Blueprint Series No. 15:
1969 Charger Daytona
Print #BPS-15
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Talk about BOLD! Chrysler blew everyone away with their ultimate NASCAR warrior, the Charger Daytona. The Charger had been Dodge’s NASCAR racer since ‘66 with the big-block Fords running very close for years. Race car aerodynamics was exploding with new ideas in the mid-to- late ‘60s and the designers at Chrysler were paying close attention. They made a huge adjustable wing for the back of the car and a new nose clip in the shape of a big wedge with rounded off sides. Since car makers had to sell what they raced, there was a street version that people either loved or hated.
There’s no doubt about it, this car was over the top! The Charger Daytona was available with either a 440 Magnum or 426 Hemi engine. For the street, either power plant was more than enough. But the Hemis were notoriously hard on drive trains and many of the winged Dodges were ordered with the less expensive, easier to live with 440 engine. The following year, Plymouth got into the game with their winged warrior based on the Road Runner body, called the “Superbird.” Like the Dodge, it was a love-it or hate-it kind of car.
But by ‘71 the party was over. muscle cars quickly were becoming socially unacceptable and NASCAR was pulling in the reins on the winged machines. The Chrysler winged cars was a classic example of racing advancements filtering down into production cars. Today, Eclipses, Celicas, and Civics can be seen sporting big wings on their rear deck lids... shades of NASCAR circa 1969-70.
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Blueprint Series No. 1:
1970 Superbird
Print #BPS-1
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Chrysler was deep into NASCAR racing in the '60s and early '70s. To gain some aerodynamic advantage over the Fords, Chrysler designers unleashed the Dodge Charger Daytona in 1969. The shovel-nose, winged Mopar romped on the speedways! In 1970, Plymouth got into the act with their version based on the Road Runner. Called the "Superbird," the car was so outragous that many dealers couldn't sell them and actually retrofitted them back to regular Road Runners!!!
Remember the Dodge
"Scat Pack" option?
CLICK HERE and go to the
"Mopar Shirts Section."
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Blueprint Series No. 4:
1970 T/A Challenger
Print #BPS-4
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Chevy and Ford were having such a great time in Trans-Am racing that Chrysler just had to get into the game. The Z-28 and trans-Am Firebird were enjoying excellent sales and street presence. The T/A Challenger had all the right moves, but as a race car lacked development time. The small-block Mopar came with race car-like stiff suspension, fat tires, spoilers, a black hood, and exhaust pipes that exited in front of the real wheels... just like a real race car.
Challenger shirts!!!
CLICK HERE and go to the
"Mopar Shirts Section."
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Blueprint Series No. 11:
1970 HEMI Cuda
Print #BPS-11
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Unless you have driven one, it’s hard to imagine a Hemi powered pony car. The 426 Hemi ‘Cuda was one of the top 3 muscle cars ever made. The car was just a few ticks away from being a Super Stocker right off the showroom floor.
Living with a Hemi ‘Cuda street car wasn’t always an easy matter. The engines tended to be temperamental and difficult to keep tuned just right. And when they were running right, they were very hard on everything from the flywheel back to the rear tires. Many Street Hemi powered car owners spent lots of time and money fixing one drive train part after another. By the time everything was replaced, it was time for a new set of rear tires.
The factory rating for the 426 hemi was only 425 hp. A more realistic figure would have been at least 500 hp. With a set of headers and a good dyno-tune, a Street Hemi could easily crank out over 600 hp.
How sweet it was!
If you've got it, FLAUNT IT!!!
CLICK HERE and go to the
"Mopar Shirts Section."
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1970 HEMI Challenger
Print #MO-10
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Just as the Camaro and Firebird share the same basic platform, when Chrysler decided to restyle the ‘70 ‘Cuda they decided to produce a Dodge version. So everything that was available in the ‘Cuda was also available in the Challenger... including the 426 Street Hemi.
It was an expensive option and one that wasn’t always easy to life with. But after all, right out of the box it was only a few steps away from racing in NHRA Stock Eliminator or Super Stock Eliminator class drag racing.
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1970 Dodge Challenger
Print #MO-9
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Aren't you due for a new shirt???
CLICK HERE and go to the
"Mopar Shirts Section."
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1970 AAR Cuda
Print #MO-8
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\It’s too bad that the ‘70 Cuda / Challenger weren’t released in ‘68. Imagine the competition had the Chrysler boys had some more development time on their Trans-Am racing effort. The car had all the right basics and was about the same size and proportion as the Camaros and Mustangs.
As it was, the AAR ‘Cuda (All-American Racing) and the T/A Challenger (Trans-Am) were one year wonders. Muscle car were becoming a dirty word in Detroit after 1970, the country was headed into another recession, and the Chrysler Trans-Am team wasn’t doing well against the seasoned Penske Racing team. So they closed up shop and tried to figure out how to sell and make economy cars and later mini-vans.
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1969 Road Runner
Print # MO-16
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Need a COOL AAR Cuda shirts for
your HOT AAR Cuda muscle car?
Click the graphic below.
This will take you to the Muscle Car Apparel Site.
Once there, you can navigate with the drop down boxes.
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