Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car racing has taken off like gangbusters in recent years on both ends of the continent and nearly everywhere in between. The success and growth of vintage flopper racing is attributed to racers and fans of all ages long for a glimpse of the Saturday night, match race style format of yesteryear, the cackle of pure, unrestricted nitromethane, and the many legendary restored and recreated race cars. Yet another of those iconic cars will soon return to the quarter mile, as a dedicated trio of partners button up their recreation of one of the most beloved classic Funny Cars on the East Coast – the Frantic Ford Mustang II once driven by Dodger Glenn.

Glenn and co-owners Jim fox and Freddy Frey campaigned the gorgeous Mustang up and down the East Coast throughout the 1970’s, grabbing their fair share of wins before Glenn was tragically killed in a fiery crash at Maple Grove Raceway in July of 1978 at just 33 years of age.

“At that point, after losing Dodger, Fox and my father just said ‘that’s it.’ Their hearts just weren’t in it anymore, and they just wanted to call it a day. They completely got out of racing,” said co-owner Bobby Frey.

The restoration of the Frantic Ford is the brainchild of partners Bobby Frey and Al Liebmann, along with a new partner to the team that will be part of a major announcement in the very near future. Through his fathers’ involvement with the car from the very beginning, the Frantic Ford has been near and dear to Bobby’s heart for more than 40 years, and served as the catalyst for it’s resurrection in the modern era.

“My father and I just sat down a little over a year ago and decided that while we’re still here, let’s give this one more stab and see what we can do with it. But we wanted to do it right by making sure we had backing in place so we could have first-rate equipment. And here we are – we’re on the verge of getting back out there again.”

The team began construction of the car in January, and despite some minor setbacks along the way, still hope to get it on the track for some testing hits before season’s end. Then, if financial backing for the long trip out west can be secured, they hope to officially debut the car at the March Meet in Bakersfield next year; site of the debut of the original Frantic Ford all the way back in 1969.

The modernized Frantic Ford will sport a 1977 Ford Mustang II body on a 125-inch wheelbase chassis, and will carry the same paint scheme applied once gain by the legendary Bob Gerdes of Circus Custom Paint. The original car was always known for it’s swoopy, low-slung stance, and the recreation will be much the same.

While the announcement regarding the driver is forthcoming, Frey indicated that a well known ‘name’ would be handling the driving chores.

Following the possible trek out west for the March Meet, the Frantic Ford will be a part of shows up and down the East Coast in 2011 and beyond as this group of gentleman with a genuine love of nitro racing bring back a little piece of history.

“Anyone that follows Nostalgia Funny Car racing knows that there is no money to be made in it. We just do it for the love of the sport.”

For more information on the project and a look at the history of the Frantic Ford, visit www.franticford.com.