427 Tunnel Ram! 1954 Chevy Rat Rod Gasser
Some cars you can hear by looking at a photo and this is one of them. One glance of this 1954 Chevy gasser immediately makes me hear the cackle of the side pipes. While gassers aren’t everyone’s taste (especially with a patina paint job), they are undoubtedly attention-grabbing. This one can be found here on Craigslist with an asking price of $11,500. Located in Gilmer, Texas there isn’t a ton of information in the ad regarding the history of the car, but I’m sure it could tell some stories. Thanks to T.J. for the tip on this beast. Have a closer look!
The engine is spewing vintage horsepower. It is a 427 cubic inch big block topped with a tunnel ram intake. The Moroso chrome valve covers round out the vintage styling. The engine is mated to a Turbo 400 transmission with a TCI stall converter which sends power to a 3.42 posi rear end. The fuel cell and battery have been relocated to the trunk for weight distribution.
The interior has a B&M shifter and a-pillar mounted tach. The seats are from a late-model sedan, which are probably comfortable, but look a little out of place in a race car.
This seems to be a fun car at a reasonable price. I’m not sure how much work it will take to get it ready to race, but the seller does say it is streetable and drives great. Overall, it looks like a blast to me. What do you think?
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Comments
After I ditch the seats, I would terrorize the richy-rich Cherry Creek area of Denver.
Good bones but too much rat.
Normally a car like this wouldn’t be interesting to me, but I like the fact that it’s “streetable.” Driving this around my little town would blow some minds for sure.
I’d park it in front of my house.
For a while.
Too bad they sprayed clear gloss on it.
It’s not a bad car, looks reasonably well done, and the seller honestly describes it as a “Street car.” It’s a gasser “Wanna be” that’s never been near a drag strip unless it was parked in Spectator Parking.
There are no seat belts that I can see, much less a roll bar or cage. The Tech Guys might throw you off the track property if you showed up and tried to get it through tech. There aren’t any underside pictures, but I’d be shocked if it has driveshaft safety loops or a fuel cell.
But it would make a serious impression on the neighbors if it showed up in your driveway. I’ve done it, sometimes they don’t appreciate this stuff. But I plow the neighborhood driveways for free in the winter, so they let me slide on old cars with loud exhaust systems.
Before we get all “techy”, this is just for fun, folks. The single carb severely limits what this motor could put out, actually, I’ve never seen a setup like that. It’s a hodge-podge of this and that( the cobbled electric wiper motor is classic) and will overheat in 15 minutes, but it’s a “good ol’ boy( or gal) from Texas, give ‘er heck, firing pistols in the air machine”,,YEE-HAW,,and nice someone in the great state of Texas still likes this stuff. This car was one of the many model kits I made, I’m simply flabbergasted, they want $80 BUCKS for one today. Talk about “out of touch”, what were they then, $1.99? Very cool find, the car, not the model kit,,
https://www.modelroundup.com/product-p/rmx-mk-2084.htm
Not exactly sure how that front suspension modification made it through to get the car registered. Welds look questionable at best. In my State I can’t see that making it through inspection. Engine looks like it has potential if you added a second carb but the car it’s sitting in could use a few more hours of work.
I love Gasser’s. Just not this one. Wheels Good! Engine Good! That’s all I got.
You’ll notice most of writers for BF think everything with a straight axle is a Gasser, every 55 through 57 Chevy is Bel-Air, and every Mopar is a muscle car.
Seller refers to the car as a “rat rod gasser,” that’s the look he’s going for here, I think we all get that.
The front and back seats match.😀
At least he has the Texas license plate mount.
I think it’s badass it just needs to be flat grey
I get the whole “hearing it” from a photograph….that was my first impression when I saw this post,, immediately in my mine I heard the lump-idy-lump idle followed by the harsh roar of a big chevy being flogged. Wonderful wonderful noise!