Tony Nancy Wedge
The Tony Nancy Wedge was the name given to two streamliner dragsters built for drag racer Tony Nancy.
Designed by Steve Swaja in 1963, they were built to race in the NHRA's AA/Gas class. The aluminum body was built by Emil Deidt and Wayne Ewing, on an RCS chassis, with a wheelbase. It had a narrow rear end on a twin torsion bar rear suspension, and straight front axle with bicycle wheels, a pointed-nosed body covering both slicks, and mid-mounted engine, with exhaust pipes out the underside of the body ahead of the rear tires.
In theory, the wedge body offered an aerodynamic advantage, decreasing turbulent airflow over the rear wheels, as well as increasing downforce; in practice, the extra weight exceeded any advantage.
Wedge I was powered by a supercharged Plymouth hemi and originally painted orange. Wedge I first appeared at the 1964 Winternationals to pass scrutineering. The car ran for the first time in March, 1964, after being painted white. Handling was problematic; at Sandusky, Ohio, in July 1964, Wedge I flipped on its way through the timing lights, at a speed of over.
At the 1964 Hot Rod Magazine Championship Drag Races, Wedge I set the low e.t. of the meet at 8.51 seconds.
Wedge II was modified, with slots above the slicks to allow air trapped under the car to escape and rear suspension deleted, while the wheelbase was also extended. Nancy powered the car with a selection of blown engines: a Plymouth, then a Chrysler hemi, and finally an Olds.
Wedge II was later stored, while Nancy purchased a more conventional slingshot car, and subsequently restored.
In Wedge II trim, the car was auctioned at Monterey, California, in 2007.