Tom Hoover's SOHC dragster

[thatdarncat]

Minnesotian Tom Hoover's 1966 "Fishbowl" dragster is featured in the new May 2016 Hot Rod magazine. The dragster was powered at various times by either a 427 SOHC or a Chrysler Hemi. The Hot Rod article mostly contains recent photos of the restored car which has a Mopar, with just a couple vintage pictures also with Chrysler power. I ran across this photo on the Minnesota Dragways Facebook site of the car with the proper SOHC power. I don't know the photographer credit - maybe Steve Anderson, a fellow Minnesota racer who had the car restored.

[BruceS]

That Cammer looks mighty good in that car!   With an FE-powered (no doubt) Ford truck tow vehicle too.  Where did the name "fishbowl" come from?

Thanks,
Bruce

[machoneman]

Lots more here on the same chassis: http://cacklefest.com/Hoover.shtml

The fishbowl name came about from....well, read it below:

"When the body was finally done the car went to Imperial Customs for paint. It was already somewhat notorious because of the "Fishbowl" deal. A magazine writer and photographer were doing a story on Hanna. He was doing this car at the time. There was an inset in the tail that would get wood grain. Hanna made the inset by cutting out teardrop shapes on each side and rolling them out a little. Then he fitted pieces back in, to make a flat area. The article was done while the teardrops were removed and the writer asked what these were for. Hanna, his usual playful self, said "Hoover is going to put an aquarium there with real fish" or the nearest equivalent. This explanation appeared in the article, hence "Fishbowl Car"."
 
Btw, to clarify, once Hoover put in the SOHC, that engine type stayed in the chassis until Hoover decided to switch back to a Chrysler Hemi for good.