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Mickey Thompson, Hot Rod Champion of the Year, poses beside his 2040-hp. Challenger I. The extremely
low silhouette of the car was made possible by Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company when they developed
small tires for the machine. (Notice that the top of the cockpit fairing is level with the low hood of the
Pontiac station wagon push car at far right.

Popular Mechanics
Hot rod racing 1959 by George Hill published in 1959
Library of Congress Card Catalogue #59-9533

Challenger I was powered by four
modified Pontiac engines equipped with
Iskenderian camshafts, C-T crankshafts,
Grant pistons and rings, Joe Hunt magnetos, Hilborn injectors and ran on specially blended fuels by Mobil. The chassis
used Cyclone quick-change center sections,
Halibrand magnesium wheels and rode on
Goodyear tires. Fritz Voight prepared and
maintained the engines.
http://www.machine-history.com/Challenger%20I%20Streamliner
Popular Mechanics
Hot rod racing 1959 by George Hill published in 1959
Library of Congress Card Catalogue #59-9533

Charging down the course in low gear, Mickey
Thompson accelerates his machine up to 210 mph
before shifting to second gear. In second the car
goes to around 325 mph before the shift into high.
Planned maximum velocity is in the neighborhood of
425 mph. Mobil-blended nitro fuels bring the horse
power rating for each engine up to 510 hp.
http://www.machine-history.com/Challenger%20I%20Streamliner
Popular Mechanics
Hot rod racing 1959 by George Hill published in 1959
Library of Congress Card Catalogue #59-9533

DURING the Bonneville National Speed Trials Mickey Thompson became this nation's fastest driver, thus earning the title of "1959 Hot Rod Champion of The Year."Challenger 1 1959: The Challenger 1, American's Fastest automobile, at rest on the salt. 1959 Popular Mechanics Hot rod racing 1959 by George Hill