Here’s The Little Red wagon in all its glory as the first wheelstander to hit the NHRA drag racing scene in 1965. The Hemi powered Dodge D-100A compact pickup sported a Hemi engine in the bed of the truck, allowing full quarter mile wheelstanders by former Super Stock driver Bill “Maverick” Golden. (NHRA photo)
he Hurst Hemi Under Glass 1966 Barracuda was a co-promotion of Chrysler and Hurst Performance. Driven by Ohio’s Bob Riggle, it became one of the most famous wheelstanders ever. (NHRA Photo)
Wild Bill Shrewsberry’s candy-striped wild LA Dart is available on line as a model kit. The LA Dart was one of the most popular wheelie cars of the 1970 drag racing season. Shrewsberry had much to do with the building of the hemi Under Glass. (Model King Photo)
Q: Hi Greg and thanks for giving us a peek into your basement of auto collectibles with your recent article about the same. I grew up in the 1970’s riding my Schwinn “Apple Krate” bicycle to my buddies’ homes with my junk drawer tucked under my arm to trade our “treasures.” Many of those treasures were like those on your shelves.
It was a great time to be a kid; popping wheelies on your bikes, watching the Apollo program from our yards (Orlando Fla.), and then riding in your older bothers’ muscle cars on Daytona Beach.
But the item on your basement shelf that really caught my eye was the Revel model of “The Little Red Wagon.” It was the first model I built as a kid. I proved not to be very good at model building, but that little Dodge D-100-A compact pickup, with a 90-inch wheelbase, was all over the place in those days on the drag strips. I cannot remember a more popular hot rod.
Could you elaborate on that iconic “wheelie popping’” Dodge and its drag racing career? If I remember correctly, it had a huge Hemi engine in its bed. Thank you for a column I look forward to every week. Michael Paul (age 55), Spokane, Washington.
A: Michael thanks so much for your letter as communication like this is what keeps me going. I’ll get to the Little Red Wagon and those wheelstanders, but first my bicycle memories. When I was 14, my friends and I used to drag and even “oval race” our bikes on the streets and parking lots where we lived, namely Vineland, N.J. My brother Michael, an electronic whiz, made a drag race starting system (yellow – green – red) for authenticity and we literally TOWED my bike to the races with another bike. Our race bike had special low or high gearing to suit “drag strip or oval needs.” They were great days, and we won lots of those kid races.
As for those drag racing wheelstanders of the 1960s and 1970s, the top three in my opinion include the one you note and perhaps the best known of the bunch, the 1965 “Little Red Wagon” driven by Bill “Maverick” Golden. This wheelstander was followed closely by the 1966 Plymouth Barracuda “Hurst Hemi Under Glass,” thanks to George Hurst and thirds but not least, the 1969 LA Dart of “Wild Bill” Shrewsberry in a “candy cane” striped Dodge Dart.
1979 Dodge Little Red Express advertisement. The D-150 came with special “Little Red Truck” wood trim and a 360 high performance V8. (Photo complements of Dodge).
All used Plymouth/Dodge 426 Hemi engines with either injection or supercharger and were sponsored by regional Dodge or Plymouth dealers and Chrysler corporate. The Hurst Hemi Under Glass was driven by Bob Riggle from Ohio and designed/built by another Ohio native in the aforementioned Shrewsberry, who carved his drag race and exhibition vehicle legacy prior to his personal LA Dart fame.
The “Little Red Wagon,” rivaled the “Hemi Under Glass” as to popularity and as both boasted faithful followings. Thankfully, I’ve seen all of these great wheelstanders in person during my time, along with countless others I can’t mention due to space limitations. Model car kits or die-cast of all three of the aforementioned wheelstanders are still available online or at hobby shops.
With Chrysler Corporation fully behind or a secondary sponsor of these vehicles, Dodge took the Little Red Wagon’s popularity a step further when it introduced the “Little Red Express” short box D-150 pickup trucks available in 1978 and 1979. Although not capable of wheelies, these Little Red Express 360 V8 Dodge pickups still have a rabid following and have appreciated in value over the years. Overall, just 2,188 1978 models and 5,118 1979 Little Red Express pickups were ever built.
Today, everyone agrees the success of the Little Red Express is a direct result of Dodge sponsoring the Little Red Wagon and proven by Dodge using much footage of the Little Red Wagon in numerous TV commercials during the era. In ending, The Little Red Express lettering on the back of the vehicle says “Little Red Truck,” which I feel is valid proof as its relation to the “Little Red Wagon” success.
Thanks for the letter Michael and our look back at those wild wheelstanders.
(Greg Zyla is a syndicated auto columnist who welcomes letters on collector cars, auto nostalgia and old-time racing at 116 Main St., Towanda, Pa. 18848 or email at greg@gregzyla.com).
