NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

A number of historic and vintage cars will be up for auction Jan. 5-14 at the Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee, Fla., where more than 3,000 classic and collector cars will be on the auction block.

NHRA fans will be especially intrigued by the 17-car Nick Smith Factory Lightweights Collection, which includes some cars familiar to longtime fans.

Among them are the SS/E ’68 Ford Cobra Jet which was part of the famed "invasion” at the 1968 Winternationals, a feat that will celebrate its 50th anniversary at this year’s event. The car, driven by Al Joniec to the Super Stock win at the event, is one of the original 50 Cobra Jets and widely considered to be the most famous and successful of all the Cobra Jets.

Two cars owned and campaigned by Ford stalwart Gas Ronda, who passed away recently, also are up for bid:  his ’65 Mustang A/Factory Experimental entry and his 1966 Mustang Funny Car.

Another intriguing item is the 1965 Dodge Coronet A/FXer of “Dandy Dick” Landy, one of the first altered wheelbase drag cars that led to the Funny Car evolution.

For more information, visit www.mecum.com.