The Factory Experimental Cars
 

This topic is open to all Chrysler GM & Ford altered wheel base cars produced from the factory and private individuals that raced back then...so if you have any related photos or stories, don't hesitate to post about some of these factory experimental cars from the sixties.

Here are some photos of the new '65 A/FX Plymouth Belvedere and '65 A/FX Dodge Coronets being built back in the day along with some of the suits checking them out....

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparf...1&d=1337046980

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparf...1&d=1337046980

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparf...1&d=1337047155

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparf...1&d=1337047155

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparf...1&d=1337047374

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparf...1&d=1337047155
http://images22.fotki.com/v836/photo...ryShop4-vi.jpg

Re: The Factory Experiment
 

Thanks for posting the pics,very cool.

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

Here are some before & after shots of Sox & Martin's '65 Plymouth A/FX sedan called the Paper Tiger II...

http://www.prostockhemi.com/gallery2...serialNumber=2

http://www.moparmax.com/columns/magn...203/MAX-02.jpg

http://www.prostockhemi.com/gallery2...serialNumber=2

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...TlTJpJ_ph1.jpg

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...5&d=1292572823

http://www.moparmax.com/columns/magn...203/MAX-03.jpg

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

Here's the second factory backed '65 A/FX Dodge Coronet 'sedan' that was built by Dick Branster and run by Bill Flynn of Yankee Peddler fame...first with a Cross-Ram Race Hemi then injected.

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparf...1&d=1254447858

http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/hechto/billflynnynkpdler.jpg

http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/hechto/bi...nkepdlrpic.jpg

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

A few shots of the Ramchargers '65 A/FX Dodge Coronet AWB car...

http://hubgarage.s3.amazonaws.com/ph...194_detail.jpg

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...3&d=1194660707

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...2&d=1194732347

http://samson-power.com/65afx/photog...70ND.sized.jpg

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

Here's a couple of before & after shots of Butch Leal's '65 A/FX Plymouth Belvedere called the "California Flash" in action...

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparf...1&d=1337047508

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...9&d=1194655377

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...2&d=1194659122

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparf...1&d=1327960533

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

RIP original AFX in the Cecil County thread video link. Can't remember which team Harrop got this one from, Ramchargers, Color me Gone?

Love those afx cars.

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

Bobby Harrop was driving the ex-Ramcharger's A/FX Dodge Coronet AWB car that crashed...notice the different crude paint jobs.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...1&d=1194797358

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...2&d=1194797358

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...8&d=1194657831

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...8&d=1194797783

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...7&d=1194797783

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...9&d=1194797783

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

the 2 photos of the gold 65 .... You gotta wonder what the driver looking at ? Is he backing up in those shots.

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

This was a great era in drag racing history even though I always thought it was unfair that certain teams got parts the other teams could not get.

I know some will say it has always been done this way but it still sucked that certain teams had all the right high performance parts while other teams were trying to do the best they could do with what they had.

The other thing I never realized that back in the 60's many of the match races were fixed!!!!!!!!!

I had always wondered about this and if it went on but after reading some posts on another forum by drivers who matched raced for a living it appears that it was true.

Promoters told you in advance that if you wanted future bookings with them this is the way it works.

I still enjoyed watching all those match races for years.

Jimbo

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

Here's a couple before & after shots of Dick Landy's '65 A/FX Dodge...

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparf...1&d=1337621153

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparf...1&d=1253931766

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparf...1&d=1327960533

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparf...1&d=1327860562
http://images27.fotki.com/v982/photo...iapr654-vi.jpg

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

A few more oldies of Bob Harrop's first '65 Dodge Coronet A/FX AWB...

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparf...1&d=1327897473

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparf...1&d=1327897473
http://images21.fotki.com/v843/photo...rHowto3-vi.jpg

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

re Harrop's gold car & looking backward; was probably backing up after the burnout thru the gold dust.

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

Jimbo,
I have heard some rumors about the early days in match racing as well but not quite like you have described it...and post some more photos or stories if you have any from back then.

Here's some early shots of Sox & Martins '65 A/FX Plymouth hardtop...also notice the Chrysler Pentastar on the doors, this was the cars first paint job.

http://images15.fotki.com/v587/photo...thAWB11-vi.jpg

http://images19.fotki.com/v1611/phot...8559/24-vi.jpg

http://images22.fotki.com/v836/photo...AWBpits-vi.jpg

http://images23.fotki.com/v807/photo...uthAWB1-vi.jpg

http://images23.fotki.com/v822/photo...thAWB20-vi.jpg

http://images61.fotki.com/v777/photo...9/Sox_2-vi.jpg

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

There is a post over on the Jalopy Journal and I must admit I forget the title of it but it was something that the guy kept writing every once and a while.

This guy really seemed to know just what he was talking about and he raced from Maine to Calif. in a funny car.

I believe at the time he lived in Texas and now lives in Florida and is retired.

He raced all of the top guys in funny car and A/FX at one time or another and his account of the way things were done in those days makes for some very interesting reading.

This guy posted for months telling story after story of how the promoters ran the shows and if you wanted to race in their shows you played by the rules or else you did not go on tour.

I loved this era of racing and I could not thing of a better time to be growing up.

I will try and find the tread and post it for to read.

Jimbo Nostalgic Racing Decals

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

A few more of Sox & Martin's '65 A/FX Plymouth hardtop called 'Paper Tiger' because it was acid dipped...notice the different hood & injection photos.

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/q...SoxMartin2.jpg

http://images46.fotki.com/v1506/phot...thCover-vi.jpg

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...2&d=1274489104

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...1&d=1274152469

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...9&d=1257647786

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...8&d=1274185677

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...2&d=1274152469

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...8&d=1274475330

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...4&d=1274152469

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/q...tinAWBPits.jpg

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

one of the photos shows the don grotheer,s rear wheel option---odd [different]chrome deal

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

Actually the Sox & Martin '65 A/FX Plymouth started out with several wheel combo's by looking at the old pics...white rims, black rims, chrome steelies, torque-thrusts, Keystone Klassic's, etc.

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

If you love these cars you got to pick up a couple of Supercar Collectable AFX diecast. Incredible detail and accuracy, more accurate than a lot of the tribute cars built in 1:1 scale.

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

Notice how straight the paint and body lines are here:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...1&d=1274152469

And now how much the back half has "drooped" here :

http://images19.fotki.com/v1611/phot...8559/24-vi.jpg

The metal must have been so thin it could not support the overhang.
If you look at most of the hardtop, not post sedan AWB cars they all seem to have a before and after "Droop".

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

Great set of Dick Landy photos : http://www.moparmax.com/features/201...k_Landy-1.html


A little droop here as well:

http://samson-power.com/65afx/photog.../Landy_AWB.jpg

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

I agree,,, I picked up a '65 Melrose Missle a couple years back when they first came out, and was fortunate enough to have former driver Cecil Yother autograph the roof for me. The detailing on the 1:18 car is incredible, like you said.
You can go to www.supercar1.com and check out all of their offerings.
Danny Durham

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

Here's the Sox & Martin '65 A/FX Plymouth 'Paper Tiger' after they sold it to Buckeye & Vernon racing who renamed the car...notice the rear quarter panels and door gap.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...1&d=1237158303

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...YEVERNON11.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...s/scan0002.jpg

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

Early FX ????????

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_z6s3X4gR3HA/SL...eneHeidorn.jpg

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

Wonder if Force could drive this Ford?


http://www.draglist.com/draglist/adm...t.jpg&full=yes

Or, could he be Crazy 'bout a Mercury?

http://hubgarage.s3.amazonaws.com/ph...met_detail.jpg

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

Charlie, there were a lot of independent racers that modified their race cars back then, Mopars, Fords and even Chevy's...remember GM got out of racing in '63, and a lot of the regular production cars were turned into Super Stockers & A/FX altered wheel base cars...a lot of them looked like a real messy job.

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

http://speedcityresin.com/alangreenfastback.jpg

http://gassermadness.com/modelers/fx...yIIDHxTeam.JPG

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...9&d=1252278089

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/q...3MWGUZY_ph.jpg

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...2&d=1252467159

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

http://www.novaresource.org/history/novafb4.jpg

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...9&d=1252279337

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/q...nieBeswick.jpg

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/q...wolf49/GTO.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...fan2001/21.jpg

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...5&d=1263120708

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...7&d=1257276893

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/...kootinCuda.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...owaShaker2.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...IowaShaker.jpg

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z...nsBonner-1.jpg

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...7&d=1266934156

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/r...jesse-copy.jpg

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/t...talinaAWB5.jpg

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/t...eCatalina6.jpg

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...2&d=1292729972

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/...InTheResin.jpg

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/...sProfileBW.jpg

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/...ickBrannan.jpg

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/q...DynoVsSox2.jpg

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

In the beginning:

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...ers_drag_t.jpg

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

Charlie, yes the '64 A/FX class was born back then, and there were several teams that used Ford Mustangs, Falcons, & Mercury Comet's, Plymouth Belvedere's, & Dodge 330's, and GM used a little of everything they produced, etc...

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

http://samson-power.com/65afx/photogallery/gerard1.jpg

Not implying they are the same car. Just a Now and Then on A/FX Plymouths.

http://samson-power.com/65afx/photog...THPLYMOUTH.jpg

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

Red White and Blue:

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...7IiCafdXB48ukK

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

Found this on the H.A.M.B.
What a GREAT picture:

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m..._don_comet.jpg

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

A couple more shots of Lee Smith's '65 A/FX Plymouth AWB...

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...g?t=1211503199

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...24-0116-34.jpg

http://www.diecast-pub.com/forums2/u..._533_17250.jpg

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...8&d=1282962319

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...8&d=1277515377

Re: The Factory Experimental Cars
 

I met Lee a couple of years ago in Tampa. We drove down to Bradenton to look at a collection of Hemi cars of another friend. Lee still had some raw castings of his oil pump housings he made back in the 1960s. The photo is from the 2008 Hemi Reunion in Ohio.