The 1950s were drag racing’s great years of growth and expansion. Fledgling organizations like the NHRA, AHRA, and the largest of all ATAA were growing the sport and its participant levels at an incredible rate. Commercial drag strips came into existence, and people building dedicated competition vehicles became a thing. The Dragmaster company, Scotty Fenn’s Chassis Research, and other handy men around the country began popping out cars that carried a new and cool name, “dragsters”. The car that is for sale in the eBay ad below is a 1950s dragster and while it does not say so in the ad we think that this is a K-88 chassis that dates to the middle 50s. This car is about 100″ long and that’s about right for the shortest K-88 available for order.

The K-88 was the first really popularly available dragster chassis and they were shipped all over the country in kit and completed form. Additionally, they were ripped off all over the country by guy with welders, tubing, and tape measures. If this is not a K-88 itself it is a pretty damned close knockoff.

The bajo style rear axle has a piece of steel plate welded over the back to it to protect the family jewels of the guy gutsy enough to be behind the butterfly wheel. Pretty neat that the wire wheels, friction shocks, and brake handle are all present and accounted for in this car.

What does it need? Well, first it needs a thorough inspection for compromised tubing and other junk and then it needs a blown flathead or nitro drinking Jimmie six installed into the nose and someone who loves old school drag racing in the cockpit. This is a killer car and a 100% seemingly legit base to craft an early style nostalgia car.

Do want!

eBay link: This unidentified 1950s dragster chassis needs a second life in a hurry