Indian Larry's Famous Daddy O

Yesterday I did an article about Jesse Jame's Sturgis Special which was one of the 2 bikes that got me into choppers. The other bike I that got me into Choppers is the late great Indian Larry's Daddy O! Like many I first saw this Bike on Biker Build Off and I fell in love it at first sight.
Overall I think Indian Larry's Daddy O is the best chopper I have ever seen! Its a bike built to perfection. I like how it has the appearance of a hot rod, which The bike was built as a tribute to Ed “Big Daddy” Roth. All the small details on the bike are amazing, their is so much detail on Daddy O that I notice something different everytime I look at.
One of the reasons for this is Larry loved detail and liked to do most of the work himself and make his own parts. He made just about every part from the frame, to the fender, to the gas tank to even spoking his own wheels!  He actually said this while building this bike “Y'know I like a bike to look like a hunting watch, when you open up the back you look in there and its all mechanical and gizmos going on and movement going on, you see a lot of little parts in there. Its more of an art than a science building a spoked wheel. To me it says just elegance. ”
The Frame of Daddy O (and all of Larry's choppers) had to be made perfectly. By Perfectly I mean, when it comes to the geometry of the frame it had to be exactly right so Larry could stand up and balance while cruising.
One of the best features of Daddy O is, the rear Fender. The Fender is actually made out of a Boat Carrier fender! Larry and his crew took a boat carrier fender, cut in half, at a small piece of sheet metal, cut more of it and rear shaped it into the rear fender!
The other main detail you will notice is the mustang gas tank made by Paco. This gas tank's shape fits the 60s stripped down shape of the bike Indian Larry was going for.
Of course the other big Detail of Daddy O is its wild Paint job! Ed “Big Daddy” Roth was a crazy artist who pretty much invented air brushing and also invented a lot of crazy characters like Rat Fink who was created because Big Daddy hated Mickey Mouse.
The Paint Job is done by Robert Pradke of Custom Auto Design. Robert wanted to make it look as 60s as possible so the base coat of the paint is Gold Metal Flake. Metal Flake paint was very popular among hot rods in the 60s, so it fits the theme. The Paint also includes the Gasoline Alley Logo and Indian Larry's name done in gold and silver leaf on the rear fender and true to Ed Roth's style his Character Rat Fink was airbrushed onto the gas tank.
Even though I have said it several times before, I will say it again Indian Larry's Daddy O is the best Chopper ever made! I don't think any chopper come close to the hard work, craftsmanship, attention to detail and art that was put into this bike. It really is a one of a kind motorcycle and I don't think that we will ever see another like it.
Tech Sheet
Year Built: 2003
Builders: Indian Larry, Gasoline Alley Crew (now Indian Larry Motorcycles)
Engine: 88 ci Pandemonium Motor
Frame: Indian Larry Wishbone Rigid
Front End: Indian Larry Twisted Springer
Wheels: Hand Spoked Wheels
Paint: Gold Metal Flake by Robert Pradke of Custom Auto Design

Street Legal Dragsters

About a week ago I was wondering what would make a really cool and very unique Hot Rod. What did my wondering come up with? A Street Legal Dragsters! I realized this was a cool idea but I  also thought someone had to have built one before right?There has to be one that has been built, is driven and makes weekend passes at the drag strip. So I set out looking for a street legal dragster and here is the story and what I have found.
One thing I did find out is that street legal dragsters are rare and REALLY REALLY HARD TO FIND! I figured they were going to be rare but their really may only be 5 or 6 rear dragsters in  existence and one street legal funny car and one street legal sprint car and that's it!
So here are some of the street legal dragsters (they may be the only street legal dragsters) that I have found.
The Stragster is owned by Vince Spretnjak of Calumet Collision Hot Rod Shop. The idea behind the Stragster was meant to be a Hot Rod that was part Pro Street and part Slingshot Dragster (if you ask me, I say they got both parts down really well). The Stragster is powered by a Blown Mopar 354 Hemi, with old school style Hillborn Fuel Injection, aluminum heads, and Vertex Magneto for ignition. All of this is hooked up to a Tremec 5 speed transmission.
The engine and 5 speed are hooked up to a 9? Ford rear with a coil over suspension. 4 disc brakes are used to stop this monster in a hurry (you know for when you racing driving in the street). The great thing about the stragster though is it is actually driven on the street!
The Super Mustang
Drag Racer Tom McEwen is more known for being Don “The Snake” Prudhomme's drag racing rival in there famous Snake vs Moongoose races in the early 70s racing in there Mopar Funny Cars. Before this however Tom McEwen was a Ford guy and with Fords help, he built a street legal dragster in 1967 named the Super Mustang.
The Super Mustang may not look like the other Mustangs but I guess you can say its what the Mustang would look like if the Mustang was a slingshot. The car is said to have been a publicity stunt between Ford and McEwen to attract more attention to Fords drag racing and Fords cars.
The Super Mustang is powered by the famous Ford 427 SOHC “Cammer” engine, the body is a Fiberglass/Plexiglass body designed to look like a Slingshot Dragster (technically it is a Slingshot Dragster).
The Super Mustang has only ever made a few Appearances, the most famous one at the 1967 NHRA Winternationals where Tom McEwen got it to run 8.60 @ 180 MPH which was an amazing time and speed for the era. The car was also featured on the cover of a 1967 Issue of Car Craft. The Super Mustang disappeared (expect as a Hot Wheels car) largely because it remained in Mickey Thompsons Private Collection till his death in 1988. It wouldn't be seen again till the late 2000s when it was spotted at a few car shows and later sold for $154,000 at Gooding & Company Monterey Auction in 2009.
Here are some of the other Street Legal Dragsters I have found. Sadly these don't have as large of a Back Ground story like the Stragster and the Super Mustang but they are cool.
I Found this one on the HAMB, its done in a late 50s, early 60s style T-Bucket Slingshot
 The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues isn't a Street Legal Dragster but a Street Legal Funny Car. The Moody Blues is a 1970 Opel Street Legal Funny Car.
I am not sure the current status of the Moody Blues but back in 2010 the car kept showing up for sale on ebay, as a Street Legal Funny Car. The Moody Blues is powered by a blown 392 Hemi hooked up to a 2 speed transmission. The Moody Blues was also featured several years ago in Hot Rod Magazine.
Even though they were a Hard Find, there are Street Legal Dragsters out there. Street Legal Dragster has to be one of the coolest hot rods a man could own, they are unique, look cool and make great head turners for when you are driving on the road.