July 2014. pdf

CLASH OF THE TITANS: MR. NORM AND JIM WANGERS
JULY 2014
PEGGY SUE’S CRUISE ● A NIGHT AT THE WIGWAM MOTEL
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REAL COOL AIR KIT (1850 CFM +30HP)
Filter under front of valance
No hot underhood air or heat soak
6.4 654HP (91 OCTANE) / 674HP (93 OCTANE)
MR. NORM
FLASH
‘15 Dodge Hellcat Chooses
Twin Screw Supercharger
Hemi style real Cool Air Kit (+30HP)
(eliminates restrictive stock filter box)
Huge 4.5” Ram Air Pipe (outside cool air only)
800HP rated Boost-A-Pump® Fuel System
(standard - no extra cost for dual pumps)
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Billet 2.8L vs. little cast 2.3L
Liquid Cooled (optional)
KENNE BELL MAMMOTH® 2.8L 654HP
6.4, 6.1, 5.7 Challenger, Charger
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‘11-’14 6.4 MAMMOTH® 2.8 BLACK
‘08-’10 6.1, 5.7 MAMMOTH® 2.8 POLISHED
Patented
For over 50 years, Mr. Norm has been the leader in
Hemi performance. Mr. Norm says “Kenne Bell
Superchargers have powered Mr. Norm’s GSS
Challengers, Chargers and Rams since 1997. They
produce the horsepower and good looks it takes to
be a winner on the street and strip.” And now, Mr.
Norm’s Signature – Kenne Bell Superchargers are
available through a select group of Dodge dealers.
www.kennebell.net
*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
More efcient rear inlet design
Daiwa Group Chrysler Jeep Dodge
Tokyo, Japan
Intimidating exposed supercharger (no covers)
*Contact Mike at (813) 789-6179 for more Dealer information
Dyno and track tested on Mr. Norm cars
50 State Legal ‘08-’14
MR. NORM 50TH ANNIVERSARY GSSR
654-1000HP
A HEMI CAN’T MAKE MAX HP WITH A LITTLE 2.3
10743 Bell Court • Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 • Phone (909) 941-6646 • Email: [email protected]
JULY 2014
IN THIS ISSUE
Cover Story: First Mr. Norm’s Factory Shaker
GSS Racer Edition ‘Cuda. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Editor’s Page: Class of Titans. . . . . . . . . . . .18
Mr. Norm’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
West Coast Report: Deer
Park Winery Tour. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Tech: Installing Leaf Springs in a
1965-68 C-Body. . . . . . . . . . 38
Designer’s Showcase:
Spotlight on Jason Hulst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Product Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
EDITORIAL STAFF
Publisher and Founder:
MR. NORM
Editor:
LARRY WEINER
Art Director:
DEB MURPHY
Editorial Assistant:
DEBBIE WEINER
Contributors:
LINDA MANDALAS
HOWARD BENJAMIN
ANDREW SCHULTHEIS
TOSHI AKATSUKA
MARV HERBERT
STEVE TEMPLE
Ram 3500
Interstate Rated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Event Coverage: Peggy Sue’s
All-American Cruise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Women’s World:
Road Trip Part II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Dispatches from the
Front II. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
DEALER SALES
East Coast:
MIKE STAVESKI
MidWest:
BOB LONSTRETH
All the
News You
Can Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
West Coast:
ANDY LUTTRINGER
Specials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
ADVERTISING
But Wait
There’s
More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
ON THE COVER
Mr. Norm’s Factory Shaker GSS Racer Edition ‘Cuda
Photo by Larry Weiner
JOHN NICHOLS
(863) 944-3747
[email protected]
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
FIRST MR. NORM’S
GSS CUDA
FACTORY SHAKER
The Only
Way to
Own This
Challenger
Was To Buy
It Twice!
Story and Photos by
Larry Weiner
E
rik Nielsen is
a pretty determined guy.
Once he made
up his mind
that he was going to get a new 2014 Challenger Shaker, nothing was
going to stand in his way.
That would be a good story
in and of itself, but the plot
thickens. Erik wanted his
Challenger Shaker before
the Peggy Sue’s All American Cruise, so that he would
have time to convert it into a
Mr. Norm’s GSS Cuda Racer Edition and display it at
the show. Knowing that Mr.
Norm would be in attendance as the Grand Marshall
of the event, Erik’s goal was
to meet Mr. Norm in person,
ask him to sign his pride and
joy and maybe even get it
The Mr. Norm’s GSS Cuda Racer
Edition debuted in the Mr. Norm’s
exhibit at the Peggy Sue’s All
American Cruise in Santa Rosa,
California.
Mr. Norm’s Signature Satin Black
Strobe Stripes are an excellent
match for the factory Shaker.
Mr. Norm’s logo red powder coated
caliper covers provide the perfect
accent for the forged five spoke 20
inch wheels.
photographed for a story in a
car magazine.
After checking availability with a number of Dodge
dealers, he was able to locate
the exact car he wanted; a
black Shaker with a six
speed manual transmission, a sunroof and a
stripe delete. The good news
was that the Challenger had
already been built and was
in transit from the factory
on a rail car. The dealer told
Erik that while he did not
have the car in his inventory,
he would trade with another
Dodge dealer for the Challenger and expected it within about a week. The timing,
while tight, would still allow
Erik to up-fit the Challenger
into a Mr. Norm’s GSS Cuda
Racer Edition in plenty of
time to make his goal of debuting it at the Peggy Sue’s
show. And not only that,
his would have the dubious
distinction of being the first
factory Shaker built into a
Mr. Norm’s GSS Cuda Racer Edition. After negotiating
with the Dodge dealer on the
price, a deal was struck, the
papers were signed and after putting up the necessary
funds, Erik went home, se-
cure in the knowledge that
he would have his Challenger Shaker in about a week.
Erik stayed in touch with
the dealer regularly so that
the minute his Challenger
rolled off the eighteen wheeler, he would go and pick it
up. As one week turned into
two and with no sign of his
car, Erik started burning
up the phone to the dealership. After nine calls on the
Friday the week before the
event, Erik found out that
for some undisclosed reason, the dealership was not
getting the Challenger Shaker after all. The salesman
suggested to Erik that he
come down and chose a different car. This was not the
answer he was looking for.
Another person might have
settled for less, but not Erik.
Now a man on a mission,
he got on his computer and
started searching for a similar Challenger Shaker, not
only locally, but as far away
as Los Angeles, which is over
four hundred miles south of
where he lives.
After checking the inventory of numerous Dodge
ABOVE: Mr. Norm signed the tail
panel of the GSS Cuda.
The Cuda theme continues at the
rear of the Challenger. The addition of the Mr. Norm’s satin black
powder coated Cuda style tail
panel and ‘Cuda emblem give the
Challenger a look all its own.
The satin black Mr. Norm’s GSS Racer Edition Strobe Stripes give the Cuda a serious, no nonsense appearance.
8
9
“After a second round of negotiating, Erik was within three
hundred dollars of the deal he had struck with the first dealer. Close enough for government work, as the saying goes,
and this time Erik really was the owner of the
Challenger Shaker of his dreams.
dealers, he got the idea to
Google the VIN Number of
the Challenger Shaker that
he had purchased. It turned
out that the car was sitting
at a dealer only fifty miles
away. Erik and a friend
jumped into his Jeep and
drove over to the dealer. Low
and behold, there was the
Challenger. He checked the
VIN Number on the sales
documents for the Challeng-
er Shaker he had purchased
at dealer number one, and it
was an exact match! So here
was the car of his dreams,
all he had to do was put a
second deal together and he
could drive happily into the
sunset. But at that moment,
a sales person got into the
Challenger and drove off!
What if the car was already
sold to someone else? Erik
hunted down a salesman
”
and found out that the store
manager had just taken a
short drive in the car and
that it had not been sold yet.
Erik told the salesman that
if he was willing to deal, he
would buy the car right then
There’s plenty of plumbing for the
Shaker, including what appears to
be a sound cancellation chamber.
and there.
After a second round of
negotiating, Erik was within
three hundred dollars of the
deal he had struck with the
first dealer. Close enough
for government work, as the
saying goes, and this time
Erik really was the owner
of the Challenger Shaker of
his dreams. And none too
soon, as the calendar was
in full count down mode to
the show. Wisely, Erik had
ordered his Mr. Norm’s GSS
Cuda Racer Edition kit right
after he had purchased the
Challenger the first time
(yeah, it gets confusing after a while!), so he had everything he needed to build
Erik has double the usual amount
of paperwork for his Challenger
Shaker. After all, not many people
buy the same car twice so they
can own it once. But we think the
results were well worth the effort.
Our hats off to Erik for turning what
might have defeated a lesser person into victory. Well done!
The 1971 Cuda was well
known for the signature
saw tooth grille. The
Mr. Norm’s Cuda style
grille pays homage to
the original, and really
wakes up the front of the
Challenger.
10
11
the car. A couple of calls to
everyone involved to confirm
the good news that it was “all
systems go” for the build and
by Thursday, everything was
done.
On Saturday, Erik arrived at the Peggy Sue’s show
and proudly parked his Mr.
Norm’s GSS Cuda Racer Edition in the special Mr. Norm’s
display that included several
other late model Challengers
including a 50th Anniversary
Challenger, a rare blown 426
Hemi powered Legends Challenger and a red Mr. Norm’s
GSS Cuda Racer Edition.
During the day, Mr. Norm
signed Erik’s Cuda, making it official and in the process, it has not only become a
Mr. Norm’s GSS Cuda Racer
Edition, but the first factory Shaker equipped with the
package. Now that’s a real
one of one. And by the way,
Erik’s other goal of having his
Mr. Norm’s GSS Cuda Racer
Edition Shaker featured in a
car magazine has just been
realized here on the pages of
Pentastar Power. Way to go
Erik!
No, you don’t need new glasses. The lines in
the letters spelling out Shaker are intentional,
and emphasize the ability of the Shaker to
shake!
Factory Shaker leather interior continues horizontal stripe theme with contrasting stitching.
Note the Mr. Norm’s GSS embroidered logo
leather headrest covers.
The business end of the new Shaker looks very much
like the storied original, right down to the trim ring
surround that accents the hood.
Inside the hood, the lettering at the back reminds you that this Challenger is equipped with a Shaker hood. Looking through the opening
in the hood reminds you that this is no ordinary Challenger, but a Mr.
Norm’s equipped Shaker.
Plush carpet mats with Mr. Norm’s embroidered signature and logo Pistol Grip
Shifter for six speed manual transmission
add detail to the interior.
Mr. Norm also signed the dash, complementing the
serial number GSS Cuda dash plaque.
SOURCE BOX
Mr. Norm’s
www.mrnorms.com
Phone: 760-612-6365
Tell your friends and car club
members to join Mr. Norm’s
Sport Club for free at
www.mrnorms.com
They’ll get discounts on
parts, memorabilia and
receive Pentastar Power
every month.
Mr. Norm’s Pistol Grip Shifter is outfitted
with burl wood grips provide a vintage
flavor, reminiscent of those seen in early
1970’s Hemi B and E Bodies.
12
13
MR. NORM
DOES IT
AGAIN!
2014 GSS
CUDA RACER
EDITION
FOR THE
FIRST TIME
MR. NORM
SELLS DIRECT
TO YOU AT
DEALER INVOICE!
NEW GSS CUDA RACER
EDITION PACKAGE AT ONLY
$1,795
MR. NORM’S GSS CUDA RACER EDITION PACKAGE
INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING EQUIPMENT
• Mr. Norm’s Signature GSS Cuda Gold Body Side
Vinyl Graphics
• Mr. Norm’s GSS Challenger Cuda Hood
Vinyl Graphics
• Mr. Norm’s Embossed Metal License Plate
• Mr. Norm’s GSS Special Edition Fender
Emblems
• Mr. Norm’s GSS Cuda Grille Unpainted
• Mr. Norm’s Logo Red Powder-Coated Caliper
Covers
• Mr. Norm’s GSS Cuda Tail Panel
• Mr. Norm’s Sport Club Window Decals (2)
• Cuda Tail
Panel Die
Cast
Emblem
• Mr. Norm’s Grand
Spaulding Deck Lid
Emblem
• Mr.
Norm’s
Windshield
Banner
• Mr. Norm’s/
Katzkin GSS
Embroidered Logo
Leather Headrest
Covers
• Mr. Norm’s Signature Embroidered Logo Plush
Carpet Mats, set of 4
• Mr. Norm’s Unique Serialized Number Dash
Plaque
• GSS Cuda Racer Edition Will Be Registered in the
Original
Mr. Norm’s
Grand
Spaulding
Dodge
Registry
CALL MR. NORM’S AT (813) 789-6179 AND ORDER YOURS TODAY
‘CUDA STYLE GRILLE
Every Mr. Norm’s GSS ‘Cuda is
equipped with this highly detailed
‘Cuda-style grille
GSS LEATHER HEADREST
Custom GSS embroidered
leather headrest. Standard
FUNCTIONAL HOOD PINS Just like
the original ‘Cuda, the GSS ‘Cuda is
available with Mr. Norm’s functional
hood pins and lanyards. Optional
SERIIAL NUMBER DASH PLAQUE
Brushed silver dash plaque with Mr.
Norm’s signature and unique serial
number. Standard
‘CUDA STROBE STRIPE GRAPHICS’
Mr. Norm’s signature strobe stripes
echo the classic originals. Standard
‘CUDA STYLE TAIL PANEL AND EMBLEM
Inspired by the original, every Mr. Norm’s
GSS ‘Cuda features this distinctive-looking
tail panel and ‘Cuda emblem. Standard
PISTOL GRIP SHIFTER
Shift with authority with
the Mr. Norm’s logo Pistol Grip Shifter. Optional
HURST WHEELS Classic muscle car
appearance matched with modern
technology. Optional
MR NORM CALIPER COVERS
Mr. Norm logo caliper covers,
powder-coated in red. Standard
MR. NORM WNDSHIELD BANNER
Let everyone know you have a real
Mr. Norm’s GSS ‘Cuda. There’s nothing like the real thing . Standard
CUSTOM LEATHER INTERIOR Mr.
Norm’s GSS embroidered logo custom leather in your choice of colors.
Optional
SIGNATURE CARPET
MATS Mr. Norm’s signature plush carpet mats.
Standard
Insurance Coverages Available:
Editor’s Page
CLASH OF THE TITANS
Showdown of the century; Mr. Norm, The King of High Performance and Jim Wangers, The Godfather
of the GTO standing beside their muscle car of choice, ready to settle a score over five decades in the
making.
18
19
Story and Photos By Larry Weiner
S
ometimes the planets really do align.
And at the recent
Peggy
Sue’s
All
American Car Show in Santa Rosa, California, it actually happened. No, I’m not
talking about Saturn, Mars
or Jupiter in the far reaches of outer space. This alignment occurred much closer
to home, although not where
anyone would have predicted it.
Most muscle car enthusiasts are very familiar with
the names Mr. Norm and
Jim Wangers. For the uninitiated, during the sizzlin’ sixties and early seventies, Mr.
Norm was the driving force
behind Grand Spaulding
Dodge in Chicago. This was
the place where Hemi, Six
Pack and Supercharged Mopars in B5 Blue, Banana Yellow and TorRed stood side by
side on the front line, ready
for new owners to take them
into the heat of battle on
the street and strip. On the
Pontiac side, Jim Wangers
is widely recognized as the
Godfather of the GTO, the
car that launched the muscle car era. While both Mr.
Norm and Jim Wangers have
spent their entire lives developing and marketing some
of the most amazing performance machines ever built,
they had never met each
other in person.
They might have crossed
paths on the mean streets
of Chicago where they both
grew up, but they didn’t. It
also could have happened on
Woodward Avenue in Detroit
during the muscle car wars
in the 1960’s. It was no secret that Wangers regularly
prowled the streets at night,
looking for action in wickedly potent Royal Pontiac
prepared Bobcats and the
track with the famed GEETO Tigers. They might have
crossed paths on one of those
hot summer evenings when
Mr. Norm was in the Motor
City after days spent match
racing his blown, nitro burning Dodge at drag strips like
Martin or Ubly……but they
didn’t.
After decades spent creating some of the wildest
iron to ever stalk the streets
and tear up the competition
at the strip, that all changed
for these men the weekend
Mr. Norm and Jim Wangers engage in banter, neither backing down from what could have been the celebrity race
of the century.
of the Peggy Sue’s show.
Through a twist of fate, Mr.
Norm and Jim Wangers were
both at the event as Grand
Marshalls, and the proverbial ice was finally broken.
But make no mistake, the
age old conflict between the
King of High Performance,
the standard bearer for Ma
Mopar, and the Godfather of
the GTO is one that has not
been dampened by the passage of time.
Witness the photos that
bare mute testimony to a
cross town rivalry that has
been fifty years in the mak-
ABOVE: Jim Wangers GEETO Tiger pulling the
wheels in action at the drag strip.
Mr. Norm and Jim Wangers shaking hands. The 1971 Plum Crazy Cuda next to the Carousel Red 1969
GTO Judge are an intimidating pair; the epitome of Detroit iron from peak of the golden age of the muscle
car. Just what you would expect these legends to drive.
20
RIGHT: Famous Pontiac magazine ad by Jim
Wangers with 1968 GTO with the Woodward Avenue street sign in the foreground.
21
ing, and shows no sign of
abating anytime soon. On
Saturday afternoon after
the Peggy Sue’s car show,
we were hustled over to a
non-descript garage in an industrial area of Santa Rosa.
As the overhead doors went
up, imagine our surprise
when a 1969 GTO Judge
and a 1971 Cuda were revealed, sitting side by side,
as though they were waiting
the call to action. Norm and
Jim grabbed a quick glance
at each other, and before a
word was spoken, the cars
rolled out of the garage onto
the tarmac.
As each cast a wary eye
on the other, like seasoned
combatants in the ring, they
participated in the age old
custom of a friendly handshake. While the two ageless warriors posed for photos, it was easy to imagine
that they had other things
on their minds. As soon as
the first photos were taken,
Mr. Norm stepped up to the
occasion without hesitation
and stood tall beside the big
block Plum Crazy ’71 E-Body
that was emblazoned with
contrasting white Billboards,
while Jim Wangers took up
his position alongside the
perennial favorite of Tin Indian aficionadas, a Carousel
Red 1969 Judge.
Each man then opened
the driver’s door in preparation for what appeared to
be the inevitable. Two men
focused like a laser, ready
to swing into action, the tension in the air was palpable.
one headed out to the Peggy
Sue’s All American Cruise,
where both of these legendary men rode in vintage
convertibles, one each representing Pontiac and Mopar, the brands they have
been associated with for over
half a century. But, just for
a moment, it appeared that
we would bear witness to the
same kind of face-off that
both were well known for. A
no holds barred, run what
‘ya brung match race; damn
the torpedo’s and let the best
man and machine win. Both
the Pontiac GTO Judge and
the Billboard Cuda exemplified the kind of potent Detroit iron they would have
done it in…..on a day when
the planets aligned.
MORE FUN.
LESS DRAMA.
Mr. Norm’s nitro burning supercharged Dodge Coronet funny car in action
on the street and Ubly Drag Strip near Detroit..
BOLT ON SUSPENSION FOR
1963 - 1976 MOPARS
A/B/E BODY APPLICATIONS
In an effort to break the tension, both gentlemen were
once again asked to pose
for more photos, this time
with their respective car.
Dave Anderson, who travels
with Jim Wangers casually
mentioned that it looked for
all the world like they were
staged for a LeMans start.
Mr. Norm, quick witted as
22
always, immediately quipped
that “he didn’t want to hear
any of that Pontiac stuff,”
which brought out laughter
from the assembled crowd,
taking the edge off what
seemed to be a showdown in
the making.
Fortunately, calm minds
prevailed and after some
friendly bantering, every-
ADJUSTABLE
MONOTUBE SHOCKS
23
Mr. Norm’s Corner
THE GRAND
SPAULDING DODGE
PARTS DEPARTMENT
From its
humble
beginning to
industry
leading high
performance
superstore
A
s glamorous and
exciting as things
may have looked at
Grand
Spaulding
Dodge when we were racing every weekend, helping
our customers pick out and
set up their new Dodge high
performance cars, I always
maintained that the heart of
Grand Spaulding Dodge was
the parts department. That’s
where we really serviced our
customers and built up a
dealership that became the
number one volume dealership in the United States.
The parts department was
not only the heart of the
dealership, it was the heart
that kept all the other departments running smoothly.
During the 12 years we
were selling used cars, we
never had to worry about
parts inventories. So, my
need parts for that tranny.
Dodge was having some issues with their 4-speeds and
I knew I’d need to keep those
parts in stock.
That was the easy part.
Eventually, I figured out how
to balance inventories with
orders to get the best quantity discounts and the value to
our customers of car-down
orders. Warranty work was
a whole new experience for
me. We had to develop a system to keep the replacement
parts on hand and the takeoffs available if the factory
wanted to inspect them.
I also saw what parts
seemed to suffer the most
damage during transportation. The best example
of this was the Max Wedge
engines in the performance
cars. If the Max Wedge engines flooded, it was
nearly impossible to
clean the plugs; they
had to be replaced.
I learned this lesson
Mr. Norm’s Grand Spaulding Dodge sold any high performance part you
could want for your car. Mr. Norm ran full page ads in magazines promoting his huge inventory of parts and accessories like this one.
first experience in setting up
a parts department was for
Grand Spaulding Dodge. I
learned by doing, so to speak.
I appointed myself the parts
manager and went to work
in a 20x20-foot space we had
designated for parts. I figured out where things went,
into marked bins, and started working on inventory and
controls so we could track
24
what we had, what we were
using and what we needed.
This was all before computers so it was no small job
How do you set up a brand
new parts department, you
may ask? I just kept my eyes
and ears open and I knew
the product line. Example: in
early 1963, I knew they were
discontinuing the T10 transmission which meant we’d
Edelbrock Six Pack aluminum
intake manifold and trio of Holley
two barrel carbs were a popular
induction system in 440 Mopars
thanks to the 1969 A12 Super Bee
Six Pack. Needless to say, Mr.
Norm converted many 440 four
barrel A,B and E Bodies to this
potent combination from the high
performance parts department.
by
experience.
The big-rig drivers would inevitably flood the
engines
when
they were getting them started to off-load at
the dealership.
As a result, we
made sure we
always had extra
plugs on hand.
You had to be
prepared for all
eventualities.
It was that or
teach the drivers
how to get the
engines started,
but that was a
long shot.
Cragar mags were all the rage in the 1960’s and Mr.
We got the Norm stocked them in several styles and sizes.
department running well. During
and parts were joined at the
that
first
hip. I knew our service bays
year, we had
couldn’t function efficiently
one employand get our customer’s cars
ee whose priback in their hands unless
mary job was
the parts department was
to run what
operating seamlessly. I had
amounted to
the foresight to realize that
a shuttle beas Grand Spaulding Dodge
tween Grand
grew, eventually adding a
Spaulding Dodge and the fac- leasing and fleet departtory. I knew by the time the
ment, the growth and suc1964 models came out, our cess would be linked to parts
system would be down pat and service. If you don’t have
and the department would
the parts on the shelf, that
be running like a well-oiled well-oiled machine would
machine. Eventually my asblow a rod.
sistant through this process
By 1965, we expanded
became the Parts Manager
the service and parts deand I moved on to the service
department. However, I still
maintained control over the
parts department as service
Artwork of one of the many t-shirt
that Mr. Norm sold over the counter in the boutique at Grand Spaulding Dodge.
25
partments. Parts grew from
the original 400 square feet
to 2,000 square feet on two
floors. We had our parts bins
custom made, built display
cases, installed 40-feet of
white pegboard and put in a
40-foot counter. We wanted
every inch of Grand Spaulding Dodge to look clean, efficient and spectacular, not
just the show room and sales
offices but every department.
We were building an image
and this was a critical part
of the program.
Dennis Hirschbeck became my parts manager. He
was a Vietnam veteran and
came highly recommended
by Gary Dyer. When Dennis
came on board, we set up
displays so that everybody
who came into the service
department would be awed
and amazed at the high performance image we had created.
Dennis was the same person who, in 1967, dropped
the 383 big block in the
new Dart.
This is the
car that I
drove
to
the Chrysler
plant
in
Hamtramck,
Michigan
to prove it
could be
done. Dennis made
another
significant
change in
our operation when
he
came
to me with
the news
that SEMA
was having a convention in
Anaheim,
California.
He
told Another Grand Spaulding Dodge full page ad for parts and
me
that accessories. If Mr. Norm didn’t have the parts you wanted,
SEMA was they probably didn’t exist!
the trade
organization for all the companies in the performance
parts business. What he
didn’t have to tell me was
how important that would
Ring and pinion sets flew off the
shelves as racers wanted the fast
acceleration that a set of 4.11 or
4.56 gears offered and Mr. Norm
had ‘em in stock and ready to go.
A Mallory
distributor
was the
perfect
solution
if you stock
unit was
giving you
grief. One
call to Mr.
Norm’s would solve your problem
26
If you were running a four speed
A833, a Hurst Competition Plus
was the shifter of choice and highly
recommended over the stock
Inland unit that was standard in
many Mopars. Mr. Norm’s team
could swap one into your car in no
time flat.
manufacturers. At first they
were reluctant to deal with
us. They weren’t used to
dealing with new car dealers;
the primary link between the
manufacturers and retail
sales outlets were the wholesale distributors. The SEMA
member companies gave us
a chance. Our first orders
were relatively small, but
since we were upgrading the
performance of over one hundred cars a month, it didn’t
take long before those parts
orders really escalated. That
first SEMA Show opened up
a whole new world for our
parts department and the
product display at Grand
Spaulding. We had all the
be to our business growth. I big names and the best of the
told him “get us two tickets
performance upgrades on
to Anaheim,” and we flew to display where our customers
the west coast the very next
could see them. This includnight.
ed parts by Edelbrock, HolThat was the first SEMA
ley, Cragar, Hooker, Racer
Show,
which
eventually
Brown, Isky, Doug’s Headers
moved to Las Vegas. Dennis
and Mallory, just to name a
and I were there setting up
few. In addition, we always
accounts with all the perforhad half a dozen 426 HEMI
mance aftermarket product engines in stock for immediate delivery. No other
Dodge dealer in the
country could match
our inventory of performance parts and
aftermarket accessories, and we quickly
became the one stop
shop for racers and
performance enthusiasts nationwide.
My business theory was that image
was the key. And,
believe me, we really
looked like the biggest
and best performance
Running a cam made a set of four tube
headers all but mandatory. And Mr. Norm
dealership
in
the
had your choice of fenderwell or under body world. As an example,
headers like these Doug’s in stock and ready Chrysler had a touring
to go.
display called “the en27
drag strip and
made sure we
had plenty of
those parts on
hand. This included parts
like the planetary gears in
the
TorqueFlite
automatic transmissions that
took a real
beating at the
strip. Grand An Isky cam could really wake up a 383,
S p a u l d i n g 440 or 426 Hemi. Mr. Norm worked with
Dodge
was Gary Dyer to develop special cam specs for
almost
the customers’ cars.
epicenter
of
A Sun Tach was mandatory if you were going
three regionracing and Grand Spaulding installed them by
al tracks and we displays. I bought shortthe hundreds.
delivered parts to sleeved shirts and matchall of them. Some- ing ties. We sold out and I
gine under glass” This was a times our people would even became one of my brothercutaway HEMI engine built
in-law’s best customers. It
bring parts orders to the
by the factory that showed track where we racing. Yes,
wasn’t long before we had a
people all of the internal
full range of racing gloves,
it was part of our image, but
parts. We got our hands on it was also the right thing to helmets, sun glasses, leaththat engine display and hung
er jackets and even boots in
do.
onto it for a quite a while,
I was pretty convinced the displays. It was probably
hoping Chrysler would forget other products would sell the first “boutique” in a new
who had it. Eventually they
car dealership. We called it
at the dealership as well. To
remembered, but while it that end, I decided to open “The Boutique on a Bet.”
was on display on our sales
All of these efforts led to
a boutique and offer items
floor, it was a significant
greater
success and exposportswear, racing apparel
part of the Grand Spaulding
and parachutes. Our cus- sure for Grand Spaulding
Dodge image.
tomers wanted to emulate Dodge.
As Grand Spaulding grew
The image we created
what we did on the track,
and we got heavier into rac- so I had parachutes made
with the performance parts,
ing, we catered to our cus- up for street use; and they excellent service and an intomers who were regulars on
ventory that no other dealer
sold. One of them was even
their local tracks. Since we
in Chicago could match furdeployed at Skips, a popular
were racing, we knew issues
drive-in at the time. It had ther amplified our presence
that would arise at the drag “Mr. Norm’s” in great big let- not only in our local market,
strips. We kept the parts de- ters on it.
but nationally.
partment open special hours
My brother-in-law was
on Saturday night and a half
a shirt salesman. One day
day on Sundays. As our cusTell your friends and car club
he challenged me with “you
members to join Mr. Norm’s
tomers were getting their
think you can sell anything.”
Sport Club for free at
cars ready for the races, He bet me I couldn’t sell his
www.mrnorms.com.
they could come by and pick
They’ll get discounts on parts
shirts. I took him up on his
up the parts they needed.
and memorabilia and receive
gentleman’s bet and had
We determined the weakest Dennis build special glass
Pentastar Power every month
link in the cars racing at the
28
Mr. Norm’s 2014 Show and Event Schedule
Chryslers at Carlisle Carlisle, PA July 11-13
Belvedere Mopar Happening Rockford, IL July 19-20
Mopar Festival at Great Lakes
Dragway Great Lakes, WI July 27-28
Mopar Nationals Columbus, OH Aug. 8-10 Mopar Fest of Canada Ontario, Canada Aug. 16-17
Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals Rosemont, IL 29
Nov. 22-23 West Coast Report
86
87
A hint of what
to expect at
the Deer Park
Auto Museum
LEFT: There are many Chrysler products on display at the museum. Here’s a factory fresh 1962 Chrysler 300
ready for some top down motoring. RIGHT: Jet black 1960 Imperial provides a stark contrast to the white Chrysler
300.
Deer Park Winery and Auto Museum
The Hidden
Gem
Story and Photos by Larry Weiner
A
significant part
of culture here
in the United
States revolves
around the invention
and
evolution of the automobile.
Whether they represent the
brass era, the great classics, fin cars from the fifties
or sixties muscle cars, they
have all have one thing in
common; each generation of
vehicles made their mark on
society, and there are legions
of fans of all ages who relate
to them in many ways.
Celebrating what is popularly referred to as rolling
sculpture are hundreds of
museums located all over the
United States. Among those,
some are very well known,
such as The Henry Ford in
Dearborn, Michigan, The Petersen in Los Angeles, California or the LeMay in Tacoma, Washington. But while
the larger museums garner
much of the limelight, living in the shadows are many
smaller ones that do not benefit by the same level of publicity and awareness. One
great example is the Deer
Park Winery and Auto Museum in Escondido, California.
Located in the vineyard
of the picturesque Deer Park
Winery, this wonderful automobile museum was the
passion of Robert Knapp who
founded it and had a great
love of classic American vehicles. Today, his son Chris
carries on this proud tra32
dition. The Deer Park Auto
Museum is housed in several buildings that are jam
packed with beautiful cars,
along with memorabilia of all
kinds that celebrates Americana from the 1930’s thru
the 1960’s. In particular,
according to the Deer Park
Auto Museum, they have the
largest collection of vintage
American convertibles in the
United States.
The tour of the museum
starts in the main building.
Greeting you as you enter is
a classic 1939 Divco Helm’s
Baking Truck. Popular in Los
Angeles from the 1940’s thru
the 1960’s, it’s certainly not
the kind of vehicle you see
every day, and is a harbinger of what to expect inside.
Because much like the Divco, many of the vehicles in
the Deer Park Auto Museum
collection are not normal run
LEFT: Highly sought after 1948 Chrysler Town and Country Convertible has been in the collection for many years, yet looks like new. RIGHT: 1928 Franklin Airman boat tail looks like it
is straight out of the Great Gatsby. INSET: Attention to detail abounds on the Franklin, like the
miniature airplane radiator cap that ties in with the “Airman” model name.
of the mill cars. And speaking of the collection, this
building is jam packed with
cars, motorcycles and memorabilia. True to their claim,
the first thing you notice in
the museum is the predominance of convertibles, which
make up the majority of cars
Just one of the interesting displays at the museum. Looks like the dream wall for the ultimate man cave!
33
in the collection.
Among the great cars in
the first building are highly
sought after classics, such
as a 1931 Chrysler Deluxe 8 Roadster and a 1928
Franklin Boat Tail Roadster
along with a 1935 Packard
120, a 1948 Lincoln Continental and a 1948 Chrysler
Town and Country, each a
convertible and all of them
beautiful. Near the back of
the building, a trio of Indian motorcycles is displayed
next to a rare 1958 King
Midget, while other cars,
parts and neon signs are
Among the great
“cars
in the first
building are highly
sought after classics, such as a 1931
Chrysler Deluxe
8 Roadster and a
1928 Franklin Boat
Tail Roadster along
with a 1935 Packard 120, a 1948
Lincoln Continental
and a 1948 Chrysler
Town and Country,
each a convertible
and all of them
beautiful.
”
Kitchen appliances galore from
several decades can be seen in
this display.
the Deer Park Winery and Auto Museum, the first vehicle you see is this
original 1939 Divco Helm’s Baking Truck that’s parked at the front door.
This truck is a subtle reminder of a different time when home delivery of
milk and baked goods was commonplace.
displayed in virtually every
available inch of floor, wall
and ceiling space. Adding interest is memorabilia that is
showcased in antique glass
cases that crowd the floor.
Exiting the main room
takes you into an atrium,
where a 1955 Messerschmitt
KR200 is the first of many interesting things you will see,
including an old fashioned
ice cream parlor. A walking
path through the vineyard
Turn the corner and an aisle of classic convertibles comes into view.
34
Stately 1928 Chrysler Deluxe 8 Roadster was a cutting edge car when it was
designed and built. A high compression engine and four wheel hydraulic
brakes were among its many virtues.
takes you to the next building. Significantly larger than
the first, the cars are neatly
arranged in long rows, each
with more than ample space
around them. In fact, there
are so many different and interesting cars on display that
if there were nothing else in
the building, they would be a
treat all by themselves. But,
there is much more on display in this building in addition to the cars. The building
has a two story high ceiling
that provides the necessary
clearance for an incredible
collection of large neon signs
that were rescued from long
forgotten dealerships. Most
of them were illuminated,
their bright colors creating
a nostalgic feeling akin to
stepping back in time to the
1940’s or ‘50’s when these
signs were a common sight
at car dealerships in every
city and town in the nation.
The next building on the
tour returns to a more intimate
setting.
Entering
though a large garage door,
the first thing you see is a
collection of pure Americana, which lines the walls.
Everything from antique
televisions, table top and
Wall to wall display of television sets. Notice how small the screens are in
stark comparison to the big screens we take for granted today. Also, for
many years, a television was considered a piece of furniture, and had a
prominent place in the living room or parlor.
35
Convertibles offered by every manufacturer are on display.
cathedral radios, clocks,
kitchen appliances and even
sewing machines are displayed in abundance. There
were so many of these items
that I was reminded of the
scene from the movie Avalon
of the massive discount department store in Baltimore
in the early 1950’s, its long
aisles filled with these items
back when they were new.
The opposing wall is lined
with more vintage cars. At
the end of the long aisle,
there is a period perfect display that showcases a radio,
television, refrigerator and
automobile, each of which
were manufactured by Crosley, along with advertising
promoting these products
to consumers. Turning the
corner takes you down yet
another aisle, with more
neatly displayed convertibles representing numerous manufacturers, in an
endless array of colors and
models. Adding interest are
antique gas pumps, dealership promotional materials,
and just about anything else
you can imagine connected
with an age when prosperity in America seemed like it
would never end.
There are many other things to see at the Deer
Park Winery and Auto Museum. Plan on spending a
good portion of a day taking
36
in all of the sights and atmosphere it has to offer. You’ll
find that this is one museum that provides a real walk
down memory lane.
SOURCE BOX
Deer Park Winery and Auto
Museum
29013 Champagne Blvd
Escondido, California 92026
760-749-1666
www.deerparkwine.com
Tell your friends and car club
members to join Mr. Norm’s
Sport Club for free at
www.mrnorms.com.
They’ll get discounts on parts
and memorabilia and receive
Pentastar Power every month
Tech
1965-1968 C-Body Leaf
Spring Replacement
2
2 Measure vehicle ride
height before beginning to
establish baseline for comparison between old and new
springs.
3
3 Chalk both front wheels
5
nearly fifty years. This is far in excess of what
the engineers could have possibly anticipated
when they originally designed these vehicles.
Consider 100,000 or more miles of real world
driving, including crossing rail road tracks,
hitting pot holes and the abusive harmonics
caused by undulated road surfaces during a
Story by Larry Weiner
Photos by Steve Temple
F
ull size Chryslers, Dodges and
Plymouths from the 1960’s are among
the most durable, longest lasting
vehicles ever built. But it’s important
to remember that while all of the parts
Chrysler engineered were of high quality,
they still have a finite life expectancy. Take
the multi leafs that were used on rear of all
1965-1968 Chrysler C-Bodies. They have
been supporting the vehicle weight, along
with that of the occupants and any cargo for
1Parts included in Eaton Detroit Spring rear
suspension rebuild kit for the 1967 Chrysler
Town and Country nine passenger wagon
include the leaf spring with front spring eye
bushing installed, U-bolts and nuts, and rubber shackle bushings. Note that the original
factory shackles are reused. Also shown are
the factory leaf spring front and rear mounting
hangars
38
4 Use floor jack to lift vehicle by differential
period of nearly five decades
and you’ve got all of the
ingredients necessary for
metal fatigue, sagging and
even ultimate failure. Adding
insult to injury, the rubber
bushings in the spring eyes
and shackles wear, distort,
dry out and crack from
mileage and, dare we say it,
old age.
The 1967 Chrysler that is
the subject of this story is a
true survivor with just 55,000
miles on the odometer. The
rear suspension was all
OE, other than the shock
absorbers that had been
replaced with coil assisted
heavy duty Monroe units.
Foot Pounds
Front Spring Hangar
Nuts
30
Rear Spring Hangar
Bolts30
4
Putting Some
Spring into the
Stride of
Your Mopar
Torque
Specifications
from 1967
Chrysler
Service Manual
Front Spring Eye
Nuts
5 Use jack stands under
125
Shackle Nuts
35
U-Bolt Nuts
45
Lug Nuts
65
Lower Shock Nut
50
rear frame on each side to
safely support vehicle
While
finding
a
mint,
unmolested 1967 Chrysler
Town and Country wagon is
the proverbial needle in the
haystack, and the thought of
owning a survivor sounds so
romantic, the truth remains
that this vehicle is 47 years
old. The rear suspension
was sagging on the left side,
possibly because the fuel
tank is mounted vertically
behind the left rear wheel.
When you factor in the years,
along with the location of
the fuel tank, it becomes
painfully obvious that all of
the parts were well past their
normal life expectancy.
Tired springs combined
39
with worn bushings will
compromise the ride and
handling of your vehicle.
Rather than wait for the
inevitable to happen, we
decided to replace the
original leafs on the 1967
Chrysler Town and Country
nine
passenger
wagon.
Working with Eaton Detroit
Spring, we sourced a pair of
new replacement multi leafs.
Included with the leaf set
were new shackles, spring
eye bolts, rubber bushings
and U-bolts.
Located
in
Detroit,
Michigan since 1937, Eaton
Detroit Spring is one of
the largest manufacturers
of replacement leaf and
coil springs in the world.
According to Gary Gassman
at Eaton Detroit, they offer
springs for over 166,000
applications, all of which
are made here in the United
States. Their web site,
www.eatonsprings.com has
detailed information on all
of the different springs they
offer. By providing the year,
make and model of your
vehicle, and your preference
for stock or lowered ride
height, Eaton Detroit can
provide the correct springs
for your vehicle.
Follow along with us as we
replace the tired leafs on the
Chrysler. Note that changing
the leaf springs on A, B and
E bodies is very similar to
those on the C Body. The
photos and captions will
give you a very good idea of
what is involved should you
decide the change out the
leaf springs on one of these
other Mopars. It’s easy,
and you can do it at home
using simple hand tools.
We suggest two sturdy jack
stands and a floor jack for
safety. The whole job only
takes a few hours, while the
satisfaction you’ll get from
performing this upgrade will
bring a smile to your face
every time you drive your
car.
11
10
SOURCE BOX
LISTING
Eaton Detroit Spring
1555 Michigan
Detroit, MI 48216
Phone: 313-963-3839
www.eatonsprings.com
11 Comparison of original leaf spring and
new spring from Eaton Detroit. The new spring
is nearly an exact match for the tired original.
10 Remove the fasteners from the front
and rear leaf spring hangars and remove leaf
spring from vehicle.
13
6
8
6
8 Remove
Detail
photo illustrating placement of jack
stand on rear
frame
lower shock
nut and slip
shock absorber off the
mounting stud
on the bracket.
12
12 The original front spring eye rubber
13 The bushings between the leaves in the
bushing (inset) is cracked and dried out.
The new bushing illustrates the difference
between old and new
original leaf spring are dried out and disintegrating (inset). Compare to the bushings on
the new spring.
14A
7
9
14B
9 Remove nuts and lock washers from the
7Remove fender skirts. Tape exposed sharp
U-Bolts that attach to the spring perch and
bracket beneath the leaf spring. Remove the
bracket.
edge on end of rocker panel with duct tape to
protect against cutting yourself.
40
14 A shows front spring eye hangar. Note that the mounting studs that install on the frame are
spaced differently on the top compared to the bottom and are offset left and right. Be careful to
reinstall the hangar on the correct side of the vehicle. B shows the spring installed in the hangar
Note: The permanently installed bushing identifies the end of the leaf that installs in this hangar.
41
15
16B
16A
15 Lightly lubricate shackle
studs with bearing grease before installing bushings and
reinstalling on leaf spring.
17
16 Install shackle and bushings onto leaf spring (left). Note
that the shorter stud is inserted into the leaf eye. B: Install frame
hangar onto longer shackle stud.
20A
20B
20 A: Align hole in perch with stud in leaf spring. B: Lower
differential onto spring.
18B
18A
21
21 Install new U-Bolts over differential housing
22
23
Reinstall shock absorber to lower spring bracket and
tighten nut to 50 ft. lbs. Repeat steps on other side and
tighten all bolts as necessary
23
24 Leaf spring installation
completed.
Reinstall the rear wheels and
torque lug nuts to 65 ft. lbs.
Lift vehicle to remove jack
stands and lower vehicle to
ground
Torque shackle nuts to 35 ft.
lbs.
18 A: Install new leaf
17
spring to front hangar. Attach
hangar to frame. Tighten to
30 ft. lbs. B: Secure to frame
with 4 original nuts.
Install opposing side of
shackle and install retaining
nuts.
19B
19A
24
19
A: Install rear
leaf spring frame hangar to vehicle. Tighten to 30 ft. lbs. B:
Secure to frame with
retaining nuts. Note:
Torque shackle nuts
to 35 ft. lbs. when
vehicle weight is on
springs
42
22 Install lower spring
bracket under leaf and push
U-Bolts through the holes,
install lock washers and nuts.
Tighten nuts to 45 ft. lbs.
43
Designer’s
Showcase
Mr. Norm celebrates the original Red Express Truck from the late 1970’s Dodge Adult Toys
program with the new Ram Red Xpress Truck.
Designer’s Showcase / Designer’s Showcase / Designer’s Showcase /
Spotlight on Hulst Designs
Story and Photos by Larry
Weiner and Steve Temple
D
esigning vehicles is a true art
form. Every designer has their
own style and presentation
techniques. For this installment in the Designers and
Photographers
Showcase
Series, we’re pleased to present a sampling of the work
of Jason Hulst of Hulst Design. Jason is a graduate of
the Art Center College of De-
sign in
Pasadena,
California,
which is one of the pre-eminent schools for automotive
design in the world. After
graduation, Jason worked as
a Disney Imagineer for many
years, further honing his
skills. During this time, he
also began designing custom
vehicles for a wide range of
clients and partnering with
his father in Hulst Customs,
which is located in Merlin,
46
vehicles. We can attest to
this, having had the privilege of working with him for
many years.
Jason takes great pride
his in designs. While they
are imaginative, often times
displaying a flair for the original, Jason never loses sight
of the fact that the designs
must adhere to the premise that the vehicles and
parts can actually be built.
Designing can take many
forms, from playful fantasy
to matter of fact functional-
ity, along with many steps in
between. Witness the Harley
Earl Scrapbooks, where numerous designs were deliberately futuristic, but there
was never any production
intentions for them. Their
purpose was distinctly different, because the designers
who created them were given the freedom to push the
envelope, possibly predicting
what vehicles in the future
would look like. Today, most
designers must pen vehicles
that have the potential to see
the light of
day, and
not
only
that, the
finished
products
must reflect
the
appearance of the
original
renderings.
When working with companies like Chrysler, Ford
and General Motors on their
Image Vehicle programs, it is
paramount that the renderings be an accurate representation of what the actual
vehicle will look like. Jason
Hulst has consistently displayed an uncanny ability
to design vehicles and corresponding graphics that
are exciting, while retaining
the virtue that they can be
executed in real steel, and
on budget. Certainly one of
the greatest accolades that
a vehicle designer can enjoy
is recognition for his or her
work. In Jason’s case, many
of the vehicles that started as
design sketches have gone
on to win awards in many
categories and at numerous
prestigious events such as
the Detroit Autorama, The
Grand National Roadster
Show and the SEMA SHOW
just to name a few.
Oregon. Combining
his
talents as a
professionally trained designer, modeler and custom
car builder, Jason Hulst has
been responsible for the design of many award winning
ABOVE: Original rendering of the Rumble Bee is a
mirror image of the prototype that was the catalyst
for the production trucks.
The California Kid concept translated seamlessly from the rendering to the Prowler. For an in-depth look at this
vehicle check out the story in the June, 2014 issue of Pentastar Power at www.mrnorms.com
47
have chosen
“toWepresent
the
renderings along
with corresponding photos of the
completed vehicles. They clearly
demonstrate how
Jason’s automotive
designs have been
seamlessly
translated into full
Inspired by the Power Wagon and Power Box concepts,
the Ram 3500 Cannonball Express projects a bold aggressive appearance that complements the big rig look of the
Ram. Notice how the rendering influenced the design of the
custom front fascia, fender flares and unique 22 inch face
mount style custom dually wheels. While they are hard to
see in the photo, the ghost flames shown in the rendering can be seen in the SpectraFlair Holographic
Metalflake paint in the right light.
This 1959
Chevrolet
Sedan Delivery was a full
on restomod
build. The
full series of
exterior and
interior renderings charted
the course
for the build
before the build began. The
exterior was not modified,
while the chassis and interior were extensively modified. Note the attention to
scale vehicles.
”
To illustrate how well his
designs have translated, we
have chosen a varied selection of Jason’s work for this
feature. They include vintage and late model cars and
trucks, each with its own
unique theme. These renderings attest to his skills in
a wide range of disciplines.
In the presentation, we have
also chosen to present the
renderings along with corresponding photos of the completed vehicles. They clearly
demonstrate how Jason’s automotive designs have been
seamlessly translated into
full scale vehicles.
The next time you are
considering building a vehicle, the best place to start is
by consulting with a professional designer. The render-
detail in the design
sketches is reflected in actual custom
leather interior, right
down to the pleating
of the seats, the use
of a 1963 Impala SS
console and original
factory A/C ducts in
the dash. Yes, there
is a big screen television screen beneath
the floor that is articulated by electrically
actuated struts as
shown in the sketch
5E.
49
ing is the ideal time to perfect
your ideas. It is far easier to
sketch a vehicle and fine tune
the concept in graphic form
before you ever spend any
time or money on the actual
vehicle. The final results will
be better, and at a lesser cost
and in less time. And best of
all, a professional artists rendering is probably more affordable than you might have
realized, and you will have
the benefit of a piece of original art of your pride and joy.
SOURCE BOX
Hulst Customs
1510 Ort Lane
Merlin, OR 97532
Phone: 541-474-1980
www.hulstcustoms.com
Chevrolet HHR was
inspired by the appearance of a 1948
Chevrolet panel
truck. The rendering shows what the
vehicle will look like
with the removal of
all of the door glass
and the rear doors,
along with the
development of the
custom hood, front
and rear fascia and
grille. Note that this
vehicle was built
before Chevrolet
offered a sedan delivery version of the HHR. The actual vehicle was modified to match the appearance presented in the rendering.
WP Chrysler Executive
Series 300C was inspired by
the legendary Hurst vehicles
from the 1970’s, including
the 1971 Chrysler 300H.
The rendering captured the
essence of these historic
vehicles while remaining
thoroughly contemporary,
complementing the lines and
surfaces of the new Chrysler
300.
The Dodge Viper GTS/R was
the inspiration for the Magnum Force sport wagon.
Note that Jason had access
to a real Viper GTS/R hood,
which was used to develop
the Magnum custom hood,
with the center scoop and
heat extractor vents scaled
proportionately to fit the vehicle. The Magnum was originally black and was repainted
Viper Red with silver LeMans
stripes, just like the GTS/R.
50
51
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
1005 S. Suncoast Blvd.
Homosassa, FL 34448
352-563-2277 / Steve Lamb
Fairfield Auto Group
3360 Rt. 406,
Muncy, PA 17756
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
Little Rock, AR 72204
501-569-4063
Introducing the new Mr. Norm’s LED Signs. These new LED
signs brightly illuminate the picture in the frame, giving it a
unique backlit appearance unlike conventional lighting.
The Mr. Norm’s LED Signs are the latest thing. They are energy
efficient, and use far less electricity than conventional lights or
neon. They are available in a large 11.5” x 16” size.
LED Signs are perfect for showcasing your favorite vehicle or
choose from Mr. Norm vintage photos, numbers P-1 thru P-38.
LED Signs featuring the famous 1965 Coronet Fire Burnout and
Grand Spaulding Dodge in 1968 are in stock for immediate
shipment. Mr. Norm’s LED Signs are the perfect addition to your
man cave, den or garage.
ORDER YOUR MR. NORM’S LED SIGNS TODAY AT
www.mrnorms.com
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
53
RAM 3500
INTERSTATE
RATED
The Ram 3500 Interstate Rated looks larger than life, both on the page and in person.
NEARLY A BIG RIG
54
Story by Larry Weiner
Photos by RCH Studio
Editor’s Note: We have received numerous phone calls from Dodge enthusiasts asking for
information about Ram Interstate Rated for several months. Apparently, many guys and gals would
like to have a Ram like this to haul their favorite Mopar to shows, race at the track, or for use in their
work. That was the intention when it was designed and built. While features such as the extended
height roof would require a new tooling for the current generation of Ram Mega Cab, perhaps if
enough people would like a new Interstate Rated, Mr. Norm would bring it back to life. Meanwhile,
here is the inside scoop on this Ram 3500, a pickup truck that thought it was nearly a big rig.
FEEL…..the
rhythmically through the
gears of the slick shifting
six-speed manual transmission. As the rumble
reaches a crescendo,
the
driver
shifts
into overdrive and
the Ram 3500
Mega
Cab
earth
tremble in advance of
its approach. Hear the
deep staccato rumble
of the Cummins
Turbo Diesel rise
and fall as the
driver works
INTERSTATE
RATED
explodes with a surge of
speed, like a projectile thrust
forward with unimaginable
power.
That bold streak of
brilliant red steel and chrome
that just flashed past is on
its way to its next adventure,
and nothing can lure it off
its course. It’s the Ram
3500 Mega Cab Interstate
Ratead and if you’ve got a big
enough heart, a passion for
vehicles made of real steel
and boundless imagination –
the stuff to fuel its insatiable
hunger for the road--it’s your
ride.
The
Ram
3500
INTERSTATED RATED is
based on the 2007 Dodge
Ram 3500 Mega Cab 1-ton
Dually 4x4, equipped with
the Cummins 610 Turbo
Diesel. The Ram 3500 Mega
Cab Interstated Rated is
the new undisputed Heavy
Weight World Champion, a
vehicle so big, so powerful,
so capable, that it boggles
the mind.
P O W E R …..Vast,
Aero Raised Roof, Ram SRT-10 hood, Rickson Forged 19.5 wheels
and Yokohama over the road tires. There nothing half-hearted about
the Ram 3500 Interstate Rated.
56
limitless power. That’s what
the Ram 3500 INTERSTATE
RATED is all about. This is a
vehicle that virtually bristles
with the kind of power that
legends are made of. The
Cummins 610 Turbo Diesel in
the Ram 3500 INTERSTATE
RATED shakes the asphalt
like an earthquake right off
the Richter Scale, with an
incredible 325 horsepower
and a whopping 610 ft/
lb of torque awaiting your
command at just 1600 rpm.
It’s almost inconceivable: at
just a whisper above idle,
the Ram 3500 INTERSTATE
RATED can clean-break over
11 tons of rolling weight.
The throbbing pulse of
the Ram 3500 INTERSTATE
RATED reverberates through
massive six inch diameter
chrome-plated
dual
exhausts that, just like a big
rig, are mounted vertically
behind the cab. Bilstein
heavy duty shocks provide
an uncompromised ride in
the process of adhering this
behemoth to roads as varied
as I-5, old Route 66, or the
winding ribbon that leads to
the highest mountain lake.
The
6-speed
manual
transmission
has
been
enhanced with a Gear
Vendors Overdrive that splits
the shift points of five of the
six forward gears to better
maximize
engine
torque
and power. The driver of the
Ram 3500 INTERSTATE
RATED is in total control
with the ability to select
the exact RPM-range
for steep grades or flat
freeways. A heavy duty
clutch
provides
the
muscle to harness the
transmission,
while
enhanced brakes from
Stainless Steel Brakes
Corp provide unmatched
stopping power, working
in concert with the
Jacobs Engine Brake from
Mopar Accessories.
The INTERSTATE RATED
is based on the Ram 3500 4
wheel drive dually chassis.
The Ram 3500 INTERSTATE
RATED can effortlessly pull
a World Cup Challenge boat,
the most luxurious camper
or a trailer suitable for a herd
of horses without breaking a
sweat.
57
Katzkin custom leather
interior with Ram Interstate Rated embroidered
logo
Six Speed Manual
Transmission shifter
with switch for Gear
Vendors Under/Overdrive and Jacobs Engine Brake
LARGER
THAN LIFE......
American Rebel Alloy
Differential Cover has
enhanced capacity for
additional oil
Jenson big screen television and audio entertainment system resides in
Aero Roof.
Amp Research Bed Step
aids in climbing onto the
bed of the truck.
is the impression the Ram
3500 INTERSTATE RATED
conveys. First time, every
time. This is one vehicle that,
quite literally, overwhelms
the senses. It projects a
virtually overpowering visual
presence that is every bit as
bold, powerful and capable
as the Cummins Turbo Diesel
engine under the hood.
There’s nothing subtle
about
the
Ram
3500
INTERSTATE RATED. With
its Aero Roof, Privacy Cab, 6”
Vertical Dual Exhaust
Stacks, custom front
fender
flares
and
SRT10 hood, the only
vehicle
you
might
mistake it for is an 18
wheeler. The SherwinWilliams Planet Colors
custom Road Warrior
Red paint is so brilliant,
it can virtually turn
night into day. And just
like the legendary Dodge Job
Rated Trucks that provided
the inspiration for the
INTERSTATE RATED, mirror
like chrome is used for the
massive 6 inch dual exhaust
and the 19.5” Rickson Truck
Accessory Forged Dually
Wheels.
The aggressive stance of
the Ram 3500 INTERSTATE
RATED has been augmented
with custom front fender
flares at the front that match
the factory rear flares. The
trademark Dodge cross hairs
grille is accented by polished
vertical billet bars created
by B-Cool Billets. Further
amplifying the big rig flavor
is the Privacy Cab that
eliminates all of the glass aft
of the front doors, creating
58
a sleeper cab appearance,
while retaining full use of the
Mega Cab’s rear doors.
When you climb into the
spacious Mega Cab of the
Ram 3500 INTERSTATE
RATED,
you know you’ve
found your home away from
home. The glove-soft Katzkin
Tuscany Leather covered
seats feature heaters for cold
days, coolers for hot days
and massagers for those long
hours behind the wheel. A
comprehensive audio system
is complemented by a large
flat panel LCD video screen
mounted in the raised roof
over the reclining second
row of seating combines to
create an IMAX Theatre like
environment. The interior is
cool and quiet, thanks to a
Quiet Ride Solutions interior
“
There’s
nothing subtle
about the Ram
3500 INTERSTATE
RATED. With its
Aero Roof, Privacy
Cab, 6” Vertical
Dual Exhaust
Stacks, custom
front fender flares
and SRT10 hood,
the only vehicle
you might mistake
it for is an 18
wheeler.
”
Side profile really shows the Interstate Rated big rig DNA. Check out the raised roof, Privacy Cab
with all glass removed aft of the front doors and 6 inch Vertical Stack Dual Exhaust System.
insulation kit.
One of the components
that insure the Ram 3500
INTERSTATE
RATED
has unparalleled towing
versatility is Valley Industries
Underbed 5th Wheel System.
Conventional bracing for 5th
wheels traditionally render
the bed nearly unusable.
With the Valley Industries
system, the bracing has
been moved underneath to
the frame, leaving the cargo
area completely empty when
the 5th wheel is removed.
Providing practical protection
for the bed is a Mopar heavy
duty rubber bed liner.
INTERSTATE
RATED.…Like the
legendary Dodge Job Rated
trucks, the Ram 3500
INTERSTATE
RATED
is
ready to tackle the toughest
challenges, the biggest loads,
the longest hauls. This truck
Rear of Interstate Rated
shows off aluminum
differential cover by
American Rebel.
is more than a state of mind;
it’s really all about the love of
the open road and reaching
the next destination. The
Ram
3500
INTERSTATE
RATED is the master of the
highway, the unchallenged
prince of pavement. This
truck is equipped to take off
cross country at a moment’s
notice, towing anything it
needs to add to the adventure.
When the Ram 3500 Mega
Cab INTERSTATE RATED
rumbles up to a roadside
diner, heads turn and jaws
drop in acknowledgment of
its position as the undisputed
big rig of pickup trucks.
SUPERLATIVE
……From this day forward,
this word is reserved for the
Ram
3500
INTERSTATE
RATED.
The Ram 3500
INTERSTATE RATED is not
an urban sport truck, it’s
the kind of truck Walter P.
Chrysler would have built.
A bold, sturdy truck created
for long stretches of highway
and steep mountain climbs.
The Ram 3500 INTERSTATE
RATED
redefines
such concepts as big, strong,
smart and totally capable.
And like a genuine big rig
diesel, everything about the
Ram
3500
INTERSTATE
RATED is focused on longhauls, on miles spent on the
open road hauling a herd of
horses, an armada of boats, a
fleet of race cars.
The Ram 3500 INTERSTATE RATED was not
created to just roam the
confines of the city; this
is one vehicle that’s just
too big, too strong and too
powerful to continually travel
with conventional traffic.
It demands long, winding
stretches of country. In
fact, the only limitation
with the Ram 3500
INTERSTATE RATED is
the courage of the driver
to take life by the horns
and experience the wide
open spaces, while living
life in the fast lane.
BELOW: With the tailgate
down, the Valley Industries
Underbody 5th wheel, custom louvered metal exhaust
enclosure, Mopar rubber
bed liner can be seen.
RIGHT: Rickson Forged
19.5” Wheels and Yokohama Tires are a perfect fit for
this rig.
Original artist’s rendering by Jason Hulst accurately interpreted the concept. Notice how
the completed Ram 3500 Interstate Rated is a near mirror image of the rendering.
60
61
RAM 3500 INTERSTATE RATED SOURCE BOX
American Rebel Differential Covers
400 South Lemon Street
Anaheim, CA 92805
Product: Alloy Differential Cover
714-533-3286
www.americanrebelmfg.com
Amp Research
2552 McGaw Ave.
Irvine, CA 92614
Product: Power Steps, Bed Access
Step, Alloy Fuel Door, Bed Extender
949-221-0023
www.amp-research.com
B-Cool Billets
224 Malbert Street, Bldg D
Perris, CA 92570
Product: Billet Grille
951-943-6800
www.b-coolbillets.com
Covercraft Industries Inc.
100 Enterprise Blvd.
Pauls Valley, OK 73075
Product: Vehicle Cover
405-238-9651
www.covercraft.com
Cruiser Stainless Accessories
P.O. Box 960
Dana, NC 28724-0960
Product: White Night Light
888-884-7637
www.cruiserrodparts.com
Chrysler Corporation
Ram Division
1000 Chrysler Drive
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
Product: Vehicle
www.dodge.com
El Kapitan / California Comfort
Conversion Vans Inc
15040 Goldenwest Circle
Westminster, CA 92683
Product: Aero Liner Roof and Custom
Interior
Jensen Video Entertainment System
800-439-4826
www.elkapitan.com
Gear Vendors Inc.
1717 N. Magnolia
El Cajon, CA 92020
Product: Overdrive System
619-562-0060
www.gearvendors.com
Intromarketing Inc.
2031 E. Via Burton, #M
Anaheim, CA 92806
Product: Embroidered Logo Carpet Mats
Phone Number: 800-659-6371
Katzkin Leather Inc.
6868 Acco St.
Montebello, Ca 90640
Product: Custom Leather Seat Covers
800-842-0590
www.katzkin.com
K&N Engineering Inc.
1455 Citrus Ave.
Riverside, CA 92507
Product: FIPK Cool Air Intake System
800-858-3333
www.knfilters.com
Mike Face Custom Paint
834 N. Waterman
San Bernardino, CA 92410
Attn: Mike Face
Service: Custom Painting and Metal
Fabrication
909-381-3738
Mopar Parts
26311 Lawrence Ave.
Centerline, MI 48015
Products: Jacobs Engine Brake, Navus
Navigation System, Stainless Steel Entry
Guards, Telescoping Tow Mirrors, Bed
Mat, Locking Fuel Cap
313-497-1225
www.mopar.com
Performance West Group Inc.
5256 S. Mission Road # 703-214
Bonsall, CA 92003
Services: Vehicle Design, Marketing &
Communications
760-630-0547
www.performancewestgroup.com
Quiet Ride Solutions
6507 Pacific Avenue Ste. 334
Stockton, CA 95207
Product: Vehicle Insulation and Sound
Deadening
209-942-4777
www.quietride.com
Rickson Truck Wheels
11204 McCormick Road
Hunt Valley, MD 21031
Product: Forged 19.5” Dually Wheels
800-587-7633
www.ricksontruck.com
62
Royal Purple LTD
1 Royal Purple Lane
Porter, TX 77365
Product: Synthetic Lubricants
281-354-8600
www.royalpurple.com
Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes
101 Prospect Ave. N.W.
Cleveland, OH 44115
Product: Planet Colors Custom Paint
216-566-2062
www.sherwin-automotive.com
Stainless Steel Brakes Corp
11470 Main Street
Clarence, NY 14031
Product: Disc Brake Upgrades
800-448-7722
www.stainlesssteelbrakes.com
Valley Industries
1313 S. Stockton St.
Lodi, CA 95240
Product: 5th Wheel Underbed Trailer
Hitch
209-368-8881
www.valleyindustries.com
Warner’s Performance
190 Douglas Drive
Oceanside, CA 92054
Product: 5” Dual Vertical Exhaust System
760-433-2240
Woodview Corporation
5670 Timberlea Blvd.
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada L4W 4M6
Product: Satin Nickel Dash Trim
800-797-DASH
www.woodcorp.com
Yokohama Tires
P.O. Box 4450
Fullerton, CA 92834
Product: Tires
800-423-4544
www.yokohamatire.com
Tell your friends and car club
members to join Mr. Norm’s
Sport Club for free at
www.mrnorms.com
They’ll get discounts on parts
and memorabilia and receive
Pentastar Power every month
Peggy Sue’s
All-American Cruise
C
ar shows. Some
people might say
‘you’ve seen one, you’ve
seen them all.” Having attended and displayed at car
shows for more years than I care to count, I disagree. There are
many great shows worthy of your time. Some are held in indoor venues, while others are so large that the only way to do
them is outdoors. Needless to say, each is unique in their own
way. Whether you prefer vehicle specific shows such as the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals and Mopars at the Strip, or mixed make
shows like The Grand National Roadster Show, Detroit Autorama and the Iola Old Car Show, each has a lot to offer.
42
Story and Photos by Larry Weiner
43
And one show that we did
not know about until recently turned out to be one of the
best that we’ve ever attended. The show that I’m referring to is the Peggy Sue’s
All American Cruise that’s
held in Santa Rosa, California. Santa Rosa is located
in the Napa Valley, an area
commonly referred to as
“wine country” in the Golden State. The Peggy Sue’s
All American Cruise is an
automotive event with lots
of different activities that’s
fun for the whole family.
The action starts on Friday
with a daylong Poker Run
on the back roads of picturesque Sonoma County. Later in the afternoon, the final
destination of the day is the
local park in Santa Rosa,
appropriately name “A Place
to Play Park,” where a giant
Chili and Pasta Cook Off,
along with a Beer and Wine
Tasting is held. There is
more than ample space for
all of the vehicles that participated in the Poker Run
cars to park on the grass
at the park, in addition to a
parking lot for people who
are just attending the cook
off and beer tasting. In addition, there are tents everywhere, each with its own
type of food or beverage. The
selections cover all of the
traditional favorites like hot
dogs and Italian sausage to
veggie burgers, along with
all the traditional fixins, and
there was more than enough
food for everybody. And
while everyone was eating,
Nothing says Mopar Performance like a Plymouth Superbird.
1971 Dodge Polara CHP cruiser looked like it was ready to go out
on patrol.
there was live entertainment
on the main stage. This
year, the music was provided by “The Hot Rods Band,”
which played great rock and
roll, along with some poplar
country and western. Needless to say, nobody was in a
The Dodge Fever Girl is a great
good will ambassador, and was
all smiles waving to the crowd.
66
Gorgeous 1961 Chrysler 300G convertible reminds us that there
was no limit to optimism in America in the 1960’s.
1967 green Plymouth Belvedere looked right
at home on the grass. Inset: Rat Fink on grille
looked like it was holding on for dear life!
hurry to leave, and the fun
went well past sunset.
On Saturday, the sun was
up bright and early, and by
10:00 AM the temperature
was just right for shorts and
a tee shirt. All of the cars
and people who were at the
party the night before were
back at the park, plus hundreds more, for the Show
and Shine. The show field
was loaded
with nearly
1,000
vehicles
of all kinds of display. The
Mopar contingent showed
up in force and there were
Plymouths, Dodges, Desoto’s, Chryslers and Imperials
of all models and years with
their hoods up and engines
gleaming in nearly every row.
67
Debbie, the Dodge Fever Girl
was a flashback straight from
1969. Here she is posing with a
B-5 Blue 1969 Dodge Charger
R/T White Hat Special.
Whether your preference is
restored originals, wild customs, wicked hot rods or vintage muscle cars, there were
lots of cars that you wished
that you could bring home
with you.
At noon, there was a seminar held in a tent in front
of the main stage featuring Mr. Norm and
Jim Wangers. Rows
of chairs were provided for the audience,
and the space filled
up quickly. Both men
spoke at length about
some of their many
accomplishments
in
creating and marketing performance vehicles during
the 1960’s and 1970’s. Mr.
Norm is well known among
the Mopar faithful for such
vehicles as the GSS 440
M-Code Dart and the Supercharged Demon, along with
Mr. Norm at the seminar talking about how he created and marketed the 383 and 440 big block Darts.
The audience at the seminar took advantage of the opportunity to ask Mr. Norm questions, take his
photo and get his autograph.
his racing exploits in the super fuel funny car category.
Jim Wangers spoke about
the development of the 1964
Pontiac GTO and some of
the marketing that made
it the vehicle that not only
launched, but defined the
Mr. Norm was the beacon of performance in the 1960’s and he still
is today. Here’s another Mr. Norm’s Hemi Cuda armed to the teeth
with a Kenne Bell supercharger.
68
muscle car era. A question
and answer session followed,
and many enthusiasts in the
audience took advantage
of the opportunity to pose
questions for both Mr. Norm
and Jim Wangers.
In the later afternoon,
everyone headed to downtown Santa Rosa for the
headline event of the weekend; the big Peggy Sue’s All
American Cruise. This year,
Mr. Norm and Jim Wangers
were the Grand Marshalls
of the event. Each rode in a
magnificently restored muscle car convertible for the
parade, with Mr. Norm in a
bright red big block Mopar
B-Body, and Jim Wangers
in a maroon 1969 GTO. The
crowd went wild as these
two industry icons took their
TOP: Really nice Plum Crazy 1971 Cuda sported white Billboards, color matched saw tooth
grille and fender gills.
1967 Dodge A100 Pickup was simply Too Cool!
Spectacular 1948 Chrysler four door sedan was
definitely straight enough for black.
69
1951 Dodge Coronet Station
Wagon ready for a picnic.
Check out the early ‘50’s Hallicrafter’s short wave radio on the
tailgate
rightful place at the head of
the line as the parade started
to make its way through the
downtown area. As an added treat, sitting beside Mr.
Norm on top of the back seat
of the drop top Mopar was
none other than the Dodge
Fever Girl, wearing a classic
white mini dress and matching Go Go boots! In a tribute
to Joan Parker, the original
Dodge Fever Girl from 1968,
Debbie played the part to
perfection with
her Flower Power era apparel
and ready smile. As the parade wound its way through
town, she waved enthusiastically to the crowd and drew
many thumbs up, especially
from those who remembered
seeing Joan Parker at auto
shows and events around
the nation in the late 1960’s.
On Sunday, it was back to
A Place to Play Park. Nearly
everyone returned with their
cars for the second day of
the Show and Shine, which
was followed by a lengthy
Awards Ceremony that honored winners in many classes throughout the afternoon.
Needless to say, a good time
was had by all, and if you
have not attended the Peggy
Sue’s All American Cruise,
be sure to add this show to
On the parade route. Wall to wall people and cars lined up bumper to bumper. That’s Jim Wangers in
the GTO in front of Mr. Norm.
your list. In closing, a big
hats off to Rich and Peggy
Sue, who put on this event
each year and do such a
great job. They donate the
majority of the proceeds to
local charities and schools,
making it a real worthwhile
endeavor for them and all
of the volunteers. Having
had such a good time at the
show, we can hardly wait for
next year!
SOURCE BOX
Yes, we have a soft spot for 1971 Cuda’s with
gills. This black beauty sported a Shaker and
functional hood pins.
Sinister Mr. Norm’s GSS Racer Edition Cuda was
displayed with several other late model Mr. Norm’s
Mopars.
70
Peggy Sue’s All American Cruise
Santa Rosa, CA
Phone: 707-575-3267
info@peggysuescruise.
com
LEFT: The original Dodge Fever Girl, Joan Parker with
Mr. Norm at the Chicago Auto Show in 1968 in front of
a Dodge D100 pickup truck.
RIGHT: Mr. Norm and Debbie reprise the original photo
from 1968, this time in front of Andy Luttringer’s Mr.
Norm’s GSS Racer Edition Cuda at the Peggy Sues All
American Cruise.
71
Here is your chance to
relive Muscle Car history
NOW!
BUY YOUR NEW DODGE FROM MR. NORM
Call the Mr. Norm’s Hotline (760) 612-6365
We’ve got ‘em, come ‘n get ‘em
*All vehicles delivered through Bosak Performance
by Mr. Norm / Broker
Factory stock and Mr. Norm’s Dodges and Rams for immediate delivery.
Giant inventory of Challenger and Charger RTs and SRT-8s
Supercharaged 5.7 and 6.4 Hemi Challengers and Chargers
We can install Mr. Norm packages and superchargers on your vehicle.
Call the Mr. Norm Hotline (760) 612-6365
Mr. Norm will sign your vehicle and documents
Mr. Norm Certificate of Authenticity
Viceo of You and Mr. Norm with your vehicle
Your vehicle entered into the original Grand Spaulding Dodge Registry
BEFORE YOU BUY, GET THE MR. NORM DEAL - YOU’LL SAVE MORE THAN EVER BEFORE
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
Women’s World
ROAD TRIP
PART
DIEU....
What is more
American than
the birthplace
of the classic
writer Mark
By: Linda Mandalas
H
ere we go again....
down the road and
back
again....where
will it take us now?!
I don’t know about you, but
I’m excited to hit the road
again and see where my MOPAR takes me. Our last adventure left me hungry for
another...how about you?
With the extended 4th
of July weekend here, I am
calling this month’s drive my
All-American Tour. Are you
ready for a good time? I know
I am! Instead of the same old
backyard BBQ, load up your
ride with the family, friends,
food and the most important
thing.....your
anticipation
for FUN and ADVENTURE.
With last month’s road
trip, down Route 66 in the
June issue of Pentastar Power, I provided you with valuable automobile safety and
preparation tips for your
drive across the Heartland.
Be sure to revisit and review
before you back out of the
driveway for your new adventure!
Let’s start out in the nation’s heartland: Hannibal,
Missouri.
What is more
American than the birth
place of the classic writer Mark Twain? When you
pull into Hannibal, you will
become part of Tom Sawyer
“
Twain?
World’s largest Six Pack in La Crosse, Wisconsin
Days, a weeklong festival of
fun and games inspired by
Twain’s fictional creations.
What a great way to introduce the adventures of Tom
Sawyer and Huck Finn to the
little ones...or just to refresh
your own memories of days
gone by.
Not only is Hannibal
home to Mark Twain, but it
has the Mississippi River on
its doorstep, making for a
great summertime drive up
the Great River Road. Most
people will now have that
stunned look on their face
and be asking “what is the
Great River Road”? Well, let
me tell you a little bit about
it. The Great River Road is
a network of scenic roads
winding along the river. This
winding adventure heads
south to New Orleans and
upstream as far as the head80
water in Minnesota. Your
drive can take you North
from Hannibal into the fully
recreated historic Mormon
community of Nauvoo, once
the largest settlement on the
”
Western Frontier.
Your stop to Nauvoo is
once again an opportunity, one that is going by the
wayside in modern society,
to relax and enjoy as well as
learn and teach about American History. You will find
that this entire region was
once the hunting grounds
for Paleo-Indians more than
12,000 years ago. In the late
18th Century, the Sauk and
Fox Tribes dominated the
region. You will learn that
Nauvoo was officially estabLEFT: Poster for the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival that is
held each year in Davenport.
BELOW: Davenport, Iowa Postcard
Hannibal, Missouri Postcard
lished in 1839 by Joseph
Smith the founder of the
Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints. This town
holds a vast historical story,
one that should be shared.
Moving forward on your
relaxing drive is the river town of Davenport, Iowa,
where you will find a pair
of All-American adventures
awaiting you. It doesn’t get
any more American than
this. All summer long in Davenport, there’s minor-league
baseball being played in a
historic riverside stadium
and nothing screams summer like...Baseball...Hotdogs
and Apple Pie! If your adventure finds you in Davenport
towards the end of July, be
sure to stay and enjoy their
four-day festival of musical
heritage named after native
jazz player, Bix Beiderbecke,
and check out the world famous Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival and Bix
7 Race.
Continuing North along
the Great River Road, you’ll
also want to stop in LaCrosse,
Wisconsin and check out the
“World’s Largest Six-Pack”,
and I am not talking about
abdominal muscles! This is
one large site to see. The City
Brewery first opened in 1858
and this “Six-Pack” is actually the tanks that hold the
Modern Memphis, Tennessee Post
Card
Vintage post card art of
Main Street in Memphis, Tennessee circa 1930’s
beer during processing, so
this is truly a real six-pack
of beer. Just one that will
never be opened! This may
be the “BIGGEST” site in La
Crosse, but did you know
there is a rich history here
that should be seen.
La Crosse was incorporated as a city in 1856, but its
history dates further back.
In the late 17th century
French
fur traders who traveled
the Mississippi River were
the first to see the site of La
Crosse. The first settlement
in La Crosse dates back to
1841, when Nathan Myrick,
a New York native moved to
the village of Prairie de Chien
to work in the fur trade and
established a trading post
on Barron Island. Because
of its location on the side of
the Mississippi River and the
boom in fur trading, a small
village grew around Myrick’s
trading post in the 1840’s.
This was the beginning of La
Crosse Wisconsin, the larg-
est city on Wisconsin’s western border.
If you chose to head south
out of Mark Twain’s Hometown your adventure will take
you to what some call “Home
of the Blues, the Birthplace
of Rock ‘n’ Roll and Home of
The King of Rock and Roll.”
If you guessed Memphis,
Tennessee, you’re absolutely
right.
Well before Memphis be-
came home
to Elvis Presley, beginning
back in the 16th century,
it was a natural location for
human settlement, first settled by the Chickasaw Indian Tribe. The Chickasaw
were followed by European
exploration led by the famous Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto, and French
explorers led by René-Robert
Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle.
Memphis itself was founded
on May 22, 1819 and incorporated in 1826. It quickly
developed into a major transportation center because of
its flood-free location high
above the Mississippi River,
and became a major cotton
market and brokerage center. Along with the major
transportation into Memphis
along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, once the Memphis and Charleston Railroad was completed, the rails
connected the Atlantic Coast
and this major Mississippi
River port. In fact, Memphis
was the only east-west railroad constructed across the
southern states prior to the
Civil War.
Now that we have touched
a small tip of the historical
interest of Memphis, there is
so much more for your entire
Bridge across the Mississippi River connecting Davenport, Iowa and Rock Island, Illinois.
Hotel Nauvoo in Nauvoo, Illinois
was built in 1841. It was originally a residence that was converted
into a hotel and dining room in
1885. Today it is a wonderful destination, a great place to eat and
still offers overnight accommodations.
83
Graceland in Memphis,
Tennessee, the home of
Elvis Presley
entourage to learn. This is
the attraction all of you have
been waiting to see while visiting Memphis: the must see
at least one in your lifetime...
home of the KING! That’s
right, Graceland.
This is
where Elvis fans young, old
and in between come by the
THOUSANDS for a glimpse
of this piece of true AMERICANA. It is estimated that
over 600,000 visitors a year
tour the private home.
Elvis Aaron Presley born
in Tupelo, Mississippi and
moved to Memphis
Tennessee at the tender age of 13. This is
just one of the many
reasons to visit, stay
and play on your way
down the “Great River Road” while trav-
eling across America. So,
remember to TCB while visiting Memphis Tennessee.
(That’s Take Care of Business according to Elvis!)
Now that we’re back
on the road and watching
Graceland fade away behind
us, let’s head south down to
Baton Rouge and what will
be our last stop on the Great
River Road.
Baton Rouge, French
for “Red Stick,” is the capital city of Louisiana. Baton
Rouge is a city full of history,
American Queen Steamboat on the Mississippi
River in Memphis, Tennessee.
84
sophistication and
spirit. As the “Capital City,” it is the political hub and the
second largest metropolitan city in the
state. Baton Rouge
is a major industrial, petrochemical,
medical, research,
motion picture, and
growing technology
center of the American South. The Port of Baton
Rouge is the ninth largest in
the United States in terms of
tonnage shipped, as well as
a culturally rich center having lived under seven different governments: French,
English, Spanish, West Floridian, Louisiana, Confederate, and American.
Dating back to 1699,
when French explorer Pierre
Le Moyne, Sieur d’Iberville
leading and exploration party up the Mississippi River
came across a reddish cy-
Baton Rouge,
Louisiana Post Card
press pole (festooned with bloody
animals)
which
marked the boundary between the
Houma and Bayou
Goula tribal hunting grounds. Sieur
d’Iberville called the
pole and its location
le bâton rouge, or the
red stick.The settlement of Baton Rouge by Europeans began in 1719 when
it was established as a military post by the French, with
most of the settlement being
agricultural
development.
It was at this time that Baton Rouge became a port for
the colony. Incorporated in
1817 and becoming Louisiana’s state capitol in 1849,
architect James Dakin was
hired to design the Capitol
building.
Not wanting to
mimic the Federal Capital in
Washington, as many other
states had done, he designed
a lovely building overlooking
the Mississippi which has
been described as the “most
distinguished example of
Gothic Revival” architecture
in the state.Baton Rouge has
a robust economy that includes strong film industry
growth. It features a cultural
mix of Cajun and Creole, as
well as the many architectural and historical points of interest. In fact, Baton Rouge,
has been ranked as one of the
Top
10
Places
for
Young Adults and one of the
top 20 cities in North America for economic strengths, as
well as ranked the 9th best
place in the country to start a
new business by CNN.This is
just one of many adventures
that you and your family can
take. Not only are you continuing to enjoy the time together, to reconnect but you
are making memories. Sharing your stories of when you
were young and your Mom
and Dad packed you up and
headed somewhere...sometimes not knowing where
the adventure would start
or end. The only thing they
knew is that the family was
together, living life to its fullest.It is now our time to do
the same with our families...
letting everyone know that
it is not always how you get
there, or how fast the days go
by, or even how much “stuff”
you can squeeze into our
limited “vacation” time. It
is the quality of what we do,
what we know and what we
share with the next genera85
tion.
It’s what we teach
them, so that they will continue to pass these experiences on to their friends and
family, helping to insure interest and knowledge about
our Great Nation. There’s no
time like the present to introduce our GREAT Nation to
the next generation.I know
I look forward to my visits
with Mr. Norm, and having
him share stories on his adventures and travels across
this America. His wisdom
and knowledge as well as his
continuing thirst for life never cease to amaze me. I feel
lucky and blessed to be able
to benefit from his wisdom.
Thank you Mr. Norm for allowing me to share and learn
from your experience!
I can only hope you allow
me to continue to pass all of
this onto you and yours.
Again...wishing everyone
a safe and wonderful summer season filled with FUN
- TRAVELS - ADVENTURE
and most important...FAMILY and FRIENDS!
DISPATCHES PART II
sponses were from men
who served in Viet Nam,
others were from Gulf I
and II, and even Korea
and a several from WW II.
It hard to believe that
these letters have survived undisturbed for
over 40 years. They
have been sitting in a
file cabinet all this time,
alongside dozens of file
cabinets with the original vehicle documentation from Grand Spaulding Dodge. These letters,
some typed, others handwritten, speak about the
hopes and dreams of
brave soldiers; young
men who were looking
forward to finishing their
tour of active duty and
coming home to resume
their lives. And one of the
things that kept them going during a difficult time
was the thought of getting
a new muscle car from Mr.
Norm upon their return
home.
It may be difficult for
those who have never
served in an armed conflict in a foreign country half way around the
world to understand. But,
for many young men, the
thought of purchasing a
Letters to Mr.
Norm from
GIs during the
Vietnam War
By Howard Benjamin
Dear readers,
W
hen we ran “Dispatches” in the
April, 2014 issue of Pentastar Power,
we had no idea that the
letters from GI’s serving
in Viet Nam in the early
1970’s would be so well
received by you. The letters from young men who
were serving their country
touched a nerve, and the
response that we have
received has been nearly overwhelming. Many of
you wrote to thank us for
running the letters, and
recounted similar stories
from when you were on
active duty. In fact, while
the majority of the re86
87
new car gave them something tangible to look forward to. For many, it may
have been their first new
car, which is an important
milestone in life. Added
to that, they spent many
an off duty hour planning
how they would enhance
the performance or personalize the appearance
of their new pride and joy
with a wide range of upgrades. In some cases,
where these young men
were serving in a forward
combat unit, living day to
day not having any certainty that there would
be a tomorrow, these
thoughts helped them
through a very tough time
in their life.
Mr. Norm and his staff
answered all of the letters
they received. He knew
how important it was to
these young men to get a
letter from home, and appreciated the fact that they
were reaching out to him.
Helping them make, and
realize their plans for what
would be the most significant purchase in their
young lives was important
to Mr. Norm. To this day,
Mr. Norm is still humbled
by the fact that so many
88
89
sent him letters, and that
he eventually got to meet
some of them in person
when they returned home.
Because of your response, we are running
another set of letters in
this issue. As this is written, the Fourth of July is
right around the corner.
It seems appropriate at
this time to thank those
of you who have served
our country in past years,
along with those of you
who are serving today.
We salute each and every one of you, brave men
and women who put their
lives on the line so that
we may enjoy freedom.
And to those who might
think otherwise, freedom
is not free, and there is
sometimes a terrible price
to pay for that which so
many take for granted.
We hope that you enjoy
reading more of the letters again this month. And
to those you who have or
are currently serving in
the armed forces of the
United States of America,
we want to take this moment to thank you for your
service to our country.
90
91
92
News You Can Use
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The all-new 2015 Dodge
Challenger SRT, with its supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI®
Hellcat engine, produces an
unprecedented 707 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of
torque, making it the most
powerful Challenger ever,
Dodge’s most powerful V-8
ever and the most powerful
muscle car ever.
The
Challenger’s
new
6.2-liter Supercharged Hellcat engine is also the first
factory supercharged HEMI,
as well as Dodge and SRT’s
first application of V-8 supercharger technology. For the
first time in Chrysler Group
history, the all-new 2015
Dodge Challenger SRT with
a Hellcat engine comes standard with two key fobs -- red
and black. The red key fob is
the only key that can unlock
the full 707 horsepower and
torque potential of the Challenger SRT Hellcat engine;
while the black key fob limits
the driver to a reduced engine
output of 500 horsepower.
In addition to the awe-inspiring 707 horsepower of the
new Hellcat HEMI, the new
2015 Dodge Challenger SRT
Hellcat has been redesigned
and totally re-engineered
to be the most true-to-form
muscle coupe on the market
with performance-enhancing
technologies inside and out,
including the new TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic
transmission and an all-new
interior inspired by the classic 1971 Challenger.
The Dodge and SRT brands
now offer the most complete
lineup of muscle cars in the
market, including the new
2015 Dodge Challenger SXT
with its standard powerful
95
and fuel-efficient Pentastar
V-6 engine combined with
the TorqueFlite eight-speed
transmission that delivers
300 horsepower and an estimated 30 miles per gallon; the
2015 Dodge Challenger R/T
with the high-torque 5.7-liter HEMI now paired with the
TorqueFlite eight-speed or
six-speed manual transmission; and the all-new 6.4-liter
HEMI Challenger Scat Pack
that delivers 485 horsepower
and 475 lb.-ft. of torque with
the TorqueFlite eight-speed
or six-speed manual.
The 2015 Dodge Challenger and Challenger SRTs are
built at the Brampton, Ontario, Assembly Plant and will
start arriving in Dodge dealerships in the third quarter of
2014.
For more information,
watch this video: https://
www.youtube.com/
watch?v=1fhnO95drbA
Hagan Drives
Mopar Express
Lane Dodge to
the Winner’s
Circle at the
Route 66 NHRA
Nationals
• Mopar’sMatt Hagan
earns his first Funny Car
title of the season at the
17th annual Route 66
NHRA Natonals.
• Hagan beats teammate
and No. 1 qualifier Tommy Johnson, Jr. in first
All-Mopar Funny Car final
of the year.
• Three of four DSR
Dodge Charger R/T Funny
cars advance to semifinals
• Hagan extends Mopar’s win streak to six national events with either a
Pro Stock or Funny Car title victory.
He had to beat all three
of his Don Schumacher Racing teammates to earn it, but
Matt Hagan drove his Mopar
Express Lane Dodge Charger
R/T to a much needed Funny Car title win at the 17th
annual Route 66 National
Hot Rod Association (NHRA)
Nationals near Chicago on
Sunday.
“It’s just good to turn on
four win lights again,” said
Hagan who’s 11th career
win helped extend Mopar’s
recent string of victories, in
either the Pro Stock or Funny Car class, to six national
96
events. “It’s not been as long
as some people but it was
long enough. Hopefully we
can carry this momentum on
but we just have to enjoy the
moment right now. It does
make you realize how hard
these wins are to get and
when it does come together
you don’t want the day to go
away.” “Congratulations to Matt
Hagan for getting back on
track with his second final
round appearance of the
year with this win at Joliet
aboard the Mopar Express
Lane Dodge Charger R/T,”
said Pietro Gorlier, President
and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler
Group LLC’s service, parts
and customer-care brand.
“We look forward to watching
Matt and his Don Schum-
acher Racing teammates
contend for more wins this
season in celebration of 50
incredible years of 426 Race
HEMI.”
Hagan snapped an eleven-race winless streak by
driving past teammate Jack
Beckman and opponent Bob
Bode on his way to a semifinal showdown against his
other fellow HEMI-powered
teammate, Ron Capps. It was
also the first time this season that three DSR Dodge
Charger R/T machines have
advance to the semi-finals.
It took a hole shot win
against Capps for Hagan to
advance to his second final
round elimination since his
runner-up finish in the 2014
Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season opener. Hagan
rose to the occasion and defeated Tommy Johnson Jr.
in an all-Mopar final, to become the first DSR driver to
defeat all three teammates
en route to an event title.
Bolstered by consecutive
title wins at the last two national events by DSR teammates Johnson and Capps,
Hagan and his Mopar crew
brushed off six first-round
losses to score their first victory of the season and the
first trip to the winner’s circle since the 2014 season finale in Pomona.
It’s been a humbling year
for us,” said Hagan who
climbs from 10th to eighth in
the Funny Car points standings with his efforts this
weekend. “Last year we came
out and won five races and
you think that you’re going
to set the world on fire the
following year. We just kind
of fell off. These guys have
been keeping after it.”
With his runner-up finish, No. 1 qualifier Johnson
moved into second place in
the standings behind points
leader, Robert Hight, and will
look to keep the momentum
going through the fourth
event in as many weeks next
weekend in Norwalk, Ohio.
“I wanted to win, but if
you look at the weekend as
a whole, it was great,” said
Johnson who also posted his
first run under the four-second barrier in qualifying on
Saturday “We got into the
3’s, we were No. 1, and we
went to the finals. The MakeA-Wish team is so good that
it’s hard not to be disappointed with a runner up,
but you take a look back at it
and have to think, okay, we
did really well.”
Eliminations for the Mopar contingent in Pro Stock
competition didn’t fare quite
as well at Route 66 Raceway.
No.1 qualifier, Allen Johnson
lost his chance to take the
“Magneti Marelli Offered by
Mopar” Dodge Dart past the
second round after losing on
a holeshot to Dave Connolly
with a .003 second margin of
victory.
Last year’s event winner, Jeg Coughlin Jr. didn’t
get a chance to repeat after
his JEGS.com Dodge Dart
jumped the green light start
by .001-seconds in his second round match-up against
Vincent Nobile. Nobile went
on to the Pro Stock title win
on a hole shot against teammate Jason Line.
This marked fourth time
this year that the reigning
97
NHRA Pro Stock Champion
has had a premature exit
from eliminations due to a
red-light start, but the Mopar driver remained philosophical about it.
“The racing out here is
at such a high level that
you have to push everything to the edge,” Coughlin
said. “We’ve come up just a
few thousandths of a second short a few times this
year, but we have a bunch
of times where we’ve been on
the right end of that same
situation, so I tend to not let
it bother me.”
“I hate it for the guys because they continue to give
Allen (Johnson) and I great
race cars,” said Coughlin who despite the second
round loss remains second
in the standing and just one
point ahead of his teammate.
“But we won’t hang our
heads. There’s too much to
be excited about, and we’re
proud of what we’ve done to
get up to second place in the
points.”
Fellow
HEMI-powered
driver V. Gaines suffered a
similar fate with his own redlight foul in the first round of
eliminations.
The next stop for Mopar teams and drivers will
be this upcoming Independence Day weekend for the
8th annual Summit Racing
Equipment NHRA Nationals on July 3-5 in Norwalk,
Ohio, for the fourth and last
in a stretch of consecutive
events, and 13th of 24 Mello
Yello Drag Racing series national events in 2014.
Kenne Bell introduces Bigun Cowl Induction Inlet
For 4.7-L
Twin Screw
Supercharger
Once again, Kenne Bell,
the leader in late model Hemi
supercharger kits leaves the
competition gasping for air
with the industry’s largest
displacement, most powerful
Twin Screw Kit. Most supercharger kit manufacturers
and OEM’s use the same low
cost little 2.3L 4x4 lobe rotors for superchargers. By
comparison, the popular
higher horsepower Kenne
Bell Mammoth Kits all use
the larger displacement/
higher horsepower 2.8, 3.6,
4.2 Twin Screw with the
more efficient 4x6 lobe rotors. Dodge also chose the
Twin Screw for their new
2015 Challenger Hellcat, the
first Musclecar – except for
the infamous Ford GT – to
step up to the more efficient
Twin Screw.
The new BIGUN is designed to take over where
the popular Kenne Bell
Mammoth Kits leave off. The
BIGUN is designed for maximum horsepower competition Hemi’s and supports
1200-2000+HP. It includes
the 2350 cfm (168mm) BIGUN inlet system vs. 777
cfm (81mm) stock Dodge
part. The huge unrestricted
rear inlet design allows high
pressure cool dense air to
be pulled from the cowl area
like they use in NASCAR and
were popular on many of
highly desirable muscle cars
of the golden era. Like
all
Kenne
Bell superchargers,
the
100%
billet 4.7LC
features exclusive Patented Liquid Cooling
and
Seal
Pressure
Equalizer
for a cooler
air charge,
higher RPM and more HP.
Also new is the Case Injection port which allows for
the injection of alcohol, water and nitrous for additional
air charge cooling.
For more information on
the BIGUN, check out the
Kenne Bell Superchargers
website www.kennebell.net
or call Kenne Bell at 909941-0985 today.
Tell ‘em you saw it in Pentastar Power.
Now available from Tony’s Mopar Parts
New 1967
Plymouth B-Body
Trunk Panel Key
Bezels
Tony’s Mopar Parts is
pleased to announce the
availability of reproduction
Trunk Finish Panel Chrome
Key Bezels for 1967 Plymouth GTX, Satellite and Bel-
vedere models. These bezels
are often pitted or missing.
The good news is that new
Trunk Finish Panel Chrome
Key Bezels are now available
from Tony’s Parts for only
$50.00.
Call Tony’s Parts today at
302-398-0821 or check out
tonysparts.com and get a
new one for your Plymouth.
Tell ‘em you saw it in Pentastar Power.
99
or This
ickets f p. 25
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Meyers
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MR. NORM’S JULY SALE!
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But Wait, There’s More
The Wigwam
Motel on
Route 66
Experiencing a
Slice of Life from
a Bygone Era
I
Story and Photos by Howard Benjamin
n the June, 2014 issue of Pentastar
Power, Women’s World columnist Linda
Mandalas wrote about traveling today
on what remains of Route 66, and some
of the old motels from the 1940’s that
are still in business. One in particular
piqued our curiosity, the Wigwam Motel in
San Bernardino, California, which opened
in 1949. This
motel is the
polar opposite
of the cracker
box style motels that dot
the landscape
at nearly every
interstate off
ramp
today.
In fact, one
could
make
Just arrived at the Wigwam Motel on Route 66 on a hot,
sunny SoCal Saturday afternoon in the perfect vacation
car, a 1967 Chrysler Town and Country wagon.
94104
the case that it is the perfect
example of roadside lodging
from a bygone era; a survivor
from a simpler time when
traveling by car was an experience rather than an inconvenience. If you have a moment, join us for a trip back
in time……
Route 66 is well known as
The Mother Road, so named
by novelist John Steinbeck
who wrote the depression
era saga, The Grapes of
Wrath. Route 66 was a ribbon of highway that ran from
Chicago, Illinois to Santa
Monica, California, joining
the Midwest and the Pacific
Ocean with one continuous
stretch of road. As you can
well imagine, traveling by car
before and in the immediate
years after World War II was
significantly different than it
is today.
When Route 66 was first
built in the 1920’s vehicle
speed, like everything else
was much slower than it is
today. In addition, travelers
expected to stop more often,
and the direction that Route
66 took reflected that mindset. The highway passed
through all of the towns in
its path, rather than going
around them like the interstate highways of today.
So, if you needed to get gas,
have a tire fixed, or your vehicle repaired, which was
not uncommon, chances are
that you probably weren’t far
from the next town. While
you were in town, perhaps it
was time for lunch or dinner.
To accommodate the travelers, restaurants popped up,
There are 19 teepees at the Wigwam Motel. A concrete sidewalk and lush
green grassy areas make it easy to walk around the property.
along with other small businesses. And in each town, or
on the outskirts, motels were
built to cater to ever increasing number of traveling motorists. To get the attention
of travelers, many motels
of the era were designed to
look unique and eye catch-
ing. Some used neon lights,
or erected large signs, while
others used the appearance
of the buildings to stand out
from the others. One such
motel to do this was the Wigwam.
When the Wigwam was
built in 1949, many peo-
Each teepee has its own parking space. Our Chrysler is parked next to the
teepee on the left that will be our home away from home for the night.
105
ABOVE LEFT; The teepee is simple and clean. This room had two queen size beds. It might be considered a little
austere by today’s standards, but it was very quiet and more than adequate. RIGHT: This inviting pool was the
ideal oasis to cool off in on the hot summer day.
“
Mirroring the trend
that was popular with
many motels of the era,
the Wigwam had a look
all its own. In this case,
each room was designed
to look like an American Indian teepee. The
teepees had a
distinctively western
look, and while they
were masonry in
construction, unlike
those actually built by
Indians, in appearance,
they reflected those of
the Native
Americans.
”
ple were taking to the highways to discover America.
Cars had become more reliable and many people were
traveling west, some to move
there, others to experience
the wide open spaces of the
western states. Mirroring the
trend that was popular with
many motels of the era, the
Wigwam had a look all its
own. In this case, each room
was designed to look like an
American Indian teepee. The
teepees had a distinctively
western look, and while they
were masonry in construction, unlike those actually
built by Indians, in appearance, they reflected those of
the Native Americans.
We thought that it would
be fun to spend a night at
the Wigwam, and experience what it was like to stay
at the same motel that was
new when Harry Truman
was President of the United States. And in the spirit of the Wigwam Motel, we
decided to take our trusty
106
1967 Chrysler Town and
Country station wagon, the
kind of vehicle that was the
choice of travelers, especially those with families, in that
era. Since the Wigwam was
only 17 years old when the
Chrysler was built, it would
be a period perfect vehicle to
take on this mini trip. After
calling earlier in the week
and making a reservation,
we drove about 80 miles to
where the Wigwam is located on Route 66 in San Bernardino, arriving on a hot,
sunny Saturday afternoon.
After checking in, we parked
the big Chrysler next to our
wigwam, and checked out
the accommodations.
The wigwam is quaint,
and retains much of the
charm that has made it popular for so many years. The
wigwam we stayed in had two
queen size beds, with wood
wheel style head boards,
further lending a western
motif to the room. While it
is smaller than the average
of cars that had
been abandoned in
the desert by their
owners when they
had broken down.
One 1940 Chrysler coupe even had
a pair of legs sticking out from underneath it, as though
the owner was trySeveral old cars dotted the landscape around
the teepees, furthering the desert west theme
ing to repair it and
of the motel. The Town and Country provides
continue on down
a stark contrast to the forlorn look of these dethe road. After lookcrepit vehicles that were once someone’s pride
ing at the Chrysler,
a joy.
there was no doubt
in our mind that
this was one Mopar
that had seen better days. It’s a good
thing that it was a
mannequin laying
underneath, rather
than a real person,
because the Chrysler wasn’t going
anywhere anytime
It appears that someone is working under this
1940 Chrysler. I hate to be the one to tell him, but soon. Several oththe chances of getting it running again and head- er old cars dotted
ing back down the road are slim to none.
landscape, including a 1935 DeSoto
room in a modern motel, it is
sedan, a 1962 Ponmore than adequate, and the
tiac Tempest convertible, an
size and shape with the taearly ‘50’s GMC panel truck,
pered sides lend an intimate and a 1962 Dodge Custom
flavor to the surroundings.
880 that was virtually comA small window on each side plete and could easily be
allows you to look outside saved.
while providing privacy.
Over the years, the WigWe drove around the wam Motel has seen numerproperty which is dotted with ous upgrades, such as a built
palm trees and nice grassy in swimming pool, air condiareas in stark contrast to
tioning in each wigwam and
barren rocks around the pe- today, each teepee even have
rimeter of the property. Conhigh definition television
tinuing the western theme, and Wi-Fi. But the unique
several old vehicles are per- appearance and charm that
manently parked on rocky made the Wigwam so dissections. They reminded us
tinctive when it was first
107
built remains. When the day
drew to a close, the neon
lights over the small office lit
up announcing that this was
the place to “Get Your Kicks
On Route 66,” while lights
on poles illuminated the teepees in setting sun.
As an added treat, after
sunset, the manager invited the guests to join him in
making S’mores and roasting marshmallows over a fire
pit. The flames were crackling as they cast orange and
yellow reflections against the
guests while they enjoyed a
pastime that reminded many
of something they did with
their parents when they were
children on a camping trip.
Needless to say, the unique
atmosphere and interaction
between the manager and
guests at the Wigwam Motel was a welcome difference
compared to simply spending a night in a sterile room
at a generic brick and glass
motel.
We thoroughly enjoyed
our stay at the Wigwam Motel, and plan on going back
again. The next time you are
traveling the highways and
byways of America, consider staying at an older motel
from a bygone era. The experience is completely different, and will add another dimension to your journey.
SOURCE BOX
Wigwam Motel
2728 W. Foothill Blvd.
San Bernardino, CA 92410
Phone: 909-875-3005
www.wigwammotel.com
About the Wigwam
History of the
Rialto, CA
Wigwam No. 7
“California Here I Come!”
Disney’s Pixar film Cars
brings a new storyline for
all ages by touching on the
past, historic Route 66. The
director has done a fantastic job of itegrating Route
66 icons into the animation,
ones that you’ll find our your
66 trip! The Wigwam Motels
will be one of them, shown as
the Cozy Cone Motel in the
animation, which is a blend
of the Wigwam Motel, Blue
Swallow Inn and Roy’s Cafe.
The Movie is also a definite
eye-opener to the current
Route 66 issues that include
of preservation, rehabilitation and tourism topics.
The California Wigwam Motel was built within the city
limits of San Bernardino in
1949, a period when citrus
groves
flourished. The motel would later
acquire a Rialto postal address, creating
confusions as
the
property
actually sits in
San Bernardino. This Route
66 Motel is fun
for all, located
only
minutes
from
Colton,
Grand Terrace,
Redlands, Big
Bear, Highland,
Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, and Bloomington, CA.
This location would mark
the final of 7 Wigwam Motels
that were constructed. The
motel’s village-style arrangement of nineteen 30-foottall tepees made from wood
framing, concrete and stuco draws much admiration from all generations.
Each individual wigwam
is carefully equipped with
all the traveler’s essentials
with grounds that includes
of grass area, an outdoor
barbecue grill and kidney-shaped swimming pool.
The mastermind behind this
retro motel was a clever man
by the name of Frank Redford, who was heavily influenced by the native Indian
culture. He would bring his
imagination to a reality in
the early 1930’s.
A total of only seven Wigwam
Motels were built throughout
the nation, of which three
managed to remain pre-
served. Two of the last three
remaining rest along historic Route 66 in the states of
Arizona and California, while
the other rests in Redford’s
home state of Kentucky.
ual tourist cabins usually
emphasized the attractions
of the region; for example,
mock colonial houses in New
England, adobe huts in the
Southwest, and thewigwam
in Kentucky.
The remodeled classic motel
continues to live on going on
its 65th anniversary through
the support of car enthusiasts, families, foreigners,
historians, preservationists,
roadies, tourists, travelers
and many others for generations to come. Share a
piece of history with your
friends and family by surprising them with a unique
stay in a historic Wigwam!
The Wigwam: Concept to
Reality
The coming of the automobile broadened the concepts of recreation and leisure. Unlike travel by train
- for decades the most common means of long-distance transportation used
by Americans - motoring
could be, itself, part of a vacation, not just the means
of reaching a destination.
In the early 1920s, “autocamping” became the rage,
and campgrounds sprang
up all over the country. By
the end of the decade, however, the camps’ latrines
and common showers, and
the increasing patronage by
itinerants brought about by
the onset of the Depression,
made these facilities less desirable for many motorists.
The next step was the cabin
or cottage camp, or the proto-motel. The tiny individ-
Frank Redford turned his interest in Native American
history into a business in
1933 when he built a teepee-shaped building near
Horse City, Kentucky, to display his collection of relics.
The following year he added
a group of teepee-shaped
cabins to entice visitors to
stay the night and named it
“Wigwam Village.” Redford
obtained a patent for his innovative building design in
1937, and that same year he
constructed a second village
in the northern outskirts of
Cave City, Kentucky, near
Mammoth Cave National
Park. By the early 1950s,
seven wigwam villages had
been built in the south and
southwestern United States.
The typical wigwam village consisted of individual
teepee cabins placed around
a larger teepee which served
as an office and lobby. The
18 steel-and-concrete tepees
of Cave City’s Wigwam Village No. 2 vary only in size
and number of windows. At
52 feet tall and approximately 35 feet in diameter, the gift
shop and office is the largest.
Each of the
15 sleeping
units is approximately 25 feet
in diameter
and has two
windows.
The
exterior
walls
are painted
white
accented with
a bright red
jagged lower edge at
the top of
the cone, a
bold zig-zag
band encircling the building halfway up the wall, and
a narrow zig-zag band with
small triangles along the
inner edge of the window
openings and marks similar
to exclamation points at the
corners. In the narrow bathrooms created by a partition
at the rear of the sleeping
units, the floor is covered
with red-and-white tiles and
the walls and stall shower repeat the zig-zag motif.
Four slender metal poles
project from the top in imitation of branches of wood.
wam Village No. 2 exemplifies
a unique type of architecture
created for automobile travelers along the American
roadside. It is one of the
most historic forerunners
of a practice that has been
referred to as place-product-packaging - the commercial use of architectural
imagery denoting product
or regional design characteristics by service-oriented establishments along
the American roadside. The
motel placed items in the
room that patrons could
take home as souvenirs.
These items, including ashtrays embossed with images
of teepees, served as advertisements as well. The gift
shop sold t-shirts and miniature plastic teepees. In addition, teepee-shaped signs
along Kentucky’s highways
advertised Wigwam Village.
The golden age examples
of roadside Americana began
to disappear in the 1960s
and 1970s as a result of the
burgeoning Interstate system. Superhighways took
most of the tourist traffic
away from the smaller U.S.
roads like Rt. 66 and Rt. 31,
and the motels along these
routes began to go out of
business. The Wigwam Villages were no exception: Today, only three of the original
motels remain: Cave City,
Kentucky; Holbrook, Arizona; and Rialto, California.
This history was provided by
the Wigwam Motel website
www.wigwammotel.com
In its fanciful emulation of
an Indian encampment, Wig-