Photo Credit: IHRA

Photo Credit: Coker Tire

With all the corporate feel now in NHRA nitro funny car its good to see Army Armstrong and the Texas Jungle Racing Team campaigning the Jungle Jim Liberman “tribute” car in IHRA’s Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car class.

Power comes from a 500 cubic inch Keith Black Hemi with a Mooneyham 8-71 blower, Enderle injection, single fuel pump, single mag, Lenco 2-speed planetary transmission, Crower clutch, Dana rear end and Strange Engineering axles. On nitro, the combo can produce around 4000hp.

Credit goes to Army Armstrong for growing the Nostalgia Funny Car class as he is owner of the Funny Factory, a business that specializes in building 60’s and 70’s fiberglass Funny Car bodies and chassis. For information on all parts and services the Funny Factory offers visit www.nostalgiafunnycarbodies.com.

Liberman was one of the most famous nitro funny car match racers in the 1960’s and 70’s, driving his trademark Blue Chevy bodied funny cars. He tuned and drove the nitromethane powered car and was tough competition for many of the factory-backed programs. Liberman and his shapely sidekick “Jungle Pam” Hardy focused their efforts on the profitable match race circuit across the United States. Liberman scored some impressive wins on inconsistent and tricky tracks and often raced 5  to 6 nights a week. He had one national event win in NHRA competition at the 1975 Summernationals at Englishtown NJ. Sadly, Liberman was killed in a head-on car accident driving a Corvette on September 9, 1977 but his legend lives on through his many fans.

Armstrong and the team have been racing the 1972 Camaro bodied funny car for the past few years at select Nostalgia events and Armstrong’s future plans are to complete his own car and compete at as many IHRA and Nostalgia races as the schedule will allow.  The team will be called “Mexican Revolution” and feature a Armstrong built chassis and 1972 Camaro fiberglass body.