Sept 2014. pdf

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REAL COOL AIR KIT (1850 CFM +30HP)
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6.4 654HP (91 OCTANE) / 674HP (93 OCTANE)
MR. NORM
FLASH
‘15 Dodge Hellcat Chooses
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ngers, Chargers and Rams since 1997. They
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nner on the street and strip.” And now, Mr.
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*PARTICIPATING DODGE DEALERS
Bosak Motors
Merrillville, IN
Fairfield Auto Group
Muncy, PA
Steve White Motors
Newton, NC
Crystal Chrysler Dodge Jeep of Brooksville
Brooksville, FL
Daiwa Group Chrysler Jeep Dodge
Tokyo, Japan
MR. NORM 50TH ANNIVERSARY GSSR
654-1000HP
*Contact Mike at (813) 789-6179 for more Dealer information
A HEMI CAN’T MAKE MAX HP WITH A LITTLE 2.3
Phone (909) 941-6646 • Email: [email protected]
SEPTEMBER 2014
IN THIS ISSUE
Cover Story:
‘71 Hemi ‘Cuda Gone Wild.......................... 6
Editor’s Page:
Brand Loyalty............................................ 18
Mr.Norm’s Corner:
MoparFest, better than ever..................... 24
Feature Vehicle:
Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary
GSS Charger.............................................. 34
Dodge Embraces Viper’s Roots................ 44
Women’s World:
Breaking the Glass Ceiling....................... 58
Photographer’s Showcase:
Spotlight on Toshi Akatsuka.................... 64
Tech: Installing Gear Vendor’s
Overdrive in a ‘65-68 Chrysler C-Body...... 76
Product Spotlight...................................... 86
West Coast Report:
Goodguys West Coast Nationals.............. 88
All the News You Can Use........................ 97
Specials of the Month............................. 100
But Wait There’s More:
Memories of Cars Gone By..................... 102
ON THE COVER
1971 Hemi Cuda Photo by RCH Studio
2013 Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary GSS Charger
Photo by Toshi Akatsuka
EDITORIAL STAFF
Publisher and Founder:
MR. NORM
Editor:
LARRY WEINER
Editorial Assistant:
DEBBIE WEINER
Contributors:
LINDA MANDALAS
HOWARD BENJAMIN
ANDREW SCHULTHEIS
TOSHI AKATSUKA
MARV HERBERT
STEVE TEMPLE
DEALER SALES
East Coast:
MIKE STAVESKI
MidWest:
BOB LONSTRETH
West Coast:
ANDY LUTTRINGER
ADVERTISING
JOHN NICHOLS
(863) 944-3747
[email protected]
Table of Contents Photo by
Toshi Akatsuka
PENTASTAR POWER IS PUBLISHED MONTHY BY MR. NORM’S SPORT CLUB
P.O. BOX 381
HIGHLAND PARK, IL 60035
PHONE: 760-630-0547
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mrnorms.com
’71 HEMI CUDA GON
NE WILD!
Going Topless Never
Looked So Good
Story by Larry Weiner
Photos by RCH Studio
S
tudio photo sessions
are something we really enjoy. Because
they offer a controlled environment, shooting in a studio provides a
completely different setting
for photographing a vehicle
when compared to working
outdoors. Concerns such as
where the sun is at a given
time, vehicular traffic, busy
backgrounds, trees, telephone poles or even stripes
on the pavement are not a
concern. Plus, shooting in a
studio takes the worry out of
being close when it comes to
inclement weather, since in
most cases, it is impractical
to photograph vehicles in the
rain or snow.
Additionally,
unlike
working outdoors, in the
studio, the lighting can be
adjusted to achieve the desired effects. When shooting
in a cove, that portion of the
studio where the vehicle is
actually photographed, all of
the background, including
the floor and the walls are
generally painted white. Because of this, some may say
that studio shoots appear
“sterile” and lack the flavor
offered by photographing
a vehicle in a natural environment. While there may
8
be some truth to that statement, I tend to disagree.
There is a time and place for
everything, and sometimes,
the last thing you want are
the distractions that are part
and parcel of shooting outdoors. If the goal is to make
the car the star, then working in the studio is often
times the best way to achieve
this result. And much like
the studio shoots used for
major advertising campaigns
that feature runway models to promote cosmetics or
fashion, the right photographer in a studio setting can
do wonders with a vehicle.
The 1971 Hemi Cuda
restomod featured on these
pages was certainly a great
subject for a studio shoot.
It’s the automotive equivalent of a Sports Illustrated bathing suit beauty; an
extraordinary vehicle in so
many ways that it must be
seen to be believed. Built by
Time Machines, now known
as Rods, Mods and Customs, in Hudson, Florida,
this E-Body makes the ultimate statement about how
far you can stretch the envelope with a vintage Cuda.
Starting with an original
body, after months on a rotisserie where the vintage sheet
metal was massaged, modified and damaged panels
replaced, it emerged better
than new. Any interruptions
to the flow of the body were
removed at this time, such
as the door handles, rear
view mirrors and side marker lights. Custom touches
abound on this Cuda, and
sharp eyed readers will spot
a myriad of changes from
stock. They include the electrically actuated reverse
opening hood with integrated central scoop and the rear
valence that has been welded to the quarters and reconfigured, so that the exhaust
exits through an air diffuser
tunnel in the lower center.
Attention to details is one of
the hallmarks of the Cuda.
As an example, note how
the rear bumper has been
frenched into the quarters,
The rear ¾ profile is just as dramatic as the front. Check out
the size of the meats. That’s what twelve inches of tire looks
like and it’s still not enough to harness the power of the 572
Hemi.
the front bumper has been
narrowed for a much tighter fit, the previously exposed
fasteners have been removed
and the bumpers faces have
been smoothed.
In a radical departure,
unlike a stock E-Body, this
Cuda is supported by a full
chassis built by Art Morrison. This necessitated radical surgery to the floors
to accommodate the frame
rails. In addition, to accom-
modate the much wider rolling stock that was chosen for
the Cuda, the original rear
wheel houses were removed
and 15 inch wide tubs were
fabricated and installed.
After
many
months
of prep, fabrication and
smoothing, the Cuda body
was painted using DuPont
Standox
Custom
Silver,
while Real Black was used
on the hood and HEMI Billboards that grace the sides.
10
A green pinstripe provides a
subtle color break between
the contrasting colors, and
an additional touch of detail.
Built to handle as well as
it looks, the Morrison chassis is considerably stiffer
than the original convertible
unibody. It’s equipped with a
Morrison designed Mustang
II style front suspension and
power rack, while out back a
robust four link locates the
Strange Engineering 9 inch
rear end. Afco fully adjustable coil overs support the
vehicle at all four corners.
The result is a Cuda that has
a down in the weeds stance,
while being equipped with a
race caliber chassis and suspension. A four wheel disc
brake system by SSBC provides stopping power equal
to the brute horsepower and
handling capabilities of the
Cuda. At the front, Force
10 four piston calipers are
matched with 13 inch cross
drilled and ventilated rotors,
while at the rear, Tri Power
three piston calipers with a
built in parking brake clamp
to another pair of 13 inch rotors.
It couldn’t be a Hemi
Cuda without a Hemi engine.
In this case, power is provided by an all-aluminum 572
Gen II Hemi. Built by World
Products, the big inch Elephant inhales through a
11
carbon fiber accented short
stack
Imagine
Injection
system built and tuned by
Bob Ream. Underneath the
matching carbon fiber valve
covers, roller rockers are
actuated by a Comp Cams
camshaft with the kind of
aggressive profile an injected Hemi demands. Reciprocating components consist
of Manley pistons and long
arm rods spun by a forged
stroker crankshaft. Exhaust
is handled by a 3 inch diameter Ceramacoated system
with Flowmaster mufflers
making music all their own.
An AFCO 4 core aluminum
radiator with an electric fan
and matching shroud keep
the big Hemi cool on the
hottest summer days. Backing up the brute force of the
572 Hemi is a Viper spec six
speed Tremec manual transmission that’s actuated by
a Pistol Grip Shifter. A McLeod hydraulically actuated clutch provides smooth
shifts, even at max rpms.
A fully customized interior provides the perfect complement to the totally tricked
out exterior. The first order
of business was to insulate
every inch of
surface area
with
Thermo Tec Cool
It
Acoustical
and
Heat
Control
mats.
Plush
carpeting covers the floor,
and a pair of
Glide Engineering seats
swathed in
glove soft black leather provides the ultimate in comfort, even in the heat of competition. The Cuda has been
converted into a sporty two
seater, and the Glide seat
tracks provide ample room
for tall drivers and passengers, or for merely stretching
way back. The dash, door
panel and rear panels have
also been upholstered to
match the seats with black
top stitched leather. To monitor vital engine functions,
the dash has been outfitted
with a full complement of
Classic Instruments gauges. A massive Sony Xpold
audio entertainment system
is controlled by a head unit
mounted neatly in the dash.
A pair of subwoofers provide
rich bass sounds, and flank
either side of the fully upholstered trunk. And if the
sun gets too hot to handle,
simply push a button on the
dash to raise the power top,
switch on the Vintage Air,
crank up the stereo and rock
out to your favorite sounds.
In the studio during the
shoot, the Hemi Cuda is a vision. Its voluptuous body is
the perfect wrapper for the
pro touring chassis and take
no prisoners powertrain
that
lurks
just
beneath it.
Suggestive,
without being blatant,
e l e g a n t
while
being visceral,
this is one
Mopar that
takes a second
position to no other, whether in
the studio, on the street or
the track. From any angle,
the Cuda works its magic,
looking for all the world like
metal sculpture, but with a
purpose. The term full mon-
te definitely applies to this
Hemi Cuda.
We all know that life’s
short, and a Hemi Cuda
would be a cool car to have
on your bucket list. What
could be better than cruising
the strand on a sunny sum-
mer afternoon or under a star
filled night behind the wheel
of this drop top Hemi Cuda
with your significant other by
your side? Not much that we
can think of. In fact, count us
in, ‘cause we just added the
Hemi Cuda to the list of priorities that we just ‘gotta experience.
SOURCE BOX
Rods Mods and Customs
9134 Eden Ave.
Hudson, FL 34667
Phone: 727-869-9577
Tell your friends and car
club members to join Mr.
Norm’s Sport Club. They’ll
get discounts on parts and
memorabilia and receive
Pentastar Power every
month for free.
Editor’s Page
Brand Loyalty
The 1968 Plymouth GTX 440 Six Pack Wagon was one of those unique cars that begged to be brought back to
life, so we did. It’s a lot of fun to drive, and many people are sure they remember Plymouth offering them new.
Why tell them otherwise and spoil the fun? INSET: My uncle’s new Swept Wing 1957 Dodge Coronet coupe. It
was a very striking car that made the others look instantly old fashioned.
Story and Photos by
Larry Weiner
T
he other day, I ran across
a news story on the internet about brand loyalty.
The story made a big point
of stating that the majority of
people who purchase Chrysler and Dodge vehicles tend
not to buy them again because of initial quality issues
and minimal differentiation
between products. As a third
generation Chrysler owner,
I can tell you that these vehicles have proven their reliability year in and year out
in the toughest environment
there is: real world driving.
In addition, there is a greater distinction between Dodge
and Chrysler vehicles than
ever before and in terms of
durability, they are a match
for nearly any vehicle on the
market today.
My grandfather proudly referred to himself as a
18
Chrysler man. He owned
Chrysler products starting in the 1930’s and never looked back after owning
several Fords followed by a
bad experience with a new
1934 Hupmobile that was
constantly at the dealership
being repaired. In our family album there are photos of
my grandfather with a variety of Chrysler products,
including a 1947 Dodge, a
1951 Chrysler Windsor De-
luxe, a 1957 Chrysler Saratoga, and a 1965 Chrysler
Newport six window sedan
to name a few. His influence
rubbed off on my father who
also purchased Chryslers,
among them a Spice Gold
1967 Newport Fast Top.
Even my uncle owned Chrysler products, among them a
1952 Plymouth Special Deluxe and a very flashy gold
and white Swept Wing 1957
Dodge
Coronet
he took delivery of as soon
as the new model debuted in
the fall of 1956. Yes, Chrysler products ran (literally and
figuratively) in our family.
Brand loyalty is something that every manufacturer has aggressively sought to
achieve since the automobile
was first invented. Back in
the 1950’s and 1960’s when
I was growing up in Chicago, people took great pride
in the make of vehicle they
owned. Men generally made
the vehicle purchase decisions in those days, and on
our block, there were Chevrolet men, Ford men, Pontiac men and Chrysler men.
While Chevrolets and Fords
predominated in our working
class
neighborhood,
there were quite a few who
always owned a Plymouth,
Dodge, Chrysler or even a
DeSoto. And since everyone
didn’t have a garage, it was
easy to see what brand of vehicle a person owned, since
Although it is tightly cropped, this is a photo of my grandfather’s 1947 Dodge
when it was brand new. That’s my grandfather and father with the Dodge.
We originally built the 2003 Ram 3500 Cannonball Express in the summer of ’02 as a show vehicle to demonstrate
how cool a big Cummins Turbo Diesel powered Ram dually could be. Another vehicle that has proven to be invaluable during the last 12 years, we use it to pull a 24’ Haulmark enclosed trailer that’s always loaded with the latest Mr.
Norm’s vehicle, either during the build process, or on its way to and from shows and events.
21
“Brand loyalty. It’s what car manufacturers strive
for each time they introduce new vehicles. But
brand loyalty is something that’s earned. It’s far
more than just the thrill of taking delivery of a
new vehicle; it’s the long term ownership
experience that determines if you will chose the
same brand of vehicle again when it’s time for
replacement, or the brand your recommend to
friends and family.”
they were either parked in
the driveway or in front of
the house on evenings and
weekends.
My employer in the late
‘60’s and into the 1970’s was
a Chrysler man. Every year,
he ordered a triple black Imperial Le Baron. It was a very
imposing luxury car, and
he always looked the part
driving it in his suit and tie.
When his son came of age
to drive in 1970, he bought
him a nearly new 1968
Dart GTS with a 383 and a
TorqueFlite, reaffirming his
Chrysler brand loyalty. A triple green beauty with black
bumble bee stripes, the first
owner, obviously a hot rodder, had added numerous
go fast goodies. They includ-
ed an Edelbrock aluminum
intake manifold, a pinion
snubber, a set of Astro mags
on Firestone Wide Ovals and
what were popularly known
at the time as “plumber
plugs” the equivalent of poor
man’s headers. Along with
buckets, console and a floor
shift, it was one very cool
muscle car for a 16 year old
with a freshly minted driver’s license. As soon as his
wife saw and heard the Dart,
she insisted that it be sold
and not given to their son, as
she was sure that he would
get into trouble with it. She
was probably right, and because of this, my boss asked
me if I would sell the Dart for
him, as he knew that I was
into performance cars. I was
more than happy to sell the
A-Body, as it afforded me
the opportunity to drive the
smokin’ hot compact to work
during this time. Needless
to say, it sold very quickly, and while I made a few
bucks on the transaction, I
kind of hated to see it go, as
it was so much fun to drive.
My wife’s father always
When my grandfather moved up to a
1957 Chrysler Saratoga, he gave his
1951 Chrysler Windsor Deluxe to my
father. After six Chicago winters, the
Chrysler still looks good. My father
drove it until the summer of 1960
and then passed it on to my uncle
who drove it for several more years.
INSET: In 1951, my grandfather traded in the 1947 Dodge on a new 1951
Chrysler Windsor Deluxe. Photo A
was taken in 1952. The people in the
photo are my grandparents and the
little guy in my grandmother’s arms
is your editor.
20
My father bought a new Spice Gold Metallic Chrysler Newport Fast Top in the summer of ’67. It made such a
great impression on me that when we found this mint low mile 1967 Chrysler Town and Country eight years ago, I
snapped it up. By the way, that’s the original Spice Gold Metallic paint that was applied by the factory 47 years ago.
drove Dodges, and to show
how deep Mopar ran in the
family, his older brother
owned a Dodge dealership
in northwest Indiana. When
I first met my future fatherin-law, long before I started
dating my wife, he had just
purchased a loaded Dodge
Monaco wagon, his wife
drove a Polara hardtop and
their oldest daughter cruised
around a ’66 Charger that
shared the garage with her
husband’s 1969 Plymouth
Road Runner. When I start-
ed dating my wife, she owned
a powder blue 1970 Chrysler Newport that she shared
with her younger sister.
Yes, over the years, my
family and my wife’s family
were both very brand loyal, and the brands of choice
were Chrysler products. Like
the saying “the acorns don’t
fall far from the tree,” we
are also a Chrysler family,
and our current vehicles include a Dodge Caravan (our
third) and a Ram 3500 Laramie with a Cummins Turbo
21
Diesel, plus our trusty 1967
Chrysler Town and Country
wagon and the one of none
1968 Plymouth GTX 440
Six Pack Wagon. If all that’s
not enough, we have worked
with Mr. Norm for the past
20 years, and have built numerous Dodge show cars, including all of the Mr. Norm’s
GSS prototypes for the vehicle program that bears his
name.
As mentioned at the beginning of this story, we are
a third generation Chrysler
Yes, I really did own
a 1953 Dodge M37
that I drove to work
every day for several
years. It may be eccentric (my wife says
that I’m eccentric)
but it was a kick to
drive.
family, and from personal
experience, I can attest that
these vehicles have proven
their reliability in millions
miles of real world driving in
every conceivable condition
that Mother Nature could
throw at them over the last
eight decades from blizzards
to blistering heat. And not
only have they been dependable, in many cases, they
have been standouts in ap-
pearance, featuring impressive designs have stood the
test of time. In some cases,
these vehicles are even more
popular among enthusiasts
today than when they were
new.
Brand loyalty. It’s what
car manufacturers strive for
each time they introduce new
vehicles. But brand loyalty
is something that’s earned.
It’s far more than just the
thrill of taking delivery of
a new vehicle; it’s the long
term ownership experience
that determines if you will
chose the same brand of vehicle again when it’s time for
replacement, or the brand
your recommend to friends
and family. In our family, the
brand of choice for over 80
years has been Chrysler.
Postscript Just as I was
finishing this story, Consumers Reports just announced that the 2014 Ram
1500 as its Top Pick in the
pickup truck category. And
after driving our 2003 Ram
all over the country towing
our enclosed trailer with a
show car inside, I couldn’t
agree more with their choice.
When the new 2001 Dodge
Caravan equipped with
optional All Wheel Drive
went into production, we
worked with the Chrysler
Image Team to create an
active lifestyle version of
this extremely popular vehicle. Called the Caravan
All Sports, it combined all
of the virtues of a minivan
with the capability of an allwheel drive SUV. Our third
Caravan, (the others were
a 1989 and a 1994) this one
is the best yet. It’s practical
and versatile that when the
program ended, it moved
in permanently and after
nearly 14 years and over
160,000 miles, we still drive
it every day.
22
THRILLS, NOT FRILLS
Call Today For a Dealer Near You
888.445.5226
USCATERHAM.com
27
Superformance LLC | 6 Autry Irvine CA 92618 | superformance.com | uscaterham.com | 949-900-1950
Mr. Norm’s Cor
MoparFest Was
Better Than Ever
Mopars, Mopars and more Mopars! This 1970 AAR
Cuda was one of over 1600 of Ma Mopars finest on
display at Moparfest.
rner
From Now On,
When I Think
of Canada, I’m
Going to Think
WOW!
Photos Courtesy of Moparfest
T
he Moparfest in Canada just plain blows me
away. What a show they
put on up in Kitchner, Ontario each year in mid-August.
I raved about Moparfest last
year, the first time I ever attended the show, and what a
Mopar show it is. Everything
about Moparfest is fantastic
and what’s really amazing is
that it’s all put together with
volunteers. The show featured 1,628 cars with more
than 21,000 people over the
two-day event. The cars are
spectacular and what’s really interesting is that the
show grounds are just as
nice as the cars. It’s the biggest car show in Canada, but
more than that the venue is
well-manicured and spotless
and the show is one of the
best managed in all the years
I’ve been involved in the hobby.
The Carlisle Chrysler Nationals and the Mopar Nationals are a little bigger with
roughly 2,000 cars on display. But, I would urge all
Mopar enthusiasts to mark
their calendars, schedule a
vacation to somewhere new
and head north. Kitchner is
roughly 50-60 miles east of
Toronto in the middle of nice
flat farm land. In fact, the
show is set up on a large fair
grounds with great spectator bleachers for the events,
a nice food court, clean re-
strooms and close to 150
acres available for parking.
What really sets this show
apart is how well the organizers take care of the folks
who attend. That parking lot
never ceases to amaze me. If
the idea of slogging your way
across 150 acres to get to the
show is daunting, don’t worry. The show provides a shuttle from the parking lot to the
fairgrounds. The cars are on
display on the baseball fields
and the show even provides
diagrams so the spectators
can find their way around.
Quite honestly, it seems as
though they have tried to
think of everything and provide for everybody’s needs.
Even the local McDonalds
was right on site providing
free coffee to folks through
the day.
One thing that surprises
me, though I’m getting used
to it, is the high level of enthusiasm and the incredible turnout for Moparfest. If
you just look at the numbers,
Canada’s population is just
a tad more than 10 percent
that of the U.S but the quality
of the cars and passion of the
Mopar enthusiasts is on a par
with what we see here in the
states. In fact, there were a
lot of Grand Spaulding Dodge
originals on display, proving
that the coast-to-coast advertising we did really worked!
I had a great time talking to
the folks who stopped by our
booth and answering some of
their questions. There was a
lot of interest in the GSS 50th
Anniversary Challenger and
Charger packages, plus we
signed up a lot of new members for the Mr. Norm’s Sport
Club. In fact, I’d say the response from the enthusiasts
to us, the memorabilia and
Rows and rows of your favorite
Mopars as far as the eye can see.
26
1967 Coronet was straight enough for black and looked good wearing a set
of Magnum 500’s.
1969 Barracuda notchback with a 340 was a standout. Check out the
Kelsey Hayes recall wheels on this primo A-Body.
the GSS vehicle packages was as great in Canada
as it was at the Mopar Nationals. We arrived at the
show each day at around
8:00 a.m. and the show
was already buzzing with
people and the action never stopped until the show
closed for the day at 4:00
p.m.
Moparfest started back
in 1979 with the intent to
raise funds for charities.
This year, the donations hit
$163,000 and over the past
35 years, the organization
has raised over $2.76 million. This event has grown
into one of the premier Mopar shows in North America. If you have never been
to Moparfest, I suggest that
you really consider attending. In fact, consider taking
a three event vacation; The
Carlisle Chrysler Nationals,
The Mopar Nationals and
Moparfest. Next year, Moparfest will be held August
15 and 16, 2015. You can
be sure that I’ll be there,
and I hope that you will too!
SOURCE BOX
Moparfest
57 Pinhurst Cres.
Kitchener, Ontario
Canada N2N 1E3
Phone: 519-342-1284
www.moparfest.com
Tell your friends and car
club members to join Mr.
Norm’s Sport Club. They’ll
get discounts on parts and
memorabilia and receive
Pentastar Power every
month for free.
1937 Dodge five window coupe looked factory fresh.
27
Four wheel drive short wheelbase Dodge Ram Van
looked ready to face the toughest weather that Mother
Nature can throw at it.
Here’s one you don’t see at every show, a 1978 Midnight Express Truck. Marketed as “One of the Adult
Toys from Dodge,” this is one truck that got lots of
attention when it was new, and still does!
1959 Plymouth Fury looked bone stock with the exception of chrome reverse wheels and baby moons. Way
cool!
What would a Mopar show be with a General Lee? In
this case, there was a comprehensive display complements of the Canadian Dukes Museum. There was a
Charger, a police car from Hazzard County and even
a scooter, each autographed by the stars of the show,
along with a trailer loaded with tons of Dukes memorabilia.
I’d clear out my garage to make space these beauties. The 1973 Plymouth Sport Suburban wagon and the 1955
Chrysler New Yorker wagon were both pristine.
28
Not one but two first generation Chargers. The blue
one was powered by a 426 Hemi while the black Charger had a 383 under the hood. Check out the original
full wheel discs on the black Charger.
Two 1961 Chryslers headed into the show. The powder
blue New Yorker with New York plates was so nice that
it appeared to have just rolled off the showroom floor.
Inside, there was a great display featuring a wide array of Mopars. 1969 Super Bee with Cragar S/S mags was
restored to Day 2 perfection. Top left inset: Tricked out Dodge A100 pickup was very well done. Top right insest:
Chrysler Cordoba with Corinthian leather. Bet you never thought of these as collector cars back in the late 1970’s
when Ricardo Montalban was the spokesman for Chrysler on television commercials.
29
An aerial view of Moparfest illustrates how big this show really is. Top left inset: A trio of A-Bodies showing off
their tails. Look closely and you’ll spot a 1970 Coronet with a Go-Wing hiding between them. Top right inset:
Sure couldn’t pass this 1969 Super Bee A12 Six Pack by. It looked brand new.
Mr. Norm’s tent at Moparfest. Right: The man in action visiting with Mopar fans.
30
Above: Mr. Norm even signed
Patt’s Mopar 10. You can be
sure that this one’s a keeper!
Patt is the person who makes
sure that Moparfest is such a
great success. Right: Here’s
a dedicated shot of the 1940
Dodge coupe. Simply spectacular. Below: A steady stream
of vehicles entering the fairgrounds was a car show all by
itself. Check out the rare 1940
Dodge coupe, 1949 Plymouth
and 1957 Desoto.
31
A large swap meet area provided tons of vintage Mopar parts to look at for those in the hunt for those rare
and hard to find items.
32
MR. NORM’S 50TH
ANNIVERSARY
GSS CHARGER
Maxed Out Charger For Show And Go
Story by Marv Herbert
Photos by Larry Weiner
W
ithout a doubt, the
breakout car for
1968 was the Dodge
Charger. Sure, the Mako
Shark inspired Corvette was
a slick looking sports car,
and the new mid-size GM
coupes had a shorter wheelbase with fastback styling,
but the Charger; well that
car was in a league of its
own.
As an enthusiast, it was
easy to fall head over heels
in love with the Charger. It
was an instant hit, with its
coke bottle styling coupled
with a wedge shape and tunnel back rear window that
was a dramatic departure
from the boxy ’67. Not only
did the new Charger have
the looks, but it also had the
power, up to an available
Mr. Norm’s ground effects and three piece rear spoiler give the Charger a youthful, modern appearance.
426 Hemi. If a 425 horsepower dual quad Hemi was
a little more performance
than what you were looking
for, a 440, 383 or even a 318
Like the original, the Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary GSS Charger has a
formidable appearance that’s intimidating at rest or at speed.
36
were also available. But regardless of the engine you
chose, the Charger had the
look that people lusted for.
The ordinary person on the
street might not know if it
was an R/T or a base model,
but they knew that it was a
Charger.
And for a Dodge dealer, the Charger was dream
come true. Here was a car
that nearly sold itself. Imagine people of all ages, from all
walks of life walking through
your doors asking about a
new Charger like the one
they saw in the unforgettable chase scene with Steve
McQueen’s Mustang in the
movie Bullitt. Featured on
the cover of every automotive
magazine, the Charger was a
real dream machine, and an
affordable one at that.
For years, Mopar enthusiasts have lobbied Chrysler
for the return of a Charger
that echoed the shape and
theme of the much loved vehicle. In response to those
requests, in 2011 the new
Charger incorporated many
of the lines that made the
original so popular, carefully
integrating them into a thoroughly modern automobile.
Looking at the Charger, it’s
easy to see that the design
includes several of the popular styling cues that defined
the 1968 – 1970 models.
They include the simulated
door and hood scoops and
the “wall to wall” tail lights
from the ’70. Even the rear
window is slightly recessed
as a tribute to the tunnel
backlight on the second gen
Charger.
History has a
way of repeating itself, and much like
it was in 1971, today’s Charger is
once again the big
brother to the Challenger.
And like their B-Body and
E-Body predecessors, these
vehicles share their much
of their understructure and
many of the chassis components, with the major
difference being a shorter
wheelbase, sheet metal and
interior trim on the Challenger. Sometimes, the more
things change, the more they
are the same.
With the advent of the
new Charger came numerous requests from enthusiasts for a Mr. Norm’s special
edition similar to those already available for the Challenger. In response to the
requests, Mr. Norm authorized the creation of a 50th
Rear spoiler provides a hooded effect over the 1970 Charger style wall to wall tail lights.
Photo C The rear fascia features a diffuser at the bottom.
Its appearance was inspired
by the diffuser on the Viper
GTS-R.
37
50th Anniversary GSS Charger looks long, low
and sleek from any angle. TOP INSET: Door
scoops echo the appearance of the scoops on
the 1970 Charger R/T. LOWER INSETS: Hurst
Dazzler alloy wheels are designed especially for late model Mopars. They feature an aggressive offset and staggered fitment. They provide the perfect complement to the modern musclecar theme.
This set was custom painted gold to match the graphics on the Charger. Mr. Norm’s logo red powder coated
caliper covers add to the performance theme of the Charger
Anniversary GSS Charger as
a companion to the 50th Anniversary GSS Challenger.
Working with Bosak Motors
in Merrillville, Indiana, a Mr.
Norm’s dealer, Serial Number 1 of the 50th Anniversary
GSS Chargers, was brought
to life. It is a very special
version of this limited edition
series, and is the feature vehicle in this story.
Like the Mr. Norm’s 50th
Anniversary GSS Challenger, the 50th Anniversary
GSS Charger is loaded with
a wide range of features.
First, in celebration of Mr.
Norm’s 50th Anniversary, the
vehicles are offered in both
38
black and white, accented
with contrasting gold graphics. And for those who would
like something different, all
of the factory colors are also
available for the 50th Anniversary GSS Charger with
corresponding colors for the
graphics.
The Mr. Norm’s 50th Anni-
versary Charger is one thoroughly modern muscle car,
and it all starts with the race
inspired GSS Aero Body Package. The aggressively styled
ground effects dramatically enhances the appearance
of the Charger with its wind
cheating front air dam, rear
lower fascia cladding with a
Viper GTS/R style air diffuser, and matching side skirts.
In addition, the GSS Charger
is also enhanced with the
Mr. Norm’s Speedway Rear
Spoiler and Door Ducts. And
consistent with its no-nonsense
personality,
the
graphics on the GSS Charger are bold, with dramatic accents on both the body
sides and hood. Needless to
say, much like the original,
this is one thoroughly modern muscle car that you can
spot a block away. Like the
Challenger, GSS 50th Anniversary emblems are located
on the front fenders, and a
Mr. Norm’s windshield banner lets everyone know that
you’ve got the real thing.
The Charger features
Mr. Norm’s Hotchkis Performance suspension upgrades that includes lowering springs and beefier sway
bars.
The springs lower
the Charger 1.5” front and
rear. Hotchkis utilizes hollow bars front and rear for
maximum performance. The
front bar is 110% stiffer than
stock, while the rear bar is
35% stiffer. Working in concert with the enhanced suspension is rolling stock that
consists of Hurst Dazzler
Contrasting 50th Anniversary GSS graphics amplify the classic body lines on the new Charger. Even the door
scoops are reminiscent of those on the 1970 Charger. Unlike the production version, all of the graphics were
custom painted on this Charger, making it a truly unique Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary GSS.
39
GSS hood graphics add definition to the 1968 style hood
recesses.
The Katzkin custom leather
interior provides the perfect
complement to the exterior. It
looks great, and the glove soft
leather provides comfortable,
supportive seating for high
speed driving maneuvers.
The Mr. Norm’s signature dash
plaque authenticates this 50th
Anniversary GSS Charger as
a serial numbered collectible
muscle car. Note that this is
Serial Number 001.
custom wheels and BF
Goodrich g-Force Comp
II tires. A staggered fitment further amplifies
the handling prowess
and footprint of the Challenger and Charger. At
the front, 245/45ZR20
tires are mated to 9 inch
wide wheels, while at the
rear, 275/40ZR20 tire
are fitted with 10 inch
wide wheels. The results are
nothing short of impressive,
thanks to enhanced track
width, wider tires and a suspension that’s ready for drag
racing, road racing or cruise
night.
Inside, the Charger features custom leather by
Katzkin with the Mr. Norm’s
50th Anniversary logo embroidered in contrasting gold
stitching in the front and rear
seat backs and carpet mats.
The 50th Anniversary GSS
Charger that is the subject
of this story features Dark
Graphite leather that matches with the interior. White
Pearl leather is also available, and regardless of color,
the seat inserts are perforated for comfort. A Mr. Norm’s
Pistol Grip Shifter with carbon fiber grips is standard
equipment and complements
the factory trim. The finishing touch to the interior is
the Mr. Norm’s signature
serial number dash plaque
that’s located on the right
side of the dash.
For those of us who want
a muscle car, but need a vehicle with four doors, there’s
nothing on the road today like
the Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniver40
sary GSS Charger. It mirrors
the performance of its cousin, the 50th Anniversary GSS
Challenger, coupled with serious visual presence unlike
any other vehicle on the road
today. If a modern muscle
car is on your shopping list,
but a coupe doesn’t meet
your needs, the Mr. Norm’s
50th Anniversary GSS Charger may be just what you’re
looking for.
SOURCE BOX
Mr. Norm’s
P.O. Box 381
Highland Park, IL 60035
Phone: 760-612-6365
Product: Mr. Norm’s 50th
Anniversary GSS Charger
Package
www.mrnorms.com
Katzkin Leather
6868 Acco Street
Montebello, CA 90640
Phone: 888-528-9546
Product: Custom Leather
Interior
www.katzkin.com
Lil’ Louie’s Pinstriping
24137 Ward Street
San Bernardino, CA 92410
Phone: 909-884-7984
www.redlizardmouldings.com
Bosak Motors
3111 W. Lincoln Hwy, Rte 30
Merrillville, IN 46410
Phone: 888-507-1403
Contact: Mr. J.
www.bosakmotor.com
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF PERFORMANCE PROVEN KNOWHOW
MR. NORMS 50TH ANNIVERSARY GSS CHARGER
In 1963, Mr. Norm opened Grand Spaulding Dodge and high performance has never been
the same. Celebrating this milestone, in conjunction with Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary.
we are proud to present the limited edition Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary GSS Charger.
MR. NORM’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY GSS CHARGER
INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING EQUIPMENT
EXTERIOR
●
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Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary Signature GSS Charger Body Side Vinyl Graphics
Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary GSS Charger Hood Graphic
Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary GSS Fender Emblems
Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary Quarter Panel Graphics
Mr. Norm’s 4 Piece Urethane Ground Effects Package (Front & Rear Fascia Cladding & Rockers)
Mr. Norm’s 3 Piece Urethane Speedway Rear Spoiler
Mr. Norm’s Urethane Door Scoops
Mr. Norm’s Windshield Banner
Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary License Plate
Hurst Equipped Badge
Note 1: Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary Charger is available in all factory colors
INTERIOR
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Mr. Norm’s / Katzkin Premium Leather Seat Covers and Center Arm Rest Cover
Your choice of Black or White Pearl Leather
Leather Seating Surfaces with Contrasting Top Stitching
Perforated Leather Inserts
Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary Emblem Embroidered on Front and Rear Seat Backs
Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary Emblem Embroidered Logo Plush Carpet Mats
Mr. Norm’s Serialized 50th Anniversary Dash Plaque with Unique Number
Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary License Plate
Mr. Norm’s Pistol Grip Shifter Handle on Chargers w/ 5 speed automatic transmission
MR. NORM’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY GSS CHARGER
INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING EQUIPMENT
CHASSIS
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Hurst Stunner 20 Inch Custom Wheels Machined w/ Anthracite Accent*
Sizes: Front: 20” x 9”
Rear: 20” x 10”
BF Goodrich G-Force Sport Comp 2 High Performance Tires
Sizes: Front: 245/45ZR20 Rear: 275/40ZR20
Chrome Lug Nuts and Preloaded TMPS Sensors
Mr. Norm’s / Hotchkis Performance Lowering Springs**
Mr. Norm’s / Hotchkis Performance Front and Rear Sway Bars
Mr. Norm’s Embossed Red Powder Coated Caliper Covers
*Note: Vehicle in photos is shown with custom painted wheels
**Note: On cars equipped with Self Leveling or Nivomat rear shocks will need to be replaced with Bilstein shocks Mopar part number 68072165AB
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
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Mr. Norm’s Sport Club Decals (2)
Mr. Norm’s Grand Spaulding Deck Lid Emblem
Personal Letter of Congratulations from Mr. Norm
Vehicle Registered in “The Original Grand Spaulding Dodge Registry”
in the Special 50th Anniversary Section
● 8.5” x 11” Mr. Norm’s Certificate of Authenticity for Framing
● Membership in Mr. Norm’s Sport Club
Racers Net: $ 8495.00 plus shipping
CALL 760-612-6365 AND RESERVE YOURS TODAY
THE MR. NORM’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY GSS CHARGER
From The
Original Mr. Norm’s Grand Spaulding Performance Products Division
Dodge Embraces Viper’s Roots
and Revs Up Excitement
Delivering the
Ultimate Hand-built
American Exotic
Supercar with a
New Starting U.S.
Manufacturer’s
Suggested Retail
Price (MSRP) of
$84,995
D
odge is reconfirming
its commitment to the
future of the Viper and
repositioning
the
iconic
Detroit-built supercar for
2015, giving the snake more
horsepower, improved fuel
economy and a new starting
price $15,000 less than the
2014 model it replaces.
For 2015, the hand-built
American exotic now delivers an increased 645 horsepower, gets up to 20 miles
per gallon and is offered at
a new starting U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail
Price (MSRP) of $84,995 (all
prices exclude tax, title, license, destination and gas
guzzler tax).
Reaching back into its
100-year history, Dodge is
using the formula that successfully launched the original 1992 Dodge Viper, but
with even more power, refinement and craftsmanship. Adjusting for inflation,
the 2015 model year Viper
is priced competitively to
the first generation Viper,
as calculated by Kelley Blue
Book. When Viper was first
introduced, the U.S. MSRP
was $50,700. Adjusted for
inflation -- that equates to
$86,130 in today’s dollars.
• New for 2015, Dodge
is reducing the Viper’s
starting U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested
Retail Price (MSRP)
by $15,000 to start at
$84,995
• Adjusting for inflation, the 2015 model
year Viper is priced
competitively to the
first generation Viper,
which launched in
1992, as calculated by
Kelley Blue Book
• The Dodge Viper was
first introduced in
1992 with a starting
U.S. MSRP of $50,700.
Adjusted for inflation,
the equivalent in today’s dollars would be
$86,130
• Current Gen 5 Viper
owners to receive a certificate worth $15,000
to be redeemed toward the purchase of
a new Dodge Viper.
This $15,000 certificate is in addition to
the $15,000 price reduction
• All existing 2014 mod-
el year dealer inventory will be reduced by
$15,000, effective immediately
• 2015 Dodge Vipers
will be sold throughout the entire Dodge
dealer network
• New for 2015, the Viper’s refined 8.4-liter V-10 engine and
Tremec
six-speed
manual transmission
delivers 645 horsepower and up to 20
miles per gallon on the
highway
• Production of the 2015
model
year
Dodge Viper
will begin at
the
Conner
Avenue
Assembly Plant
in Detroit in
the
fourth
quarter with
vehicles arriving in dealer
showrooms in
the first quarter of 2015
Here is your chance to
relive Muscle Car history
NO
BUY YOUR NEW DODGE
Call the Mr. Norm’s Ho
We’ve got ‘em, c
Factory stock and Mr. Norm’s Dodge
Giant inventory of Challenger
Supercharaged 5.7 and 6.4 He
We can install Mr. Norm packages a
Call the Mr. Norm Hot
Mr. Norm will sign your
Mr. Norm Certifica
Viceo of You and Mr. N
Your vehicle entered into the origin
BEFORE YOU BUY, GET THE MR. NORM DEA
OW!
E FROM MR. NORM
otline (760) 612-6365
come ‘n get ‘em
*All vehicles delivered through Bosak Performance
by Mr. Norm / Broker
es and Rams for immediate delivery.
r and Charger RTs and SRT-8s
emi Challengers and Chargers
and superchargers on your vehicle.
tline (760) 612-6365
r vehicle and documents
ate of Authenticity
Norm with your vehicle
nal Grand Spaulding Dodge Registry
AL - YOU’LL SAVE MORE THAN EVER BEFORE
MORE FUN.
LESS DRAMA.
BOLT ON SUSPENSION FOR
1963 - 1976 MOPARS
A/B/E BODY APPLICATIONS
ADJUSTABLE
MONOTUBE SHOCKS
36
Insurance Coverages Available:
37
MR. NORM’S KENNE BELL
SUPERCHARGERS
FOR 2008 – 2014 CHALLENGERS, CHARGERS, 300
“MAKE YOUR CAR A PART OF MR. NORM’S HISTORY”
Racer’s net for the Mr.Norm’s Kenne Bell 2.8-L Supercharger Kit is $6,995* plus
shipping. Add $300 for Liquid Cooled* and $600 for Polished Kit*
Call Mr. Norm at :(813) 789-6179 for more information
and to order the Supercharger
*No discsounts apply to these products
Each kit includes eveything needed for the install, including programmed tuner
Mr. Norm’s Kenne Bell 2.8-L Supercharagers for 2008-2018 5.7, 6.1
and 6.4 Hemi engines are CARB certified, 50 state legal
BENEFITS
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Real ‘60s-style Cool Air Intake (+30 hp)
Mammoth 2.8-L vs. their little 2.3-L
Retro Front Drive
Exposed Supercharger (no cover)
Available for 6.5,6.1 and 5.7 Hemi engines
50-state legal
Mr. Norm’s Signature Engraved Plaque
Entry into Mr. Norm’s Equipped Registry
CALL MR. NORM’S AT 813-789-6179 FOR MORE INFORMATION
OR TO ORDER THE MR. NORM’S KENNE BELL SUPERCHARGER
– =
!
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YOUR SOURCE FOR
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www.kitcarclub.com
Women’
Virginia “Ginni” Rometty is Chairman,
President and CEO of IBM
Photo courtesy of IBM
Breaking the Glass Ceiling
Today’s Women
Set the Pace In
Big Business
By Linda Mandalas
E
veryone remembers the song made famous by James Brown, recorded on
Feb. 16, 1966, It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s
World. It went a little something like this:
This is a man’s world
This is a man’s world
But it would be nothing, nothing
Without a women or a girl
Well, I am here to let you know that
times are a changing and it is about time!
According to Forbes Magazine, there are
now 24 female CEO’s running America’s
largest companies (women currently hold
4.8 percent of Fortune 500 CEO roles), with
slightly less than half - 11 - taking over
58
the top between 2011 and 2012, and current status, according to the Fortune 1000
lists this total has risen to 51. That’s right;
women are not only cracking the glass ceiling, they are breaking it!
Let’s take a look at one of the oldest
companies in the United States, International Business Machines. Better known
by its initials, IBM’s beginning dates back
to the 1880’s, decades before the development of electronic computers. IBM was the
result of the merger of three companies,
Tabulating Machine Company, International Time Recording Company and the
Computing Scale Company. The merger
was engineered by noted financier Charles
Flint. This long standing company is bucking its 100 plus year track record by appointing a woman, Ginni Rometty, to lead
the company. Virginia “Ginni” Rometty is
Chairman, President and CEO of IBM, the
first woman to head the company. Ginni has been named to Fortune Magazine’s
“50 Most Powerful Women in Business”
’s World
for eight consecutive years,
ranking #1 in 2012. In 2011
when IBM announced that
Ginni would be the company’s next president and CEO,
when Sam Palmisano stepped
down, Palmisano stated “Ginni got this promotion because
she deserved it...it’s got zero
to do with progressive social
policies.” It is nice to see a
woman recognized for being
smart, not just a pretty face.
Almost as seasoned as
IBM, we find Wal-Mart. Back
in 1950, Sam Walton purchased a store in Bentonville, Arkansas and opened
Walton’s 5&10. Who would
have thought this little Ozark
Mountain town of 2,900 residents would become the headquarters for the world’s largest retailer. By 1967 Wal-Mart
grew to 24 stores across the
state of Arkansas. Today WalMart has over 510 discount
stores in the United States
and is the world’s largest public corporation, according to
the Fortune Global 500 list in
2014. Wal-Mart is the biggest
private employer in the world
with over two million employees. To this day, Wal-Mart is
a family-owned business, and
the company is controlled by
the Walton family. Wal-Mart
is one of the world’s most
valuable companies (in terms
of market value) and is also
the largest grocery retailer in
the United States.
Not only does Wal-Mart
have all of this going for them,
they have appointed Rosalind
Brewer as its first woman and
the first African-American to
head its subsidiary company,
Sam’s Club. Along with WalMart, Sam’s Club ranks second to sales volume among
warehouse clubs, operating
602 warehouse clubs in 47
U.S. states (Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont are the only
states without a Sam’s Club).
Rosalind Brewer was named
the new CEO effective on Feb.
1, 2012, and is listed as the
64th most powerful woman
in the world by Forbes. The
magazine also named her
among the Most Powerful
Black Woman of 2013.
What’s striking is that the
women who are being categorized as the “First,” along with
“Most Powerful” are coming at
an ever increasingly fast and
furious pace. With this being
said, the next must-mention
on the women “breaking the
glass ceiling” is in a field near
to my own; the automotive industry.
General Motors, one of the
world’s largest car and truck
manufacturers, was founded
in 1908 and as of 2012 employed approximately 202,000
people around the world. GM’s
global headquarters are located in the center of the “Motor
City,” Detroit. Mich.
This iconic company was
founded by William C. Durant and has weathered many
storm in its history; acquisitions, mergers and WWII, just
to name a few. At one point
in time, GM had become the
largest corporation registered
in the United States. All of
this action, from 1908 till Dec.
2013 was carefully watched
over by the men in charge,
including Durant, Alfred P.
Sloan, William S. Knudsen,
and Charles Wilson, just to
name a few of the game changers at GM. However, in 2013
the game changed again; this
time GM once again moved
forward and named Mary Teresa Barra as CEO. Barra was
featured on the cover of Time’s
“100 Most Influential Peo59
Rosalind Brewer CEO of Sam’s
Club
Photo Courtesy of Wal-Mart
ple in the World” in April as
well as being listed one of the
world’s most powerful women
by Forbes, for the third time
in 2014, placing seventh on
that list.
Mary Barra was no stranger to the industry. Her father
worked as a die maker at Pontiac for 39 years. She studied electrical engineering at
General Motors Institute (now
Kettering University), obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree. She received a GM fellowship at Stanford Graduate
School of Business as well as
a Master’s Degree in Business
Administration. I don’t know
about you but I am anxious
and excited to see where Mary
Barra leads GM in the coming
years!
When it comes to this next
company and its products,
most of us don’t even think
about who is in charge. All
we know is we like the way it
tastes going down...Pepsi-Cola!
PepsiCo Inc. is an American multinational food and
Mary Barra General Motors CEO
Photo courtesy of General Motors
beverage corporation, formed
in 1965 with the merger of the
Pepsi-Cola Company and Frito-Lay, Inc. However, the recipe for Pepsi (the soft drink),
was first developed in the
1880s by a pharmacist and
industrialist, named Caleb
Bradham - who called it “Pepsi-Cola”. Caleb created the
Pepsi-Cola Company in 1902
and registered a patent for his
recipe in 1903. Many changes
have taken place at the company over the years, including
acquisitions and divestments.
As of 2012, 22 of PepsiCo’s current brands generated retail sales of more than
$1 billion apiece, distributed
across more than 200 countries, resulting in annual net
revenues of over $43.3 billion, making PepsiCo the second largest food and beverage
business in the world...ranked
number one in North America. This larger than life, every
changing American company
is among the growing few that
have but a women in charge.
Indra
Krishnamurthy
Nooyi, is an Indian-born, naturalized American, business
executive and current Chairperson and Chief Executive
Officer of PepsiCo. Indra is
ranked 13th on the list of
Forbes World’s 100 Most Powerful Women in 2014. Indra
was educated at Holy Angels
Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School in Madras.She received a Bachelor’s degrees in
Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics from Madras Christian College and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management
(MBA) as well as being admitted to Yale School of Management earning a Master’s
degree in Public and Private
Management.
Nooyi joined PepsiCo in
1994 and was named president and CFO in 2001. In
2006 she became the fifth
CEO in PepsiCo’s 44-year
history. According to Business Week, since she started
as CFO in 2000, the company’s annual revenues have
risen 72%, while net profit
more than doubled, to $5.6
billion in 2006.Nooyi has not
only proven her success in
the boardroom and business
arena but she has also been
added to the Forbes ‘World’s
Powerful Mom’s list’, earning
her the No. 3 spot!
Here is a company that
everyone has not only heard
of, but probably use regularly, YAHOO!. YAHOO! was the
brain child of Jerry Yang and
David Filo. In 1994 both of
these young men were electrical engineering graduate
students at Stanford University when they created a website named “Jerry and David’s
guide to the World Wide Web”.
In March 1994, “Jerry and David’s guide to the World Wide
Web” was renamed “Yahoo!”.
The “yahoo.com” domain was
created on Jan. 18, 1995. I
will bet that most of you did
not know the word “yahoo” is
an acronym for “Yet Another
Hierarchical Officious Oracle”.
Over the years YAHOO!
60
Indra Nooyi Chairperson and Chief
Executive Officer of PepsiCo
Photo courtesy of PepsiCo
has seen several CEO’s, from
Jerry Yang to Carol Bartz (yes,
a woman), however she was
removed from her position in
Sept. 2011 by the company’s
chairman Roy Bostock, and
CFO Tim Morse was named
as Interim CEO. In early 2012
Scott Thompson was appointed as CEO and rumors began
to spread about layoffs and
several key executives left.
Amidst all this turmoil and
the short 130-day tenure of
Scott Thompson costing YAHOO! at least $7.3 million
dollars, YAHOO! appointed
Marissa Mayer to President
and CEO, effective July 17,
2012. Marissa was previously
a longtime executive and key
spokesperson for Google.
Marissa, a native of Wisconsin, graduated with honors from Stanford University
with a BS in symbolic systems
and MS in computer science.
For both degrees, her specialization was in artificial intelligence. In 2009, the Illinois
Institute of Technology granted Marissa an Honoris Causa
Doctorate Degree in recognition of her work the field of
search.
In 2013, Marissa ranked
32 on the Forbes Magazine’s
List of The World’s Most Powerful Women. Also in 2013,
Marissa became the first
woman listed as number one
on Fortune magazine’s annual list of the top 40 business
stars under 40 years. In May
2013, Marissa led YAHOO! in
a $1.1 billion acquisition, just
one in a series of major purchases that occurred since
Marissa became the CEO.
The stock price of YAHOO! has
doubled over the 14 months
since Marissa’s appointment.
How can we talk about
women breaking the glass
ceiling without talking about
this one; Avon Products, Inc,
known as Avon. I remember
this, do you....”Ding Dong,
Avon Calling!” Avon is the
fifth-largest beauty company
and second largest direct selling enterprise in the world,
with 6.4 million representatives.
In 1886, David H. McConnell started the business in a
small office in lower Manhattan, New York City. In 1892
David changed the company
name to California Perfume
Company. Under this new
company name they filed their
first trademark application for
AVON on June 3, 1932, while
the first commercial use for
AVON by the California Perfume Company was on September 1, 1929.
This
organization
has
come a long way baby. While
it started in New York, today
Avon sells products in over
140 Countries. As will all the
other powerful businesses we
have taken a look at, Avon
has had its share of mergers
and acquisitions, including
purchasing Silpada, a direct
seller of silver jewelry in 2010
for $650 million. On the opposite side of the corporate
spectrum, in May of 2012,
Avon rejected an offer from
Marissa Mayer to President and
CEO of Yahoo!
Photo courtesy of Yahoo!
the perfume company Coty,
stating that “At the time, the
board concluded, and it still
believes, that Coty’s indication of opportunistic and
not in best interest of Avon’s
shareholders.”
Today, the driving force
behind Avon is Sheri McCoy,
an American scientist and
business executive.
Sheri
is the CEO of Avon Products
and former Vice Chairman
and member of the Office of
the Chairman of Johnson &
Johnson.
Sherily S. “Sheri” McCoy,
attended the University of
Massachusetts, Dartmouth,
earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Textile Chemistry, also earning a Masters
degree in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University and a Masters of Business
Administration from Rutgers
University. Sheri also holds
five patents registered in the
United States and Europe.
McCoy joined Johnson &
Johnson as a chemical engineer focusing on research
and development of women’s
health products, and was
eventually promoted to lead
the company’s research and
61
development division. In 2008
she was appointed to chair
the Surgical Care group, this
leadership role established
her as a member of the company’s Executive Committee
and one of the highest-ranking female executives in the
global drug industry.
In February 2012, after 30
years with Johnson & Johnson, she was passed over for
a promotion to succeed William C. Weldon as Chief Executive Officer. When Alex
Gorsky was named to succeed
Weldon, McCoy resigned from
Johnson & Johnson, effective
April 18, 2012. Not one to sit
around and watch the grass
grow, just five days later,
AVON Products announced
that Sheri McCoy had been
chosen to lead the company
as their new CEO effective
April 23, 2012. McCoy is the
perfect example of the phrase
“You can’t keep a good woman
down!”
Sheri McCoy has not only
been named multiple times
to the Fortune Magazine “50
Most Powerful Women in Business”, but multiple times to
the Forbes Magazine “World’s
Most Powerful Women in
Business” and “Most Powerful Mom’s” list from Working
Mother Magazine.
As you can see, with the
above listed ladies, a women
in charge is not only a powerful game changer in business
today, it has done wonders for
their company’s image as well
the profit margins. These are
just a few of the ever growing success stories showing
how women are changing
the world.
Sexism and the Old Boy’s
Network have not been eliminated entirely, and probably
never will be. However, it is
clear that women are succeeding in business, many
on their own terms. Today’s
women are proving they can
run major companies, start
and develop their own companies, serve on the boards
of multiple companies and
charities and yes, have families. The women of today
and tomorrow can have it all,
like the infamous commercial once said:
I can put the wash on
the line, feed the kids, get
dressed,
pass out the kisses and
get to work by 5 to 9.
‘Cause I’m a Woman!
I can bring home the Bacon!
Fry it up in a Pan!
And Never, Never, Never let
you forget You’re a Man!
‘Cause I’m a Woman!
The time has come for
all of us women, young and
aged like fine wine to realize
that this world is fast becoming our oyster. The choices
we make each and every day
are what create our pearl.
So, let us not only continue to make the right choices for ourselves but let us
share our stories, the good,
the bad and the ugly (so to
speak) with our daughters,
and their daughters; the future generations to come.
Share with them what has
made us who we are today
so they can become who they
are meant to be tomorrow.
Teach them that there are no
limitations to what they can
become. Every little girl, every young lady should reach
for the moon and the stars...
but don’t stop there. Teach
them to take every opportunity that comes their way,
even the smallest, and run
with it, run as fast and far
as they can, and someday,
maybe sooner than any of
us think, there will be no
more glass ceilings to have
to break through.
In closing, I look forward
to seeing the Forbes Magazine and Fortune Magazine
lists of female CEO’s, Most
Powerful Women In The
World, Most Powerful Women In Business in the next
5 or 10 years, I just know
the number of women on it
will have increased ten-fold!
You never know, someday
your name, your daughter’s
name, or even your grand
daughter’s name might be
there.
Here’s to the woman of the
world; grab that brass ring,
hold on and take the ride of
your life!
Tell your friends and car
club members to join Mr.
Norm’s Sport Club. They’ll
get discounts on parts
and memorabilia and
receive Pentastar Power
every month for free.
Sheri McCoy CEO of AVON Products. Sheri is in the center of the photo taken at the Avon Walk for Breast
Cancer
Photo courtesy of Avon Products
62
Photographer’s Showcase /
Spotlight
on Toshi
Akatsuka
By Larry Weiner
Photos by Toshi Akatsuka
M
r. Norm’s vehicles
are popular all over
the world. Because
of that fact, we are fortunate
to work with many photographers, some of whom specialize in supplying photography
and stories for automotive
enthusiast publications in
other countries. One such
photographer we work with
regularly is Toshi Akatsuka,
who provides feature stories
for A-CARS Magazine in Japan.
A-CARS stands for American Cars, and as the title
implies, is a magazine whose
focus is cars made here in
the U.S.A. Both vintage and
modern cars and trucks are
covered in depth in each
monthly
issue
including
those here in the States,
along with many that are
owned by collectors in Japan. A-CARS also covers the
latest new vehicle releases
here in America, so there is
a broad mix of vehicles featured on the pages of each is-
For Mr. Norm’s Red Xpress Truck photo shoot we were able to secure the use of an original Dodge Lil’
Red Express Truck. Toshi captured the essence of both the vintage and late model examples of what
we called Little Red and Big Red in this dramatic up hill shot.
Photographer’s Showcase
sue. Reading A-CARS, which
by the way, is the size of a
telephone book compared to
many of the car magazines
here, is a little difficult, unless you are fluent in Japanese. However, some of the
headlines are in English, and
the photography speaks to
everyone regardless of your
native tongue. And speaking of the photography, it is
excellent. The spreads are
large and presented with an
artistic flair that’s original
and coupled with a fun, stylistic approach.
We have had the opportunity to work with Toshi
photographing vehicles for
over 15 years. He lives here
in Southern California, and
is a total
car junkie
who really
likes
Mopars. You
never know
Toshi’s personal 1964 Chrysler
300K posing for the camera on
top a building. The stark contrast
between the earth tones of the
building and the Formal Black
paint on the vehicle give the photo
the appearance of one you might
see in a factory brochure.
Here, Toshi caught the Mr. Norm’s GSS-R 1000 Horsepower 50th Anniversary Challenger in action at Irwindale Speedway as it smokes the hides
in preparation for a run down the track. This photo was seen in A-CARS,
Mopar Action and Pentastar Power, as part of in-depth feature stories on the
Mr. Norm’s GSS-R 1000 Horsepower Challengers. Check out the page from
A-CARS with the headline in English and the captions in Japanese.
what kind of vehicle he will
be driving when he arrives for
a photo session. It could be a
new press fleet vehicle or one
of his Mopars.
Along with dedicated vehicle shoots, Toshi can be often
be seen at car shows on any
given weekend, photographing events for A-CARS. When
time permits, he travels to
shops all over the nation,
photographing the vehicles
they are building and the facilities where they are crafting
tomorrow’s award winners.
Never without his camera,
Toshi has a habit of photographing vehicles wherever
he finds them. They might be
in long term storage facilities,
back yards, along-side the
road or even in salvage yards.
He has an uncanny knack
for finding beauty in vehicles
that have been cast aside, and
are the perfect candidates for
resurrection. His photos capture their essence and motivates readers to harness their
innermost desires to seek
out these discarded relics
66
and
remake them
into tomorrow’s objects of desire.
Unlike many photographers, Toshi puts his own
perspective on the cars and
the events, as seen through
the eyes of a person shooting
for an audience that does not
take the vehicles and shows
for granted as many of us do.
Toshi was among the first photographers to shoot the Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary
GSS Challenger and Charger. Here is a tight shot of the Charger, which was also
seen on the cover of A-CARS along with its companion, the Challenger as part of a
special Modern Muscle section focused on Mr. Norm and Saleen.
Like all photographers, Toshi
has his own unique style,
and his approach to photographing vehicles results
in images that many times
look decidedly different than
those seen in domestic car
magazines.
Couple this with layout
styles that A-CARS uses to
present the stories and the
result is fun, captivating features that are often much
larger than most of what we
see in magazines published
here. In fact, the features in
Pentastar Power mirror the
larger format theme that is
popular in magazines like
A-CARS and Octane from
the United Kingdom.
While you may not have
seen A-CARS magazine, you
have probably seen Toshi’s
photography and not realized
it. As an example, his work
has been seen in Mopar Action, where he photographed
Dale Arnold’s Mr. Norm’s 50th
Anniversary GSS Challenger.
In addition, Pentastar Power featured an in-depth story on Toshi’s 1964 Chrysler
300K in the October, 2013
issue and needless to say,
he provided all of the photos
67
and
information
on the rebirth of the C-Body.
Toshi likes action, and for
most sessions, he takes the
time to shoot car to car footage on the freeway. He feels
that while stills are nice, a
car or truck is most at home
doing what it does best; traveling at speed. Hence, Toshi
takes the time to get both a
wide range of beauty shots,
coupled with a variety of action images.
The following photos illustrate the wide range of
styles Toshi uses to capture
the essence of each vehicle,
showcasing them in a way
that is uniquely his own.
We hope that you enjoy seeing them as much as we enjoyed presenting them. And
the next time you’re reading
your favorite car magazine,
check and see who the photographer is. You just might
be surprised to see that it is
none other than Toshi Akatsuka.
Toshi shot this photo on location at the JR Motorsports plant in Mooresville, North Carolina. He captured the scale of the shop and a number of
stock cars under construction, providing readers a glimpse into what
makes this team so successful in NASCAR. The cars in the foreground
have been built for teammate Chase Elliot, son of legendary driver Bill
Elliot.
This late model Mustang was shot for A-CARS. The subject of a three day live build for Ford Motor Company at
the San Diego Automobile Show, this pony car had it all, including a Kenne Bell supercharged engine and Sherwin-Williams Planet Color custom paint.
68
Before and after photos of the Jeep Wrangler FIVE STAR that debuted in the Vision Wheels Exhibit at the 2013
SEMA SHOW. The before pose shows the Jeep at rest, while the after shot shows it in action on the freeway.
69
Toshi photographed this 1968 Dodge Charger at the Pure Vision
shop in Simi Valley, California. These four photos showcase
Toshi’s excellent use of light, attention to detail and perspective. These are a just a small sample from a large series of
photos for a feature story on this vehicle.
Toshi found this 1946 Diamond T in a storage lot near Los Angeles. Not one to pass up an opportunity, he photographed this truck as part of a series he puts together for A-CARS about old vehicles in an around LA. It was
obvious that at some point the truck had been restored, then put out to pasture to waste away in outside long
term storage. After this photo was taken, Toshi found a good home for this rare truck.
A trip to the Midwest enabled Toshi
to spend a day at Rad Rides By
Troy in Manteno, Illinois. This welllit shop photo shows a wild A-Bone
under construction at this award
winning shop. Notice the clarity of
the shot, showing exquisite detail
to the blown flathead and extreme
customization to the original steel
sedan body.
72
Toshi staged this 1963 Dodge Polara Max Wedge as
though it was ready to make a pass down the track.
Toshi provided the photos of this Polara for the
cover and feature story of the March 2014 issue of
Pentastar Power.
73
A shot of the Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary GSS-R 1000 on display
in the Lucas Oil Exhibit at the Street Machine and Muscle Car Nationals at the Pomona Fairplex earlier this year. This is the same
car that Toshi shot for the cover of Mopar Action.
Tell your friends and car club members to
join Mr. Norm’s Sport Club. They’ll get discounts on parts and memorabilia and receive Pentastar Power every month for free.
74
Another photo of the original Dodge Lil’ Red Express Truck looking right at home on a winding canyon road.
A kaleidoscope green
frames of Dale Arnold’s
Blue Streak Mr. Norm’s
50th Anniversary GSS
Challenger in action.
This photo is a great
example of Toshi’s ability
to capture action in a
variety of unique ways.
75
TECH / TECH / TECH / TECH / TEC
LIFE IN THE
FAST LANE
Installing a
Gear Vendors
Overdrive
in a 1965 –
1968 Chrysler
C-Body
Story and photos by
Howard Benjamin
T
o say that we live in a
day and age of rapidly
escalating fuel costs
would be to put it mildly. As
if that wasn’t enough, there’s
the constant outcry from
environmentalists
about
the carbon footprint, global
warming and air pollution
caused by vehicles powered
by
internal
combustion
engines. It’s no secret that the
vintage and muscle cars we
are so fond of are often held
up as examples of what is
damaging the environment.
The ever tightening emissions
standards and mandatory
smog
testing
of
older
vehicles clearly illustrates
the direction in which this
headed.
Most of the data used
by government bureaucrats
and environmentalists to
76
blame our collector cars for
harming the environment
is flawed for a wide variety
of reasons.
For example,
unlike regular daily drivers,
the annual mileage of most
classics is nominal, often
no more than 500 to 1,000
miles per year. In addition,
these vehicles receive of a
high degree of maintenance
and are generally driven
very carefully.
However,
regardless of the efforts of
influential organizations such
as SEMA and Goodguys, it’s
safe to say that the pressure
on the collector car hobby
is not going to lessen. With
that thought in mind, there
CH / TECH / TECH / TECH / TECH
is something we can do that
will dramatically improve the
performance of our vehicles
while simultaneously further
discrediting many of the
arguments against them. A
proven driveline component
is readily available that
will significantly enhance
fuel economy and reduce
green house gas emissions
by as much as 25 percent
while
increasing
vehicle
performance.
That
component is an overdrive.
We take it for granted
today in new vehicles, as
most manufactured since
the early 1980’s have been
equipped with transmissions
that include an overdrive.
Unfortunately, the majority
of classic cars and virtually
none of the cars from the
1960’s were equipped with
an overdrive. The result
is that these vehicles,
especially those equipped
with high numerical final
drive ratios, deliver marginal
fuel economy because they
operate at elevated engine
rpm, especially when driven
at highway speeds. Installing
an overdrive is the practical
solution to this problem, and
the good news is that it’s
easy to do.
In this story, we will show
how simple it is to make your
vintage Mopar a modern
highway cruiser using a
Gear Vendors Overdrive.
This is the most popular
overdrive conversion for
factory transmissions, and
is available for over one
hundred different vehicle
and powertrain applications.
And unlike many aftermarket
parts, the good news is
that the Gear Vendors is
manufactured right here in
the United States.
The 1967 Chrysler Town
and Country 9 passenger
wagon that is the subject of
this story is equipped with its
original TorqueFlite 3 speed
automatic transmission and
8¾ differential with a 3.23:1
gear set. Since third gear
in the transmission is a 1:1
ratio, with the 3.23 gear,
every time we reached 60
miles per hour, the Chrysler
felt like it was ready to be
shifted into the next higher
gear. The problem was, we
were already in third, and
there weren’t any more gears
left. Adding insult to injury,
the Town and Country
weighs a stout 4,200 lbs.,
which may seem somewhat
normal by today’s full size
car standards, but without
an overdrive, the result was
a busy engine and mediocre
fuel economy. Here in
Southern California, the 18
wheelers run faster than the
double nickel in the slow
lane. Because we like life in
the fast lane, and certainly
wanted better fuel economy,
to say nothing of doing
our part to help save the
environment, we decided to
install a Gear Vendors in the
Chrysler. The Gear Vendors
offers a 22 percent overdrive,
77
turning our 3.23:1 gear into
the equivalent of a 2.52:1
final drive. This lowered the
rpm of the 383 four barrel
engine significantly, making
the Chrysler far more freeway
friendly.
Goodbye
semitrailer trucks, hello fast lane.
While the 727 TorqueFlite
is a robust design and was a
state of the art transmission
in the 1960’s when it was
introduced, in this day and
age of 8 speed automatics, a
three speed is nothing less
than anachronism. The Gear
Vendors Overdrive brings
this legendary transmission
into the 21st century.
Follow along with us as
the master technicians at
Gear Vendors install one of
their Under/Overdrive units
in the 1967 Chrysler. The
result is a long legged cruiser
with a newfound ability to
compress time and space
while achieving enhanced
fuel economy that makes it
much more practical to drive
today.
Source Box
Gear Vendors Inc.
1717 North Magnolia Avenue
El Cajon, CA 92020
Phone: 800-999-9555
www.gearvendors.com
Note: Install is
for 1965 thru 1968
Chrysler C-Body
vehicles
equipped with 727
Torqueflite automatic
transmission
Vehicle in photos is
1967 Chrysler Town
& Country Wagon
Stock before disassembly
Gear Vendors parts include
the following: Gear Vendors
Unit, New transmission tail
housing, Gasket, Coupling
Tight shot of rear of transmission with driveshaft removed
Supporting transmission
Removing bolts
from transmission cross member. Note: There
are 4 bolts per
side, plus 2 that
install vertically
inside member
78
Cross member with front and
rear bolts removed
Removing vertical bolts from
cross member
Removing cross member
Speedometer cable installed
in stock tail housing
Cross member removed
RIGHT: Removing transmission mount
Removing speedometer cable
Removing bolt that secures
speedometer gear assembly
Removing inspection plate for Inspection plate removed to
access to c-clip that retains
expose c-clip
tail housing
79
Removing speedometer gear
assembly
Removing bolts from tail
housing
Snap ring pliers used to release snap ring
Snap ring releases tail housing from tail shaft
Tail shaft with tail housing
removed
Second photo of tail shaft
with tail housing removed
Removing the Plug and Pin,
Sprag and Sprag Spring from
tail housing
Preparing to remove Snap
Ring from tail housing
Parts removed from original tail housing
from left to right: Sprag Spring, Plug and Pin,
Sprag Shaft, Sprag, Snap Ring
Original Sprag Plug and Pin, Sprag and
on right is
Sprag Shaft installed in GV
narrow. GV re- tail housing
placement tail
housing using
wider sprag
on left, wider
sprag is also a
Chrysler part
Snap Ring installed in
GV tail housing. Measure vehicle transmission tunnel to be sure
Gear Vendors unit will
have ample clearance
Plug and Pin, Sprag, Sprag Shaft and Sprag
Spring installed
80
Installing GV tail housing to
rear of transmission
Using mirror to insure correct
placement of parking gear
control rod Another photo showing use
of mirror for installing parking
gear control rod. Note: Parking Gear Control Rod seats in
Plug and Pin, and works with
Sprag to lock transmission in
park
Using Snap Ring tool to lock
snap ring on transmission
tail shaft for securing GV tail
housing
GV tail housing in final position
Bolts installed in GV tail
housing
Inspection plate and gasket to Installing plate and cover
cover snap ring access port
over snap ring access port
in tail shaft
Reinstalling transmission
mount
Transmission mount reinstalled
Installing bolts into GV tail
housing
81
Positioning demo Gear Vendors unit to determine new
drive shaft length
Measuring for new driveshaft. New will be shorter than
original because Gear Vendors unit and new tail housing adds length transmission.
Be sure to subtract 5/8” from
driveshaft length to accommodate movement of the
differential.
Positioning demo Gear Vendors unit to determine new
drive shaft length
Installing speed gear housing
into Gear Vendors unit
Speedometer housing installed
Installing Gear Vendors unit
onto new GV tail shaft housing
Installing washers and retaining nuts on studs on Gear
Vendors unit
LEFT: Gear Vendors unit installed
RIGHT: Gear Vendors computer and related electrical
parts. Note that the GV unit is
electrically actuated
82
Installing Gear
Vendors coupling
on tail shaft of
transmission
INSET: Gasket
installed on GV tail shaft
housing. Note using straight
edge and shim being installed
in coupling to insure correct
depth to mate to Gear Vendors unit.
Installing Gear Vendors computer under carpeting on left
side floor
Installing wires into Gear Vendors computer
Gear Vendors control panel
installed under dashboard
Gear Vendors switch installed on floor above factory
dimmer switch. The switch
is used to activate the Gear
Vendors unit
Installing speedometer cable
into Gear Vendors unit
Connecting Gear Vendors
electronic speedometer unit
to mechanical speedometer
cable. This device also sends
a signal to the GV in car
computer to monitor vehicle
speed.
Speedometer connections
completed on Gear Vendors
unit
New drive shaft being installed
Installing U-Bolts, lock washers and nuts on driveshaft
rear U-Joint
83
Gear Vendors unit completely installed
Putting synthetic oil in Gear Vendors unit
Reinstalling fill plug on Gear Vendors unit
Completed installation
84
Charter
Sponsors
Bosak Motors
3111 W. Lincoln Hwy.,Rt. 30
Merrillville, IN 46410
888-507-1403, ask for Mr. J
Crystal Chrysler Jeep
Dodge Ram
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352-563-2277 / Steve Lamb
Fairfield Auto Group
3360 Rt. 406,
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888-548-3870 / Steve Kaiser, Jr.
Steve White Motors
3470 U.S. Highway 70
Newton, NC 28658
888-827-3721
Steve Landers Chrysler
Jeep Dodge Ram
4600 South University
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501-569-4063
Roger Gibson
Restoration service.
573-264-2022
Year One
Time tested quality parts. .
800-YEAR ONE
Choice Hotels
20% discounts for club members
with special number code.
Meguire’s WaxIrvine, CA
800-347-5700 / meguiar’s.com
Mancini Racing
Offering quality, selection and
service for performance needs.
800-843-2821
Galen Govier
The Chrysler Registry
608-326-6346
Rods, Mods and
Restos
9134 Eden Ave.
Hudson, FL 34667
813-789-6179
JBA Speed Shop
5675 Kearny Villa Rd.
San Diego, CA 92123
888-JBA-5570
Automotive Alley
11931 Rt 98
Arcade, NY 14009
716-983-0917
85
MR. NORM’S
CHALLENGER QUARTER PANEL SCOOPS
FITS 2008 – 2015 DODGE CHALLENGERS
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*Note: Shipping is not included in price
West Coas
Goodguys West
Coast Nationals
A week of fun under the hot California sun
Story by Marv Herbert
Photos by Steve Temple
T
here are so many car
shows each month,
that it is impossible to
attend them all. An example
of a great show that we have
always wanted to attend is
the Goodguys West Coast Nationals in Pleasanton, California. Also known as the Hot
Rod Homecoming, this event
has been held yearly for the
last 28 years in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Goodguys West Coast Nationals is
a weeklong event that offers
something for everyone who
loves hot rods, customs and
muscle cars.
Held at the Pleasanton,
California Fairgrounds, the
show attracted 3,800 vehicles this year, making it one
of the largest shows in the
country. In addition to enthusiasts who brought a virtual
potpourri of vehicles to display in the show, there was a
huge Manufacturers Midway
outside, along with numerous indoor displays. As if all
that wasn’t enough, special
vehicle exhibits at Pleasanton this year included a dis-
st Report
ABOVE: Plum Crazy 1970 Cuda 340 continues the Day 2 theme with a set of Torque Thrust style
billet wheels. BELOW: Hemi Orange 1969 Dodge Super Bee wearing A12 style black steelies with chrome lug
nuts driving down the main lane of the event.
play of Bonneville land speed
cars, a cool exhibit with more
Cushman’s than we’ve seen
in the last 40 years, a vintage
front motor dragster cackle
fest, and of course lots of rock
and roll music, this year performed by Lil Elmo and the
Cosmos.
Celebrities
galore
also
made the trek to NorCal for
the show, and included
well known front man
for Crosby Stills Nash
and Young, and Rock
and Roll Hall of Famer,
Neil Young, drag racing veteran Don “The
1924 Dodge four door phaeton was the epitSnake” Prudhomme,
ome of a wild street rod. Wearing a coat of
engine builder extraorhot rod black, it was chopped, channeled
dinaire Ed Pink, and
and sectioned, and that was just for starters.
INSET: The Dodge stayed true to its Mopar
the Rodfather himself,
roots, powered by an early DeSoto Fire Dome
Andy Brizio.
Hemi with six Strombergs, and a nasty set
In advance of the
of zoomies that made everyone take notice
show, there were cruiswhenever it was fired up.
es, country drives,
shop tours and even
free hot dogs if you
got hungry. But what
really brings out the
Original owner 1968 Plymouth GTX is the perfect example of a Day 2 muspeople are the cars. And with cle car with its period correct deep dish Cragar S/S mags.
nearly four thousand of some
of finest vehicles ever seen
on display, you can bet your
boots that there were plenty
of Mopars everywhere at the
fairgrounds. Yes, many of the
vehicles at a hot rod show like
this wear the blue oval or the
bowtie, and often times, if for
no other reason than based on
sheer numbers, they win many
of the awards. But a great car
or truck regardless of brand
can defy the odds and win if
it’s got the right stuff. This
year at the Goodguys West
Coast Nationals, there was
just such a vehicle, and it was
90
Vintage Dodge Power Wagon was restored to perfection and is an excellent example of one of these big brutes. A couple of subtle mods were
hiding under the hood, including a custom intake with dual carbs juicing
up the 230 cubic inch flat head six for a little more power.
“Many of the vehicles at a hot rod show like this wear
the blue oval or the bowtie, and often times, if for no
other reason than based on sheer numbers, they win
many of the awards. But a great car or truck regardless of brand can defy the odds and win if it’s got the
right stuff. This year at the Goodguys West Coast
Nationals, there was just such a vehicle,
and it was a Mopar!”
a Mopar! Built by Kevin and
Angie Bischoff from Vancouver, Washington, what started out life as a mundane two
door sedan was transformed
after 13 years of hard work
into a world class rod. Custom from top to bottom, this
rare prewar Dodge swept
away the competition and
copped the America’s Most
Beautiful Street Rod award
at Pleasanton.
And while it was great
to see a Mopar grab the top
spot when it came to winning awards at the Goodguys West Coast Nationals,
there were so many others
on display at the show, that
it would be hard to recognize
them all. So with camera in
hand, Steve Temple, the Editor of Car Builder Magazine,
captured a wide range of Mopars for us to share with you.
As you can see, there were
lots of Mopars of all kinds
in attendance. After looking
at the photos and talking
to Steve about this event, it
sure seems like one we need
to add to our bucket list,
and maybe it will qualify for
yours too!
Lift off hood 1969 Plymouth A12 440 6 BBL Road
Runner was displayed
inside.
1968 Barracuda Formula S convertible looked
factory fresh, right down to the original dog
dish hubcaps and Plymouth “Out To Win You
Over” license plate.
Michelle Smith is the owner of this mildly rodded 1950 Dodge ½ ton pickup. Featuring the
best of both worlds, the Dodge retains
its classic good looks while taking advantage of an updated Mopar powertrain
that consists of a 318 backed up by a 904
automatic.
INSET: Bright, cheerful interior sports a
tuck and roll seat, tilt column, wood wheel
and gauges that mirror the vintage theme
of the vehicle.
A pair of A-Bodies on the grass. The all original
Banana Yellow 1971 340 Demon was equipped
with the optional factory hood scoops, while the
root beer 1970 340 Duster looked great with hood
graphics and Weld Wheels.
1971 Plymouth GTX looked like
new, right down to the factory Rally wheels and white pinstriping
Blown and injected 415 cubic inch small block powered 1970 Plymouth Duster was an eye catcher with
candy orange flames.
Plum Crazy 1969 Plymouth Road Runner packed the
punch of a 426 Hemi.
The bare bones muscle car that almost anyone could
afford when they were new; the pillar coupe 1968
Road Runner. The big difference with this Beeper is
that it’s powered by the only optional engine in ’68;
the ground shaking 426 Hemi.
Day 2 muscle cars were popular at Goodguys, as
evidenced by this gorgeous 426 Hemi powered 1964
Dodge 440 two door hardtop. Billet wheels and cast
60’s style aluminum valve covers were just some of
the upgrades the owner added.
The 1936 Dodge Woody, left, was simply spectacular. It’s one of three that are known to exist. Check out the factory side mounts, fender skirts, period perfect visor and prehistoric air conditioning. At right, the tailgate’s down
and set up for a picnic.
Diana Goff’s 1967 Plymouth Belvedere II was straight
enough for black. Under the hood was a 440 Super
Commando V8 backed up by a 727 Torqueflite.
1971 Plymouth Duster 340 wore a set of Foose custom
wheels. Under the hood was a fully dressed 340.
1970 Charger R/T packed a 440 with 375 horsepower
for punch. A beautifully restored B-Body, down to the
Magnum 500 wheels and an original style battery.
This jet black 1968
Charger R/T looked
much like the Charger
Steve McQueen chased
with his Mustang in
Bullitt.
The black paint on this stunning 1947 Plymouth
woody looked a mile deep and provided the perfect
contrast to the light colored wood body.
And the winner of the America’s Most Beautiful
Street Rod Award is this 1936 Dodge built by Kevin
and Angie Bischoff.
Photo courtesy of Goodguys Rod and Custom Assn.
96
News You Can Use
Auburn Gear
First to Offer
Aftermarket
Alternative for
Post-2010
Chrysler 9-¼ ZF
Limited-Slip
Differential A
uburn’s new 9-¼ limited-slip differential broadens consumer choice and delivers superior strength and
performance for about 25
percent less than OE diff. AUBURN, Ind. — Auburn Gear,
Inc., a leading U.S.-based
manufacturer of high-performance differentials, introduced its new aftermarket,
limited-slip differential replacement for vehicles with
the Chrysler 9-¼ ZF rear axle
built after 2010. Auburn’s
new aftermarket 9-¼ differential is the first to market and
is designed for easy installation and higher performance
than the original equipment. Until now, those wanting
a limited-slip differential on
certain Dodge, Jeep and RAM
vehicles made after 2010 had
to either specify it as an option in place of the standard
Chrysler 9-¼ ZF open differential or pay to have an OE
9-¼ ZF limited-slip retrofit
performed. Cost was often
a barrier, and the OE-made
posi-track was the only aftermarket option available.
Auburn’s new high-torquebias limited-slip differential
is engineered to surpass the
abilities of the OE differential, making Auburn’s new differential
even more attractive to
those who want to upgrade their drivetrains
and their performance
capabilities.
Auburn’s
design provides superior bias torque to the
high-traction wheel and
is compatible with gear
ratios of 2.71:1 and up.
Aggressive off-road
driving over difficult
terrain can challenge
some differentials to
the breaking point. Auburn’s new 9-¼ limited-slip
differential is designed to
stand up to significant punishment and gives drivers
smooth torque-sensing operation with correct bias ratios
engineered to outperform other standard differentials.
Auburn Gear has been
manufacturing its products in
Auburn, Indiana, since 1982.
The company engineers a wide
variety of performance-enhancing and high-performance aftermarket differentials and believes that being
exclusively American Made is
one of its unique advantages.
All Auburn differentials
are backed by the company’s
one-year warranty and exclusive Differential Replacement
Exchange (D-REX) Program.
According to the terms of
the D-REX Program, Auburn
will replace any differential
within the first four years of
purchase, regardless of circumstances. The replacement
differential is one-third of the
original cost (that is roughly
97
the equivalent of the price of
a competitor’s clutch pack).
The replacement differential
comes fully assembled, tested, certified and ready for
installation. No rebuilding is
required, and thus no mixing
of old or worn parts with new
parts is necessary.
Auburn’s 9-¼ limited-slip
differential, model number
5420142, is expected to begin
shipping on or about Sept.
30, 2014. Auburn’s new aftermarket differential can be
used to replace the open-case
or limited-slip differentials on
Chrysler 9.25 in. ZF axle models. Auburn’s new differential
is compatible with the 2011 2014 Dodge Durango Citadel,
2011 - 2013 Dodge Durango
Crew, 2011 Dodge Durango
Express, 2011 Dodge Durango Heat, 2014 Dodge Durango
Limited, 2011 - 2014 Dodge
Durango R/T, 2014 Dodge
Durango Rallye, 2012 - 2014
Dodge Durango Special Service, 2012 - 2014 Dodge Durango SXT, 2010 - 2014 Jeep
Grand Cherokee Laredo, 2010
- 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Limited, 2011 - 2014 Jeep
Grand Cherokee Overland,
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Overland Summit, 2014 Jeep
Grand Cherokee SRT, 2010
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8,
2012 - 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, 2014 Jeep Grand
Cherokee Summit, 2012 RAM
1500 Big Horn, 2014 RAM
1500 Big Horn, 2012 - 2014
RAM 1500 Express, 2013 2014 RAM 1500 HFE, 2011
- 2014 RAM 1500 Laramie,
2013 - 2014 RAM 1500 Laramie Limited, 2011 - 2014
RAM 1500 Laramie Longhorn, 2014 RAM 1500 Lone
Star, 2012 RAM 1500 Outdoorsman, 2013 RAM 1500
R/T, 2014 RAM 1500 SLT,
2014 RAM 1500 Special Service, 2011 - 2014 RAM 1500
Sport, 2011 - 2012 RAM 1500
ST, 2011 - 2014 RAM 1500
Tradesman and 2012 RAM
1500 Tradesman HD.
Questions regarding Auburn Gear’s 9-¼ limited-slip
differential may be directed to
Justin R. Smith at (260) 9201359 or jrsmith@auburngear.
com
Tell your friends and car club
members to join Mr. Norm’s
Sport Club. They’ll get discounts on parts and memorabilia and receive Pentastar
Power every month for free.
2015 RAM ECODIESEL
PUMPS UP PASSION FOR FUEL ECONOMY
I
n a red-hot truck market, with fuel prices in
a constant ‘up one day and down the next’
cycle, 2015 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel buyers know
they can count on at least two things: best-inclass 28 mpg and much less time and money
parked at the pump.
For truck buyers, that ‘double dose’ of fuel
economy and capability has often been more of
a dream than an option. The 2015 Ram 1500
EcoDiesel pickup changed all that – rolling
diesel-powered capability and segment-leading fuel economy into a ‘sweet’ package of peak
performance.
Class-exclusive air suspension, TorqueFlight 8-speed transmission, best-in-class
aerodynamics and first-in-segment Fuel Saver
Technology helped raised the fuel economy bar
and push the 1500 EcoDiesel to number one of
the top two fuel economy spots. Another Ram
1500 fuel-sipper, the 25 mpg 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 owns the number two spot.
Pick-up buyers registered their hunger for Ram Trucks again last month
with a double-digit sales increase for
the Ram half-ton pickup segment of 31
percent.
So, looks like you can have your
cake and eat it, too! Oh, and what’s a
cake without frosting? The 2015 Ram
1500 EcoDiesel packs a punch on the
towing end at 9,200 pounds!
98
MR. NORM’S CONTEST
ANSWER THIS QUESTION AND WIN A
GRAND SPAULDING DODGE DECKLID EMBLEM
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MR. NORM DURING THE 1964 SEASON.
QUESTION:
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MR. NORM’S SEPTEMBER SALE!
MR. NORM’S GSS AERO ROOF SPOILER
FOR 2009- 2015 RAM TRUCKS
REGULARLY $225.00 SAVE $40.00
SALE PRICE $185.00
CALL MR. NORM’S AT 760-612-6365
CHECK ALL OF THE MR. NORM’S PARTS AND ACCESSORIES AT
www.mrnorms.com
Note: No other discounts can be applied to sale price.
Shipping is not included in price Offer expires October 15, 2014
But Wait, There’s More
Memories
of Cars
Gone By
I
Story and Photos by Larry Weiner
subscribe to a magazine
called AutaBuy. It’s published once a month, and
is loaded with hundreds
of collector cars of all kinds
for sale. Flipping through
the September issue, I ran
across a 1939 Plymouth P8
Deluxe Touring Sedan for
sale. That brought back a
flood of memories, as I once
owned a Plymouth much like
the one in the ad.
It was late one night in
1975, and I was heading
home from a long day on the
job. It was cold and rainy,
and all I could think about
was getting home and eating dinner. As I was driving
through an intersection on
the northwest side of Chicago, out of the corner of my
eye I spotted an old Plymouth sitting under a street
light in a gas station parking
lot with a for sale sign in the
windshield. Always captivated by old cars, I immediately
pulled into to gas station to
check out the Plymouth.
Even in the dark, I could
see that it was navy blue, and
in excellent condition. Peering through the rain streaked
windows, the original mohair interior looked like new.
This ad from the October, 2014 issue of AutaBuy brought back memories of the 1939 Plymouth I purchased in 1975.
102
Obviously this old Plymouth
had lived a sheltered life inconsistent with the uncertain future it was now facing. I wondered what could
have happened to cause this
nice old car to end up sitting
outside in the pouring rain
with the small red and white
for sale sign that beckoned
to me on this dark, miserable night. I wrote down the
phone number from the sign
and although the gas station
was closed, there was a pay
phone on the outside wall.
Calling the number, a man
answered with the name of a
restaurant and I and asked
him about the Plymouth for
sale. He said that it belonged
to the owner and would I like
to meet him at the restaurant, which was only about
a block from where the car
was. By this time, I was
soaked to the skin, but sensing an opportunity to rescue
a really cool pre-war Mopar,
I headed over to the restaurant.
Glad for the chance to get
out of the miserable weather, I went in. After telling the
hostess at the door who I
was, she escorted me to the
kitchen where the owner of
the restaurant was cooking
meals for the customers.
So while juggling the preparation of orders, with pots
boiling on the stove, burgers
frying on the grille and waitresses calling out new orders, the seller told me about
the Plymouth.
The 1939 Plymouth at a car show at the Volo Auto Museum in Volo, Illinois in the summer of 1976. Other than
some minor touch ups, that’s the original paint. I did have the bumpers re-plated and bought a new set of
tires and tubes. In the 1970’s, this was just considered a nice older car. Today, it would be called an “original
survivor.”
He had purchased the car
from a friend, who in turn had
found it on the showroom
floor of a Chrysler Plymouth
dealership in a rural Illinois
town where it had been displayed for many years. Sold
new at the dealership back
in 1939, the original owner
had only driven it sparingly
and taken excellent care of
the car. When he traded the
Plymouth in after over thirty years, it only had 66,000
miles on odometer. Other
than routine maintenance
and some minor touch ups,
it was like new. The owner
of the dealership liked the
car so much that he kept it
for use in local parades and
celebrations to promote the
store when it was not on
display on the showroom
floor. The friend of the owner of the restaurant saw the
Plymouth on the showroom
floor and asked if it was for
sale. A deal was struck and
the car had a new owner.
A few months later, he was
forced to sell the Plymouth,
and owner of the restaurant
bought it. After realizing that
the thought of owning an
old car was more romantic
that the actual experience,
he asked the manager of the
gas station who was doing
the repair work on the Plymouth to sell it for him.
After talking for a few
minutes, it was clear that
“Obviously this old Plymouth had lived a
sheltered life inconsistent with the uncertain future it was now facing. I wondered
what could have happened to cause this
nice old car to end up sitting outside in
the pouring rain with the small red and
white for sale sign that beckoned to me
on this dark, miserable night.”
103
whatever interest he had in
the Plymouth was gone, and
he was far too busy running
the restaurant to be bothered with the car. Once he
got caught up with the dinner orders, we headed back
out into the rain and over
to gas station where the car
was sitting forlornly in what
had now turned into freezing
rain. He unlocked the door,
put the key in the ignition,
pulled out the choke and
pushed on the toe starter
button. The old flathead was
a little reluctant, no doubt
due to sitting out in the cold
dampness, but after a couple
of tries, spun to life. The engine ran smoothly, there was
no oil smoke from the tailpipe and once it had warmed
up, the choke wasn’t needed and the old girl settled
down to a relaxed idle. I got
in, drove it around the gas
station lot and was hooked.
We negotiated right there in
the car and came to an easy
agreement. I had enough
money on me to buy the car,
and a friend who had been
with me on the jobs that day
drove my truck while I drove
the Plymouth home.
Totally original in nearly
every way, the Plymouth was
a great old car to drive, and
experience what motoring
was like in the late 1930s.
Things were slower in those
days, and even the speedometer reflected the time. At
night, with the headlights
on, at low speeds the indicator would light up green,
at slightly higher speeds it
would change to amber and
At a swap meet, I found a mint
1939 Plymouth P8 sales brochure.
Photo B The original owner’s
manual was still in the glove
compartment when I bought the
Plymouth.
above 50 would go to red.
Taking into consideration
its age and feeing the speed
it was comfortable at, the
speedo was absolutely correct. Two lane country roads
where the average speed was
35 to 50 proved to be in the
goldilocks zone for this vintage Mayflower.
I had many wonderful adventures with the Plymouth,
and it was a great companion for a long time. So many
fond memories of things I
104
did when I was young and
life was much simpler. And
when the time came to say
goodbye, Ed, the older brother of the friend who was with
me the night I found the
Plymouth adopted it. So, in
a way, it still stayed in the
family. In fact, several times,
we stored the Plymouth in
our garage years after Ed
had become its custodian.
Sometimes, on Sundays, my
wife and I would take it out
for a short drive, and on cold
mornings would even bring
a blanket, since it was not
equipped with the optional
heater.
Yes, a flood of memories.
That’s what the ad in AutoBuy for that 1939 Plymouth
caused this month. As an
enthusiast, a car is so much
more to me than an inanimate object; the experiences, memories and friends we
make as a result of vehicle
ownership cause them to be
much more than merely the
sum of their parts. I’m glad
I found the Plymouth that
cold rainy night so long ago.
Because of it, I have many
priceless memories that are
as vivid today as they were
nearly 40 years ago.
What could be more fun than to drive a 1939 Plymouth on July 4, 1976,
the day of the Bi-Centennial of the United States. My friend had a party
to celebrate. It was a bright, sunny day, so I drove the Plymouth.
105
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