1954 Dodge Coronet, An Original All Steel Gasser! Chestnut, Old Blue on 2040-cars

This 1954 Dodge Gasser Race Car is the REAL DEAL! It has been documented by the original builder Ronald Wagner out of New York at Niagara Race Way. This is an original gasser from the 60's known as the "CHEST NUT". The car was retired sometime in the early 70's and was bought and sold several times and in the 80's it was purchased by a gentleman that decided to restore the car back to its former glory making sure that another vintage race car would not end up being recycled. After 5 years were spent fixing up the old Dodge Gasser it was re-named "OLD BLUE" The car spent several years racing as "OLD BLUE" until this owner decided it was time to pass the car onto another party that had high hopes to keep the car racing. This is when I purchased the car (2011). I have always loved tinkering with classic cars and building custom motorcycles as a hobby. I immediately brought "OLD BLUE" home and stripped her down to bare metal. I was not particularly fond of the color of Old Blue but was more interested in its racing history and what the paint might be hiding. This is what I have found and or have personally done to the car. Extensive work was/has been done to this car keeping its originality and racing heritage. You have seen many creations of "GASSERS" today replicating the 1960's Drag Racing B Gas class, but once in a lifetime you come across a true time capsule, this car is a part of drag racing history. If you decided to purchase this car you will get all documentation, pictures and receipts and the contact information of the original builders / owners.

This race car is a very solid all steel car with no rust, all new floor boards and trunk area, doors are solid and the frame is as nice as the body. This car was restored by professionals as no money was spared on all Mopar parts so you will not be disappointed. This is not your typical gasser - This is not another 55-57 Chevy or Willy but instead a genuine vintage 60's MOPAR gasser. This car was even a rare sight in the 60's!! There are just too many cool parts to list. The interior has been upgraded with a full NHRA cage and beautifully done firewall, transmission tunnel, Kirkey seat and custom shifter mount. The car is now fitted with a 5-gallon fuel cell, remote battery switch and remote battery jump pins. The engine is a 366 cubic inch small block MOPAR all roller set-up, Keith Black pistons and has been mildly ported and polished heads (see DYNO sheet). There are Hooker jet coated headers with 18" collectors 750 Holley carb, reverse valve body automatic transmission with a trans cooler, aluminum radiator and a vintage Hurst shifter and 904 Mopar Transmission that sends the power through a new drive shaft to a later Mopar rear end with new 4.56 gears and Auburn posi-traction unit. The rear suspension consists of a Ladder bars with safety restraints, track rod and new coil-over rear shocks with pinion snubber. The front end has been completely rebuilt with a Flaming River steering box, Disc Brakes, line-lock (front brakes) and Speedway Motors straight axle and springs. There are (2) sets of wheels that go with the car. All new Aluminum Slot Wheels (15 x 4 and 15 x 10) with Goodyear Slicks and tubes and new Cooper 165 R15 front runners. Currently on the car are NOS Radir rims with spinners and caps wearing Firestone whitewall tires and pie cut cheater slicks (all new). The car has upgrades for safety reasons (NHRA) and the drive train has obviously been changed but the car still remains the same as it was over 40 years ago. Since the car has been in my possession I have chemically stripped the paint down to bare metal, repaired any areas that needed repair or replacement, radiused the rear wheel wells, added a track bar and swapped out the coils on the rear coil overs (the originals were new and will come with the car – just swapped to a slightly stiffer set. The trunk area and interior of the car have been coated or sprayed with a Line-X type material and the car has been completely repainted with Hot Rod Flatz “Old Gold”. I have sourced all the trim parts and opened up all the fixture holes that were previously welded shut when the car became “OLD BLUE” as I wanted the car to look more as it did when it ran as “CHEST NUT” in the 60’s. I have replaced the grill, lights, etc. and powder coated them to match the rear bumper. There is a new three-spoke steering wheel with a white grip as this is what the car had in the 60’s and frankly I like the way it matches the whitewalls that are currently on the car (see pictures) but just in case I have the smaller black 3-spoke which will also come with the car. I re-worked the welds in the hood (tilt front-end) to assure many more years of successful operation and removed the large hood scoop (will be included with purchase) and replaced it with an aluminum piece that is cut for future velocity stacks. Currently the car is not street legal as I have not finished completing the wiring but this could easily be accomplished by the next owner if desired. I have the Lexan windows that came in the car but I have removed them as they were scratched and I was going to replace them with either red or gold. I kept the originals as templates so this will also be an easy task for the next owner and they can put whatever color in they wish or replace with glass (available on the internet).I am sure that I have missed several things about the car. But I will answer all questions to the best of my knowledge. By the way - I was planning to name the car "BRASS MONKEY"

Model: 1954 Dodge Coronet VIN #XXXXXXXXX built into straight axle gasser by original owner in the 1960’s.

Battery: 12VDC, Optima Gel mounted in battery box in trunk  

Brakes: Chevy Disc Front Brakes (Speedway), Dodge Dakota (1980) Drum Brakes in the rear. Line lock (front brakes with button on steering wheel) proportioning valve on floor behind driver’s seat

Carburetor: 4-barrel Holley 750 4779

Driveshaft: New with new universal joints

Engine: 1976 Chrysler 360 bored .30 over with balanced iron Mopar heads, Keith Black 12:1 pistons, Erson Crankshaft .555 lift, Intake 286, exhaust 294, Aluminum Mopar Single Plane Manifold, K&N Air cleaner, MSD Ignition, Cal Custom Valve Covers, Moon Tank (to be set up for radiator overflow) Engine Machine work by Bullet Custom Engine and Machine.

Horsepower: 430 HP @ 5750 RPM Torque: 392 @ 5750 RPM (see dyno sheet)

Fuel pumps: electric fuel pumps (toggle on panel), 3/8” fuel lines, new fuel pickup and sender

Fuel tank: 5-Gallon fuel cell located in trunk in custom frame

Headers: Hooker Headers, ceramic coated with 18” collectors

Hood: One piece “Flip” front-end all steel

Ignition: MSD distributor, Accel Super Coil

Intake manifold: Aluminum Mopar Single Plane

Mufflers: N/A

Paint: KustomShop.com Hot Rod Flatz (Old Gold)

Radiator: Aluminum Speedway “Tru-Kool” aluminum,

Rear: Mopar posi-traction with 456 Auburn gears

Roll bar: 6-point, Mild Steel with swing-out driver’s bar

Seats (rear): none, has "delete panel and package tray"

Seat belts: 5-point harness TRW

Shifter: Hurst vintage 3-speed

Shocks, front: Napa shocks,

Steering: Flaming River steering box (completely rebuilt)

Steering wheel: 3-spoke Mooneyes Original classic style with white vinyl grip (mooneyesusa.com)

Seat: Kirkey aluminum drag seat (High-back single) with head pad

Suspension (front): Speedway motors chromoly straight axle and springs, disc brakes, 54 Chevy spindles (ground to crankshaft centerline 23.25”) frame modification by Rogue River Wheels and Tires.

Suspension (rear): Competition Engineering Ladder Bars with safety restraints, track rod and new coil-over suspension (2-sets of springs) Sliders by Jegs. 456 posi-traction rear axles with Auburn gears.

Tires/Wheels (front): New Firestone wide white (piecrust) 5.60 x 15 on Radir wheels with spinners and/or Cooper front runners on Jegs aluminum slot wheels. (cokertire.com)

Tires/Wheels (rear): New Firestone Dragster wide white (piecrust) 10.0 x 15 on Radir wheels with spinners and or Goodyear Slicks and tubes (new) on Jegs aluminum slot wheels (cokertire.com)

Title: No liens, car has a valid VIN#. Car will be sold with “Bill of Sale” Title can easily be obtained as I have done the research

Transmission: 1976 904 Chrysler (Mopar) reverse valve body automatic transmission with cooler, Spec-Rite 4000 Stall Converter with Hurst 3-speed vintage shifter with NASCAR Kevlar shift boot. New drive shaft

Wiring/electrical: New in 2006, including battery, cables, relays, switches, starter and alternator

Wiring: all wiring redone in 2006-2010

IMPORTANT NOTES:

1. PAYMENT TERMS: A $1,000.00 non-refundable deposit is due via PayPal within 48 hours of the end of this auction. The balance is due via a wire transfer (EFT/ Electronic Funds Transfer) directly to my bank within seven (7) days of the end of the auction. Car and title will not be released until funds have cleared 100%. It is important for any potential buyer to understand these details.

2. SHIPPING: Buyer is responsible for arranging pick-up and paying all costs associated with pick-up. Car is being sold “as is, where is, with all faults” (standard legal language). No warranty comes with this gasser (expressed or implied). Car and bill of sale will not be released until payment is 100% received in full and verified by my bank. The car is located in my garage approximately 5 miles from Martinsburg, WV

3. QUESTIONS: If you have any questions or want additional photos, please contact Ian at 703-328-1400. You can also email me at ians.strachan@hotmail.com I will do my best to answer questions and provide pictures in a timely manner.

FINAL NOTE (important): NO trades, no dealers, no middlemen, no con artists, no scams, no time-wasters. Serious bidders only.

Good luck with bidding.