Drag Racing History: FORD RACING Legends Stashed Away in East Tennessee Garage

Jim Barillaro lived a car guy's dream! He owned and operated a shop during the 1960's and campaigned epic drag cars, all of which were FORD powered. He eventually got his hands on a Ford Cammer (427ci SOHC) and he never turned back. Let's take a look at his Ford Hoard, which includes two of the most important cars in drag racing history....the 1965 Chrisman Comet (largely considered the world's first funny car) and the 1967 Chrisman Comet flip top funny car. Both are powered by nitro burning Ford Cammer engines, and both have incredible history.

Other awesome parts of this collection include a T-Bucket that was built in the 1980s and still looks exactly the same. And Jim's VERY FIRST car, a Ford Model A sedan is up on the chassis table awaiting some TLC. Jim passed away in 2017 and left his collection to his twin sons, Jim and Mike, who are incredible metal fabricators, who run a shop in Knoxville, Tennessee. These cars, parts and memories reside in the shop they work in everyday, so it's truly a memorial for their father.

Insane parts include a custom drive box for Jim's twin engine Ford Falcon wheelstander and a custom Ford Cammer engine block that Jim had cast back in the 1970's before NHRA banned overhead cam engines in the Funny Car division. Jim is a legendary Ford guy, and his sons are following closely in his footsteps. Take a look at this collection, which is stashed away here in East Tennessee.

#hotrodhoarder #Ford #History