Dean Moon
Dean Moon was bitten by the “car bug” at a very early age and began planning his future while still in high school. Unlike a lot of young enthusiast of the era; Dean didn’t just want to go quick and fast he wanted to design, make and sell specially performance parts. Growing up in the Southern California community of Whittier during the 1940s put Dean in the very heart of the booming hot rod movement. Dean’s first race car was a 1932 Ford sedan which he soon began modifying for both improved performance and looks. That was followed by a 1927 T Roadster powered by a modified flathead V-8 engine and as the saying goes the rest is part of history.
Dean’s first introduction into the performance market as a manufacturer was a multiple outlet fuel block that made installing multiple carburetors much simpler. This was followed shortly by the introduction of the famous Moon Foot Pedal gas pedal. After that he seemed to be designing and producing one new product after another on a very regular basis. Still today one of the most well-known and popular products is the Moon Wheel Disc designed to not only add a sleek look to any car; it also added an aerodynamic effect helping to reduce air drag and adding top and speed.
In 1963 what is now known as Specialty Equipment Marketing Association was formed and was originally called the Speed Equipment Manufacturing Association. Dean was one of the original founders of SEMA and had a display of his products at the very first SEMA show at Dodger Stadium that same year. Dean continued to help lead the association for many years but also never stopped developing and producing new parts to help the performance minded hot rodders go quicker, faster, and safer. In addition to all these activities Dean was also a very accomplished photographer lending his talent to various publications and associations over the years.
Another of Dean’s icons are the world recognized “Moon Eyes” first introduced to the world in the mid-1950s. The lasting image was refined by artists working at the Disney Studios in 1957 and it is what is seen today.
While building the world-famous Moon Equipment Company occupied much of his time. Dean never left the racing side of the sport. In 1961 he commissioned Dragmaster to build a top gas dragster chassis that he installed a Chevy V-8 engine for power and named it Moon Eyes and proceeded to win the Indianapolis A/FD Top Fuel Championship that year. Dean was very instrumental in putting together the first United States Drag Team that toured England, parts of Europe, and even landed in Australia in 1963. His Devin bodied Moonbeam was a class record setter at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1964 recording a speed of 206 MPH. To name a few of the cars included in the “Moon Collection” was a record-setting mini streamliner powered by a 90 cubic inch Harley Davidson motorcycle engine, an outstanding 1932 Ford coupe, and a ultra-sleek sports car.