I Just came into the possession of a 32 Ford Roadster with some drag car history. Built and raced by Don Noyes in the late 50's as the US Mule #1. I am familiar with the story of Noyes MGH Mule #2. I'm interested in the complete restoration of this car because I believe it has some nice history. If you recall this car and have some knowledge I'd like to hear it.
post some pics - search for thread here from 2010 by Smokey Stover: Does Anyone Have Pics Of The US Mule From The 60's
Channelled car blown Chrysler? Post some pictures I would like to see what it looks like. What did you get with it as far as race parts?
Noyes converted this car to a daily drive then to a street rod. I was lucky enough to get the entire car that he built. The 2nd owner traded a Corvette for the car and he only changed the paint and the interior upholstery. Still have the old drag pipes. Also have the 392 Hemi Noyes put in after he changed out with the MGH. Still has the Lincoln brakes. Kinda of an exciting car.
Ran across a few other mentions besides these also, with a search http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...-any-pics-of-the-us-mule-from-the-60s.432514/ http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/a-different-kind-of-gallery.1016045/#post-11482373
Very cool. I first saw that Roadster in real life, Lebanon Valley Nostalgia Drags October 83.. later it was in The Albany museum, At the time the museum had about a dozen old race cars on display. During that time period the car was painted an awful burnt orange metallic. Street Rod color at the time. other than that it was pretty original to it's old build. I had heard it got unearthed and bought cheap in the early 80s.... that is a great car. There is a pictiure of it in Square Roll Bars....
yep, Noyes built it top to bottom as a drag/Ice and whatever car as I understand then retires it to his daily driver and then best I can tell a late 70's early 80's street rod. I have begun to rebuild the hemi and take the car back to the exact look in the trophy photo from say 60/61'?
I know I can't tell. I know I got a 392 hemi with the car and Noyes did the last drivetran best I can tell. I assumed/read when Noyes put the hemi in the Mg from Mule 1 he replaced it with another hemi.
the mule that was a 32 roadster street rod i'm pretty sure had 3- 4v carbs on top of the blower. the mg was a real race car ....and aa/msp .....don was from the my area and of course every kids idol. later in life don sold the mule 2 to a mutual friend and put a sbc in . I raced it a couple of times with my front motored sling shot and the mule would do big wheel stands.....that's when racing was fun. that car was sold to a guy that was going to restore it to an original real mg.....never heard but I doubt that ever happened
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! I hope you plan to do a period perfect restoration, Don built cars that RAN, not show cars. I never got around to doing anything with the MG U.S.Mule II but it sure was fun being caretaker for it. Bob
Welcome to the HAMB! Please send me a "Conversation" with your address and I'll send you copies of these photos. Bob
All these photos were taken at Dover Drag Strip, check with Dino at the Dover website, they will have more photos and info. Bob
Last photo, not a good one, but it does show the hood and all the patches over holes were Don had run things in earlier tests. The guy was a master at building stuff without investing a lot of money. I got all these Mule photos from Tom Shay who ran a rail at the time. Bob
oh my!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm speechless. You absolutely made my day and some. I'm new to this thread stuff but I sure wish I knew how to convey to you how I was fortunate enough to end up with this particular roadster.
Great find and good to hear you are going to save some history. Way too many drag cars lost to bad intentions.
Memory says Noyes and the car are mentioned / pictured a number of times in Bernie and Arnie Shuman's book ; "cool cars / square rollbars"... there are 2 releases, a hardcover and later a paperback... new england drag racing from the early '50's till the mid '60's...
I am getting more and more remarkable stories and pictures than I imagined. Sunday I couldn't tell you the difference between a thread and a string. Now I can say this thread is going to get me some great help returning this car to its glory day stance.
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