Overview
DesignerSteve Swaja (chassis), Tom Hanna (body)
Body and chassis
ClassTop Fuel
Body styleFront-engined streamliner dragster
RelatedNone
Powertrain
Engineblown 398 cu in (6,520 cc) Chrysler hemi
Dimensions
Wheelbase153 in (3,900 mm)
Chronology
PredecessorNone
SuccessorNone

Yellow Fang is a streamliner slingshot dragster.[1]

Designed by Steve Swaja (with some tweaking by owner George Schreiber and his boss, "Big Daddy" Roth[2]) and built by Jim Davis in 1963, the car had a 153 in (3,900 mm) wheelbase. The aluminum body, hammered by Tom Hanna for US$5000,[1] had a very pointed nose, canopied cockpit, and V-shaped "claw" tail, and was painted Diamond T yellow[1] with red lettering (hence the name). The straight front axle had bicycle wheels and wing-like fairings.[3] The engine, a blown Chrysler hemi (bored 0.030 in (0.76 mm) over,[1] for a total displacement of 398.6 cu in (6,532 cc)) prepared by Bill Demerest (but maintained by owner-driver Schreiber),[1] was exposed, as were the wheels.[4]

Early trial passes revealed problems with the cockpit canopy, and when Schreiber took over the driving chores, it was removed.[1] He raced in Australia and the U.S. on an exhibition tour during 1967 and 1968.[1]

The car now resides in the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala, Florida.[1]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Taylor, Thom. "George Schreiber's Yellow Fang", in "Beauty Beyond the Twilight Zone", p. 36.
  2. Schreiber worked for Roth, helping build Roth's custom cars. Taylor, p. 36.
  3. Taylor, p. 36 photo.
  4. Taylor, p.36 photo.

Sources

  • Taylor, Thom. "Beauty Beyond the Twilight Zone" in Hot Rod, April 2017, pp. 30–43.


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