Spy shots - Don Garlits Challenger

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by bill dedman

Treesavoy said, "1964 and 1965 Hemi cars were built with complete street equipment and could and were street driven, the 1964 427 fairlanes were the same. "

That may well be true, but pehaps for power-to-weight factors, I don't think any of those cars mentioned ever were classified as Stock Eliminator cars.

They were always Super Stockers.

If I'm wrong about that please cite some examples.

Now, somebody has convinced NHRA to allow Thunderbolts into Stock Eliminator, an anomaly, in my opinion. If they're going to allow them, then what's next; swiss-cheese Catalinas and 421 SD '63 Tempests, along with the '64-up, lightweight Dodges and Plymouths with the cross-ram 426 competition hemis?

I'll admit, that would give the new CJ's something gnarly to chew on.... LOL!

IHRA allows them at thier AA/S and AA/SA 7.00 lbs per HP weight break except for the swiss cheese Cats and the 421 Tempests (NOT ENOUGH PRODUCED). Dan Davorak was putting a 64 X ram Hemi together before he had his medical problems a while back.

[Bob Pagano]

DVORAK has finished that car before that and is now updating it for todays standards, I have seen pictures and it is real sharp !

[X-TECH MAN]

Bob....Did he ever sell his red 63 Max Wedge ?

[Bob Pagano]

Not that I am aware of, he said why run the wedge in AA when he could run the hemi ! The 63 is worth big money with the Alum nose.

[Jeff Lee]

1962-1964 Dodge / Plymouth Max-Wedge cars:
Factory built race cars
No warranty
Immediately in Stock Eliminator class.

Can't believe I didn't bring that up a month ago...

[Myron Piatek]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lee

1962-1964 Dodge / Plymouth Max-Wedge cars:
Factory built race cars
No warranty
Immediately in Stock Eliminator class.

Can't believe I didn't bring that up a month ago...

I'm not taking sides, just being objective. But you could drive the Max Wedge cars off of the showroom floor and on the street, legally. The '68 Hemi Cudas and Darts are the closest thing I can think of to the current Challengers. But, of course, those ended up in SS only.

I think that the push for Stock may have been influenced by the fact that they could be finished faster and at a lesser expense than SS. More exposure and sooner, especially with the Ford "threat".

[treessavoy]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lee

1962-1964 Dodge / Plymouth Max-Wedge cars:
Factory built race cars
No warranty
Immediately in Stock Eliminator class.

Can't believe I didn't bring that up a month ago...

The difference is that these cars were built on the assembly line and anyone with $3,800.00 could buy one. I drove mine on the street and raced it at Atco btw: I drove it to the track until I broke a rear end.

[GUMP]

Originally Posted by treessavoy

The difference is that these cars were built on the assembly line and anyone with $3,800.00 could buy one. I drove mine on the street and raced it at Atco btw: I drove it to the track until I broke a rear end.

Lot's of new Government regulations since then. It is really not a fair to compare the "streetability" of a 1963 factory race car to a 2008 factory race car. If you really compared both, you would probably find that the late models have way better street manners. I would also say that $3,800.00 was a bunch of money for a car in 1963.

[treessavoy]

Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN

Bob....Did he ever sell his red 63 Max Wedge ?

No, he still has it but is thinking of putting it in Garlits museum .

I just traded him a '63 Dodge wagon that he is going to restore as his first max wedge race car.

[rx dealer]

If you look very close to the Challenger you cannot drive it the way it is from the factory unlike the max wedge/hemi cars. the challenger does not have a rear end or rear brakes, it only has a cradle for an independent rear suspention from a mercedes E class without the center section and drive shafts so it can roll. I did not see a wiring harness. It had an interior with Viper seats ,dash ,gauges and even power windows and comes with 4 steel wheels and SNOW tires. It has mark williams front brakes and a transmission ( not drivable ) just so the engine can sit in place. Al you had to do with the old Hemi/Wedge cars is to put slicks and race. By the way I think the Cobra Jet was a much better deal. It's a ready race car...Luke