There’s a slowly emerging crop of vintage Pro Stock drag race cars emerging around the country. Some, like this car were truly competitors back in the day, while others, like Brian Olson’s “Circus City Flyer Vega” are bring built to fit the mold of the gear jamming machines of the 1970s. The car featured in the video is a 1976 Mustang II named, “Cobra” and it has some history.
The car was primarily run in Division 7 NHRA action and although it appeared in several final rounds, it notched one win, at a Tuscon points meet. The driver of the car was Mike Schmitt, who passed away a few years ago. Schmitt drove a long line of cars, including Bill Shrewsberry’s “Mustard Cutter” wheelstander. Incidentally, Shrewsberry was Schmitt’s brother in law.
Long story short, this car is EXACTLY as it was when last raced in 1980. It is a Don Hardy chassis with a ‘rammed mill that is wickedly pissed off, even at idle as you’ll hear in this video. The car has been shown recently and we’re hoping that some short squirts or exhibition runs may be in the future!
We hope that vintage Pro Stock is the “next big thing” behind the Funny Car craze. The chin dragging stance, high winding engines, and cool paint jobs are all totally awesome in our book.
Press play and CRANK the speakers!
Ok, I like that a LOT!
Is that the same Mike Schmitt that drove a Galaxie stocker for Desert Motors in the 60’s?
yes mike drove both of the desert motors cars. this is my dads car that mike drove. mike was my dad’s best friend. thanx for posting the article and my video!