To continue on with some of my previously posted photos from the So Cal Speed Shop Open House, I thought I’d shine a spotlight on one of the cars that really caught my eye as I walked onto So Cal’s back lot – The Asphalt Gigolo.
This early 1970s Chevy Monza funny car immediately captured my attention as it sat amongst all the hot rods at So Cal, basking in the late afternoon sunlight. Like I mentioned previously in my story, I’ve recently become a fan of retro funny cars. Everything from the style to the fat drag slicks to the forward-raked stance to the vintage paint and logos on the car to the monstrous 540 cubic inch big block engine, stainless steel, and big blower sticking out the hood… what’s not to like?
This backlit shot of the blower sticking out of the hood in the rapidly departing sunlight really makes me want to drive a car like this off into the sunset. Damn, that would be amazing!
When I mentioned my newfound attraction to nostalgia drags to some of the people I was hanging out with at the So-Cal Open House, they thought it was funny that I recently “discovered” this genre of car culture. After all, it’s been around forever! However, I grew up around people that modified Japanese cars, and these types of cars weren’t really within the scope of the things we were exposed to when we were growing up. It wasn’t until I personally became deeply captivated with Japanese nostalgic cars that my mind was opened up to appreciate other retro and/or nostalgic cars, like the Asphalt Gigolo. I just didn’t realize how cool they were at first, if you could believe that. Well, it’s not like I grew up seeing cars like this every day.
Just look at the super fat belt used to drive the supercharger, the hard lined plumbing for the fuel delivery, and the elaborate throttle linkage and return spring system that controls the air intake through the circular red flaps you see under the polished aluminum blower cowl. The Asphalt Gigolo’s huge displacement 540cid engine is serious business, but it’s this fuel system and roots-type blower that are the key to creating power for this monstrous engine.
Inside the cockpit, I was impressed by all the sheetmetal work on the car’s interior. And just look at the steering wheel – could you imagine actually steering a car with something like that? It must be difficult as hell! (But it’s not as if retro funny cars need to attack corners or anything!)
A big silver Simpson drag chute is necessary to slow the car down after its high speed passes down the 1320; you won’t be seeing Brembo 6-pot calipers on a nostalgic drag car like this!
Take a look at the detail on the painted in taillights too… whoever painted this car at So Cal definitely has skills!
This view really shows off the crazy exaggerated side profile of the Asphalt Gigolo’s fiberglass body. From the subtle bumps in the hood that hug the small, skinny front wheels to the huge lipped rear wheels with massive Goodyear drag rubber mounted on them, these types of cars really look cartoony! I love it.
Let’s have a closer look at the placement of the massive Goodyear Eagle drag slicks in relation to the steering wheel and the driver’s seating position. These huge tires are burning out, creating huge smoke and gripping the road, and they’re just inches away from the driver! Driving a car like this is definitely NOT for the faint of heart.
The blocked off panel details on this paint job really impress me. I think it looks awesome! However, intricate paint jobs aren’t the reason why retro funny cars such as the Asphalt Gigolo are admired by so many gearheads… we want to see them run! I can NOT wait to go to the next nostalgia drag event to see this Chevy Monza and other retro funny cars do big nitromethane burnouts and fly down the racetrack.
Thanks to So Cal Speed Shop for having bad ass cars like this on display! They have definitely captured my imagination.
:: Antonio Alvendia
Paint by Danny Bauder, dude has skills.
That FC is sick! Cool simple, clean look. I love Nostalgia Funny Cars! More More!
Hi Hechtspeed! I enjoyed reading your comments on Speedhunters! So glad you follow this new site too. =) …but you said FC? Is there an RX-7 hiding somewhere in one of these photos that I didn’t notice?
LOL “Asphalt Gigolo” That somehow seems like the PERFECT name for this car!
If speed and danger are the closest things to sex while still remaining relatively dry, then what name could be more appropriate than Asphalt Gigolo? @Antonio – I think Hechtspeed was abbreviating Funny Car (FC) – BADASSS spread of pics, bro!
FC= Funny Car, Antonio! Or, perhaps it should be written F/C.
Anyway, I have an extra copy of a vintage drag racing book I edited sitting around that I should send you…
Love them Monzas!
Haha I did the same thing as Antonio did till I go wait.. thats a Funny Car there. Awesome car. Thanks for the coverage!
This is why I love this site.
I would love to sit in one those.
That car will blow your eyes out
Originally the car was gonna be called the ASSphalt Gigolo… I think it was a good choice to drop the extra ‘S’.
hahahaha! AssPhalt Gigolo??? That’s super funny!
This car is awesome though. What events will it be raced at?
Very sick set of one bad azz ride!!!!!
HEY I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE THROTTEL WHAT THE NAME OF THE PART THAT STICKS OUT I WHAT TO PUT ONE OF THOSE IN MY 65 MUSTANG PLZ WRITE BACK
hey great job. I had the pleasure of working on that car for 12yrs. It was called Empty pockets. we ran blown alcohol in the midwest funny car assc. it is really great to see it again.
AWESOME! Thank you for writing a comment Jeff! It’s always great to hear more inside information about cars we feature. How did you hear of our site any way? Do you work at Socal?
Hey thats great .. I grew up around that car,and even drove it. It was my fathers car. And it was named empty pockets. Hope you have as much fun with it as we did.
Worked on that thing on and of for 20 years when it was Empty Pockets even made a lap in it. That car and many others taught me alot about racing and hooked me on it. That’s the third paint job Ive seen it with and still love it. I just hope it lives forever!!!!!
I hear it was pink before your association with it.
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Carspotting asphalt gigolo monza funny car.. Nifty