Manuel Gonzalez

Manuel Gonzalez's 1940 Ford Coupe. Gonzalez was a member of the Pharaohs of Wilmington car club, and in 1956 his coupe received a flame paint job by Von Dutch.

Manuel Gonzalez's Californian. Manuel's blown Chevrolet dragster was built by Allen Murdersbach. Started in 1959, the build featured an aluminum body by Bob Sorrell that Dean Jeffries painted Candy Apple Red and Pearlescent White. Don Prosser performed he engine work, and the build was completed sometime around 1960.

A snapshot of the Californian in the staging line at Lions Dragstrip. Junji Nakamura filmed the short movie where the snapshot comes from in 1960. Click here to check it out.

Manuel Gonzalez of Wilmington, California.

Manuel was a member of the Pharaohs of Wilmington car club and a popular and well-liked guy at the Lions dragstrip in the 1960s. In 2019 Manuel's son, Mickey Gonzalez, told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama that his father had a famous restaurant in Wilmington named Cinco de Mayo Restaurant. "He would say all the local legends and friends, such as Mickey Thompson, Frank Pedragon, and Don Knott, would race and then go to the restaurant afterward."

Old Yeller Jr.

In the 1950s Manuel and some of his friends built a dragster named "Old Yeller Jr."

The Californian I and II

Manuel had a couple of dragsters that he raced at Lions. The Californian received first place in its category at the first annual 1961 Winternationals Rod & Custom Car Show. The Californian 2 was highlighted in many publications, and Manuel used to tell Mickey that he ran the first-ever 671 full-blown engine in the Californian 2.

Manuel passed away in 2017.

Manuel Gonzalez's Cars

Manuel Gonzalez's 1940 Ford Coupe

Manuel Gonzalez's Dragsters

Old Yeller Jr.
Manuel Gonzalez's Californian
Manuel Gonzalez's Californian II