Dec 2013. pdf

JEEP WRANGLER FIVE STAR AT CARS & COFFEE IN SO-CAL
MUSCLE CAR AND CORVETTE NATIONALS
MOPARS ROCK THE SHOW!
HOW-TO: INSTALLING A CUSTOM REAR SPOILER
ON A 2011 – 2014 CHARGER
DECEMBER 2013
A MR. NORM’S SPORT CLUB
PUBLICATION
ON THE COVER: Mr. Norm’s Dodges front and center at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals.
Photo by Howard Benjamin
DECEMBER 2013
IN THIS ISSUE
Editor’s Page……………………………………………………………………………………………....4
Mr. Norm’s Corner………………………………………………………………………………………..6
Cover Story: Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals…………………………………………………..8
Holiday Specials………………………………………………………………………………………...14
Product Spotlight………………………………………………………………………………………..18
Millennium Musings: Dart Mods……………………………………………………………………...19
Mr. Norm’s Member Ride: Unpredictable II………………………………………………………....20
Tech Page: Mr. Norm’s Speedway Rear Spoiler……………….…………………………………..30
Women’s World………………………………………………………………………………………….34
West Coast Report………………………………………………………………………………………36
But Wait, There’s More…………………………………………………………………………………40
Editorial
Publisher/Founder: Mr. Norm
Editor: Larry Weiner
Mgr. Editor : Deb Murphy
Editorial Assistant : Debbie Weiner
Contributors: Linda Mandalas, Howard Benjamin, Andrew Schultheis
Dealer Sales
East Coast: Mike Staveski
Midwest: Bob Longstreth
West Coast: Steve Temple
PENTASTAR POWER IS PUBLISHED MONTHY BY MR. NORM’S SPORT CLUB
P.O. Box 381 / Highland Park, IL 60035 / (760) 630-0547 / [email protected] / www.mrnorms.com
Editor’
Confessions of a Car Guy
I
’ve been a car guy my
entire life. From the time
I was old enough to hold
a Crayon, I was drawing
pictures of cars. Likewise, toy
cars fascinated me as a child,
and I began playing with
them at a very early age. Every time we went for a ride in
the family car, I watched everything my father did intently, such as when he shifted
the manual transmission
from gear to gear, when he
started braking for a stop
light, or even how he set the
emergency brake. As an example, when I was about five
years old, my father parked
his 1949 Chevrolet two door
sedan on a hill. For whatever
reason, after he got out of the
car, it started to roll down the
hill. My mother, who was sitting in the front passenger
seat didn’t drive, and had no
idea what to do. I was in the
back seat, jumped in front
and pulled up the parking
brake handle with both
hands and stopped the car.
The first actual driving
experience I had was in a
1951 Chrysler Windsor
Deluxe. My grandfather was a
dyed-in-the-wool Chrysler
man, and when he purchased
a new 1957 Chrysler, my parents inherited the ’51. One
day when I was nine years
old, we drove to the local
Walgreens to buy some ice
cream. I waited in the car,
sitting behind the big white
steering wheel pretending to
drive. When my father re-
turned, he got into the passenger seat and said “do you
think you can drive home?”
Without hesitation, I said yes.
The keys were in the ignition
and he said, “go ahead and
start it up.” I scooted forward
on the seat so that I could
reach the clutch pedal and
pushed it down, checked to
make sure the Chrysler was
4
in neutral and started the engine. While he did not let me
drive the Chrysler home, he
was impressed that I knew
how to push down the clutch
and put the transmission in
neutral before starting the
engine. That Sunday, he took
me to a big empty parking lot
in an industrial area that was
closed for the weekend and
gave me the first of many
driving lessons.
But I was still very young,
and had to wait until I was
’s Page
16 years old to get a driver’s
license. So in the interim, I
continued to draw pictures of
my favorite vehicles and by
the early 1960’s began building plastic car models. In
those days, the average 1/25
scale car model by AMT, Revell, Monogram or Jo-Han
cost $1.95. To make money
to buy models and paint, I
mowed lawns in the summer,
washed neighbors cars and
shoveled snow in the winter,
earning enough to support
This is a great time of year to
relive wonderful memories, and
even make some new ones.
my hobby. I spent many happy hours building models,
and even installed shelving
on the walls of my bedroom
so that I could display them
after they were built.
In 1962, HO scale slot car
racing took the country by
storm. The local hobby shop
was a short walking distance from my house, and I
spent lots of time racing Aurora Model Motoring slot
cars on their track. Ford
Motor Company sponsored
the races and every Thursday evening there was a
competition. As I recall, to
enter the competition, you
had to race a slot car with a
Ford body. Needless to say,
I was there every week, and
while I did not win the competition, it was great fun
and I made many new
friends.
At the time, we raced
what were known as
“vibrator” cars. They ran on
AC current, were not very
fast, and required constant
adjustment to keep them
running their best.
In
1963, Aurora released the
new Thunderjet-500 slot
cars that ran on DC current.
These were much
faster, required far less
5
maintenance and were more
fun to race. Along the way, I
saved up and bought an Aurora HO slot car racing set
and would also race at home,
especially in the winter when
it was cold and snowy outside. Like many of my
friends, we raced slot cars
and built models until we
were old enough to get a
driver’s license, at which
time we moved on to driving
and working on real cars.
During the holidays, I often find myself reminiscing
about when I was young and
everything in life was new
and an adventure. This is a
great time of year to relive
some of those wonderful
memories and even make
some new ones. So each year
between Thanksgiving and
Christmas, I unpack the
original slot car set I bought
back in 1965, clean the contacts on the tracks, take the
old slot cars out of the original plastic boxes and relive
the good old days. I may not
be getting any younger, but I
am still young at heart.
Wishing you and yours a
wonderful holiday season.
Larry Weiner
Mr. Norm’s Corner
W
e just finished up the
grand
celebration of our
th
50 Anniversary at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals. It was quite a year starting in Las Vegas and the
MCACN was a great way to
wind up 2013. The show was
busier, better than ever and
seems to grow by leaps and
bounds every year. The best
show cars from across the
country end up in the Chicago area every late-November
along with the manufacturers and a whole lot of vendors selling just about anything you’d need to finish up
the most esoteric show car.
The criteria to get into
the this show is so high, the
MCACN borders on “by invitation only,” that’s how spectacular the cars are and how
popular the show has become. It’s like the Kentucky
Derby and Indy 500 all rolled
into one – no half-way, no
wanna-be’s, nothing but the
best. There were so many
cars at the show, the only
way they could fit them all in
was by making the aisles
smaller which just increased
the sense that every enthusiast in the universe was in
Chicago that weekend.
When they opened up the
One of the great enthusiasts we met at the MCACN this year.
doors at 9 a.m. Saturday,
Nov. 23, morning, people
rushed in with such passion,
you’d think the show organizers were giving something
away. Though I don’t do the
“Black Friday” thing, I can
imagine the early morning
openings at WalMart wouldn’t have held a candle to the
opening frenzy of the
MCACN.
For us, the reception was
great. They put us right in
the middle of the hall on the
main aisle and the folks that
came up were just as warm
and friendly as the folks
we’ve met all through the
year. I know car enthusiasts
are the best fans in the
6
world; I know because I’m
pretty sure I’ve met every
one of them.
Now that we’re finishing
up the big 5-0, I’ve got something to share. We started up
with Dodge back in 1963 at
the corner of Grand and
Spaulding in Chicago. But, it
was 65 years ago that we
started selling used cars out
of my dad’s gas station. I
was 16. Eight years later, in
1957, we sold our first performance car, a 1956 Chevy
convertible with a 265 and a
stick shift that I sold on consignment. That car and that
year also marked the beginning of Mr. Norm. We put a
little two-line ad in the paper
and none of our full names
would fit in those two lines.
So, I became just Mr. Norm.
We sold that car so fast it
would have made your head
spin and kept getting responses to that ad long beyond the time the Chevy left
the lot.
That was how the egg developed, so to speak. The day
that car rolled off our lot was
the day I swore we wouldn’t
sell anything but performance cars, no station wagons, no fat sedans, nothing
but 4-on-the-floor muscle.
Obviously, the idea
worked out well. Pretty soon
Chrysler heard about us and
we turned the gas station/
used car lot into the most
successful Dodge dealership
in the United States.
I’ll be turning 80 pretty
soon and am convinced that
what keeps me full of energy
is meeting all the folks at
these shows. I’ve said before,
going out to everywhere from
Pennsylvania to Minnesota to
Canada, is my way of saying
thanks. What I realized this
year is that the new people
we meet come up to shake
my hand to thank me for
helping to keep the idea of
high performance alive and
thriving.
One thing I’ve done these
past few months is give out
free memberships in the
7
Sports Club. Those new freememberships get a 10percent discount on any purchase through our website
and all our regular members
will be renewed for a full
year, for free, plus they get a
full 15-percent discount.
Just don’t forget to give us
your membership number so
we make sure you get that
discount.
If you think the last 50
years have been exciting, just
wait for the next 50 – now
we’re really going to step out.
Here’s wishing everyone a
warm and wonderful holiday
and I’ll see you next year!
Cover
Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals:
Celebrating Performance, American Style
Story and Photos by
Larry Weiner
I
have been attending car
shows most of my life. I
always enjoy the shows,
regardless of size or location, whether they are held
indoors or outside, and take
each on their individual merits. Among the shows I have
attended during the past five
decades, there are a small
handful that have left a lasting impression on me. One of
those is the Muscle
Car and Corvette Nationals
held each year,
the weekend before Thanksgiving at the Stephens Center in
Rosemont, Illinois,
west of Chicago .
The Muscle Car
and Corvette Nationals, also known
by its initials as
MCACN, specializes in
presenting
vintage
muscle cars the way
they looked when they
were new, and, in my
opinion, is the finest
show of its kind. Regardless of your brand loyalty,
there are always spectacular cars on display, and this
year was no exception. Bowties, Indians and Rockets
shared the floor with Blue
Ovals, Mercury’s and of
Above: Part of the Mr. Norm’s vehicle display
Dodge, along with the Serial Number 1 Mr. Nor
sold new at Mr. Norm’s Kawasaki. Left: Sign
Spaulding Dodge
course Mopars of all kinds, from
Max Wedge and Hemi powered brutes to multi-carbed,
small block powered TA and
AAR E-Bodies. Vehicles from
American Motors are also
proudly displayed at the
8
MCACN, and this year
they included a nice
array of AMX’s, Javelins and Gremlins. Of special interest was the oneoff concept 1971 AMX that
was built by Dick Teague
when he was Vice President of Design at AMC.
Each time I attend the
MCACN, I feel like the proverbial kid in a candy
Story
store. Aisle after aisle is
packed with spectacular
muscle cars, most of which
have been lovingly restored
to Day 1 or Day 2 condition.
This show is like a giant new
car showroom loaded with
every muscle car you ever
wanted. It’s the closest you’ll
get to a real time machine;
included 1971, 1972 and 1973 GSS Demons that were all sold new at Grand Spaulding
rm’s 50th Anniversary GSS Challenger. The display even included a motorcycle that was
n for the 1972 GSS Demon even includes copies of the original paperwork from Grand
9
walking the floor is like being transported back to the
‘60’s. Of course, one look at
my reflection in the mirror
gloss paint of the cars is a
sobering reminder that I am
way past being the teenager
I was when they were fresh
off the showroom floor.
The quality and variety of
the muscle cars on display
this year certainly rivaled
those from previous years.
And in addition to the hundreds of fine vehicles from
Ma Mopar, the General and
FOMOCO that glistened in
colors like Furious Fuscia,
Marina Blue and Grabber
Yellow, there was a special
display of Dodges, most sold
new at Grand Spaulding,
chosen to celebrate Mr.
Norm’s 50th Anniversary.
The
display included
Challenger T/A’s and GSS
Demons along with a ’69
Hemi Charger 500 and even
a Polara Max Wedge with
stack injection that provided
a vivid contrast to several
Below left: 1970 Plymouith
Super Bird: right: Vitamin
C 1969 Hemi Road Runner
late model Mr. Norm’s 50th
Anniversary
Supercharged
GSS
Challengers
and
Chargers. These vehicles,
along with many other Mopars from Grand Spaulding
Dodge that were on display
at the show demonstrated
the incredible influence that
Mr. Norm has had on muscle
car performance for 50 years
and counting. Of course Mr.
Norm was “in the house” all
weekend, signing autographs
and visiting with enthusiasts
as he celebrated the 50th Anniversary since he started
Grand Spaulding Dodge in
1963. Mr. Norm was the
main attraction for the Mopar contingent at the show,
and his booth was chock full
of Grand Spaulding Dodge
memorabilia from the era
when he was known as the
King of High Performance.
Other special dealer displays of vehicles from the era
were excellently presented,
including outstanding cars
from Nickey, Baldwin Motion,
Yenko, and Shelby. In addition, there were numerous
racing vehicles on display,
including the 1964 Mercury
Comet A/FX that was campaigned by Gary Dyer and Ed
Rachanski, Fred Hurst’s A/G
flip nose Cuda, Bill Jenkins’
Chevrolet Vega Pro Stock
and an amazing group of Super Stock Pontiac Catalinas.
In addition, Don Grotheer
was at the show along with
his original 1968 Hemi Cuda
Pro Stock and 1969 A-12
Road Runner.
And if looking at row after
row of restored muscle isn’t
enough to get your attention,
the area with the latest muscle car barn-finds had hordes
of enthusiasts turning green
with envy, wishing that they
Tamara Fitzgerald polishes the mags on her Mr. Norm’s 50 th Anniversary GSS
Challenger. This is the first time Tamara ever displayed her Challenger at a
show and walked away with the Gold Street Stock Modified Award.
1963 Dodge Polara Max Wedge. Look for an in-depth feature on this car in an
upcoming issue of Pentastar Power
had found these long lost
nuggets of gold. This year
featured the largest group of
barn-finds
ever
at
the
MCACN, and included such
Mopar gems as a ‘71 Hemi
Cuda Convertible, a ‘70 Hemi
Road Runner, the actual
Reid Whisnant 1972 Hemi
Duster Pro Stock and a Panther Pink ’70 Challenger T/A,
10
just to name a few!
The Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals also has become the show where many
builders and enthusiasts debut their latest restorations,
and this year was no exception. Ken Mosier debuted
several recently completed
vehicles, including a gorgeous
B-5
Blue
1969
This B-5 Blue 1969 Charger R/T Hemi 4 Speed was sold new at Grand Spaulding Dodge and restored by The Finer Details.
It garnered 995 points out of a possible 1000 in show judging.
Charger 500 equipped with a
426 Hemi and a four speed
that garnered a whopping
995 points out of a possible
1000 in judging. In the Baldwin Motion display, Joe Oldham, who was the editor of
Hi Performance Cars Magazine back in the 1960’s unveiled a recreation of his original 1969 Baldwin Motion
Phase III 427 Camaro. This
was the Camaro that was
featured in the Wild West
style “Wanted” magazine ads
for Motion Performance that
year.
As if all of the classic
muscle cars aren’t enough,
this is a great show to see old
The Muscle Car and Corvette
Nationals is like a giant new car
showroom loaded with every muscle
car you ever wanted. It’s the closest
you’ll get to a real time machine;
walking the floor is like being
transported back to the ‘60’s.”
11
1969 Dodge 440 Six
Pack Super Bee in F-6
Green
friends and make new ones.
Among the people we visited
with at the Muscle Car and
Corvette Nationals were Phil
Painter, who puts on the Mopars at the Strip show in Las
1958 DeSoto Firesweep
12
Vegas and Ed Buczeskie
from Chryslers at Carlisle.
Legendary funny car hot
shoe and supercharger guru Gary Dyer who
was at the show with the ’64 Comet he raced
that year before he teamed up with Mr. Norm
came by to visit. Even Arnie “The Farmer”
Beswick, whose Tameless Tiger Pontiacs
faced off against Mr. Norm’s Super Charger
funny cars on numerous occasions stopped
by to say hello to Norm, prompting the two of
them to ham it up for photographers.
Rounding out the MCACN was a nice size
swap meet/vendor area where you could find
obscure NOS parts on display along with
more common reproductions. Always interesting was the vintage literature available for
sale, and one vendor even had muscle car era
license plates still in their original wrappers.
In addition, there were several professional
artists who were selling beautiful portraits of
muscle cars that were suitable for framing.
And if you didn’t have enough garage space
for another project vehicle, there were several
large die cast displays where you could find a
miniature edition of your favorite muscle car
and showcase it in your man cave alongside
some of the brightly lit neon signs that were
for sale.
If you’re into vintage Detroit muscle, there
is no better indoor show than the Muscle Car
and
Corvette
Nationals.
With over 500 vehicles on display, you
can be sure that
your favorite brand
will be well represented, and you
might even get a
chance
to
see
some
cars
up
close and personal that you may
not have seen
since they were
new. And after
looking at all of
these vehicles,
you might catch
the bug to find
that long lost
car of your
youth, or build
one just like it.
Don Grotheer’s 1969 A-12 440+6 Road Runner Super
Stock next to his factory B029 SS/A 1968 Hemi Cuda.
Plum Crazy 1971 Demon leads a row of Mopars
All original 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda
No matter what, if you have not attended
the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals yet,
then this is one show that you need to put on
your list.
Check out Mr. Norm’s website (www.
mrnorms.com) for more photo coverage of the
Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals.
Motion Performance magazine ad from 1969 that
features Joe’s original Camaro.
13
Mr. Norm’s
GIANT
Holiday Sale!
Save 20% on parts, accessories and
vehicle packages
With Christmas just around the corner, Mr. Norm wants to help
you make it the best ever. To help you celebrate, Mr. Norm is offering all Sport Club Members a whopping
20% off on parts, accessories and vehicle packages featured
in the Parts Section on Mr. Norm’s website at www.mrnorms.com*
Don’t wait! Take advantage of this special sale and get the cool
parts, accessories and vehicle packages you want for your favorite
Mopar today. There’s nothing better than your favorite car parts
under the tree on Christmas morning.
Be sure to tell all of your Mopar friends about the sale. If they
sign up now, they can take advantage of these great savings just
in time for Christmas too.

Note: With the exception of wheels, wheel and tire packages
and fenders with gills.
No other discounts can be applied to sale price
Offer expires December 24, 2013
14
Here’s a sample of some of the products available
on the
Mr. Norm’s Holiday Sale
CHALLENGER FUNTIONAL HOOD
PIN KIT
MR. NORMS LOGO CALIPER
COVERS
CUDA STYLE GRILL FOR
CHALLENGER
CHARGER SPEEDWAY
REAR SPOILER
MR. NORM’S 50TH ANIVERSARY
CHALLENGER
MR. NORM’S GSS CUDA PACKAGE
15
MR. NORMS PISTOL GRIP SHIFTER AUTO
MR. NORM’S PISTOL GRIP SHIFTER
RAM LOGO DIFFERENTIAL COVERS
CHALLENGER QUARTER SCOOPS
MR. NORM’S GSS
CUDA BILLBOARDS
Go to Mr. Norm’s website at www.mrnorms.com
and check out all of the parts, accessories and
vehicle packages available for your vehicle
16
Mr. Norm’s 20% Off
GIANT
Holiday Sale
Mr. Norm’s Banners for your man cave
8 different banners to choose from, made from, made of
Check out the Mr. Norm’s
Store on the Mr. Norm’s website at
GRAND
SPAULDING
DODGE MUSCLE CAR
www.mrnorms.com
MAGAZINE
ADS
to view and order all of the
banners.
17
Product Spotlight
Mr. Norm’s LED Signs
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. LED signs are the
latest thing, and use far less electricity than
conventional lights or neon.
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. They’re only
$199.00 plus shipping and make a great
Christmas gift for your friends. Go to
www.mrnorms.com, click on the Mr. Norm’s
Store button and order yours today!
Available in 11.5” x 16” size, the Mr.
Norm’s LED Signs are perfect for showcasing
your favorite vehicle or choose from Mr. Norm
Ram Logo Aluminum Differential Covers
Mr. Norm's Ram Logo Aluminum Differential Covers enhance the appearance of your
Ram, while offering increased oil capacity for
lower operating temperature and longer differential life.
The covers are produced using a low pressure casting method that result in a high
quality, light-weight aluminum part. Each
cover features heavy duty construction that
provides superior heat dissipation and increased lubrication.
Mr. Norm’s Ram Logo Aluminum Differential Cover kits include all stainless steel hardware. In addition, unlike the stock cover, the
Mr. Norm’s Ram Logo Cover is machined for a
drain plug, eliminating the need to remove the
cover to drain the oil. The kit also includes a
magnetic drain plug.
Mr. Norm’s Ram Logo Aluminum Differential Covers are available for 1994 thru 2014
Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 trucks in both two
and four wheel drive and with applications for
front and rear axles. The covers are available
in the following finishes: Polished, Sand Blast
Natural and Black. Racers net for the sand
blast natural covers start at only $ 260.00.
Call 760-612-6365 or go to www.mr
norms.com, click on Mr. Norm’s Parts Button
and orders yours today.
18
Millennium Musings
Dart Mods
Story and Photos by
Andrew Schultheis
I
n the November issue of
Mr. Norm’s Pentastar
Power, I discussed the
2013 Dodge Dart I recently got and how this car
relates to the new generation
of car enthusiasts. The transition from a V8 muscle car
in the 60s, to a tuner-like 4
cylinder today reflects the
change in car styles from
generation to generation.
Long gone are the days when
young men like me could buy
a gallon of gas for 25 cents,
or modify a car with simple
hand tools instead of relying
on a computer.
During the last month, I
have begun customizing my
new Dart. So far I have done
three things to personalize it.
The first visual mod I did
was Plasti Dip the stock alloy
wheels black, which is the
same color as the car. This
gave it a pretty mean look.
Plasti Dipping may not be
something that everyone is
familiar with because it is a
relatively new process. Basically it's like spray painting
without the risk of messing
up because Plasti Dip is a
sprayable rubber that can be
peeled off at any time. If you
decide that you want to
change the color of your
wheels, no problem; just peel
off the rubber coating and
spray on a different color! In
this case, to accent the
wheels, after spraying the
black Plastic Dip, I peeled
away the rubber on the center cap to expose the chrome
plating.
The next mod was lowing
the Dart with a set of Eibach
Sportline springs. Although I
am not certain of the exact
amount of drop, just looking
at the Dart, I'd say it's at
least 2- to 2.5-inches lower
than it was. I was very happy
with the improvement, con-
19
sidering that stock, it looked
pretty high and dry. One reason I chose springs over a set
of coil overs was the more
affordable price, but also because the springs achieve
the look and ride I was looking for while enabling me to
drive down the country roads
where I live with no problems. The Dart not only looks
better now, but the handling
is definitely improved with
the Eibach springs.
The third mod this month
was also functional, and enhanced the performance of
the engine. I installed an Ingen cold air intake which
slightly improved the power;
they claim about a 7horsepower increase. With
the Ingen intake, I figure the
Dart is sitting at about 167
horsepower right now —
don't laugh. Another bonus
of the cold air intake is the
sound it makes when you get
on it. It sounds like it's burning more rice than a Chinese
buffet!
All in all, I'm pretty happy
with the modifications I've
done so far to the Dodge Dart
and look forward to doing
many more in the near future. The next item that I
have plans for is to have the
windows tinted, along with
maintenance on the gas
door. Apparently, some people don't understand that
you can't pull open an automatic gas door by sheer force
and it was damaged.
In closing, thanks for
reading my column again
this month and remember
Mopar or no car!
Unpredictable, I
After hundreds of hours of work
bringing the body back to better than new
condition, the Plymouth is reassembled
with keen attention to detail and award
winning results. This is truly one Plymouth
that’s better the second time around.
By Larry Weiner
Restoration photography
by Howard Brook
Studio Photorgaphy
Richard Truesdell
T
he 1971 Plymouth
B-Bodies
were a radical departure from the
1968 – 1970 models. Following the design theme of the
new for 1969 C-Body cars,
the 1971 Satellite, Road
Runner and GTX coupes featured what Chrysler called
20
“Fuselage” styling.
With
their rounded contours and
coke bottle sides, they were
far more voluptuous than the
preceding generation.
Following GM’s lead, the wheelbase for the coupes was now
shorter than the sedans and
station wagons. In addition,
the coupes had unique sheet
metal from front to back that
was far more dramatic than
the more conservative appearance of the sedans and
wagons.
Last month in Part 1, we
covered the acquisition of the
1971 Plymouth Satellite Sebring by Howard Brook, and
why it was such a memora-
II
Applying the Sherwin-Williams Planet Color B-5 Super Blue
ble car for his wife Anna.
While the seller was fairly
truthful about the condition
of the Plymouth, like so many
vintage cars purchased sight
unseen other than photos, it
had some unexpected issues
that had to be resolved to
meet the level of build quality
that Howard and Anna were
striving for. After carefully
disassembling the Plymouth
in his home garage, Howard
had the body flat bedded to
Aero Collision and Fabrication in Lancaster, New York
where it was placed on a rotisserie. Once every inch of
the body was sandblasted to
bare metal, all of the rust ar-
The body of the Plymouth in the booth just after the application of the basecoat
Color sanding the body parts
21
eas were cut away and replaced. Each replacement
section was then MIG welded
in place, using great care not
to warp the sheet metal.
Needless to say, after carefully reviewing the body, nearly
every panel required work,
but in the end, the sheet
metal was meticulously
brought back to better than
new condition.
Next the body was
wheeled into the spray booth
and epoxy primer was applied to every surface. Following the primer, Ken’s crew
block-sanded the body using
180–220 grit paper to insure
that every panel was straight.
The next step was spraying
the body with polyester primer and sanding it with 400–
600 grit paper. Once Ken and
his team were satisfied the
body was absolutely perfect,
they applied the SherwinWilliams Planet Color B-5
Super Blue base coat. After
curing, the paint was blocksanded using 600 grit paper,
followed by covering the body
with Sherwin-Williams clear.
Once the clear was dry, the
body was block-sanded starting with 1000 grit paper, progressing to 1500, 2000 and
finished with 2500 grit paper.
Finally the body was buffed
out to a brilliant shine.
While the body of the
Plymouth was being massaged, Howard sent the
bumpers to Advance Plating
in Nashville, Tennessee
where, like the body, they
were stripped and 40 years of
bumps and bruises removed
in preparation for show
chrome. Likewise, Stainless
Trim Restoration in Depew,
New York restored the stainless trim to better than new
Left front fender after clear coat
Complete car painted, color sanded and buffed out, with doors, hood and trunk lid
installed
condition. And while all of
this was being done, Howard
and Anna worked with Legendary Auto Interiors to restore the seats and door panels to better than new condition using GTX specific materials and patterns.
SSBC rear disc brakes installed
22
SSBC billet master cylinder and power booster installed.. Also note the
Classic Tube stainless steel brake lines.
Dynamat strips installed on floor. Note that the clutch and brake pedal assembly and brackets have been installed. This must be done prior to installing the dash.
Following the completion
of the paint, color sanding
and buffing, Ken and his
crew reinstalled and aligned
the front fenders, doors,
hood and deck lid. At this
point, Howard installed a
spare rear end and leaf
springs under the back and
strapped a four wheel dolly to
the K-Member so that the
body could be flat bedded
back to his home garage for
reassembly.
Once back home, Howard
and Anna started by replacing the spare rear end with a
fresh 8 ¾ along with new
Eaton Detroit leaf springs, Ubolts and shock absorbers.
Next, they installed a complete set of Classic Tube
stainless steel brake and fuel
lines, along with an SSBC
billet master cylinder, proportioning valve and a power
booster. This was followed by
installing an SSBC rear disc
brake kit that features red
powder coated calipers and
Big Bite slotted rotors. The
original fuel tank was refurbished and also installed at
this time.
Inside the vehicle, rather
than use reproduction factory insulation, Howard and
Anna chose a Quiet Ride Solutions AcoustiShield Thermal Acoustic Interior Insulation Kit. The kit is vehicle
specific and arrives pre-cut
and ready to install. The Quiet Ride Solutions Insulation
Kit is far superior at reducing
noise and interior heat than
what the factory used in the
Quiet Ride Solutions insulation kit installed. Also note that the heat and air
conditioning box has been installed.
23
Howard and Dave move engine and trans into position under the Plymouth
Dropping the body down over the engine and transmission
Plymouth when it was new
over 40 years ago.
Next, it was time to install the 440 Six Pack engine
that was built by Van Gordon Racing, and the Tremec
five-speed transmission kit
from Keisler Engineering.
Howard installed the clutch,
pressure plate and flywheel,
along with the throwout
bearing, bellhousing and
transmission to the engine.
Next, with help from his sonin-law Dave, Howard picked
up the fully-dressed engine
and transmission with a porta crane and bolted the front
K-member to the engine using new motor mounts. Then
they lowered the engine and
transmission on a four wheel
dolly to make it easy to
move. Next, Howard attached sturdy straps to beefy
six-inch long bolts bushed
with rubber that he bolted
securely to the front sub
frame. Howard then put the
straps on the hook of a porta
The completed dashboard installed.
crane and lifted up the body,
so that the engine and trans
could be installed from underneath the vehicle, just
like Chrysler did it on the
assembly line back in 1971.
Once the engine, transmission, transmission support and K-member were in
place, Howard installed the
front suspension, steering
and a front disc brake kit
from SSBC that matched the
rears. He then placed the
Better than new, with buckets, console and Pistol Grip Shifter
Here you can see the engine, transmission, driveshaft, exhaust system and
emergency brakes cables have all been installed.
vehicle on four jack stands
and began on the myriad of
other items, such as installing the glass, exterior
trim, graphics, bumpers, wiring and interior. The majority of the restoration parts for
the Plymouth were sourced
from Year One Inc. Rolling
stock consists of Pirelli PZero Rosso tires mounted on
Boyd’s Crown Jewel alloy
wheels
After several years and
hundreds of hours of work,
the Plymouth was completed
just in time to make its debut
at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, Cali-
On the main show floor at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California where the Plymouth debuted. Cars from all over the world compete for awards
and recognition at the GNRS. While the competition was tough, the Plymouth
beat every other car in its category and was awarded First in Class.
fornia where it captured First
in Class.
440 Six Pack installed and
ready to rumble. Howard
located a set of vintage Cal
Custom aluminum valve covers. They provide the perfect finishing touch to the
engine and were very popular with enthusiasts when the
Plymouth was new.
25
Follow along with the
photos and see how this one
time daily driver evolved into
an award winning muscle car
that Howard and Anna take
out and drive whenever the
weather in New York is sunny and bright.
MR. NORM SAYS
TIME’S RUNNING OUT
THE DEADLINE TO ORDER A MR. NORM’S 50TH
ANNIVERSARY GSS CHALLENGER OR CHARGER ENDS
ON DECEMBER 31.
ALL COLORS AND MODELS AVAILABLE
SUPERCHARGED 5.7 & 6.4 HEMI’S AVAILABLE
THERE ARE THREE WAYS TO GET A 50TH ANNIVERSARY MR. NORM’S
GSS CHALLENGER OR CHARGER.
1. PICK OUT THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY GSS CHALLENGER OR CHARGER
YOU WANT FROM INVENTORY AT A PARTICIPATING MR. NORM’S
DEALER.
2. PICK OUT A STOCK CHALLENGER OR CHARGER AND HAVE IT UPGRADED INTO A MR. NORM’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY GSS EDITION.
3. IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A CHALLENGER OR CHARGER, YOU CAN UPGRADE IT INTO A MR. NORM’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY GSS EDITION.
DON’T MISS OUT ON YOUR CHANCE TO OWN A
MR. NORM’S 50TH GSS CHALLENGER OR CHARGER
CALL 760-630-0547 TODAY
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
OF PERFORMANCE
PROVEN KNOW-HOW
2013 MR. NORMS 50TH ANNIVERSARY
GSS CHALLENGER
In 1963, Mr. Norm opened Grand Spaulding Dodge and high performance has never
been the same. Celebrating this milestone, in conjunction with Mr. Norm’s 50th
Anniversary National Tour, we are proud to announce the limited edition 2013 Mr.
Norm’s 50th Anniversary GSS Challenger.
MR. NORM’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY
GSS CHALLENGER
INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING EQUIPMENT
EXTERIOR
● Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary Signature GSS Challenger Gold Body Side Vinyl Graphics
● Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary GSS Challenger Gold Hood Graphic
● Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary GSS Fender Emblems
● Mr. Norm’s Quarter Panel Scoops
● Mr. Norm’s Windshield Banner
● Hurst Equipped Badge
INTERIOR
● Mr. Norm’s / Katzkin Premium Leather Seat Covers and Center Arm Rest Cover
● Your choice of Black or White Leather
● Leather Seating Surfaces with Gold Top Stitching
● Perforated Leather Inserts
● Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary Gold Emblem Embroidered on Front and Rear Seat Backs
● Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary Gold Emblem Embroidered Logo Plush Carpet Mats
● Mr. Norm’s Serialized 50th Anniversary Dash Plaque with Unique Number
● Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary License Plate
● Hurst Comp Stick Automatic Shifter on Challengers equipped with automatic transmission
● Mr. Norm’s Logo Pistol Grip Shifter on Challengers equipped with manual transmission
MR. NORM’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY
GSS CHALLENGER
INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING EQUIPMENT
CHASSIS
● Hurst Stunner 20 Inch Custom Wheels Machined w/ Anthracite Accent*
● Sizes: Front: 20” x 9”
Rear: 20” x 10”
● BF Goodrich G-Force Sport Comp 2 High Performance Tires
● Sizes: Front: 245/45ZR20 Rear: 275/40ZR20
● Chrome Lug Nuts and Preloaded TMPS Sensors
● Mr. Norm’s / Hotchkis Performance Lowering Springs**
● Mr. Norm’s / Hotchkis Performance Front and Rear Sway Bars
Mr.
Norm’s Embossed Red Powder Coated Caliper Covers
*Note: Vehicle in photos is shown with custom painted wheels
**Note: On cars equipped with Self Leveling or Nivomat rear shocks will need to be replaced with Bilstein shocks Mopar part number 68072165AB
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
● Mr. Norm’s Sport Club Decals (2)
● Mr. Norm’s Grand Spaulding Deck Lid Emblem
● Personal Letter of Congratulations from Mr. Norm
● Vehicle Registered in “The Original Grand Spaulding Dodge Registry” in 50 th Anniversary Section
● 8.5” x 11” Mr. Norm’s Certificate of Authenticity for Framing
1
Year Membership in Mr. Norm’s Sport Club
Package price is 8495.00
CALL 760-612-6365 AND RESERVE YOURS TODAY
THE MR. NORM’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY GSS CHALLENGER
From The
Original Mr. Norm’s Grand Spaulding Performance Products Division
Tech
Mr. Norm’s Speedway Rear Spoiler
A Spoiler that
really puts the
“charge” in
Charger
By Larry Weiner
T
he new Charger is
a
really
good
looking
modern
muscle car. And
with the exception of the
Chrysler 300, the Charger is
the only full-size rear wheel
drive sport sedan manufactured today by an American
car company. For those of us
who thrive on performance,
the fact that in addition to
the standard V6,
the
Charger
is
available with your
choice of a 5.7 and
6.4 Hemi engine is
the icing on the
cake. While the
new Charger is a
thoroughly modern
vehicle, some of
the design cues it
features evoke images of the fabled
and highly desirable 1968 Charger,
such as the cove
on the sides and
simulated scoops
in the hood. And,
like most muscle
cars of all eras, the
new Charger is an
excellent
canvas
for
personalization. Whether you
want to enhance the Charger
with custom wheels, lowered
suspension or a supercharger for real hold onto the
seat of your pants performance, there is an endless
plethora of parts and accessories available for this popular car.
A great place to start is
with the addition of a rear
spoiler. Base models of the
Charger are not equipped
with a spoiler from the factory, while the R/T and SRT-8
come with a pedestal spoiler. But what the Charger really needs is an aggressive
spoiler that can amplify the
impressive wall-to-wall tail
lights that are reminiscent of
the tail lights on a 1969 and
30
1970 Charger. Mr. Norm offers the Speedway Rear
Spoiler, a three piece urethane rear spoiler that’s easy
to install and will dramatically change the look of the
back of the Charger, while
also adding some length to
the side profile.
Join us as we install a
Speedway Rear Spoiler on a
Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary
GSS Charger. It’s easy to install, and will make your
Charger look like it’s ready to
hit the high banks at Daytona or show its taillights to
would be competitors as it
races to the finish line at the
‘strip.
Page
Tools and general materials required: Acetone or Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK),
Burgundy 3M #7447 Scotchbrite pad, cleaning cloths
There are four steps for
this installation:
1.Removal of factory
spoiler and test fit the Speedway Rear Spoiler
2.Preparation of the parts
for paint and painting
3.Installation of the double face tape
4.Installation of the spoiler.
STEP 1: Removal and Test
Fit
Remove the factory rear
spoiler if vehicle is so
equipped
Tape over holes in deck
Photo 1
lid from factory spoiler as
shown in Photo 1.
Test fit the 3 piece rear
spoiler to verify fit.
Do not prep or paint the
parts until test fitting is complete.
Note1: Urethane parts
might seem to be slightly distorted upon test fit. If so,
place them in the sun topside up (if a warm day) or in
a warm area, with a support
underneath the part in ap-
proximately 70-80 degrees F,
for 2-3 hours and it will return to its original shape and
become more flexible.
Note 2: The center of the
rear spoiler may not appear
to line up with the third
brake light on trial fit. This
is normal for this part.
When correctly installed, the
opening for the brake light
will align properly.
STEP 2: Preparation of Urethane Parts for Painting
Note: Using acetone or
MEK and a clean cloth, clean
the tape flange surface on
the back of each part where
the double sided tape will be
applied. Using 1” masking
tape, apply the tape 1/8” below the top edge of the part.
This will protect the tape
flange from getting contaminated during the prep and
paint process.
This process is following
an
approved Sherwin Williams procedure and materials.
Consult with your paint
supplier/paint professional
for equivalent materials and/
or procedures.
Wash the paintable surfaces with a heavy duty detergent degreaser such as
Castrol Super Clean, Palmolive liquid dish soap, red hot,
and USP90 scuff gel, using a
gray scuff pad until the part
is dull and then rinse thoroughly.
Sand across item with
400 grit or finer paper and
check for imperfections. Repair as needed
Re-wash with heavy detergent degreaser and USP90
31
scuff gel or Palmolive liquid
dish soap using gray scuff
pad to remove any residue.
Rinse thoroughly and wipe
dry with a lint free towel.
Wipe item down using
SC159 plastic and anti-static
cleaner with lint free towel.
Spray item with UPO7227
plastic adhesion promoter.
Spray item with P30 sealer base coat then clear coat.
Do not oven bake parts
above 100 degrees F.
The parts should be well
supported during any heat
cycle to avoid the flexible
part from warping.
STEP 3: Installation of the
Double-face Tape
Perform in a warm area
above 70 Degrees
Remove 1” masking tape
from the backside of the
parts that protected the tape
ledge during the painting
process. After the parts have
been prepped and painted,
the double face tape should
be applied to the part. The
tape is not pre-installed on
the parts prior to shipping
because the tape can be contaminated during the sanding, priming and painting
process.
Looking at Photos 2, 3
and 4 on the following page,
notice the area where the e
installed onto the “tape
ledge”.
Remove any paint over
spray on the tape area of the
part with MEK or acetone
and if needed use 3M #7447
Scotchbrite burgundy pad.
After paint over spray is re-
Photo 2
Photo 4
Photo 3
moved, wipe tape ledge with
a clean cloth and acetone.
Clean the tape ledge on
the inside of the part with
MEK or Acetone.
Rough up the tape ledge
using 3M burgundy Scotch-
brite pad that has been
dipped in MEK or Acetone
and then wipe clean with the
MEK or Acetone.
Apply the provided 3M
adhesion promoter, #4298,
onto the part and PRESS the
tape on with the handle part
of scissors.
Allow the part to set with
the tape applied for about 30
minutes – this will help the
curing process, before installing the product on vehi-
Photo 5
Photo 6
Photo 7
STEP 4: Installation of
the parts
Note: Perform in a warm
area of 70 degrees
The parts need to be
warm which will increase its
flexibility and the ease of
installation
termine the center of the
deck lid at the 3rd brake
light and check fit edges to
confirm correct spoiler
placement at edge of trunk
lid as seen in Photo 6
Set the part in place and
slowly pull the red liner
from the tape and press the
part snuggly into position,
starting at the middle of the
spoiler at the third brake
light and working outward.
Carefully clean the area
which the tape will contact
the vehicle with acetone or
MEK.
Looking at Photo 5, de-
Photo 8
Pull all the ends of the
tape red back liner outside
the edge of the part so you
can easily pull them when
the parts are in place as
seen in Photo 7
Photo 9
Fit rear spoiler end caps
to vehicle. Align to fender
edge & center of spoiler as
seen in Photos 8, 9 and 10.
Photo 10
32
What’s under your
By Linda Mandalas
T
he holiday season is
quickly approaching.
Are you ready? I'm
sure this is a question that everyone is asking.
As I am writing this, Christmas is just around the corner and I am wondering
what will be under my tree.
What big box will I be able to
unwrap and play with? The
excitement is building!
I starting asking people.
“what are you looking forward to getting this year?”
and a surprising answer was
given. It was not the "norm"
— money, clothes, the latest
gizmo-gadget or thing-a-mabob — it was, are you ready
for this, AN AUTOMOBILE!
That's right, about 85
percent of everyone I asked
was hoping to get a new vehicle! Now when I say new
that means everything from
a brand spanking new vehi-
cle to a fresh, pre-driven vehicle. Most everyone I spoke
with would love to find that
showroom beauty, fresh
leather-smelling, odometer
showing only five miles — in
short, a real sparkler sitting
in their driveway come the
morning of December 25.
However, with today's world
being what it is, many know
that is not going to happen.
That being said, many are
turning towards those gently
used, one-owner, only-driven
-to-the-grocery-store, lowmile ,well-kept vehicles.
There is no need to wait
until after the busy holiday
season to get your loved one
that special ride he or she
has been wanting and waiting for. It is a known fact
that you will get a much better deal on a new or predriven vehicle if you shop
close to the holiday season
instead of waiting until later.
Studies have shown that ve34
hicle prices will usually hit
their lowest average of the
year in the weeks from
Thanksgiving to the first
week of January.
I focused on the women
that I spoke with, because
women always ask for the
best presents. Many of the
women say they have already started to drop the
"hints" of what they would
like. Whether it’s a Plum
Crazy Dodge Charger or a
Rock Lobster Jeep Wrangler,
they are making a list and
checking it twice. They say if
they start the process early
they know they will get the
"present" they are looking
for. These women say that
knowing what they want is
an asset when it comes to
getting what they want, so
they do their homework.
Women have found that
the holiday season is a great
time to buy a car. They have
found that some of the best
deals are to be made at the
end of the calendar year because most car new and
used car dealers are trying
to clear out inventory. With
the holiday season, it’s like a
WIN-WIN-WIN. They are going to get the vehicle they
want, the dealers will be
moving inventory and the
sales people will be meeting
their monthly goals. See,
everyone is happy! Isn't this
what it’s all about anyway?!
When it came to the men
I spoke with, they also men-
Women’s World
tree this holiday season? Merry ho-ho-ho!
tioned that having a new or
nearly-new Hot-Rod in the
driveway would be nice. But
they were also eager to suggest the gifts for the
"Gearhead" in the family,
meaning themselves. I was
not surprised to hear some
of the choices on their list.
I’m eager to share them with
all of you, just in case you
are in need of last minute
"stocking stuffers." Several
men mentioned a nice pair of
Mechanix Wear Fabricator
Gloves to help protect their
hands while tinkering in the
garage. This next gift they
said was as much for the
women as it is for themselves, it’s for protection: a
quality Highway Emergency
Tool Set to keep in the trunk
so you are ready for anything and everything when
out on the road; jumper cables, tools, flares and even a
shovel. Everyone knows how
important it is to a man to
keep his Hot-Rod looking
good, so many would like to
find a Car Detailing Kit
wrapped up under that tree!
Here are some Car Shopping Tips for everyone this
season:
Stay in the shopping
mood. Get quotes from several dealers for the model
you want. You can do this in
person, but if you do it via
email you'll have a written
record and more time at
home with your family.
Start your post-holiday
diet later. Try not to negotiate or sign anything when
you're tired or hungry.
You're more likely to miss
the fine print or stop negotiating so you can go home.
Shop for financing before banks close for the
holidays. The dealer might
offer the best loan, but you
won't know for sure until
you check around. Getting
insurance quotes may also
be more convenient before
staffers go on vacation and
offices close.
It's deal time. The new
models have just come out,
so pre-owned vehicles have
just seen their largest drop
in values for the year. The
year-end is coming, dealers
need to reduce inventory,
and business is relatively
slow. Translation: auto retailers will have their most
aggressive prices, and the
staff will have time to be attentive to your needs.
Special Delivery. Have
the dealer include a BIG red
bow, then sneak the vehicle
out and park it in a special
place. Wrap the key in a jewelry box. You can always
have the dealer hold the vehicle until you are ready for
the big day.
Capture the moment.
Be prepared to take a picture
right when they figure out
35
they received a car for
Christmas. It will probably
be a much better “reaction
shot” than when they taste
Aunt Ethel’s fruitcake.
Have FUN. You should
enjoy picking out the car as
much as they will enjoy receiving it. Have a happy holiday season.
So, no matter if you are
looking for that perfect Holiday Gift for yourself or that
special someone in your
life...the HOT trend we are
seeing is that people are
wanting to untie the bows
and rip off the wrapping paper and wake up Christmas
morning and take a spin in
that automobile from your
special Santa!
**I just had a special little
HO-HO-HO thought.....a really great extra this Holiday
Season would be to give
someone a Membership to
Mr. Norms Sport Club. Trust
me, they will be glad you did.
My last thoughts.....may
all of you have a safe and
wonderful Holiday Season,
May the Spirit of the Holidays
be with you throughout the
New Year and remember that
Family and Friends are a
wonderful part of this and
every Season!
West Coas
California
Car Culture
O
ne of the benefits
of living in Southern California is
that, thanks to the
mild and predictably nice
weather, outdoor shows and
events are held all year long.
Among the weekly events are
several “Cars and Coffee”
shows held every Saturday or
Sunday morning. Enthusiasts arrive as early as 6 a.m.
and usually by 9 a.m. the
party is over and everyone is
heading out. The attendance
at some of the Cars and Coffee get-togethers is nothing
short of amazing, with hundreds of enthusiasts showing
up, driving vehicles of all
kinds. What always amazes
me at these events is that so
many people show up at the
crack of dawn, hang out for
an hour or two and then
split.
A couple of weeks ago, we
attended the Cars and Coffee
in Irvine, California. Held
every Saturday morning at
what was originally the Ford
Premier Auto Group Headquarters, this event has
grown significantly over the
36
years and is now a regular
destination for many car enthusiasts who live in the
SoCal area. The show attracts cars and trucks of all
kinds and as long as you
have a special interest vehicle, you are welcome to park
in a show area large enough
to accommodate several hundred vehicles. We showed up
driving the 2014 Jeep Wrangler FIVE STAR at the SEMA
Show and were curious what
kind of attention this vehicle
would attract. To say that we
were surprised would be an
understatement.
From the moment we
pulled up to the entrance,
there were people all over the
st Report
purposeful
looking
Jeep. With its 3-inch
Rancho lift kit and rolling stock consisting of
35-inch BF Goodrich
off- road tires mounted
on 20 x 10-inch Vision
Off Road Fury black
alloy wheels, the Jeep
towered over nearly
every vehicle. We carefully threaded our way
through the cars and
attendees, finally finding a spot on the back
row next to a trio of
late model muscle cars
that included a Challenger, a Camaro and a
Mustang. While the
show was loaded with a
dazzling array of vehicles, the only Jeep
there was the FIVE
STAR.
While I thought nobody
would be interested in a
Jeep at a show where wild,
often very expensive, cars
are the norm, I was wrong.
From the moment I jumped
to the ground, people began
asking a myriad of questions. How high was the lift,
what size were the tires, how
did it drive, is it fun and the
best question asked by several people was “is the FIVE
STAR a new factory model,
‘cause I want one?”
After answering all the
questions, we walked the
show to see what was there.
As expected, there was
something here for everyone.
From vintage and late model
muscle cars to exotic foreign
sports cars, the variety was
endless. There were numerous antiques and classics in
attendance, such as a very
rare 1942 Packard Clipper
sedan, and a real 1962 Ferrari 250 GT California, the
same kind of car that was
featured in the movie “Ferris
Bueller’s Day Off.”
One thing that amazed
me was how many new 2014
Corvettes were there. While
there were dozens of them at
the SEMA Show, General
Motors has a significant
presence at SEMA and I
wasn’t surprised. But here,
there were nearly a dozen
factory fresh ‘Vettes whose
owners showed up for nothing more than a cup of Joe,
a donut and a chance to
show off their latest prize
possession. There were also
several Vipers in attendance,
but unfortunately, no new
ones. Other Mopars on display included a nice 1973
37
Challenger
Rallye
that
looked like a legit survivor.
While it was far from perfect,
it did look like the real deal.
A 1968 Coronet 500 also
stood out and looked for all
the world like an old Day 2
car with its chrome Cragar
S/S mags, headers and
Hurst Shifter.
In closing, it was fun to
get up early, head out in the
Jeep Wrangler FIVE STAR
and get attention at a show
where it’s not always the
most expensive cars that get
the attention, but the ones
that dare to be different.
There may have been lots of
new Corvettes in attendance,
but there’s no doubt that the
FIVE STAR was a one of a
kind at Cars and Coffee that
day, and everyone noticed.
But Wait, There’s More
The End of an Era
D
uring the 1960’s,
the muscle car era
looked
like
it
would never end.
With the highly anticipated
debut of new cars each year,
Chrysler, General Motors and
Ford continually one-upped
each other by offering more
extreme performance packages than they had the preceding year. Larger and larger
engines, often in smaller,
lighter bodies, resulted in
cars that were capable of
quarter mile times and
speeds that had would have
been unthinkable only a few
years earlier. At times, it
seemed as though the party
would never end. But two
major issues brought the
muscle car era to its knees.
The first was the escalating cost of car insurance,
which by the early 1970’s
had become so expensive
that it was unaffordable for
many young enthusiasts, often times preventing them
from purchasing the car of
their dreams. In particular,
vehicles equipped with large
displacement engines took
the biggest hit from sky high
premiums as insurance companies targeted them with a
vengeance. The second was
new federal emissions legisla-
tion set to
take effect
in
1973
that would
make
it
difficult, if
not impossible for many muscle car engines to meet the more stringent standards. The solutions
the factories would be using
to meet the new laws included lower compression, retarded timing, leaned out carburetors and restrictive catalytic converters, each of which
reduced performance.
The hand writing was on
the wall. Proof of this was
the discontinuation of the
famed 426 Hemi and the 440
Six Pack at the end of the
1971 model year. Mr. Norm
knew that many of his customers were young, and subject to the prohibitive insurance rates that were being
levied on big block Mopar
muscle. Norm further realized that to stay ahead of the
curve in the late performance
market segment, he would
need to create a wild small
block package that offered
big block power in a lightweight A-Body, and he had
just the car in the new for ’71
Demon 340.
39
In 1971, Mr. Norm debuted the GSS 340 Six Pack Demon. Inspired by the success
of the one year only Challenger T/A, the GSS 340 Six
Pack Demon offered similar
performance in an extremely
affordable vehicle that circumvented the onerous insurance premiums being levied on the big block BBodies. For 1972, Mr. Norm
upped his game, taking the
same 340 Demon and installed a Paxton supercharger, along with a raft of
go fast goodies. The result
was the GSS 340 Supercharged Demon, a wicked
compact that struck terror in
the hearts of the owners of
big block mid-size muscle
cars, and at a fraction of the
cost. To say the GSS 340 Supercharged Demon was huge
success, and continued to
bolster Mr. Norm’s lock as
the leader in performance,
Pentastar style, is an understatement. As the sun set on
the muscle car era, Mr. Norm
went out in a blaze of glory.