AA/Fuel Dragster "Moonburst" Found - Parked in Trailer 43 Years
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- Опубликовано: 9 июл 2020
- Call us at 806-236-3671 Owner rejects offer forTime Capsule from Golden Era of Drag Racing Lost 47 Years - Featured in July 1971 issue of Hot Rod Magazine -
Read the story of this find in my column in Hot Rod Magazine today-
www.hotrod.com/articles/dean-... 
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Also - READ my story about this Dragster find in the current "Hot Rod" Magazine
www.hotrod.com/articles/dean-moons-aa-fuel-dragster-found-43-years/
Is the gto for sale?
@@wilsonmotorsww Did you not watch when Michael asked Bob that question?
@Christy Hart You dad is who?
Everything is for sale for the right price
I am just amazed that you found the car. Good luck buying the gem.
I understand the passion, I understand the attachment, but in life everything has it's time. I learned this through 56 years of living. I have buried my whole family except my mom and 1brother, even my 30year old only child is gone. Let it go so others can enjoy and appreciate what you have saved before it's to late. God bless.
Sorry to hear about you losing your son keep on keeping on brother
@@fragotron everything is for sale, that's the way things work in America.
@The94GTC that old guy is most likely gonna leave his collection to the guy trying to buy it that is what I'd do tgey seem like they made a pretty decent relationship with each other
@@fragotron you have a first class certificate in being rude. I was not trying to demand anything. I just would hate for it to be lost. It is his to do as he wishes and I respect that. Just a shame that's all.
@@randallbates9020 Haha I know right. Dude is a loser, I hear what you're saying.
Oddly enough flafotron guy ended up trying to tell YOU what you should do..
Haha, oh the dichotomy.
Damn shame. Nothing will be done with these cars, and eventually nothing will be able to be done with them.
Only thing dying there is rubber and upholstery. Relax
@@ryandavis930 yes sir !!!
@@ryandavis930 no, you're also losing the people who knew of these cars that could bring them to the spotlight again. Instead, "No, I plan on doing somethin with it one of these days" always wins out. My brother heard that several times while he lived in Kansas trying to buy some of this obvious, long forgotten shit in guys fields to fix up for himself to enjoy (not sell, enjoy!) but "I plan to get around to it one of these days" is what he heard from the guy living in a house damn near caving in.
Well said
when he dies most of them will probably be scrapped or sold to the first person who walks up the the heirs and offers them something.
It's sad, that these old guys, (who will never), do anything with their "treasures " just let them rot. $$$$ means nothing to these types. This story is played out hundreds of times across the country.
Couldn't agree more. What they are doing to these old beauties is a disgrace and they should be ashamed. It's like putting an old dog out there with a bucket of rain water and come by and feed it once a week by putting the whole bag of food out. But you love it too much to let someone foster it.
My grandmother did this when her husband died. He had a huge commercial building as a garage with 2 old trucks in there, thousands of vacuum tubes still in the original boxes. A lathe, sandblasting enclosure, and probably 150k of other tools he had gathered over the years.
She had many people offer her money from like '99 when he died, all the way to about 2012. She wouldn't sell any of it though because it was 'too valuable' and she knew she could get more for what ppl were offering.
Well, 20+ years later, several thousand mice, leaky roofs, and cousins that aren't worth a shit, and there's nothing in there anymore salvageable. And now as all old people like this do, there's nothing but a giant mess to clean up after their padsing. So just like this guy, what could have been an inheritance, is just a big nuisance after they die.
They are hoarders. They have the money and time but would rather hoard things than stick to one project at a tine.
I only have an issue when I see that they've sold to another for a lower price, and the vehicle simply moves locations to continue on with deterioration, or is immediately flipped for a notable profit.
Many of these folks do intend to fix up their vehicles, but life has a way of kicking folks in the ass, and kicking a couple more times when they are down. Some folks place, what I consider unreasonable attachment, to items owned by loved ones. I've lost a couple good opportunities due to such. And, while it sucks, wouldn't want to deal with such and I have no clue as to what that person meant to them.
Seems the norm is, they are accosted by tire kickers who have no real intent on purchasing. Then, someone with financial means, who could offer them a reasonable price, beats them down over a period of months, eventually acquiring the item. Later, they see their vehicle refurbished and reselling at a price that is far beyond reasonable by most units of measure, thus inspiring regret.
I understand what you're saying, but, at the same time, money isn't everything... I'm sure he'd like it fixed up right, but he doesn't want to loose it.
@@surcettinr2600 Yeah, that seems to be the case with this fella.
I inspected vehicles for a bit, custom, classic mostly, and a few project vehicles. I got to hear a lot of different stories, from awesome to tragic.
I met one of these guys before. He posted a very very rare firearm for sale that I had been searching for years for. I said I'll buy it and he said to give him a call. We talked for hours and hours about firearms and this and that, and then he tells me "he'll have to think about it". Like a moron, I kept being led along for about two years and finally came to the conclusion that this man really didn't want to sell but just liked having something other people wanted and leading them along. Well some years later I finally found not just one but two of that firearm, and after some time decided to sell one. Well guess who got rid of his and was the first to contact me? Yep, the same weird old man. I said on second thought "I'll have to think about it" and still own both til this day. ;)
Nice one, you’re dead on there, that’s a type of person who just wants you to envy him. Good for you to recognise that and great that you found others
@@llamamanism Yep exactly! Btw in case anyone was wondering the firearm is a Beretta 92G Compact L Type M. Basically, a Beretta 92 single stack compact with decocker only & trijicon nightsights. I believe most(If not all) were made for the Orange County, Florida Sherrif's Office. A rare bird indeed.
@@Mak-Daddy ... I totally agree with you. I watched this video with my nose turned up. I sense I'd have pleasure dragging over a compactor, and having the man sit there and weep whilst I crushed it. Some would say that was a spiteful thing to do to an old man, but I say, f him ...
He is also an asshole to his dog
Perfect response
As a kid my dad took us almost every weekend to the drag strip. The description of a night time fuel car race was spot on. The nitro burned your eyes the ground shook under your feet the sound deafening. That was 50 years ago and I remember it like yesterday.
Thank you for sharing!! Great story, family times..wisdom..priceless..
Awesome, thanks for sharing
it is entirely impossible to explain to someone what its like to go watch drag racing (especially at night time). or watch the crew seat the motor in the pits.
People who've never been to a track, and have only seen racing on TV are really missing out. Nitro has a sound all it's own, sounds nothing like gas. Or when a pack of 850hp cup cars go by, you feel that shit in your chest. The grandstands themselves come alive with the vibration, you can feel it in the soles of your feet. It's way more than visual. Standing near the starting line is literally like a shot of adrenaline because of the magnitude of it all.
Cool story, I have always been a gear head since I got my first bicycle. When you're a gear head you develop an ear for an engine. You can tell which cars to watch just by listening. One day I was standing on the fence at Maple Grove, and the top fuel cars were staging. You know how you're at an event and you start talking to the guy standing next to you without really looking over to see who it was? So I'm watching the cars and bullshitting about the tunes and what I hear, and the guy next to me is right in the conversation agreeing here and there, and adding bits of his own opinion. This was like 30 minutes. Finally the guy turns to walk away and the last thing he says is, "nice talking with you". I turned and nodded just in time to see Don Garlits walking away from me as he quickly disappeared into the crowd. I was so stunned that I couldn't even come up with something to say, I just stood there. This was years after his last top fuel race, in his mind he was just another gearhead when he stood on the fence among us.
@@pR1mal. , you are 100% right. There is one in my neighborhood. Love that sound !!
He's a serial hoarder. They love the attention of having something that you want but will never sell it.
alancrash same as my mom EXACTLY
@@jamesmedina2062 brutal man!
“I don’t want to get rid of my beloved GTO, I’d rather keep it and let it rot”. This is why I’m ready to sell my 67 GMC longbed PU. I don’t think I’ll ever have time to restore it! 😞
Is anyone interested?
@@harleyrdr1 if it was a short bed I would be
Incredible! ABSOLUTELY incredible. His memory is incredible. I misplace my glasses. This guy knows what and where every part is! Even the parachute from the 70's!
I'm amazed at the physical condition of 'ol Bob,, he's gotta be in his 70's and still moves like a guy 1/2 his age. Goes to show them 'ol wryly hotrod cowboys from Texas ar tough as nails and when you start talking about things that they like they get excited about being alive all over again and remember why they'r still on this planet we call Mother Earth. GOD Bless you Bob Kimple, GOD Bless you Michael Lightborn and GOD Bless all those kind hearts who have kept those nostalgia hotrods alive for the younger generation to see.
Yeah, the way he jumped into that dragster and the way he handled that 392 block and heads and all, shows how strong he is, in 105° heat.
After reading all the comments, I gotta say I've owned the same car more than 30 years, was my daily, and only car for the first 20 years. Got her just out of high school, I was 18 and she was 16. Sometimes she sits for a year or two, been repainted, had a couple drivetrains, got a little rust, and a few scars, but she has been my car and never let me down. I still take her out, will till my funeral. I love my old gal, punkin ! ( she's an orange 68 Galaxie XL fastback )
we can become very attached to our cars, my first car (a 1976 Mazda 808 Wagon) was bought by a brother, who was sent to Penang Malaysia as a RAAF deployment, so he passed it onto my sister who drove it for several year before giving it to me, i drove it for a few years until it was written off in an accident, i transferred the running gear to another wagon and later to a 1974 808 Sedan shell ( both accidents were not my fault).
25 years ago i bought a 1977 Mazda 808 wagon with a factory 1600, and still use is a few times a month.
when i got married 25 years ago my partners parents were the founders of the Wolseley Car Club in Victoria Australia,on their passing we inherited several Wolseley's (1936, 1948 & 1955).
we have parts cars for all of them except the 1936, but they are not really worth much.
yea but nobody wants a galaxie fastback so you might as well keep it
@@freebird7284 just like nobody wants you! Lol
Had a 67 Galaxie 500 hard top. Small block with glasspacks. Three on the tree. Mustang scoop. It was my first car. Bought it with my paper route money when I was 15 in 1985. $300. It was a one wheel wonder.
I have never loved like that since.
Jeff
Don't just drive old punkin' until your funeral.... Write in your last wishes for her to be included in your funeral procession. My dad was a car dealer and after his retirement he loved riding shotgun in my car. I talked about it with him before he passed and we used my ride as the lead car (flower car #1) for the procession .
The funeral director loved the idea and placed his portable magnetic-mount domed red light on top & plugged it into the cigarette lighter. I could feel my dad sitting in the bucket seat beside me, looking out over the hood as proud as a peacock as I done him right, and WE led the procession to the cemetery.
To this day, I still on occasion feel dad sitting there beside me, loving the ride as we cruise the highway and it always makes me chuckle a little as I say, "What do think dad? You enjoying the ride?" I'm getting older now and my family has been put on notice that my 4-wheeled love affair is to also be the lead car for MY funeral when the time comes..... and THEN it goes to the grandkids to fight over. lol
I always shake my head when I see a guy like this. He's asking 90 grand for something worth next to nothing, has one foot in the grave and still won't part with the other restorable vehicles he has rotting into the ground. If he had a clue, sell the majority of what's there and have someone build that GTO with the proceeds from the sales. You wouldn't get around to it in another 50 years and probably doesn't have 10 left in his own lifetime.
If they offer him that much he should took it in 1981
YEP
Just like my uncle he won't sell nothing here just let the grass grow underneath it before he sell it
My dad was like that. Hording cars and rare parts. He died. Coffin didn't hold anything but himself. Wouldn't part with anything. Nah, it's worth to much to sell.
Crazy hoarders loads of them around in the Uk too.letting cars rot into the ground. $90 000 for unrestored dragster crazy not to sell then he could have fixed up that GTO and some top of the line goats too Baaah!!.
The world is richer for having blokes like this around. Need more of 'em.
I agree, he's happy. I think a large part of that is he likes to work and stays busy.
Ballzy, I'm 72 years old and remember those days. On my 16th B-Day my dad took my to a drag racing event as a present. He didn't understand why I liked it so much. I said Dad, it's raw power, fantastic engineering. Five years later I graduated from college with a degree in Mechanical E.ngineering. I can't thank you pioneers enough. Cheers
The kinda guy that has a lot of "I was gonna do...." projects rotting away in his yard
Exactly what I replied to someone a few posts up, and this breaks my heart. Ya you planned to fix up that #'s matching Hemi GTX 30 years ago...why does it still look like hell now? That kinda shit bugs the hell out of me. Sell it to someone for $50k, make you money and let them restore that baby to the glory she deserves god dammit.
I do believe that it's sad to see car in condition like this, but you have to understand that sometimes you can start working on a car, and realize there is something wrong with it, like the frame being rusted out, and that it's darn near unfixable. Things can go wrong.
@@harrymatthewsmusic Maybe in the rust belt, but not in that part of the country.
@@ridgerunner106 you beat me to the punch. In Texas. Arizona, Nevada, Parts of California, New Mexico, just about everywhere in those states, you can leave a car, truck, bike out in the weather and it is 100 times better than a car, truck or whatever you have in a garage. Hell any where going east of those states have rust problems. By your fixer uppers on the west side of the country.
@@rangerbill9536 I know, west of Mississippi, where the good stuff is.
Growing up in the sixties and being a lover of cars from that era, I understand completely why he held on to it and all the others. You develop a love, a bond, and its something I cannot explain here because most of you would not understand it. It's more than fiberglass and metal. Its the love and the passion for the skill, the knowledge, the time that people put into these machines. It harkens back to a time of freedom, of discovery, of a common bond that would bring thousands of people together every weekend to hear the roar, smell the fumes and gas and feel the thunder. If you have never been to the drag track on a Friday nite, you would never understand that emotion.
Well said and takes us back to those thrilling days of the 1960s, a time of discovery and freedom, yes.
Rite on brother. The memories of a better time that get burned into your soul
Amazing that Bob can remember every thing in the trailer and where it cam from including his Aunts tea set.
"Its a good block"
That's a real horse trader right there.
You got that right!!
90 grand? He is insane. All of his cars will rot down.
@Ricky Sanchez You're right on, Ricky. Either sell it for scrap or just dig a big hole on that farm and push it in and bury it all. That's VERY common on farms nowadays.
@Ricky Sanchez 2:16 "a Facebook inquiry asked what happened to Moonburst......Bob's daughter-in-law answered the question" pay attention morons.
@Mark's Snakepit do you know who Dean Moon is? There was a point in American car culture that you would see a pair of eyes as a sticker at damn near every race event in the entire country. From the spun aluminum fuel tank on a gasser to the spun aluminum wheel covers on a lead sled, Dean Moon was a major factor in the world hot rods and custom cars anything he built would be valued accordingly.
Shoot Show Me the Money.
@Ricky Sanchez nah man..his daughter got her finger on the pulse....$$$$$......
I once spotted a 65 Buick Riviera when I was 17. It was sitting in the back of a body shop with a faded out for sale sign in the window for $1500. Saved my chingo and went in to the owner of the shop. Said I had the $1500 and wanted the car. The guy said that was an old sign and now he wanted $9000. I walked. I went past shop in my 30's and it was still sitting there in the same spot. For Sale sign gone. Sitting on the rims. Front window cracked and the drivers window down. I am sure the car was filled with 9lbs of sanding dust and over spray. I get it. It was his car to do what he wanted. But to let it rot away is still a shame.
I ended up getting a '65 Riviera from a kid whose grandfather passed it down to. He hated it because he wanted a Honda Civic. Got it for $500 bucks. Loved that car.
Yeah that Grand Prix 77 SJ I had one of them I pay what $1,800 400 cubic inch
some people are just hogs and would let a car rot instead of selling it
@@mikecubes1642 , what a shame, huh? I don't get it either.
Nice machine. Imo let it go to someone who wants to take care of it. One in the hand is better than 2 in the sky
Cheers bro’ I had a ‘64 Riviera I bought when I was 18 years old. Loved that car, it was tricked out when I got it. Lowered, five slot mags, fat tires, side pipes, diamond tuck interior. Original 425 Wildcat engine. Never should have sold it. I payed $1800. Bucks 37 years ago. I now live not far from a guy who has the same car rotting away in his yard, and he won’t sell it…. You can’t take it with you
Shame about what won't even move ever again, what got me was the old timer moving the engine blocks and heavy parts by himself when there were teens on phones that could help, oh well it's a nice barn/trailer find! Good going guys.
Just a great story...well done...made me go through all the emotions of loving cars, remembering the days of gassers, real gassers, race nights, the smells and then now still being proud to own a valuable part of history that, sadly, will never be repeated.
He won’t do a thing with any of this stuff 😢😢🤷♂️
I agree, these old collectables will sit till he passes one day, and probably get crushed and scrapped. He is just one of many hoarders trying to hold on to the past. God bless him anyway.
All that stuff will rot there, and all be wasted.
You're exactly right I know where 340 4 speed 70 Cuda is sitting next to 69 383 4 speed Roadrunner tried to buy 1/8 years ago no he's going to restore them they're still sitting there they will be taken away for scrap soon it's really a shame I could have made something of that cuda now it's too late
He probably won't do anything with it.
When he passes away family members or probate will sell it off.
But just having it sitting out on his property makes him feel good.
And maybe that's worth more than $90,000 to him.
Sometimes there's more than financial value to material things.
The older you get, the more you want things how they were. One day all ya have is stuff and memories. If you hold on to the stuff you feel like there’s hope that it can be as it was, sell the stuff and the dream dies. Then the man.
That he remembers what every part is...is pretty amazing.
My father had 8 numbered out buildings for his "treasures" that he had accumulated through the years. When I visited him last, I remember him walking me around like a proud Egyptian pharaoh showing me his kingdom. One building was crammed to the rafters with mason jars full of old nails, bolts, screws, marbles, buttons and the like. He passed in December 2020. God rest his soul.
Wow, what a cool piece of hotrod history! Mark my words, Moore's motors will go down in history!
Yep. I'm gonna fix er up some day. Says the 80 yr old man. Right.
He is a dang fool.
His car. I'd die with it myself.
Literally enrages me when they sit on something that someone could make into an awesome project
@@elsey1976 and all that stuff he has is enough for 3 lifetimes.
I'm also guessing he's a bachelor.
@@elsey1976 its greedy for nothing. Guy needs a kick in the ass.
What is the point of buying something and letting it rot for 40 years, and cant sell it to someone that wants to fix it back up like it was
@Sic Semper Tyrannis I can confirm this
@Concerned Citizen Someone else trying buying it in rebuilding it would a had way more fun than watching it rot for 40 years. It was definitely worth more money then, not 40 years tater, scrap pile of parts. And there's no way you could prove them parts are still good. And when he said the engine was still in good shape after sitting there for 40 years I took that with a grain of salt
@@Tegridynews stop trying to tell them how to live their life
Amazing 🧐😀 THERE ARE STILL TRESURES SOME WHERE IN THE US
@@Tegridynews It is still his!
I went to the drags every weekend at the Miami Hollywood speedway park in south Florida as a young teen. We watched the action and I will never forget it. My older brother had a Chevy 2 ss 327 and I rode shotgun! The Roadrunners GTO and Superbirds could not keep up! Once and maybe the only time ever, 4 count them Four Jet cars raced at the same time, double track. I lost my mind! The best times.
This the car that drew me to Top Fuel drag racing. Never been to an event, but seeing this made up for lost memories. Awesome day boys. Really glad you shared. Thank You Bob
The public needs to see this in restored condition. What a shame it’s a pile of dusty pieces in a trailer.
+Firebrand07: Well bro, look at it from the bright side, this rail still exists which means that it's still got a fighting chance to get redone someday. It could'a been eaten up totally with rust, or scattered amongst 10 different outbuildings/barns with no hope of ever reuniting the parts. I DO hope he parts with it wisely.....how cool it would be to see it cackle someday or hmmmm....maybe even make a smoky-slicked run. I kinda feel optimistic about this one.
@@joelewing4498 Joel...grab 90,000 grand and go buy it..
Then put another 10,000 grand into it restoring it..
Then go head a build that beautiful motor he has sitting and Gawd knows what parts you'll need...Go on Joel ..
Step up to the plate..
@minterfab why don't you buy it and restore it...
People are ASSHOLES because they will let something rot in a field to where it rots away to nothing..!!
There two sides to every coin he could have sold it to somebody who might have restored it or could have sold it to somebody who cut it up to have spares for there own car.
He wasn’t an asshole people love to complain about people sitting on old cars but they never step up and try to take on the responsibility. You want something like that bad enough you bother the guy over and over until he sells it to you or shots you or gets a restraining order battled with a guy who had a 69 chevelle for a few years had tons of part had it painted he bought a new corvette and stopped working on it after 5 years finely got him to sell me it for 10g. It wasn’t that he was a car hoarder had a work truck the chevelle and the corvette some guys don’t wanna let go of the dream.
Unbelievable the hate for one man that did nothing to anyone here. I love this guy for saving history and those clips almost blew my speakers sounded great either way.
Maybe if you were chained out like his dog is you would hate this loser too.
I am amazed at his memory regarding each part. John Milner would be proud.
Those parts only fit one way and in one place. When you grow up with those parts, you never forget. Youngsters of today would not have a clue, and they never experienced seeing those cars run. Sad for them.
Great show you Dudes(cowboys,ranchers country folk)thanks for sharing.
Our pleasure!
For the love of a machine, been there, that soft spot is there and 50+ years later it’s still soft. Thanks for taking us along.
You bet, we worked on this story for more than 7 years, but then again this is a passion.
@@thewriter2549 No. It's more like an obsession based on having not the correct brain cells.
@@cutlets6152 Why are you such a "Heasley Hater?" Look at how many people LOVE the guy for sharing these incredible stories with us! Did you have daddy issues as a child?
@@dalewalker4614 I don't hate the guy. I just think he's a nitwit hoarder. He will do nothing with this car and simply owns it for the sake of "owning it'. That is not being "right in the head" to me whatsoever.
If other people "love the guy' then they are simply transferring their own emotional instincts that are just as misplaced as this Heasley fella.
I didn't know cars like this still exist let alone the trailers. Thanks to Jerry for bringing them to light. The older I get the more I enjoy seeing relics dug up from when I was a young man. Maybe one day someone will make him, or a family member, an offer they can't refuse and Moonburst the trailers and the GTO will be restored.
I bought mt Tiger from a guy like this, in 1988. He realised he'd never get around to fixing it, so he sold it. Had it 36 years now, and still a hot thing.
Awesome video. Even cooler guy. Too bad there aren't many people like him. Loved hearing him talk about his dad. Reminds me of my grandpa.
Well I'll be Dipped!! As a teenager in the 70's I and my buddy's watched those dragster's run at "Cedar Fall's Raceways" in Cedar Fall's Iowa! We would sit at the end of the track so we saw them end the run at the finish line,in all their glory, what a adrenalin RUSH that was. Oh my gosh, thanks for the memories,of 45++ yrs ago!!
Back in the day, they called a car like this a “slingshot dragster”. The driver sits in the cage at the back of the car like a rock sits in the pouch of a slingshot.
Very dangerous ride! A few people got hurt badly in those things until they mounted the engine in the rear. Wasn't Don Garlits one of them?
@@josephtravers777 yes and I'm pretty sure Don Garlits designed the first rear engine dragster
@@tailwatcher2500 Garlits perfected the rear engine car, others designed them before him but he was the one that made it work. I think it was the steering that garlits figured out that nobody else could. He talked about it in an interview i watched.
Don Garlits lost half of his foot when a clutch blew. That prompted him to design the rear engined dragster
Watched twice.
People think its the cars that matter, NO !
"BOB" is the REAL treasure, He Lived it.
Not very many left that were their. He reminds me of the old dudes that raised me.
Yes, you are correct.
@@thewriter2549 LOVE IT !
He would rather see it rot away than sell it. He's one of those guys that want to tell someone "I have one of those but it's not for sale"
Yep, pisses me off.
You are not a collector
This is a part of being a gearhead/collector. Having these cars hanging out in the best place they can be is the best place for them. Woulda coulda and SHOULDA. Buying someone elses problem was the way to stock up. Old collectors knew these were going to be worth something later. Badass old man!!!
@@rangerbill9536 you mean hoarder, the dude is a hoarder. Most collectors would know when it's time to give it up and pass it on to someone else that would take care of it and or restore it (something he probably will never achieve). It's just as bad as people wanting and extreme amount of money for something and just lets it rot in their yard.
He was offered close to 100k and still said no, he's a dumb ass old man ( a lot more than what he paid for it, even if you go by inflation, he paid $1,200 for it in the 70s, that's around $8k today).
@@rangerbill9536 No, he's not a "Badass old man"...HE IS A DUMBASS OLD KOOK!!!!
Sadly, these cars will continue to rot away. He is NOT a "collector". He's a hoarder.
Not even his '66 GTO will ever see the road again; unless he sells it.
Believe me, I know a few guys like this with '60s muscle cars...rotting in fields.
It's criminal.
Respectfully,
Ben
@ 10:31 he wins the internet with the comment "this is what the good Lord intended you too be in - a top fuel dragster! "
Hording isn't conservation. These machines need action, coverage and exposure! No one will know how great these vehicles are if they're rotting away on your homestead!
Interesting observation, but even if true can have a similar outcome, and would have been better preserved by a conservationist. What person would have saved a front engine dragster? Most owners were converting them to rear engine or robbing the parts. This treasure was saved, along with many artifacts of that era, frozen in the 1970s, although frozen might not be the best adjective in the 105 degree heat we encountered.
@@thewriter2549 You can put a mirror shine on a great big ole turd.And in many cultures with the guidance of the ancient scrolls, it's entirely possible for 2 wrongs to make 1 right....with trembling sweaty hands on the sacred lever, I'm declaring " Bullshit" on Jerry Heasley.. who among you have no remaining slack in their mercilessly abused chains,having them pulled far too many times to risk tuggjng this whopper home. Hoarders polished into heros? You've gotten complacent with the dysfunctional aspect of just how these cars end up in huge unmanaged rotting piles.IIts always the same.But Thankyou for hanging in there and allowing me to truly see how little this has to do with loving cars..
@@thewriter2549 That's true but it most likely will be sold when he passes. Shame that he doesn't get to see it restored.
@Malcolm Reynolds Its his property.....how can you say what he deserves?
Malcolm Reynolds he saved it from the scrap yard 40 years ago when everyone stopped running front engine dragsters...
Did anyone else see the glimmer in his eyes when he was talking about being at the track? I know that feeling. Being able to feel the engine running through your whole body and not being able to breath. Except between firing cylinders. Or not being able to see because of the burning in your eyes from the exhaust of the alcohol.
Are none of us even going to talk about how tough that old man is!? Look at him lifting engine blocks Transmissions rear axles... I'm 48 years old and I consider myself kind of tough, but my God this dude might just put it on me!
I'm in the Rio Grande Valley and I know of 2 spots down here with old classics like that, been going to both of them for many years with absolutely no luck at all,even with the family's newer generation. Us that see the beauty of these fine machines running down the road again,alive and the spirits of them happy to drive again and taken back from the dead, priceless and invaluable to so many people,it's their dreams come true for them,just like mine. God bless you all and American metal.
In S.E.Michigan, I watched a 67 Chevy ll SS,all original 327 4 speed,factory Holley intake and carb, uncovered,sitting outside, rot into the ground ..sat from at least 1971(when I first saw it) until 20+..every couple of years I'd stop and ask,always,nope we're gonna restore it..was sad
The Ranchero!!! My dad was good friends with John Mulligan, and the Beebe's. When he got the news that Mulligan had been in the accident, and the man's subsequent death, it hit him so hard that he never went back to the strip. He went to the funeral, and said at that point, it was one of the saddest days of his life. Unfortunately, in 1971, our family was at Ascot Raceway in Gardena CA. when our family friend Pat Gosch, lost control in a corner on a warmup run, and was in a coma, he later died. After that, we never went back to Ascot, my dad stopped following racers, he just couldn't deal with the deaths any longer. He's 82 now, and still tells stories.
My older brother Jesse knew Eddie Lightburn at his shop in El Paso. My Brother had a 1951 hardtop Ford Victoria. We went to ascarate lake drag strip, watched Eddie Hill run his twin engine Pontiac rail. I also remember the 32 Ford wino.
Thanks for sharing this treasure with us 💖
Maybe offering to completely restore his GTO and some cash, along with a promise to do the same to the dragster, will be more appealing to him. It's obvious that $ isn't motivating him.
That's some good thinking right there
With a good salesman that would seal the deal!
Musclecarczar IG - The man won’t sell any of those cars, no matter what deal you try to strike. It’s psychologically a part of their being, their whole existence is wrapped in the attention of “having” pieces of “treasure” from the past. The “I’ll get around to it one day” theory is what keeps these ole “collectors” going.
Awesome.This is mechanical gold bullion.Thanks for the guided tour friend.
That should be worth alot of money for someone to rebuild and put in a museum.
Wow, i remember this rig, remember that magazine..dam, feel old today now!
Jerry, you always come up with some awesome finds!!! Thanks for what you do, I really do enjoy watching!!!!!
Thanks Danny, this kind of feedback really helps.
I REMEMBER AS A YOUNG MAN GOING TO THE DRAGS IN MY 68 NOVA 396 IT WAS ONE HOT MUTHER, BUT MY REAL LOVE WAS THE FUEL DRAGSTERS OF THE DAY, THIS BROUGHT BACK SOME GOOD MEMORIES. THANKS FOR HAVING IT.
Great video. I love seeing 60's front engine dragsters. They're all cool!!
I've been around a ton of these geezers. Inevitably, they hold-out and die. Period.
And then it sells for 1500 bucks again at an estate sale.
And gets scrapped...
@@Cheeseburger.Launch.Sequence Yep. Poor kids don't know what they have.
@@josephtravers777 I actually know a farmer near me that has begun to give his stuff away just because he knows that. He'd rather give it to someone that realizes its VALUE and not its worth. He told me I could have an old Allis Chalmers he's had since new since I knew so much about it and admired it so much. His daughter caught wind of that and told me she'd sue me if I took the tractor. I just laughed at her and walked away, he told me I can take it as soon as his corn is in and he gets done plowing one last time.
@ I worked on my Grandpa's old D10 Allis Chalmer years ago to get it back up and running. He told me he would sell it to me but developed dementia and almost gave it away for a couple hundred bucks. I ended up buying an old Ford 8N.
Itis guys like him that save all of those cars from the scrap yars,it is a good story
This guy is holding all these cars to the day he dies so when hes gone everything goes to the scrapyard. Hes not saving anything anymore.
Yep. And miserable tight butts like him that wont sell em and they rust away too...the mere thought of some one else enjoying them is to much to bear....history dies with them
I hope his family keeps note of who wants to buy what. After he passes will they then be able to do so. He ain't restoring jack squat! Not even a new straw hat!
Yep. He'll die and they'll all go to shit. They are deteriorating into nothing.
Awesome man so much knowledge that will be forgotten when theses guys are gone
Jerry Beasley You Sir Are An American Treasure and An Icon of Nostalgia and Automotive Americana!!
Thank You, Sir! Love how the whole family unit operates as a whole team and yet doing their own thing at same time and it warms my heart ❤️🚨
Wow this was awesome to watch this show I give much respect to u brotha
Jerry love this video thanks for sharing sir.
Glad you enjoyed it - 7 years I've been going there with Michael, then you see what happened.
Jerry, I really appreciate all you do!
I appreciate that
These men are full of history. Thank god for gearheads!!
I read alot of comments and if you haven't had a car that means that much to you , you will never know how bad it feels to let one go !
Exactly.
@@thewriter2549 You're just not right in the head.
Your car is junk and not worth the emotion your sick head puts ito it.
@@cutlets6152 Methinks you are confused about who is not right in the head..... They do have wonderful medications for that nowadays, you should check with your doctor to see which one is right for you.
@@dalewalker4614
Well you should know all about medications. You need to get some refills apparently.
@@cutlets6152 You are correct in the fact that I do know all about medications....... I'm a Psych Nurse. Now run along. lol
Remember most of the cars that are left today to be restored are because someone stuck it away planning to work on it later. If someone had got it in the 80's they would have modified and destroyed it. It may be crazy but we can thank people like this for many of the historic cars around today.
Impressive good answer!!
Neighbor adjacent to a friends property had garage with a 1971 Imperial Lebaron w/440 and parts. I did the research on ownership, contacted the family now living eight states away, nothing. Sat a few more months after I showed interest, saw it at the local crusher who decided to keep it for himself because of the motor! That's one. Second, a neighbor with a 1958 Olds Rocket 88, "saved for the grandkids", made offer, junked. Third, 1955 Ford p/u with original flathead, gramma kept for grandson who was in Middle East for war. He wanted rid of it. Made offer, no bite. Weeks later someone got engine (blocks alone worth upwards of 25k) scrapped truck. I live in W PA where this stuff doesn't last forever and people usually don't know or care about this stuff enough to utilize it. Yes, it is theirs. No, it doesn't make sense when its left to rot. You can't fix hoarders, you can't educate the unwilling, and you can't buy it without dealing in the reality of honest value in trade. Move on...enjoy people like Leno who do it for the right reason, a caretaker of history. Plenty of those guys around too.
@@williamwigfield7296 1955 ford would have had an overhead engine
No I checked it. It was indeed a flathead. Semi modded on then left to sit. Oh well...
I can sit or stand and listen to these young school drag races forever 🤗sure hope Mr Bob does the right thing soon. To see Bob's face when they fire that monster up (at night)🔥🔥😥
I hope we can get there.
Just like opening a Treasure Chest..!!
70's & 80's....the best racing ever...!
Anything can be priceless to the right person.
Wow,awsome find..Funny how we get so attached too cars and their history..
Great video,
Loved seeing and hearing from a true treasure.
" BOB "
Call garage squad lets get that dragster restored and trailer. It would be restoring drag racing history!
Great story. Thank you for the video. Keep us updated on the front engine dragster.
We will
Great video man. The heart of a true car guy! I wish you both the best. Stay safe
I would love to buy this man a couple of beers and listen to his stories.🍺
He does have interesting car stories for sure!! Maybe we should video some of them.
Really like the understanding and sharing of the bond between the cars and collectors,,, i cash relate to this psychology. The mutual interest understanding and respect shown is commendable.
Dick Callagy was an early Bracket One winner, San Diego area, and original partner with Leonard Abbott in Lenco. (Dick built the engines, Leonard, the transmissions.). I believe that his front-engine car and Mr. Ed trailer started as a Top Gas operation. San Diego chassis-builder Bob Meyer would know the story.
And the experts chime in! Hi Dave!
Bob mentioned to me he bought that Mr. Ed trailer in San Diego.
Title should read "pieces of dragster".
Right?
Wrong!!
It looked like a fantastic beautiful well kept 50 year old stored project!!
Waaiting and waitingand.......
He should've bought a dental plan with his 800 bucks. Lol
Great story and awesome guy love the content of the channel
This is awesome!! Love seeing the ole cars, NOT being destroyed in the movies!! 😁
Great story. I get it.
Thanks for sharing.
It wasn’t lost for 47 years. The owner knew exactly where it was.
I'm 75 yrs old and went to the drags every chance I could,,the smell of the fuel that these double A fuel dragsters ran on is unforgettable,,I loved it..first time I went to the drags was in Shelton Washington in 1966 ,got to see the little red wagon do a wheelie for the whole quarter mile and the green monster jet car too.,,the first funny car also.,,those were the best days..
you guys have a beautiful friendship.
It’s funny, ironic and sad but it’s enthusiasts like this old timer that are more often than not the reason for the loss and demise of the very things they claim to love. 🙄🤪🤣
Like the dog protecting it
He won't sell because he has not come to grips with his own mortality. You can bet he has never made a will.
To realise that you came into the world with nothing, and will leave it with nothing. Nothings really yours, your just renting it
Thanks to Bob for allowing them to show us this piece of history. Goosebumps city seeing this thing pulled out of that trailer.
Wow your easily moved
Thanks Bob for letting a piece of history turn into a pile of rusty scrap metal
This was like my grandpa. He loved and had a story for everything, every rusted out body or incomplete chassis/motorcycle/engine block/ etc. and would always say he planned to fix em up. He passed 3 years ago, and now they sit as painful reminders of the things he didn't get to do before he died. I just hope the older generations become more willing to part with their beloved antiques so that the younger generation can restore them and keep them alive.
A very familiar tail indeed. My neighbor had a 1969 Plymouth GTX sitting in his garage that he bought new when he returned home from Viet Nam. The engine developed a ticking noise a couple years later and he parked it with the intention of fixing it some day. He never did and it just sat there in his garage, 100% original down to the lug nuts, 440, 4 speed Dana 60, etc. I tried to buy it from him for over 22 years with negative results. When I retired and moved out of state in 2017 it was still sitting there. I drove back in 2018 to give it another go only to find out he had died. His kids sold everything he had within days of his death. People like the old fart in this video just collect and hoard stuff their entire lives, rarely if ever parting with anything, never work on or fix anything, just full of false intentions and talk until the day they die. Makes me sick seeing this stuff just rot away...
he’s probably afraid if he sells it, he’ll lose his friend of 20 years.
40 years. I feel it tho frfr
Bruce Benson oh, has that guy been coming to try and buy it for 40 years or 20? Sorry if my number was wrong lol I thought it said 20 but I’m also prone to error lol thanks for understanding tho!
If a man comes to asks for something you have for 40 years (or 20) I think you’re kind of obligated to give it to him. He clearly treasures it more than this old fart.
@@WEOWNTHESKIES I disagree with most everything you just said. Don’t really care enough to build an argument so I’ll just leave it at that.
@@WEOWNTHESKIES I can understand why he doesn't want to sale it
I definitely remember reading about Moonburst as a kid.
What a fantastic voyage. Thanks for sharing
Many thanks!
Pretty cool old car and interesting old gentleman...
I say CRACKPOT!!
What do you mean crackpot
Sounds like he enjoys being friends, build a barn, place every treasure inside. A big round table in the middle, an have a Sunday cookout, sure there some young guns who would love to just help.
What a awesome old man. The stories you could be told. The things he's seen. Makes me want to get out and do more with my life. What a cool video.
A very positive person to be around. Never heard him say a bad thing about anybody. A hard worker.
@@thewriter2549 he seems like a go getter! I was Impressed with how he was basically jumping all around in there lol. Thanks for sharing him with the world.
I wish I could pick this mans brain,just listening to his conversation,I can tell he has so much knowledge bout racing,welding,hemi parts,& how it all comes together,he’s a treasure trove of knowledge!!!
So disheartening how old fellows just sit on so much great stuff. He's got stuff just jammed in crevasses that alot of people would get out and show, use. It's theirs I guess they can do what they want, just a shame.
👍 ☺ that smile when he sat in it !
Priceless!
Awesome piece of history there now!!!!