Where and when did it come to be that nose-high-and-to-the-sky graced drag strips across America? In the '30s and '40s there really wasn’t much in the name of Gassers, as it was the beginning of modern day drag racing. At this point people were just throwing power in their day-to-day cars and going and getting their kicks on the drag strip.
It really wasn’t until the mid-to-late '50s that you saw the changes in cars that made what we now know as the "Gasser." All of us have seen movies like Two Lane Blacktop and American Graffiti, which both choose the '55 Chevy as the quintessential Gasser, and well, for most of us it is. The '55 Chevy was used a ton, but that isn’t all folks. Any car can be used as a Gasser... and was. Another of the most popular cars to morph into Gassers, along with the '55, was the '41 Willies. In my opinion, they're the most perfect Gasser around - but many, many types and models were used, from Fords to Anglia’s and everything in between. As to what exactly qualifies a Gasser as a "Gasser"... let's break these things down, and why. There are a few components that are synonymous with the Gasser - and it's because when they were putting these hotrods together, they were looking for ET at the strip. Reaction time and traction at the light made all the difference in besting the guy next to them. What was done to just about all of them was a motor transplant of the big block variety, either holding onto a blower or an injection setup. Fender well headers were put on a ton of them to tune the exhaust to the motor, and damnit if they don’t look cool. Transmissions could be stock or an off or aftermarket brand, along with the rear-ends being beefed up and posies thrown in. The rear-end everyone was and still is looking for is the giant Oldsmobile rear - that thing is just about unbreakable. To get all this power to the rear wheels and onto the track, something had to be done. Weight distribution on launch was a big thing. So in all cases, the front ends went up putting the power where it’s supposed to be, in the back. Some would take the stock A-arms and put in a bigger spring to lift up the front end, but the smart guys were using straight tube axles and parallel leaf springs, this actually lightened the car quite a bit. To get the weight to transfer even more to the rear-end, some of these cars' bodies were scooted forward a foot or so, or heavy weights of lead were hung out the back. Some even went to putting motors all the way back into the cockpit to get it to hook. Weight transfer wasn’t the only thing done to these cars. Not all of them were very pretty, they were purpose-built to go fast and hook up. Most of the interiors in these cars were stripped and replaced along with anything else that wasn’t needed. Bare bones and rolling down the strip was the point. When you can take 1000 lbs. out of a car, you go that much faster. Among pulling the interiors, other techniques were to pull the glass and replace with Plexiglas, drilling large holes in the interior panels and frames, and using fiberglass body panels including entire tilt front ends. The Gasser was built for speed and nothing more. It’s all about getting to the finish line as fast as you can. This craze went on until the early '70s when other techniques were found to make the traction. There is however a soft spot in this guys, and many others, heart for some of these street freaks of yesteryear.
