We have run a bunch of videos featuring modern “sand cars” that have massively powerful engines, can run across the dunes at like 150mph, and pull wheelies at an annoyingly frequent clip. This is what started it all. No, not this vehicle in particular but lots of vehicles like this started the craze out. Old Hot Rod magazines would often profile some of the creations that guys were building at their home shops to have fun on the sand with. Some had multiple rear wheels, some had people sitting way behind the rear axle, and virtually every one we have ever seen was powered by a V8 and had some big (for the period) rear tires on it to help it float across the sand out west at places like Pismo Beach.
This amazing historical relic is largely (we think) as it would have been during the 1950s. The plastic racing seats are obviously not period and we’re not 100% sure that the propane system is that old (although there have been propane powered farm tractors forever so it may very well be legit). The ad says that the sand rail uses wagon style steering meaning that the entire axle pivots to steer the rig as opposed to just the wheels.
That looks like part of a 1957 Chevy front fender and a headlight up front providing the cyclops like eye on the front of the machine. The cowl is a tougher thing to identify. We want to say it is part of the nose of a farm tractor but there’s something about its overall shape that we just cannot place. Can you?
How about the single coil spring and the long shocks up front? The engine is a tried and true Buick Nailhead V8 with some weed burner style zoomie headers that have been painted cherry red. We love it. We also love the way that the chassis is made, the bullet taillights, and those ancient off road tires bolted to the back. In short, this thing is cool beyond words.
Thanks for the tip Jason Bryant!
Check out this 1950s sand rail that’s for sale in Texas –
You can’t like this!
It doesn’t have seat belts or a full windshield!
Then again , Texas adjoins Mexico….