When most Americans think of drag racing, they probably think of big, beefy muscle cars going down to the strip on a Saturday night to race for pinks. Or perhaps they think about Teslas challenging legit supercars with their instantaneously available torque and all-wheel-drive traction.
But in Europe, the drag racing scene remains far more diverse—luckily, we get a chance to see many a wild build hitting the strip thanks to YouTube channels from the likes of Mk1Kieren. T
The latest example of a car that most Americans wouldn't ever think of as a potential drag-racing build is this LS-swapped Ford Prefect 100e that's been seriously built up to pop wheelies and crack into the eight-second range for the quarter-mile.
Slightly Heretical Engine Choice
While it might sound a bit heretical to drop an LSA crate engine into a vintage Ford, people have always loved engine swaps with GM's legendary small-block V8 powerplants. The car in question here was built in the 1950s for sale in the UK, where it has now received its transformation and headed out to the Santa Pod Raceway for some drag-racing fun.
The Build Sheet
The full build is too long to list here, though owner Garth Wong has definitely hit all the right notes after acquiring the car with its roll cage already installed. The LSA was built up with a Stage 2 camshaft, forged pistons, and a finned aluminum deep-sump kit, while also benefiting from custom headers, a nitrous kit, and a Link Thunder ECU. The setup routes power to the wider-than-wide rear wheels via a TH350 automatic transmission equipped with a transmission brake, a Precision Performance short shifter, and a narrowed nine-inch rear end.
Count Down To Blast Off
Remarkably, this Ford remains street-legal as is, though whether Wong drives it around with those wheelie bars remains a good question. The wheelie bars definitely become essential when the tiny two-door blasts off the line, however, and this video from Mk1Kieren catches the pocket rocket dipping down into the eight-second range for the first time ever.
Sources: youtube.com and novak-adapt.com.