Front Engine top fuel Dragster from 1968 found, restored, & raced by Ronnie Sandifer Nitro Hemi

Ronnie Sandifer purchased this unknown front engine dragster chassis at a club swap meet, and later found out from Boogie Scott that it was the original "Shreve Automotive" AA/FD Nitro Burning Hemi Fuel dragster campaigned in the late 60's. Ronnie restored the car to 100% original, and instead of letting it sit like a museum piece, intends on using it!! Would you have the guts to strap in to a car sporting 1968 technology and blast down the track?? Be sure to like, subscribe and hit the notification bell, and find us on social media! New Nitro Union t-shirts and stickers are in stock now! Link to the web store is below
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[@chrispynov1963]

I like these better than top fuel today

[@ew332]

Real dragster...

[@michaelprosperity3420]

Amen. Just balls to the walls power.

[@ahmedlahlou8123]

For some reason it has more soul...

[@haventthoughtofanameyet6364]

See that smoke? Don't wanna breathe that. See that engine? When it explodes, and it will eventually as any drag racer will tell you, You'd much rather have all of that happening beind you than infront of you. 3 feet from your face. These drag racers might seem cooler, but they're far more dangerous and way slower lol

[@haventthoughtofanameyet6364]

@@ew332 guess you haven't felt a throttle whack in about 40 years eh? 🙄 got v8s out here running 14,000 rpm making 11,000 horsepower and you wanna talk about "real dragster" Lolol I love old school muscle cars, I hate tesla, escalades and the Carolina lean. But these drag cars here are dumpster fires waiting to happen

[@paulolson734]

What a beautiful restoration. And actually running it, not treating it like a museum piece. Major props to Mr. Sandifer. Noting, absolutely NOTHING sounds as good as an early top fuel engine cackling away on nitro. I'm getting chills. Thanks for posting this.

[@Doggeslife]

Beauty! How many remember when this was the norm and Don Garlits' new rear-engine beast was the wildest thing ever?

[@stevensons78]

Doggeslife You said it!.. I was very young ...Parents ran “Rails”Front engine’s 63-68 Moms got stories bout Big Daddy Don G. Have a ton of great photos and programs And still have the mags.. Take it Easy dad...👍

[@RHAMBO293]

My best friends father ran 1 of those in the 60's when it was tip of spear technology and dangerous as hell! Sign me up!

[@ironmonkey1512]

putting gas under tires and doing real burn outs

[@kevintucker3354]

I only know it from history! And I’m 52

[@kevintucker3354]

There’s nothing better that hearing Don Garlits tell the story of tuning his first 426 hemi and adding timing until it was popping and still set records!

[@24X7CARZ]

Excellent restoration - what an accomplishment. Hats off to everyone involved!

[@kurtpoblenz2741]

I'd choose a Hemi over a BBC anytime! Awesome car!

[@johnmanley7859]

I love seeing these ol Race cars run.

[@scottm-nc9451]

In 69 being a young boy I remember that era ... I thought all kids grew up at the track ... Kid sister in a wooden play pen. You knew all the drivers and they knew you.

[@treetop9703]

Good to see a proper restore, looks amazing

[@mr.hainie2543]

This is and will always be my number one bucket list item; to own and drive a front engine fuel dragster. This is truly a beautiful piece of art, WELL DONE!!!

[@tomtaphorn7870]

Beautiful. Can you imagine driving that digger on a full pass? Sign me up...

[@NitroUnion]

Ditto, I'm jealous haha. He's having a blast with it

[@rodrossi9749]

Beautiful restoration.......damn I miss these.......as a 11 year old at York US 30 dragway in 71 memories tend to last forever. AWESOME CAR !!

[@justicelut]

That is one nice looking dragster. Well done!

[@NitroModelsAndComics]

Just rolled into the burnout a bit wuick. He'll get the hang of it. Stunning car. And there is nothing like when you turn the fuel pump on and the nitro strats flowing. The motor takes a complete 180 and transforms into the beast that we love.

[@sammygonzalez7627]

First cackle dragster that i have seen taken for a hit...Bravo Sandefer

[@ronnieboucherthecrystalcraftsm]

great and heart warming = 1968 i was 13 yo , got my first levis - went and saw drag racing and a petrol station down the road had a drag car similar to that = hemi front mounted big pipes , supercharger ! i saw them start it up one saturday afternoon push cared it down the street bag it fired up = i nearly died with shock at the engine sound and force !

[@DocsKustomKorner52]

Always great to see the vintage history found and restored or put on display in it’s original state for the younger generation to see!

[@bryanst.martin7134]

Had one of those motors in my drag boat. No blower, just 10.5:1 comp, Crower drag cam, dual quadrabogs. Quite wicked sitting in a 17' flat bottomed Hull. Revved like a two stroke.

[@jerrycoon3369]

Thanks for bringing that beast back to life! Great job!

[@nzsaltflatsracer8054]

Golden Rule #1 never run it without somebody in the drivers seat!

[@david54106]

My thoughts exactly ... here in Australia we get in big trouble for that and rightly so... bloody dangerous...

[@shaunsiz.itsbetterbytube2858]

Very dangerous

[@teamdrama6251]

I was 16 watching a guy set the timing on a 632 cubic inch mud dragster .they must not have the shifter adjusted right or whatever. He reved it up and that thing jumped into gear .lucky it was behind the trailer were it couldn't get away to bad but it ran the guy over and those big super scooper paddle tires skined the guy from his head to his feet ripped out part of his scalp ran down his back and legs and just skinned him .it took the top layer of skin right off him .craziest thing i ever seen .always make sure someone is in the car .

[@richb.4374]

And NEVER make a pass without a blower blanket. Especially on a front engine car. Just running it sitting on stands without a blower blanket is asking for it. I have seen nitro burning Hemi's explode a blower while the crew chief tunes it. It's literally a bomb because it's full of fuel. This guy is flirting with death or a bad accident.

[@david54106]

@@LS_Jo The night time fire up were referring to...

[@SuperHeliboy]

Nothing like the fire breathing hemi. Simply a work of art.

[@xyzzy117]

perfect! Thanks! I got a start in late 60' I was there. Your car is really done nice! "Those were the days my friend we thought they'd never end!" To bad politics and greed killed it. We where having fun!

[@club1453]

What sort of times were these types of cars getting in the 60s ?

[@wdfaws8124]

As kids me and my buddy would ride our bikes up to the drag strip, sneak in and watch these things run. Loved it.

[@davidtimms3201]

Absolutely beautiful slingshot Top Fueler. The cackle and header flames are so cool. Hope to see video of this car making a full pass.

[@bsanford5072]

Talk about Nostalgic! Doesn't get any better than that. Old Skool is Kool!!

[@JA-sm9zf]

Man that was awesome. Thanks a bunch for sharing. I can imagine getting that dragster took a lot of work and money. 👍👍👍

[@martysquires1291]

Nice to see someone racing an old famous dragster instead of ut sitting in a museum

[@floydrhodesiv5733]

Thank you sir for Restoring this nitro burner ! You have yourself surrounded by those who built it and ran ! Always follow their rules of Saftey ! They know! They lived to tell the story!

[@mikelittle6530]

Way cool! Never realized that the driver sat with the rear axel in the crook of his legs where his knees bent!

[@jeffd7557]

I love that he is still using the M&H RACEMASTERS .... what a beautiful old rail .... They just don't make em like they used to , unfortunately. .... Thanks for letting us see it , NITRO UNION is the BEST👍😁👍

[@iggyfritz7150]

I love when the nitro hits the motor thats when it starts to cackle and spit flames Love it! ❤

[@ldnwholesale8552]

Looks and sounds great, true period piece. Now you just have to learn to drive it!

[@superdriver777]

Wow! That is a seriously aggressive sound. I've seen lots of modern top fuels race in-person, but this thing is wild!

[@IronheadGarage]

Now that's what I'm talking about!. What a dream to have a old sling shot dragster it would not get any better then that. Love the old school stuff. Thanks for sharing brother👍

[@NitroUnion]

He’s living the dream for sure. One day I’d like to have one. Thanks for tuning in as always!

[@davidlj53]

Fire breathing monster! Love it!

[@grampageorge3407]

That thing sounds good!Pipes be a kickin!

[@deweywatts8456]

I think I heard my paycheck go through that right bank when he cranked it up.

[@bccphotec]

She looks and sounds so sweet!! That night time shot is sublime!!

[@markwray3905]

Thanks for saving it ☺️

[@jameseastwood4984]

Beyond cool. Just love the old style sling shots. Sitting over the differential, wow.

[@muzkat101]

Sounds like an 8-cylinder Howitzer... totally awesome.

[@williamt2951]

Still love seeing front engine dragsters. It's just something about those machines and throw in a Willy's gasser like Big John or Stone, Woods and Cook ran, heaven pure heaven! Thanks for the video, guys!

[@fuhkoffandie]

Who'd a thought the most deadly drag car in history, the digger, would be so loved, so many years later. my stepfather raced, and is good friends with, don garlits. They raced together in the 60s and 70s. You had to have balls of steel, to drive one. My favorite drag car, and in second, is of course, the gasser.

[@muimasmacho]

Stylin' with Old School 392 fueler. My first dragster had a flathead ford with 3 strombergs. The Lead Sled. Old schoolers called it old school way back in '70. 😂

[@ProjectRescues]

Now if only "Moonbeam" could be done the same way. Was found in its original trailer in the desert. Hoarder has it.

[@jettechdonatkins]

very sweet,love it,thanks!

[@sonnypruitt6639]

Don Garlits has got to be rolling his eye over this. This is like skydiving without a reserve parachute, or SCUBA diving and not knowing how much air is in your air tank.

[@muzkat101]

Like Stock Car Racing, NHRA has lost its way... going back to the 60s & 70s, back to the local drag strips, this was a time of drag racing wonder. These cars may have been a bit lower in speed from the Top Fuel monsters today, but today, it is all too regulated and uniform, and it lacks the local garage feel that made Drag Racing King of inspiration back in those early years (decades ago). These are the cars; the rails, that I grew up watching, and building as a kid as models... these are the cars that we need to see a make a comeback; the cars build from scratch from local garages, from off the self parts and machined parts - away from the corporatized racing that ruins the races today. At least, this is my opinion.

[@oldgoat50]

Regulations keep the deaths down. I saw the Kentucky Moonshiner crash in 74 or so and the guy was laying outside the car even with a roll cage and 4 point back then. Don't think there has been a death since Scott?

[@dennisgoans701]

I agree. Today's computer cars suck. Might as well go all electric. :--(

[@JThemelis]

Proper restoration and not a cackle only car? Winner!!!!

[@jimsweikata5571]

Beautiful car. Cacklin' Nitro, Luv it......I've got an injected alcohol 412 inch small block Chevy FED.

[@eightycubicft]

That thing is squarely! AWESOME!!!!!!

[@lieugebo805]

Well you certainly have an awesome piece of History that's an incredible car to say the very least now you need to find a driver❤️😅

[@haventthoughtofanameyet6364]

It is like having 5 lbs of tnt sitting in your lap and you're holding a piece of metal with your hands to protect yourself lol

[@williammeszaros3382]

Back in the day, we used to stand right next to the push start road at Fremont, and when they dropped the clutch and lit it up, the whole car would kind of leap up and surge forward as these beasts came to life....it was the best of top fuel !

[@quickdeuce]

Wow! Nuth'n on this planet compares to NITRO!

[@gumpycognac4505]

Good lord this is RAW

[@davidmarberry5565]

my parents used to take me to watch the rails in calif as a young boy omg that bring tears to my eyes

[@tomtee4442]

One day twin turbo nitromethane injected streetcar! Blower cars have always been the king at the car shows!

[@mikebaker9574]

Beautiful man!!!!!!

[@timbarnett3898]

In high school in 60s our friends cousin raced his dragster at Woodburn Oregon drag strip, where we all went nuts when he was first to break 200 miles per hours!

[@jackhackman7777]

Way to go Ronnie you done a hell of a job with that drag car

[@mulekickforge4242]

Awesome, 😎 he looks like a kid in the candy shop.

[@tomtee4442]

Never ran the mix nitro cars ran but I've done fuel mixing with nitromethane it's incredible and I didn't burn anything up! With nitromethane engine would start without the choke in the wintertime.

[@richardsmith-qy6vl]

Boogie and Ronnie's shops are not from my house about 5 miles to boggies and 10 to Ronnie's that's something else . I met boggie about 35 or 40 years ago he was a hell of a race car builder

[@MayheM_72]

I always loved to looks if those old school dragsters. I understand the benefits of the mid-rear engine, but even the F1 and Indycars from back in he day just had a look to them.

[@446hemi]

beautiful 392 semi

[@andrewrcmadwilkinson6999]

THANK YOU THIS VIDEO HAS MADE MY DAY TAKE CARE

[@NitroUnion]

Thank you! Glad you dig it!

[@laffilmfest3759]

Expertise is exciting to hear......thank you!

[@jaymoe5.7]

What a violent display of vintage american horsepower!

[@dennisgoans701]

Hemi and nitro. What else is there. Love it.

[@dougvaldivia3395]

hearing it idle then revved up should make you giggle

[@JohnW1711stock]

That was BAD ASS! Not only a Cackle car, but, a burnout as well! Beautiful car. Check out Bill Pitts channel. He owns the Winkle and Trappe, Magicar.

[@kevintucker3354]

God bless these swap meets!!!!

[@johnnymayo8534]

I have no words.....just awesome!

[@timothyhays1817]

Awesome video. Love the vintage Nitro cars.

[@eddgong]

I used to watch this car run in back in 68 down at LaPlace ,La , bout 20 mi. North of New Orleans almost every other week end it was on of my fav's ,Hell I was only 12 , I still have a few pics I took in the pits of this ride , my mom would drop me off earl;y a.m . and pick up at dark ,12 and under got in free and Id save my lunch money to get a pit pass

[@RandysFiftySevenChevy]

I would love to drive that beast

[@79tazman]

I love Ronnie's Dodge Coronet that thing is bad and the the old slingshot with the Hemi Nothing like the sights and sound of a cackling Blown Hemi I just love Nitromethane!!

[@robedmund9948]

Those slinghots are cool, but deadly. There's a few reasons why the motor was moved to behind the driver. Great restoration, though. Beautiful car!

[@jimmyj2563]

Great job..really well done and a great back story. Respect from Australia 💪🏻👍🏻

[@NitroUnion]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed!

[@meauxjeaux431]

Saw it run MANY times at Southland dragways in Houma, La. from '68 to the early 70s.

[@NitroUnion]

That's awesome! What I'd give to walk around the pits in those days.

[@meauxjeaux431]

@@NitroUnion Yeah, it was great. It was Candies and Hughes hometown track, so during the same years, I watched them run there MANY times also.

[@toddpeters9007]

Love the sound nothing like it

[@1320quick]

Man that car is super cool!

[@Tomcaatt]

Whatta beautiful CAR .

[@popmazzoc3632]

NICE!

[@jameseastwood4984]

Outstanding.

[@billfeld5883]

Try wheeling a early 30's chassis with a 393 hemi ,loads of excitement!

[@victorhex6380]

Very good work.

[@velocita8842]

Love the old school rails!

[@michaeltaylor8835]

Great job

[@dorianfulton7168]

I love doing sketchy stuff... man, throttling that thing for the first time on the track, not knowing what exactly you're going to get... woo wee!

[@aaron___6014]

My ears are ringing and I wasn't even there.

[@tm8951]

Is that what they called a "slingshot". Keep them rolling. Have a good day.

[@NitroUnion]

Yes indeed, this is pretty much the final evolution of the Slingshot dragster, a few years after this car was built everyone went to the rear engine style

[@Cheva-Pate]

Front engine dragster are so mean!

[@brianhyer674]

Nice Cackler! Dangerous starting it up without stands!! Good someone was in the drivers seat in the first part of the video, 2nd part nobody in the drivers seat! Very dangerous!!

[@NitroUnion]

It is a very nice car, he did a great job with it. He uncouples it from the rearend to transport and cackle it

[@sharoncreed2992]

Got a sub from us in the UK just for the rail video.......what a find.Live half hr from Santa Pod so get to see the Nostalgia finals & the awesome show The Wild Bunch put on,well worth finding on the net for some uk nut jobs.

[@elituko]

I can't wait to see it make a hard full pass. Awesome car, great job.

[@richb.4374]

As unsafe as they are, he will be lucky to survive the experience.

[@simplyfred8044]

I just love the cracklin zoomies

[@GT_Racer347]

Frikkin badass. 🤘

[@bccev770]

Bravo!!

[@Merylstreep1949]

Coolest. Toy. Ever.