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Scorpion V |
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Don Ross recreates yet another of Bobby Langley's "Scorpion" Dragsters The Scorpion V was the next to last car that Bobby Langley campaigned and was a typical slingshot dragster for the time with the exception of the unique bodywork that was Bobby's trademark. The car had a chassis by Don Garlits with the body and drive train by Bobby and friends. The car was very completive, as was all of Bobby's cars and won the Nationals at Green valley in 1964. The story on the car is that it is the original chassis built at Garlits shop, probably by Swingle. It was purchased from Bobby Langley after he decided he needed a longer car. he received Scorpion VI from Henry (Moose) Shroder of "T" Bar Chassis Co. which had recently moved to Dallas and set up shop off of Ables ST. Bobby sold the car To George Fields, currently a Bonneville racer, around 1966. The car was complete as a roller less engine. George can't remember who he sold it to. It turned up at the Arlington TX. swap meet about six years ago it had been modified with a Ford nine inch rear welded to two pieces of 1/2" X 3" steel bar. These were sort of welded to the old rear end up rights lower than the original location of the Olds. rear. The Crossley steering had been replaced with a P&S box but it was cobbled in as well. The car was purchased by Robert Cassel of FT Worth and his Nephew. They never got it running but did drop a blown Chevy in and put Santa in for the front yard. People told Mr. Cassel that it wasn't a pro built car and should not be run as is. That last part was right as the bottom rails were almost rusted out full length. Mr Cassel sold the car to Arlington hot rodder Charles Duran. He kept it a while then sold it to my fellow Scorpion collaborator Paul Adams. Paul wanted it more for a prop for his Large photo display of vintage drag and lakes cars. I told him it was the Scorpion V. He would not believe it and asked Don Garlits to verify it's origin at Bowling Green 2004 Don was quit busy but did stop to look at photos ad said " I believe it is one of our cars, but could not say for sure with out seeing it in person". About a month later we loaded it up and took it over to Bobby's home . Bobby walked around behind the roll bar rubbing his hand over it as he passed. He then looked under the bottom front rails where he had welded 1/4" square bar full length to stop from scraping the tubing. He looked up and said yes indeed it was his # 5 car. About a year passed and I was in the middle of Scorpion II B. A fellow Named Bill Crosby came in to my shop and wanted me to build a front engine car he put a V six in and run at local tracks. We were looking at The S II project and Bill said " you know the car I always liked was Scorpion V". I said what would you think if I told you where it is and it could be purchased. Bill just said "Oh No" what is the phone number" This started the restoration of Scorpion V.
This shows some of the unique bodywork that trademarked the "Scorpion"
CONTINUE To the Photo Album of more shots of the build
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