Don Prudhomme’s ’82 Pepsi Challenger Funny Car Going Up For Auction

Do you want to own a true piece of drag racing history? Well very soon you’ll have that chance, and all you need is a good chunk of money. Mecum Auctions has obtained Don “The Snake” Prudhomme’s 1982 Pontiac Trans Am-bodied nitro Funny Car, the “Pepsi Challenger,” and pulled from mecums website was a little background on the historic vehicle and driver.

“On May 29, 1982 at the NHRA Cajun Nationals in Baton Rouge, LA, Prudhomme drove this car to the sport’s first 250 MPH Funny Car pass during qualifying – 250.00 MPH. And on September 4th at the 1982 U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, IN – drag racing’s most prestigious event – Prudhomme ran an amazing 5.637-second elapsed time, which was nearly 2/10 of a second quicker than the existing national record, despite the fact the engine suffered considerable internal damage on the run. It’s still considered the greatest single Funny Car pass in NHRA history.”

The “Pepsi Challenger” has been restored to the exact race-ready condition in which it competed in 1982. The 484-cubic-inch, all-aluminum Hemi engine, built by the great Keith Black, which powered this landmark Funny Car to its barrier-breaking 250 MPH run, is still mounted in its chrome-moly tubular chassis along with its two-speed racing transmission.

Offered from Prudhomme’s own private collection, the 1982 Pontiac Trans Am “Pepsi Challenger” represents the first time any of the legendary, record-setting racecars owned by this world-renowned drag racer have been made available for sale.

This all-original race car is set to be going up on the auction block in Indianapolis on Saturday May 19th, 2012. With a currently unknown starting bid and the history behind the car, it will most likely be a top seller for that auction if not for the company.