Zach Reynolds 'Tobacco King' Rocket Car

Zach Reynold's Tobacco King 1964 Galaxie 500, modified 1965. Latham-blown 427 cubic inch Side Oiler in front, 850 hp Turbonique rocket powered drag axle in rear. Video from Mecum Indianapolis auction, May 17 2008

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• turbonique
• rocket
• muscle
• car
• hot
• rod
• zach
• reynolds
• galaxie
• tobacco
• king
• iowahawk

[iowahawk]

There was no rocket fuel in the car, but the entire system is complete. Hugh Whited (a Turbonique engineer who worked on the car in '65) believes it can be made operational with a modest amount of work although he recommends ditching N-propyl nitrate / thermolene for a safer fuel. So it might actually be fired sometime before long.

I'm writing an article about the car and Zach Reynolds in the next issue of Garage magazine.

[belvedere4dr67]

One of the most bad ass cars ever.

[dickdiggler2]

@iowahawk I got that issue, great job! Dude was a crazy ass not sure if I would of wanted to ride shotgun.

[lomasck]

For all the years i have said supercharged 2 strock engines are the best idea for car engines,then using some other engine to drive the turbo or supercharger in drag racing.I even thought of using rocket fuel to power a turbine to.Or a jet engine using a supercharger instead of a turbine.In reality i am not interested in drag racing anymore as rules & insurance have made it boreing but after seeing this Ford Galaxie and reading about Turbonique my love to see one go is Very strong.Top Stuff.

[JustinTheJMan]

@chrisfball12 Thats exactly what I want to know...

[collisioncat99]

Even the engine in this beast sounds positively evil!

[herbienbrian]

lets see that thing out where it belongs, on the track!!

[lachlanBBruce]

check out the turbonique system - from memory there were 3 different set-ups- a "turbocharger" type arrangment that was driven by a rocket rather then the exhaust, the "drag axle" here, and lastly a straight rocket booster - go karts with these were running 240mph until being banned

[mfuji00001]

exactly, so far only for show.

[worthyprofile]

Amen brother!

[carbons4]

Yea the ambulance chasers would kill these BIGTIME today. Shame.Yes these are dangerous and as with anything somthing unforseen can happen. Sick and tired of everything being regulated out of existance because one moron blew himself up. With computer monitoring and modern electronics these would be so bad ass today.