Back in February, we published a news piece regarding the upcoming trip across the auction blocks of Don “The Snake” Prudhomme’s iconic and record-breaking 1982 Pepsi Challenger Funny Car, which the avid car collector (of his own cars) had listed as part of the Mecum Auction in Indianapolis.

The Pepsi Challenger made history at the Cajun Nationals in Baton Rouge in ’82 when Prudhomme clocked the first ever 250 MPH pass in Funny Car, and later that season at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indy, laid down the stunning 5.63 that remains one of the all-time great passes in the sport.

On Saturday, the buying public had the opportunity to put a price on all of that history, and the winning bid of $250,000 gave the Trans Am-bodied flopper a new home.

Also part of the Mecum Auction and a restored part of drag racing history was “TV” Tommy Ivo’sstreamlined Top Fueler sponsored by Honest Charley’s Speed Shop that the drag racing great debuted at the 1974 NHRA Winternationals. At that race, Ivo experienced one of the worst crashes of his driving career when the engine exploded near half track, resulting in a fiery series of spins and rolls across the finish line. Funny Car legend Bruce Larson purchased the car in 1989 and restored it to its original condition over a period of six years, and on Saturday, the popular display piece brought in a high bid of $200,000.

We’re unsure about Ivo’s machine, but “The Snake’s” flopper is in running shape and as seen in videos on the web, has been fired up on the cackle juice before. Whatever the case, we certainly hope both of these classic machines have gone to new homes that will continue to share them with the drag racing world in some capacity.

By Andrew Wolf
Thanks to: www.dragzine.com
http://www.dragzine.com/news/snakes-pepsi-challenger-ivo-streamliner-earn-big-at-mecum-auction/
Images credit: Mecum Auctions