A990 Super Stockers

[Hemi Moose]

Originally Posted by Dan Bennett

Yes, the car I looked at was absolutely original. It was the first year I was associated with the Musclecar Nationals and was when we decided to branch out from the previous single race at Bowling Green.

Norm showed up with the car at our show at Union Grove and blew us all away. I can't remember the back story of the car, but it raised no flags that he might not be telling the truth about the car. Back then in the late 80s there weren't even that many people who remembered what a A990 was, let alone how to properly restore one.

He had loads of paper work with the car and I remember him showing us how the hood scoop seal panel had been shipped in the trunk. I also remember how impressed I was with the trim. The clear anodizing on the aluminum (like the grille, window trim) was perfect with no clouding of any sort let alone any fine scratches. The car couldn't have seen much stress from the environment.

I had come from the Corvette hobby where I had already learned to appreciate originality. There is no doubt in my mind that I was looking at a completely untampered, unmodified car. I never heard much about the car after that one event but I do remember Norm was from Wisconsin.

Dan, that was a good story...must have been something to see that car close up...I think it's been for sale a couple of times since then but unsure who currently owns it.

[duster]

Originally Posted by Hemi Moose

Dan, that was a good story...must have been something to see that car close up...I think it's been for sale a couple of times since then but unsure who currently owns it.

Hi guy's, the car was a Mr Norms $3950 special, sold by the high performance king himself. Norm B was the second owner around 1978. The car was repainted around that time. It apparently was campained by the original owner with blue stripes although I have no photo's of this. I can see a touch of dark blue under the front gaurd wheel lip and the scoop appears to have been blue as well. It was quite a story of the cars history, I suppose this is what makes these cars so special.
The car has been on a journey and is now located in Australia.

[Hemi Moose]

Originally Posted by duster

Hi guy's, the car was a Mr Norms $3950 special, sold by the high performance king himself. Norm B was the second owner around 1978. The car was repainted around that time. It apparently was campained by the original owner with blue stripes although I have no photo's of this. I can see a touch of dark blue under the front gaurd wheel lip and the scoop appears to have been blue as well. It was quite a story of the cars history, I suppose this is what makes these cars so special.
The car has been on a journey and is now located in Australia.

So did you buy the car or did a friend, also what was the fellows name that you bought if off of, or was it through a broker...got any pics of it.

[duster]

Originally Posted by Hemi Moose

So did you buy the car or did a friend, also what was the fellows name that you bought if off of, or was it through a broker...got any pics of it.

It's my car Hemi Moose. It was purchased through a broker. The owner was Norm Brandes. He has owned the car for 33 years.
I can send you a photo with my dog eyeing the car with suspicion. He hadn't heard a hemi before.
There are a lot more photo's available on Show your auto website for those unaware.

[a990hemi]

Originally Posted by duster

It's my car Hemi Moose. It was purchased through a broker. The owner was Norm Brandes. He has owned the car for 33 years.
I can send you a photo with my dog eyeing the car with suspicion. He hadn't heard a hemi before.
There are a lot more photo's available on Show your auto website for those unaware.

I searched unsuccessfully all weekend trying to find a mid to late 80s Musclecar magazine that featured Norm Brandes' white A990 Coronet when it had chrome Cragar Super Trick wheels on it. I remember that article like it's etched into my brain but I can no longer find the magazine in my library. Might you know which article I'm talking about or have it yourself? I started frequenting Union Grove around 1989 and saw Norm drag racing his immaculate Dodge regularly at Da Grove's Mopar gatherings back then. Norm would always draw a crowd while he performed super smoky burnouts in the water box!

[duster]

Originally Posted by a990hemi

I searched unsuccessfully all weekend trying to find a mid to late 80s Musclecar magazine that featured Norm Brandes' white A990 Coronet when it had chrome Cragar Super Trick wheels on it. I remember that article like it's etched into my brain but I can no longer find the magazine in my library. Might you know which article I'm talking about or have it yourself? I started frequenting Union Grove around 1989 and saw Norm drag racing his immaculate Dodge regularly at Da Grove's Mopar gatherings back then. Norm would always draw a crowd while he performed super smoky burnouts in the water box!

The paperwork I received was the original invoice from Grand Spalding, a report dated 1978 from Walter Redman verifying the car as authentic, etc. I did not receive anything on the cars previous history. I have learnt more from the last couple of pages of this thread than I knew previously.
I was told the original owner, whose name appears on the invoice, was a Barrister and raced only as a hobby, hence the car remained relatively unmodified.
I would be interested to see the article if it shows up a990.

[a990hemi]

I will continue my search for the magazine article that featured Norm Brandes' A990 Dodge. That one article is the one that told of the original owner being crushed to death by the car while he was swapping the original headers for aftermarket ones. Jeff Wick, son of midwest Pro Stock standout Jim Wick, may be able to shed some light on your white A990 Super Stock as well since the Wick family was the primary source for race Hemi tuning in the Fox Valley, WI area bitd.

[Pro Stock John]

Originally Posted by duster

The paperwork I received was the original invoice from Grand Spalding, a report dated 1978 from Walter Redman verifying the car as authentic, etc. I did not receive anything on the cars previous history. I have learnt more from the last couple of pages of this thread than I knew previously.
I was told the original owner, whose name appears on the invoice, was a Barrister and raced only as a hobby, hence the car remained relatively unmodified.
I would be interested to see the article if it shows up a990.

Back in 2000 I had some engine work done by Norm's shop up in WI, I went up there a bunch. We talked at length about the car. Amazing car.

[Dan Bennett]

Originally Posted by a990hemi

I searched unsuccessfully all weekend trying to find a mid to late 80s Musclecar magazine that featured Norm Brandes' white A990 Coronet when it had chrome Cragar Super Trick wheels on it. I remember that article like it's etched into my brain but I can no longer find the magazine in my library. Might you know which article I'm talking about or have it yourself? I started frequenting Union Grove around 1989 and saw Norm drag racing his immaculate Dodge regularly at Da Grove's Mopar gatherings back then. Norm would always draw a crowd while he performed super smoky burnouts in the water box!

As I said in my earlier message, I saw the car at Union Grove during a Musclecar Nationals. We were allied with Muscle Car Review and they always sent staff to shoot the event and get features. I'm pretty sure they did a piece on the car but I'm just about positive that the car had steel wheels on it when I saw it.

I still haven't totally recovered from my last move, so my collection of vintage magazines is still in various boxes. Sorry that I can't help with looking up the issue.

[duster]

Harmon Friend's "Harms Way" stalked Norwalk. Set a speed record in 69. Great story located @ texas classic cars of dallas, sold cars.
Car was sold around July 11. It was an invite to the Norwalk reunion. Did anyone see it run?