Featherweight: The Lightest Funny Car Ever Built - Doug Nash's Bronco Buster

Another fantastic video, Brian...with one small correction. The car wasn't scrapped at the end of 1967. It changed hands a couple of times and for a while in the 1980's it was up in Wisconsin and owned by my friend Troy Ray. No idea what happened to it after that, but I'm pretty sure it still exists today, just not in any sort of public capacity.

I grew up in the house behind the Nash house. For years I watched dragsters coming and going. I walked past the Bronco Buster on my way to school every day for years. Doug was a nice guy and even let me sit in the Bronco Buster

I was lucky enough to see this car run at Milan. Gas Ronda was doing a 2 out of 3 match race that day. Doug was there just making a single day exhibition pass. Gas was running around the 9.60's Doug put down a 9.20ish run and got some big ooohs and aaahs from the crowd. I loved this truck because of the light weight and the 289. Probably why I love the Jr fuelers. Great article!!!

I grew up in Garden City I was friends with Dougs brother Danny and his sister Darlene, and as a teenager back then it was great being around Doug who had one of his race cars, called the "Boop" 1953 ford victoria with a Lincoln engine sitting in his parents driveway and was always ripping down Merriman Rd with open headers. He raced the cyclones 64- 65 and they also sat in the same drive way, he did really well with his transmissions and super well with the overdrives, everyone wanted them for the big motor homes back then that had 440 dodges and 454 chevy's , it was really great seeing this on youtube this morning, thanks Brian for making my day, I'm 77 and its nice to see things again that I grew up around, times were so much better back then, thanks again!!

I always wondered about Doug Nash , and now I know "The Rest of the Story" ! . Well done Brian and many thanks.

Dude. You always give the best history lessons... Thank you, Sir!

Hands down one of the best drag racing YouTube channels, keep up the great work Brian!

I always wanted one of his 5 speeds in my old Trans Am back in the late 80s!

As a VERY young fan of drag racing I lived for the magazines, I do remember that Bronco everywhere. Thanks Brian

I worked in the Ford Experimental Garage back in 1963. Doug Nash worked there, also. He built and raced a 1963 1/2 Fairlane Sport Coupe with a 289 hypo in D/S. He held the NHRA class record for et and speed. Ernie McEwen was his partner then, also. He got beat at the 1963 NHRA National drags at Indy by Milo (Mickey) Coleman in a 1963 Fairlane 2 door sedan with a 289 hypo. Milo was a mechanic in the Ford Experimental Garage. He went on to win the class. Milo's team included Dean McCann, Dave Farrel, and Bob Kopf. Milo's car was named "Lil Lord Fotus". Ford gave Milo a 1964 Thunderbolt for the next season and he campaigned both vehicles in the NHRA Southeastern Division.

Was one of many kids who pressed against that fence at Irwindale..Beyond magic, saw cars and races that would put today's national events to shame. Maybe someday there will be another strip built close to the L.A. area. Thank You to anyone who had anything to do with that place, especially 1968.

I lived down the street from Doug when he lived on Ward street in Taylor, Michigan. I used to go down to his house and "help" him and one other guy in his 2 car garage. From the timeline given here I would have been 10 or 11 years old. I do recall the blue car being parked on the street in front of his house. As I recall the car was named "Twister" with a picture of a tornado on the side. It was 58 years ago so my memory may be playing tricks on me. One thing I do recall distinctly was the penchant the guys had for Miller High Life beer. Thanks for the memories and keep the good stuff coming.

Met my wife (38 years married) at Doug Nash Engineering in Franklin Tennessee 1985. We were there up u till it closed. All our machines were stamped, GM..Muncie Indiana as in Muncie Rock crusher transmission.

Another fine story of a little known and interesting car. Kinda reminds me of a children's story The Little 289 That Could.

As an Australian I have no clue about American drag racing let alone it's history but this channel has me fascinated. Great stuff. 👍😀

Wow. I see the Bronco funny car still had a snowplow on it! That's really cool!

289 on nitro way beyond Kool thanks best story I've ever heard about this car

Brian, thanks for posting this - I’ve seen pics of this wild machine and always dug it & wanted to know more! I’m a big fan of the oddballs such as the Jeep funny cars, etc. Please keep doing more of these. Thanks

Cheers for this, Brian! A fascinating story - I have to wonder if Doug Nash ever met Colin Chapman? They both seem to have the same obsession, "Add lightness" as a way to go fast. I must admit, the thought of a fully aluminium chassis & cage is kinda terrifying, as the work hardening characteristics of aluminium and the potential of brittle failure of the chassis would definitely be a concern (to me at least). I was so happy to hear that Mr Nash survived and went on to success in his post-racing life. All too many inventive minds didn't get the chance to in those days... All the Best! G

Another great story. I'm certain the Bronco Buster was in Hot Rod Cartoons at some point.