You Can Finally Own an Authentic 1940s Lakester

The Lakester, with it’s modified aircraft drop tank and exposed wheels construction, is an iconic vehicle that’s fast as hell and also a testament to what’s possible with enough ingenuity and spare parts. We’ve seen all the pictures and videos of these unique, downright terrifying vehicles in their natural habitats of places like Bonneville and El Mirage, but we never thought we’d ever have the opportunity to own one. Thanks to Bring a Trailer and seller jzno11, that dream is a reality. This Belly Tank Lakester was built for El Mirage in the late 1940s but only re-discovered a little more than a decade ago in California. It’s built from a WWII-era drop tank and a Model T frame with power being provided by a V8-60 flathead engine with dual Stromberg 81 carbs and an Eddie Meyers intake. Bonus points because this 1940s Belly Tank Lakester was also featured in the Deus Ex Machina short film Extremity you see here.