If you didn’t frolic and have fun at the All-Chrysler Nats at the Fairgrounds in Carlisle, PA, you only have yourself to blame. If our article on Carlisle in our April issue whetted your appetite for more of the same, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some more of the highlights (or lowlights—depending on your height).
In May 1968, Bill Counts went on his lunch hour to order a brand new 1968 Hemi Road Runner from Cass Motors in Detroit. A friend of his, Jack Williamson, went with Bill to place the order for the car. Bill’s last car, a Ford Thunderbolt, had been recently stolen and he had no transportation. Jack also went with Bill to pick up the car three weeks later. Bill decided to race the Road Runner at Detroit Dragway. As the years went by, Bill made several alterations to the car in order to improve his times. He was very successful. Unfortunately for Bill, the engine blew up in 1971 and that was the end of his drag racing days.Years later, Jack’s son, Mark, the current owner of this beeper, purchased the car, and with the help of his brother, Troy, restored it to its original condition. The project has taken over two years to complete. This ’68 Hemi automatic Road Runner is optioned with the rare décor package that was intro’d late in the model year.
Carlisle was awash in Panther Pink sheetmetal. Two examples were this “rotisserie-restored” original pink T/A with matching numbers motor. The car was for sale with an asking price of $124,900.. Inside Building T was Brian and Karen Wilson’s pink 383 Road Runner. This numbers matching machine had been restored in 2003. the color was available for 6 months only in 1970.
John Peluchette obviously spent a lot of time and effort converting his ’72 Sublime Challenger to a tilt front end.
Mike and Valerie Wintgens displayed their 1976 Feather Duster—the only year the option was offered. The car features lightweight aluminum hood and decklid frame, intake manifold, transmission case, and front and rear bumper stiffeners. The 225 slant six works with a 4-speed overdrive trans and 2.94 rear gears. About 5800 Feather Dusters were produced.
Captain Hook was on the prowl to remove any errant Chevys or Fords that may have wandered in trying to pass themselves off as Mopars.
“Captain” Hooks, from The Bronx (NY) Mopar Club, wasn’t in the towing business, but enjoyed showing off his assortment of Mopar tattoos.
Paul Landrock, one of the “Gray Haired Mopar Owners,” heated up his ’65 Dodge Polara with a ’66 Hemi stuffed with Keith Black internals and a Hilborn injection system. Power gits back through a 4-speed and 3.23 cogs.
Bill Gibson now cares for one of the two surviving 1958 Plymouth Belvederes that were used in the Hollywood classic “Christine.” Some 23 Bels were destroyed in the making of the film.
Gil and Barbara Evangelisto, ride around in this one-of-none ’55 DeSoto Firedome. Starting life as a 4-door sedan, Gil and Barb got out the ol’ Sawzall, and the rest, as they say, is history. The result is pretty handsome, ya think? The car still packs its original 200 HP Firedome Hemi.
How about a “built” ’61 Chrysler “300” wagon. This hauler, built “one piece at a time,” is powered by a non-stock ’67 Imperial 440 mounting a ’64 300-K ram intake, carbs and cast-iron headers, and is cooled by a ’68 C-body 4-row non A/C rad. The T-Flite trans uses a ’65 tailshaft housing and rear mount. The rear is a ’70 C-bod 3.23 Sure-Grip. Brakes are a conglomeration of ’69 A-bod dual master, ’76 C-bod proportioning valve and ’77 C-bod front rotors, calipers and steering knuckles. Parking brakes cables are out of an ’88 B250 Maxivan, while the wheels are 5×15 “Snowflakes” lifted off an ’81 Imperial. Custom pieces include ½” aluminum wheel spacers, A/C and alternator brackets, idler pulley bracket, 3-groove crank pulley, valley pan plate and driveshaft.
The Todd Werner-stabled ’73 Demon was once owned by Brooklyn Heavy, and, in addition to its racing career, was used as a “drug mule” to smuggle illegal substances into the country. |
Frank Badalson’s restored
’70 Cuda 440-6 4-speed engine. This is Reference!
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