A990 Super Stockers

[Mr belvedere]

Look at firewall

[bob george]

Originally Posted by Mr belvedere

I have seen first hand what some did to these cars and its not good ,everything was cut out and hacked off makes me sick

It's what we did back in the day.If I told you how many Hemi and wedge cars/parts we cut up or scrapped back the day you would hang me.I recall giving rolling bodys away and even abandoning a aluminium 63 max-wedge in a field in Marion Illinois.No one had a crystal ball.

[a990hemi]

Originally Posted by bob george

It's what we did back in the day.If I told you how many Hemi and wedge cars/parts we cut up or scrapped back the day you would hang me.I recall giving rolling bodys away and even abandoning a aluminium 63 max-wedge in a field in Marion Illinois.No one had a crystal ball.

One must realize that drag racing is no fun unless you win occasionally. Out of date race parts are usually given away or discarded if no one wants them. Technologies were changing so rapidly from say '65 to '75 that what might have been a record holding class car would not even make a decent bracket car some 10 years later. I too wish I could've scored a genuine crystal ball bitd so I might have been able to stash away some treasure for the future.

[bob george]

Originally Posted by a990hemi

One must realize that drag racing is no fun unless you win occasionally. Out of date race parts are usually given away or discarded if no one wants them. Technologies were changing so rapidly from say '65 to '75 that what might have been a record holding class car would not even make a decent bracket car some 10 years later. I too wish I could've scored a genuine crystal ball bitd so I might have been able to stash away some treasure for the future.

It was a constant struggle to gain the advantage or pick up a few bucks winning or match racing.The sport was evolving so quickly in the 60s and 70s and was a popular spectater sport to watch.We didn't have the techonolgy that is available in later years and what we have now.We didn't have a crystal ball but have memories of the beginning of an era that we may never experience again.
Though it is too costly for most today,the yesterdays were priceless.

[Steve1118]

Originally Posted by Mr belvedere

I have seen first hand what some did to these cars and its not good ,everything was cut out and hacked off makes me sick

Bob is so right....back then you didn't even think about it. You just cut and hacked, made it fit, used it up, wore it out, and then went and got another one. There was tons of stuff around, and no one gave any thought about anything being a "collector piece". To me it's amazing that so many did survive, and today most look better than they did when they were raced initially. Much better.

On a different note, the thing I like most about Nostalgia racing today is that it created a use for a lot of the obsolete stuff floating around. A lot of it is very serviceable, but has been technologically (?) passed by for class racing, and those of a more serious bent. I know that is what I do....my dear friend Bob George told me I'm a dinosaur....he's right. But, I'm still having some fun, I've finally realized that this isn't a money making deal.

[Charlie A]

Originally Posted by bob george

It was a constant struggle to gain the advantage or pick up a few bucks winning or match racing.The sport was evolving so quickly in the 60s and 70s and was a popular spectater sport to watch.We didn't have the techonolgy that is available in later years and what we have now.We didn't have a crystal ball but have memories of the beginning of an era that we may never experience again.
Though it is too costly for most today,the yesterdays were priceless.

I cannot overstate the value of the memories that those like yourself contribute to this and any other forum dealing with the history of the sport.
They NEED to be recorded somewhere. Here, other web sites, books.
Whatever media form possible.
Thank you for taking the time to share.
And.......feel free to add some more memories, anytime.

[a990hemi]

My grandfather used to volunteer his time watching over the local garbage dump since he liked shooting the breeze with the farmers and townspeople who'd dump their stuff there. One day when I was a boy, the entire aluminum front end from this very car was thrown into the aluminum pile there. Steve Link bracket raced the car at Great Lakes Dragway back in the 70s, and unfortunately stuffed the front end into the guard rail. The aluminum bodywork was badly wrinkled, but repairable by todays standards. But why go through all of that trouble when new steel panels could still be had at the local Chrysler dealership which his family just happened to own?

[rickseeman]

Anybody know where this one is now? Rick 501-519-7425 Thanks

[bob george]

Originally Posted by rickseeman

Anybody know where this one is now? Rick 501-519-7425 Thanks

It is rumored to be in Canada and is up for sale for $55,000.No one will verify it's history.

[mopar68]

This photo dates to late 1969. We know this because this is the ’65 Plymouth Super Stocker that Arlen Vanke built with one purpose in mind—to smoke the SS/C record, where Bill Jenkins and the Chevy guys were enjoying a cushioned index going toward the 1969 World Finals in Dallas. Since the index was based on the current class record, Akron Arlen put this car together quickly—with some factory help, took it to the last divisional race of the year at National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio, and reset the record in a Sunday evening final-round charge (after missing a chance during the record runs on Saturday). He hammered the number so hard that the ZL1 cars could not even qualify at Dallas the next month. He is seen here at St. Thomas, Ontario, soon after.