Panorama City Special (dragster)

The Panorama City Special is a pioneering streamliner dragster.[1]

Overview
DesignerMickey Thompson
Body and chassis
ClassTop Fuel
Body styleSlingshot streamliner dragster
RelatedNone
Dimensions
Wheelbase97 in (2,500 mm)
Chronology
PredecessorNone
SuccessorNone

Believed to be the first "slingshot" dragster,[2] the Panorama City Special (designed by hot rodder Mickey Thompson) had a full body, including skirted rear wheels, and a cockpit windshield wrapping around and over the driver.[3] The steel front wheels were covered by lakester-style wheel discs (Moon discs).[4] The car debuted in 1955, at the first NHRA U.S. Nationals at Great Bend, Kansas.[5] The wheelbase was only 97 in (2,500 mm).[6]

In its initial outing, it proved much slower than the competition, hitting only 142 mph (229 km/h), when others were reaching almost 150 mph (240 km/h). Later in 1955, however, it became the first single-engined fueller to exceed 150 mph (240 km/h), recording a speed of 151.26 mph (243.43 km/h).[7]

Notes
  1. Taylor, Thom. "Mickey Thompson Panorama City Special", in "Beauty Beyond the Twilight Zone", p. 32.
  2. Taylor, p. 31.
  3. Taylor, p. 31 & photo.
  4. Taylor, p.31 photo.
  5. Taylor, p. 31.
  6. Taylor, p. 31.
  7. Taylor, p. 31.

Sources
  • Taylor, Thom. "Beauty Beyond the Twilight Zone" in Hot Rod, April 2017, pp. 30–43.


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