Newest Art Print: B-29 Saipan 1945 and Hot Rod

Django · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2012 11:49 am

My friend Scott (Second Air Force) found a photo of this little modified on Saipan in "An Unofficial Pictorial History of the 500th Bomb Group", published in 1946, and I was intrigued. I looked for information on who built it for several months (and even managed to score a copy of this rare book myself) but never could find out any information, even from the 500th BG Association.

It looks like it has elements of a Japanese Type 95 car, and aircraft wheels and tires in the front, but who knows what else. Unlike the ETO, the guys in the Pacific had very little to occupy their free time. And like any hot rodder would, this guy found a way to pass the time. The B-29 in the back is Supine Sue. The main B-29, #49 is of course Flagship 500, which survived the war and is now at March AFB on display as Three Feathers which also carried #49). As a hot rodder and WWII aircraft historian, seeing that photo really inspired me. The car turned out to be the easy part. The B-29's took FOREVER! It was a labor of love though.

PM me, email me, or FB message me for purchase info if anyone is interested. Prints are 16"x20"

The Inspector · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2012 12:50 pm

'ASCOT here I come!!' That guy must have had a buddy fab up that twin carb manifold in the weld shop, Exactly the spirit that lead from a few guys in $50 jalopys at the Dry Lakes before the war to serious American Hot Rodding after a few years of technical training by Unka Sugar. Nice job!! :supz:

Wildchild · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2012 3:13 pm

P-38 pilot invented the idea. ;D

Django · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2012 3:20 pm

Yes, but this one pre-dates the belly tankers.

I showed one of the prints to Ed Iskenderian and he loved it (he served in the CBI). He knew of some air cooled scooters and a flathead powered Jeep, but really liked this modified.

TAdan · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2012 3:33 pm

Thanks for posting the history of this Hot Rod. Chad, any plans on building a replica? I'd image the japanese body work would be just about impossible to find. :lol:

Love the belly tank racers too.

Django · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2012 3:41 pm

It would be fun for sure! I can add it to the long long list of cars I want to build one of these days! It would be really cool for one of the B-29 Museums to have, and pull it out every so often at big events.

The Inspector · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2012 3:52 pm

OK, I'll try to post this for the third time!
In 1951 Alex Xydias who ran the So Cal Speed Shop used a $5 surplus P-38 drop tank and a 296 C.I. MERC Flat Head V-8 (and getting a stock block Flattie out to 296 C.I. is a lot of creative ingenuity) to set a one way record of 195.77 mph that still stands as the fastest speed ever achieved by a naturally aspirated Flat Head V-8.
Several years ago Bruce Myers found the car and restored it back to 'as raced' condition, the car and it's image still feature prominently in So Cal's advertising.

Django · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2012 4:26 pm

Alex Xydias was super cool when I met him (as was Pete Chapouris). Told them both that they were heroes of mine. They were very appreciative. It turned out that Pete had even heard of our shop and knew of Tangerine Scream, a '33 Ford truck that we had built. It was pretty awesome. I was shaking afterwards! :lol:

Django · **Posted:** Fri May 04, 2012 11:59 am

Shipped a couple out today!

JohnB · **Posted:** Fri May 04, 2012 12:19 pm

Great story.

Imagaine the talents available on Saipan (or any big B-29 base) during the war.
Plenty of raw material, time and talent (metal & engine guy and machinists).

I'd guess guys in the ETO had local cars to play with, so they didn't have to go to similar lengths.

Ken · **Posted:** Thu Jan 24, 2013 5:10 pm

http://imageevent.com/okbueno/mopic;jse ... =4&s=0&z=2

P-38 Scooter film

p51 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:28 am

Ken wrote:

http://imageevent.com/okbueno/mopic;jsessionid=ol0nfcpg61.camel_s?p=34&n=1&m=-1&c=10&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=2

P-38 Scooter film

Wow, I never thought I'd see anything get dwarfed by a Jeep like that!

Noha307 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:26 am

Ken wrote:

http://imageevent.com/okbueno/mopic;jsessionid=ol0nfcpg61.camel_s?p=34&n=1&m=-1&c=10&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=2

P-38 Scooter film

That. Is. AWESOME! :supz:

leo · **Posted:** Fri Jan 25, 2013 3:27 pm

Art Vance had a belly tank scooter painted like his mustang that he used to ride around in at the Reno Air Races. Ran it in the evening "tug races" also.

Django · **Posted:** Tue Mar 05, 2013 3:49 pm

leo wrote:

Art Vance had a belly tank scooter painted like his mustang that he used to ride around in at the Reno Air Races. Ran it in the evening "tug races" also.

That's pretty cool. Any photos?

Warbird Information Exchange

Newest Art Print: B-29 Saipan 1945 and Hot Rod

Who is online