You know what every red-blooded car guy and gal needs? A cackle car. Because no other vehicle that’s sitting completely still is as badass as an old school nitro-burner, and if the world already had plenty of them, then in our opinion, it would still always need at least one more.
NHRA Hall of Fame Inductee John Loukas isn’t adding one more cackle car to the population, but he is making it possible for new blood to join in the fun at Hot Rod Reunions and other events, as he’s placed his famed Red Fuel Coupe up for auction on eBay, along with the dually truck and trailer he uses to haul it around, for an asking price of $100,000.
Loukas campaigned the Red Fuel Coupe from 1962 to 1971 in the Competition coupe category — a class made famous for its slingshot-style chassis with sedan and coupe bodies draped over the cockpit. The car features an all-steel 1932 American Bantam body. Loukas originally campaigned the car with Neil Leffler, before teaming up with Bob Priesing in 1962. With the help of the Chicago-based Engine Specialists Speed Shop of Karamesines & Maynard, the car was lengthened from 84 to 120 inches in wheelbase, and the 392 Hemi punched out to 460 cubic inches. Entered as a AA/Fuel Coupe, the car run for nearly a full decade, gathering fame on both coasts as it defeated many of the top runners of the era.
Loukas retired the car in 1971 with a best run in the 7.40’s at almost 190 miles per hour under its belt. Loukas stored the car at his home, until “Big Daddy” Don Garlits made a request to have it displayed at his drag racing museum in Florida. It remained there for 25 years, until 2000, when the Cacklefests were just gaining steam. Loukas hauled the car back to Minnesota and updated the brakes, replaced the driveline, and modified the chassis, while the Hemi powerplant was machined, prepped, and re-built. Loukas got the car back in running condition in time for the 2001 Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, California an hasn’t stopped since.
Loukas is including all of the tools, supplies, and some 40 gallons of pure nitromethane with the sale, that does include the 93 Dodge Dually truck and 26-foot enclosed trailer. As he points out, the car was again completely rebuilt just a year ago, with only three Cacklefests on the motor. Which if you ask us, just isn’t enough Cacklefests.