

Power Plant – 1989-1990 Top Fuel Engine, all Aluminum 426 KB Hemi, Injected on Alcohol (for now, blower is in our future) Engine serial numbers have been traced back to Tim Richards

Transmission – 2 speed powerglide

Rear – Strange Ultra 9 ½”, 40 spline axles, strange/wilwood brakes

While the full kill nostalgia nitro cars are cool, there is something to be said for guys figuring out what they want to do and doing it. Bob and Jami will be working with Jami’s brother Rob, his girl Samantha, his dad’s girl Maggie, and their mutual pal Steve Miller. Bob has wanted one of these bad boys for decades and they certainly made that dream come true in fine fashion.

If you want to get jealous, think about this. Jami Russell made his first ever pass down a drag strip…in a funny car! That’s right. Testing last year was his first trip down the aisle and he skipped right over street cars, dragsters, and sportsman racing and went right to flopper-villd. How bad ass is that?!

The truth is that Bob has been a funny car lover for decades and has been wanting a shot at one of these cars for the better part of 30 years. Both Bob and Jami will have time behind the wheel and after a decade of successful sprint car racing, they know how to work together which will be critical in making this car work right. The Dave Sano paint is magnificent and will look even more explosive under the light of the sun.

We want to congratulate the Russell family on this new car and wish them the best of luck getting their funny car on. From starting with the injected combo to transitioning to the blower, it will be an exciting season of action for the family team and you should catch this car in action and see it for yourself!

Check out the photos below and droll over how nice this car is!