Michigander Steve Atwell has had possession of the world’s first hydrogen peroxide rocket car at his shop for a couple of years and after hearing that he was getting to work on restoring the car, we have seen photos of the finished product, and Atwell claims that the restoration was done to not only make the car look right, but also to have the car run right. That’s correct, this rocket powered Mustang is one tank of fuel away from shooting steam and freaking out crowds for the first time in decades.
Sammy Miller’s Spirit of ’76 the very car you see below was the first rocket funny car ever built. It spawned several more that toured both here in the USA and a European contingent as well. Miller had a few more of his own after the Spirit proved to be both mechanically and financially successful. Like most race cars it has led a couple of lives. After Miller finished up with it, the car was stuffed full of a nitro motor and run as the Chicago Patrol funny car. We don’t know how long that situation lasted but when Atwell gained possession of the car, it still had the weathered Chicago Patrol livery on it that you can see below.
As you will see in the photos below, Atwell has done a masterful job on the car and it looks just the way it did when it rolled out into the light when completed in the mid-1970s. Whether or not the car actually is run again is immaterial to us at this point because it now exists as it should, as a proud example of the baddest breed to ever attack drag strips on this planet, hydrogen peroxide rockets. If you are going to the Autorama this weekend, spend some time looking this piece over and tell Steve we sent you! Also tell him that he rules for finding, saving, and restoring this fantastic piece of straight line history!
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE PHOTOS OF THE RESTORED PIECE OF DRAG RACING HISTORY!
Dude. That’s awesome. I can’t wait to check it out this weekend…
this was not the Chicago patrol Nitro car thats a different one this one was run by Fred Geoske as a rocket chicago patrol…
The body graphics look just like the Chapman Owned Nitro Car,
Heading there on Friday. Can’t wait to see this car!
Saw the car last night, it’s next to our display, looks great
Seen that car run in the 70’s! Hope to see it run again.
Also IIRC, the nitro Chicago Patrol FC had 2 blue lights on the roof.
Righteous!
interesting that you feature Miller`s car here and he`s also an integral part of Ken Carter`s deal which you recently featured here too.
Nothing like seeing a rocket car run to drop jaws with a clatter!!! Saw Sammy many times and even played crew monkey for him once, amazing guy and spectacular cars.