Anyone who was fortunate enough to be around the sport in the 1950s or has at least seen photos of the earliest concoctions to roam the quarter-mile can agree that the cars were rudimentary at best. Safety measures were mostly an afterthought, and actual engineering principles were of little importance. The gearheads of the era simply needed something they could bolt an engine, four wheels, and a seat to, and that was something anyone with some welding background, a case of cold brews, and a few buddies could accomplish at any corner speed shop in Southern California in the duration of a weekend.

By today’s standards, they weren’t much. But at that time, they adequately fulfilled the requirements of racers who were looking to go quicker and faster than their big, steel-bodied sedans would allow them.

Thusly, you can imagine our curiosity when we stumbled upon a one-off project that one gentleman has taken it upon himself to fabricate that defines the earliest of dragsters, which he’s now placed up for auction on eBay at his wife’s demand and, naturally, his own behest.

The throwback front engine car seems to be (and likely is) intended as nothing more than a really cool pit vehicle or campground cruiser, but we can’t help but envision this thing pounding the pavement with a little injected small block bolted to the framerails, leading back to the rear end housing nestled firmly between ones family jewels. The parts and pieces are there to make this little gem run, and the seller has even recommissioned a beer keg to serve as a fuel tank — mounted just behind the drivers seat. Whether it’s safe enough to actually take down a race track is particularly questionable, but we can dream anyway.

Just like those machines that hot rodders slapped together in the 50s, this thing is about as rudimentary as it gets, but if you ask us, that’s what makes it cooler than the other side of the pillow.