It’s only been a few short weeks since “Big Daddy” Don Garlits last graced our weekly Flashback Friday, and while we certainly prefer to spread the love around as we travel back in time, this bit that’s been seemingly hidden away on the internet reeks of awesome, and there was no way it couldn’t be shared.

Back in 1971, right amidst the turning point of the history of drag racing as we know it, ace photographer Roger Phillips paid a visit to Garlits’ speed shop, Hi Performance World down in Seffner, Florida. This facility served as the home base for Garlits’ racing racing operation, and was where the cars were kept, the chassis business operated, and all of the engine work was performed.

It was in 1971 that Garlits and his legendary sidekicks TC Lemons and Connie Swingle discovered the magic formula to make the rear engine dragster concept work that forever changed the face of drag racing, and it’s that car and their efforts that you see in these incredibly rare images from inside of Garlits’ speed shop during the height of “Big’s” career.

Ever the historian, Garlits himself provides the narration for this entire article, providing some interesting tales and commentary that most have probably never heard. Throughout the article are a number of images of Garlits performing engine assembly work in the machine shop, Swingle welding up chassis to the tune of one a month at $1,500 a pop, and a closer look at several of the tricks of the trade employed on the ‘Swamp Rat’ machines. Along with that are a host of timeless and never-before-seen images of Garlits’ engines and engine shop, a scale model of the Wynns-Liner, the parts area of the Hi Performance World, Garlits’ hauler and personal Cadillac, and a whole lot more.

What you’re seeing before you is drag racing history in the making, and the fact that all of these behind-the-scenes images were taken in the first place and have survived to see the light of day 40 years later is purely incredible. Hit the link below to view the tour in it’s entirety.

The Roger Phillips Collection – 1971 Tour of Don Garlits Racing Headquarters