We’ve already given a glimpse into our weekly new Flashback Friday feature, with classic videos, vintage restorations, and trips to long begotten race tracks. But a look back at the history of drag racing wouldn’t be complete with highlighting some of the beautiful cars and colorful stars of yesteryear that made this great sport what it is today.

Phil Bonner got his start in the sport in the formative years of the 1950’s around his home state of Georgia, where he was drawn to the sport through his involvement in an Atlanta Ford dealership with the intent of having a little fun and meeting prospective new customers. After competing with a 1961 Ford Starliner Company Drag Team in 1962, receiving one of the 10 lightweight Ford Galaxies produced that year.

Bonner campaigned a lightweight 1963 Galaxy in 1963, followed by a factory ’64 Thunderbolt and 427-powered ’64 Falcon the following season. 1965 brought the debut of the “Daddy Warbucks” theme on his SOHC 427 Mustang – one of only five built that year. That same year also saw the debut of his altered wheelbase ’65 427 Falcon that proved to be his most successful car and ca be traced to the beginning of the Funny Car movement. 1966 and 1967 saw the campaigning of a stack-injected ’66 Falcon and later one of the early, extended nose Funny Cars alongside the likes of Shirl Greer and Ronnie Sox.

Bonner sold his brand new ’69 Torino-bodied, Logghe chassis Funny Car in 1969 and called it a career. But his time in the sport left lasting impression on those there to see his always-competitive race cars. Bonner was inducted into the Georgia Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2007, further cementing his legacy in the sport.