This front-wheel drive 1962 dry lakes racer is a largely complete belly tanker with a turbocharged Pontiac four-cylinder and a lengthy, partially-documented competition history. Completed in 1962 by a team reportedly consisting of Burbank firefighter Jerry Silverstein along with notable hot rodders Julian Doty and Arnold Birner, the racer was named “Something” and run at SCTA dry lakes events in various forms until 1989. The car was stored until Silverstein’s passing in 2007, then displayed at the Los Angeles Roadster Show and sold to a private California collection. The seller first noted the car during its final runs on his first trip to Bonneville in 1989, and was able to purchase it a year ago with plans to recondition and run it again.

Lakester describes an open-wheeled salt flats racer often created from a surplus WWII aircraft drop tank, which has been augmented here with an extended tubular frame covered with custom-fabricated panels. Red paint dates to several different eras of the car’s competition history, and wears a patina of long-term exposure to high speeds, hasty repairs, and general use.

Bonneville Nationals tech inspection stickers from 1987-1989 remain affixed along with race numbers, D/Lakester class identification, and rescue instructions. 15″ disc wheels are still wrapped in vintage Firestone slicks. The large opening in the rear is a storage tube for the parachute.

Over the rear axle, the diminutive driver’s compartment is fully faired and protected by a rollover hoop and emergency exit latch accessible from the outside.

Cool gauges, controls, dials, and warning lights continue the surplus aerospace look established by the aluminum bomber-style wheel and labeled toggle switches.

The engine is a Pontiac Tempest four-cylinder which was first run in naturally aspirated form with a “stage four” head built by Birner. The impressive-looking turbocharger setup seen above was added somewhere along the way. The powerplant is mated to a three-speed manual transaxle with quick-change gears that drives the front wheels.

Though partially disassembled, the drivetrain remains present and is thought to be largely complete. The car does not run or drive currently, and after 27 years of sitting the seller recommends a thorough inspection and update of fueling, braking, and other systems if it is to be run again in the SCTA lakester classes.

An included display frame contains mementos including six time slips from the Bonneville Nationals. Among them is a slip showing a 1986 run of 224.753 mph through the 4th mile.

The car is sold with its original hand-built trailer, which has recently been fitted with new lights and tires.

“Something” is pictured here in its earliest days on the salt flats. A folder containing further historical photographs and assorted memorabilia is included with the sale, along with a collection of miscellaneous parts. The car will be sold on a bill of sale in lieu of a title.