These 3 drag racers are ready for the strip

If the best time to buy a winter coat is in the summer, perhaps, the best time to purchase a race car is during the winter. Regardless of whether this logic follows, we visited the Hagerty marketplace to see what they had in the way of go-fast rigs and compiled a list of drag strip racers (and one bonus car) for you to peruse.

After all, race cars—like chocolate cake or a good book—never go out of style. (I realize that I may be biased.)

1965 Plymouth Satellite

Drag racing fanatics are sure to recognize the words “Color Me Gone” painted on the doors of this 1965 Plymouth Satellite. Back in 1960s and ’70s, Michigan drag racer Roger Lindamood was a venerable threat on the quarter-mile in a similar Satellite.

Prior to making the leap to full time racer, Lindamood was a transmission specialist for Chrysler. According to drag racing historian Phil Burgess, Linadmood was influential in helping another Detroit-area Mopar team, the Ramchargers, switch from manual transmissions to automatics. Thus, the tribute Satellite for sale, here, has a 727 Torqueflite automatic. The gearbox is mated to a 528-cubic-inch Hemi built by Godfather Racing.

A full roll cage, Mikey Thompson race slicks, and a removable Ram Air hood complete the strip-ready appearance. Though, it’s not just for show. Lindamood’s son raced this car professionally as recently as 2012, and the car comes equipped with a B&M ratchet shifter and Hurst line lock (for supremely smokey burnouts).

Should you wish to transform the Satellite back to a more reserved appearance, all glass and all trim are included in the sale. But why would you? Instead, take it to a local strip and say “Color me gone.”

1993 Dodge Dakota

If you’ve ever wanted a 12-second drag car, this truck might be an excellent place to start. Built for NHRA Stock Eliminator competition, this Dodge Dakota features a dragstrip-ready 318-cubic-inch V8. “I never thought a 318 would have the potential that this Dakota has displayed,” says the seller who has owned the Flame Red pickup since 2004. Since then, they’ve taken the truck down the strip eight to ten times. Front discs help bring the whole show to a stop.

For $21,500, you can own the Dakota with its current 904 Torqueflite automatic transmission. In addition to the pickup, the seller is also selling a new lightweight 904—which, by their estimations, will propel the rig to 12.30-second elapsed times. Regardless of where the truck lands on the time sheets, these 1990s minitrucks look like a hoot at the strip.

1957 Chevrolet 150

The Dakota seller seems to have the market cornered on streetable race cars. Listed from the same stable, this 1957 delivery wagon is powered by a “fresh” 355-cubic-inch small block Chevy. Its seller is in the process of transforming a cruiser into a drag racing Junior Stock competitor, a tribute to their father who started racing in 1964. A Muncie four-speed, Hedman headers, and Cragar SS wheels help round out the image of this American Graffiti-era wagon. It also comes with a barrel of aftermarket parts—some installed, some outside the car—such as CalTrac tractions bars, tubular A-arms, Calvert shocks, and a chambered exhaust to be hung this week.

According to the seller, this Arizona car is rock solid. Should you have the dough, this card-carrying member of the Bowtie brigade would make a perfect stoplight thumper befit for Woodward and retro drag racing alike.

1965 Ford Mustang Pace Car

This is not a race car, nor is it complete. It is worth mentioning for our pace car collectors out there. This 1965 Mustang is in the middle of a full subframe-off restoration, and the seller wants you to take over the project. According to the listing, the bodywork is almost complete, and, from the pictures, we can see the pony taking shape on shop stands.

Of the 180 Mustang pace cars produced this year, only 66 are registered. Should restoration see completion by the next owner, it’s sure to lead the pack at any car show or race track.

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