Combining Classic Lines with Tesla Guts - Is This Chevrolet the Ultimate Drag-and-Drive Shocker?
With a ton of different rides and classes, the drag-and-drive community brings together thousands of interesting and unique vehicles and their owners.
And just when you think you’ve seen the most unusual ride, there’s plenty more waiting to be revealed, including this 1940 Chevrolet Coupe.
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“I was first drawn to drag-and-drive from the coverage in Hot Rod magazine, and specifically the Jeff Lutz and Larry Larson battles,” said Paul Mangelsdorf. “I remember in 2014 watching the Lutz twin '57s on the live stream while in college classes, and following the events closely the years since, but even though I had heard all about it, I didn't fully get it until participating in 2023.”
In 2015, Paul and the Green 707 electric vehicle team at the University of Hartford converted a Chevrolet S-10 truck into an all-electric racer, so it’s fair to say that led to his current drag-and-drive ride.
“I was looking for a pre-1955 car to show that EV swaps can work with old school hot rods, and old school hot rodding methods (stripped down and pieced together for speed),” said Paul. “My grandfather’s first car was a 1940 Chevy coupe, which he has long wished he never sold.”
From when the project first got underway in 2019, Paul’s plan was to use a Tesla Large Drive Unit, two Chevrolet Volt 2nd Gen Batteries. After a ton of work, Paul had plans to debut the car on the first Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive in 2022, but had to drop out less than two weeks before it started.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to Sick Week 2022,” said Paul. “The car was running reasonably well and is exceptionally quick, but I had a major gremlin in the fast charging setup that I had been unsuccessfully chasing for over a month.”
Fast forward to September of 2023, and Paul had the Chevrolet Coupe ready for his drag-and-drive debut at Hot Rod Drag Week. Running in the Street Machine Eliminator class, Paul completed the week, with a best pass of 12.65 at 113 mph on the fourth day, and a list of improvements for 2024.
“Drag-and-drive is such an indescribable adventure,” Paul said. “I've described 2023 as brutally awesome and awesomely brutal. There's really no other way to describe it. For five straight days it's you, your car, the road, and other competitors. Around every corner is a new challenge, and you're entirely consumed by this traveling circus that you're a part of, while the rest of the world is just going through their daily life. By the end of Hot Rod Drag Week, I was certain that I'd be back with an improved car in 2024.”
What did the off-season hold for the ’40 Chevrolet known as ‘Shocking Chevy?’ “I am in the process of switching to a Sport LDU (found in P designation Model S/X, for example P85, P90, etc.),” said Paul. “It can utilize more power and likely fix my tune issue from Drag Week, as well as adding a limited slip to the differential, changing the onboard charger to a more reliable unit, and hopefully adding CCS fast charging to open up more opportunities to charge.
If funds and time allow, I also want to switch the front suspension to coil-overs (with the right spring rate so it rides smoother), and fix the window tracks so there is less rattling and more opportunity to stay cool. Windshield wipers and rear glass seals that function are also on the "maybe" list, but not that important, right?”
Where will we see the car in 2024? “Hot Rod Drag Week is a definite, but I'm also considering Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks as well,” said Paul. “My goals for Drag Week this year are 3-fold: 1) Finish the event, 2) Sleep each night, 3) be competitive in Street Machine Eliminator. Obviously finishing is always a goal.
The changes to the charging system should help keep me on schedule, and now that I know what shakes loose, I should be able to do a better job of checking on parts before they break. I think the change to a Sport LDU and a fix to the tune should get me close to the field. If I get the repairs/updates done soon enough, I'd like to get out and test the car further on other events like Sick Summer.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Paul Mangelsdorf.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com