Nov 2013. pdf

WE DISCOVER THE SECRET CAR CLUB
IT’S SHOW TIME!
2013 SEMA SHOW COVERAGE
HOW-TO: GEAR VENDORS OVERDRIVE FOR ‘66-’70 B-BODY
NOVEMBER 2013
A MR. NORM’S SPORT CLUB
PUBLICATION
NOVEMBER 2013
IN THIS ISSUE
On the Cover: 2013 SEMA Show, Las Vegas Convention Cener’s Central Hall show floor
Editor’s Page .............................................................................................................................................4
Mr. Norm’s Corner ....................................................................................................................................6
Cover Story: IT’S SHOW TIME, the 2013 SEMA Show ...........................................................................7
Product Spotlight....................................................................................................................................10
Mr. Norm’s Feature Vehicle: History Repeats Itself .............................................................................12
Millineum Musings..................................................................................................................................19
Mr. Norm’s Member Ride, Unpredictable ..............................................................................................21
Holiday Specials .....................................................................................................................................27
Tech: Gear Vendors Installation ............................................................................................................31
Women’s World.......................................................................................................................................37
West Coast Report ..................................................................................................................................40
But Wait, There’s More ...........................................................................................................................43
EDITORIAL
Publisher/Founder
Editor
Managing Editor
Editorial Assistant
Contributors
DEALER SALES
Mr. Norm
Larry Weiner
Deb Murphy
Debbie Weiner
Linda Mandalas, Howard Benjamin
East Coast
Midwest
West Coast
Mike Staveski
Bob Longstreth
Steve Temple
PENTASTAR POWER IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY MR. NORM’S SPORT CLUB
P.O. Box 361, Highland Park, IL 60035, (760) 630-0547, e-mail [email protected], website, www.mrnorms.com
Editor’s Page
Moving Indoors
I
t’s that time of the year
again, when in many
parts of the country, the
season is signaling the
switch from outdoor to indoor
shows. As we adjust to cooler
temperatures and the inclement weather that autumn inevitably brings, indoor shows
provide a place where we can
continue to display our vehicles or simply get out and enjoy a car show, regardless of
the weather.
On those cold, rainy or
snowy days when many of us
are suffering from cabin fever,
indoor shows provide a great
destination. It’s nice to have
somewhere to go on a bad
weather day, especially when
it’s a building full of cool cars
that you can spend hours
walking around and looking
at. And what’s even better is
when the show has a vendor
area with lots of parts and literature to look at. A person
could get lost for hours just
picking through old parts,
looking for that elusive gem, or
flipping through boxes full of
vintage car literature or even
stacks of old car magazines.
When we lived in Illinois,
there were many indoor shows
we attended and participated
in over the years. Some were
large, like World of Wheels,
which in those days was held
in Chicago at McCormick
Place, next to Lake Michigan.
I can remember exhibiting at
World of Wheels during years
when it was brutally cold, and
the harsh wind coming in off
the lake would cut through
layers of clothing like a knife.
You could even get pneumonia
during setup at McCormick
Place, because the staff would
leave the huge overhead doors
open all day so vehicles could
enter the building. The wind
Mr. Norm’s Red Xpress Dodge Ram in the Dodge Exhibit at the San Diego Auto Show.
4
would blow in the cold
outside air, simply overwhelming the heating
system on the show floor.
Many times, it would be
so cold in the building
that you would have all of
your winter clothes on
while you were setting up
your display, or simply
cleaning and detailing
your vehicle.
In addition, there are
also many smaller shows,
some of which are held in
new car dealerships on
Sundays when they are
closed due to local or
state laws. The dealers
who host the shows often The Mr. Norm’s Challenger made an appearance at the Chicago Auto Show as part of
clear out the entire build- the Dodge Exhibit
ing, including the service
areas so that
the
building
can filled to
capacity with
a wide range
of vehicles on
display. Sometimes, if there
is insufficient
room inside,
hardy vendors
will set up
their
wares
outside
for
those
determined enthusiasts who refuse to be denied going to a new car show can
So, as we move forward tothe chance to look for a tough be an exciting way for the en- ward the holidays and the end
to find part, or simply partake tire family to spend what of the year, don’t let the less
in the thrill of the hunt.
might otherwise be a boring than perfect weather get you
Also, did you ever notice day stuck in the house. And down. Even if you can’t drive
that nearly all of the new car while going to a new car show your favorite Mopar much for
shows are generally held in may not have the same allure the next few months, you can
the late fall or winter? Since today that they had back always display it, or simply
new cars are generally re- when all of the vehicles looked attend some indoor shows to
leased in the fall, the manu- new each year, these shows fuel your passion until the refacturers know that people still provide a venue where a turn of warm, sunny days.
might not be inclined to go person can look at multiple
window shopping for a new makes and a wide variety of
vehicle in bad weather, but vehicles all in one place.
On those cold, rainy or snowy days when many
of us are suffering from cabin fever, indoor
shows provide a great destination.
5
Norm’s Corner
W
ell, this is about
the time we start
looking back at
the year that’s
ending as a way of clearing the
decks for an even better year
to come. It’s a good time to
count our blessings and 2013
has been full of them.
We started the year with
our big Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary celebration by introducing the Mr. Norm’s 50th
Anniversary packages for the
Challenger and Charger as
well as the Mr. Norm’s Rumbler Ram pick-up. That in itself was a good start for this
year, but an even better sign
of things to come was when
Ken Mosier, one of the vintage
Mopar restorers in the country, stepped up and bought
the Serial Number One 50th
Anniversary GSS Dodge Challenger on the spot.
We had an especially good
show season this year. While
it’s hard to pick out a favorite,
if forced, I’d say the highlight
was getting back to the MoparFest of Canada show in
New Hamburg, Ontario about
an hours-drive from Toronto.
It was a real weekend event
with vendors, great show cars,
huge crowds and possibly one
of the most well-organized,
professional operations I’ve
ever been a part of. The hospitality was great and we had a
chance to visit with a lot of
folks. One enthusiast who really stood out was a guy with
three perfect GSS Darts, in
red, white and blue.
I first went to the MoparFest in 1999 and was glad to
go back; so glad in fact that I’ll
be there again next summer.
We’ll be posting our show
schedule in late-winter so our
Sport Club members can plan
on hitting some of the premier
shows on their summer vacations.
The show that came a close
second to the MoparFest was
the Mopar Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, just a week or
so before our trip to Canada.
The Big Daddy of all Mopar
shows started with a little
drizzle but that’s par for the
course in the Midwest and
didn’t slow down the show car
people, the vendors or the
folks who just come, from all
over the world, every year. We
were set up next to Fairfield
Dodge with the latest member
of the Mr. Norm’s hot, new vehicles, the Warlock. Fairfield
also brought a Jeep Wrangler
Five Star and the 50th Anniversary GSS Challenger, all
three vehicles were true show
stoppers.
At every show we attend,
there are always folks who
come up to chat and tell us
their stories from the drag racing era. One fellow we met remembered particular races we
participated in at the Dragway
on U.S. 30.
Check out our Christmas
specials on page 25 and think
how happy the enthusiast(s)
in your family will be when
they see one of our specials
under the tree this year. We
6
looked at our products, packages and memorabilia sales
over the last year and decided
to put the most popular items
up for sale through the Christmas season.
We’re also running our Mr.
Norm Sport Club member deal
through the holidays. It’s sort
of what they call a retro deal:
new and renewed memberships get a 15% discount on
all purchases on the website
and a free T-shirt. That’s pretty much the same deal we had
20 years ago.
That’s it for this month.
We’re late coming out because
we wanted to feature SEMA
Show coverage with our members. But, December’s magazine will be coming to you the
first of next month.
We hope everyone has a
great Thanksgiving. In my
travels this summer, I’m seeing that folks seem to have
more to be thankful for. There
are more smiles out there than
there’s been in a while. Want
to know what I’m grateful for?
Your friendship, loyalty and
that you are a member of the
Sport Club that I started back
in 1963 to celebrate performance and encourage enthusiasts to have fun with their
cars. Last of all, thanks for
taking time during this busy
holiday season to read this
magazine. I look forward to
seeing you all next year.
Cover Story
2013 SEMA
SHOW
THINK OF IT AS
A REAL LIFE
SUMMIT RACING
CATALOG — AND
THAT’S JUST
FOR STARTERS!
Text and Photos by
Larry Weiner
M
ost enthusiasts
have heard of
the
SEMA
SHOW,
re a d
about it in magazines and on
the internet, or seen videos
and television programs
about it. It’s the ultimate
show for all things automotive. Held once a year, usually during the first week of
November in Las Vegas, it
must be seen to be believed.
If an item has anything at all
to do with cars or trucks, it
will probably be on display at
the SEMA SHOW.
Unlike
enthusiast car shows like
Chryslers at Carlisle, Monster Mopar Weekend or
Goodguy’s events, the SEMA
SHOW is a trade show that
was created specifically for
automotive industry professionals.
The SEMA SHOW started
out as a small trade show in
1967 that was held in the
basement of Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles. That first
The Scat Pack brings back memories of the 1960’s, and this model wearing
white Go Go Boots played the part to perfection. Sharp eyed readers will
spot Steve Magnante, a Hot Rod Magazine alum standing behind the
Charger.
Post war Dodge Job Rated ½ ton panel truck was restored to perfection
7
A bird’s eye view (above) of the Grand Lobby area of the SEMA Show. At right Wheels, wheels and more wheels! The South
Hall at the SEMA SHOW was teeming with wheels in all shapes, sizes and designs. Here’s a photo of just some of the custom wheels on display in the Vision Wheels exhibit
year, there were 98 exhibitors, largely comprised of
speed equipment manufacturers such as Edelbrock, Isky Cams, Moon Equipment,
Cragar Wheels and Hedman
Headers.
They displayed
their products on fold up
card tables, and along with
the products, there were five
vehicles on display that year,
including a Ford GT40 and a
drag race prepared Dodge
Dart. The original name of
the organization was the
Speed Equipment Manufacturers Association, which reflected the type of products
that the member companies
manufactured and sold. From
such humble beginnings, the
SEMA SHOW has grown beyond what any of the exhibitors back in 1967 could have
ever imagined.
Today, reflecting the fact
that virtually anything auto-
This spectacular 1970 Challenger R/T (left) was restored by the Ken Mosier’s talented crew at The Finer Details in Indiana. It
was displayed in the Mopar exhibit with the new Shaker equipped 2014 Challengers. At right This late model Ram looks race
ready for some off road competition
8
Jeep Wrangler FIVE STAR was also displayed in the Vision Wheels exhibit.
Many attendees commented that they thought it was a new 2014 Jeep
Wrangler factory model.
motive is displayed at the SEMA SHOW, and the acronym
“SEMA” now stands for Specialty Equipment Market Association. The SEMA SHOW is
jam packed with exhibitors
from all over the world, whose
goal is to promote, demonstrate and create awareness
for their products with everyone from industry movers and
shakers to business owners,
automobile dealers and restylers. In addition, many of
the manufacturer’s exhibits
feature customized vehicles
that showcase the products
they offer. And speaking of
vehicles, many of the leading
automobile manufacturers
exhibit at the SEMA SHOW,
and their displays can rival
those seen at major automobile shows. The major difference is the displays are filled
with concept and tricked out
vehicles of all kinds, instead
of bread and butter family
cars seen at consumer shows.
Needless to say, there’s something for everyone at the SEMA SHOW. If you were not
space. Outside, there are
about 1000 vehicles of all
kinds on display, in addition
to even more exhibitors, many
with wildly painted and
wrapped eighteen wheelers,
making it look like more like
the pits at an NHRA national
event than a trade show. But
wait, there’s more! There are
also action events outside,
with Corvettes and Mustangs
screaming around corners on
mini race tracks all day, every
day of the show, while celebrities like Chip Foose and R.
Lee Ermey sign autographs
for people who wait in long
lines for hours.
Needless to say, the SEMA
SHOW can be a little overwhelming, even for those of
us who have been involved in
the show for decades and it
requires advance planning to
make the most of the event
and not walk yourself into the
ground. So sit back, relax,
and check out some of the
high points of the SEMA
SHOW right here. We’ll focus
on Mopar related vehicles and
displays, of which there were
plenty to see.
able attend the show, take a
few minutes and join us as we
cover the premier event that
many of us plan our entire
year around.
Imagine a show held in
four halls, covering more than
one million square feet of exhibit space with 100,000 people crowding the isles looking
for the next big thing and you
begin to get a feel for the size
and scope of the SEMA
SHOW. As a further example
to
illustrate
the
size of the
show, each
isle in the
South Hall
is a quarter
mile
long, just
like a dragstrip!
If
that’s not
enough,
the South
Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary GSS-R 1000 horsepower ChalHall is two
stories tall. lenger in the Vision Wheels exhibit . Look for an in-depth
And that’s feature story on this amazing Challenger that was created
just indoor with Kenne Bell Superchargers in the January, 2013 issue of
Pentastar Power.
9
Product Spotlight
MR. NORM’S MINI CARDBOARD
STANDUP AND GRAND SPAULDING
EMBLEMS
Many enthusiasts have asked for several of the
most popular Mr. Norm’s nostalgia items to be
made available in a smaller size. These items
include the legendary Grand Spaulding Dodge
Deck Lid Emblem, the Sport
Club emblem, and the new Mr.
Norm standup. You asked for
it and Mr. Norm has done it.
Now available is a 10-inch tall
mini version of the life size Mr.
Norm’s Cardboard Standup. It
looks just like the full size original, but in a small size that
you can put on your book
shelf, desk or display with your
MR. NORM’S SIGNATURE CARBON
FIBER HEMI ENGINE COVER
The Mr. Norm's Signature Carbon Fiber Hemi
Engine Cover replaces the stock gray plastic
cover. The Mr. Norm's Signature Carbon Fiber
Hemi Engine Cover looks so good it that we
not only use it to dress up Hemi engines, we
also have one on display in the Mr. Norm's
Man Cave.
die cast cars. Also available at popular request in the new mini
size are 5-inch versions
the
famous
Grand
Spaulding emblem and
the Sport Club emblem.
Here’s your chance to
own your favorite Mr.
Norm’s items in a new
smaller size. They’re only $10.95 each and make
great Christmas gifts for
your Mopar friends. Go
to www. mrnorms.com,
click on the Mr. Norm’s
Store button and order
yours today!
provide the perfect contrast for the carbon fiber engine cover. The racers net is $ 399.95
and the Mr. Norm’s Signature Carbon Fiber
Hemi Engine Cover provides the perfect finishing touch for your 5.7 Hemi powered Challenger, Charger, Chrysler 300 or Magnum. Go to
www.mrnorms.com, click on the Mr. Norm’s
Parts button and order yours today!
This engine cover begins with an extra heavy
5.7 oz yard of 3K carbon fiber. The carbon is
laid into a high temperature gel coated tool. A
special high temperature resin system is
mixed and added, and stiffeners are inserted
in key locations. Separately, lightweight standoffs are molded to accept the OEM rubber
grommets. The fully cured and finished cover
is then bonded to standoffs using the same
adhesive used in bonding aircraft cargo doors.
Mr. Norm’s legendary signature and the raised
HEMI letters are hand painted in silver and
10
Norm’s Feature Vehicle
History Repeats Itself...
...in living color.
Mr. Norm’s 50th
Anniversary
Challenger and
Charger,
now available in all
factory colors
Dodge magazine ad for Panther Pink 1970 Charger
By Howard Benjamin
C
olors. From the very
beginning when he
started Grand Spaulding Dodge, Mr. Norm
was a big proponent of bright,
colorful cars. Whether in the
showroom or on the front line
facing Grand Avenue, Mr. Norm
always stocked a great selection
of brightly colored vehicles at
Grand Spaulding Dodge.
In the late 1960’s the powerbrokers at Chrysler decided to
capitalize on the popularity of
psychedelic colors, and, literally
overnight, wild colors on Mopars
became the norm, no pun in-
tended! And nobody loved the
new “High Impact Colors” more
than Mr. Norm, who ordered
more Challengers, Chargers, Super Bees and Demons in vibrant
colors like Plum Crazy, Hemi Orange, Panther Pink, Sublime and
Top Banana than any other dealer in the country.
When the Mr. Norm’s 50th
Anniversary GSS Challengers
and Chargers debuted earlier
this year, they were offered in
two color combinations: white
with gold and black with gold,
both of which are traditional 50th
Anniversary color combinations.
And while they are very handsome colors, it wasn’t long before
many enthusiasts began asking
12
Nobody loved the new
“High Impact Colors”
more than Mr. Norm, who
ordered more Challengers, Chargers, Super Bees
and Demons in vibrant
colors like Plum Crazy,
Hemi Orange, Panther
Pink, Sublime and Top
Banana than any other
dealer in the country.
50th Anniversary GSS Challenger in TorRed with White Graphics
about the availability of Mr.
Norm’s 50th Anniversary GSS
Challengers and Chargers in other colors, including modern versions of the original High Impact
Colors like Plum Crazy and Hemi
Orange.
Living by his motto that “The
Customer Is King,” Mr. Norm
decided that there was no reason
why enthusiasts couldn’t have a
50th Anniversary GSS Challenger
or Charger in their favorite color.
Some, like Dale Arnold, already
owned a Challenger or Charger,
and wanted to upgrade their ve-
hicles into 50th Anniversary Editions. In the case of Dale’s Blue
Streak Challenger SRT-8, Mr.
Norm created a special Silver
graphics package to complement
the color of his vehicle.
Mr. Norm listened when you
spoke and is proud to announce
that you can now order a new
50th Anniversary GSS Challenger
or Charger in any factory color.
Graphics packages are available
in Black, Gold, Silver and White
to complement every color. And
if you want to paint your vehicle
a custom color, Mr. Norm
12
has50th Anniversary graphics
that will match it. In addition, if
you want a unique custom leather interior designed especially for
your color combination, Mr.
Norm can help you with that too!
Regardless of the colors you
choose, every vehicle will be entered into The Original Mr.
Norm’s Grand Spaulding Dodge
Registry as a special 50th Anniversary GSS.
But nothing lasts forever. So
don’t wait another day, because
the Mr. Norm’s 50th Anniversary
GSS Challenger and Charger Pro-
50th Anniversary GSS Challenger custom painted Gold with Black Graphics
gram ends on December 31. Now
is the time to order a new 2014
Dodge Challenger or Charger in
the model and color of your
choice and turn it into a 50th Anniversary Serial Numbered Col-
lectible. And if you already have
a Challenger or Charger, just let
Mr. Norm know the year and
model of your car and he will create a unique 50th Anniversary
Package especially for you. Either
way, there’s no better time than
now to get your very own Mr.
Norm’s 50th Anniversary Challenger or Charger.
50th Anniversary GSS Challenger in Blue Streak
with Silver Graphics
14
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 50 TH 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
Millennium Musings
The New Dart
Is Different,
but Think of
all the
Possibilities
I
f you parked a classic
1968 Dodge Dart and a
new 2013 Dart next to
each other, it would be
pretty difficult to figure out
which one is the older and
which one was the newer car.
That, my fellow car enthusiasts, was sarcasm. The truth
of the matter is these two vehicles couldn’t be more different.
In approximately 45 years
we have gone from the original Dart that Mr. Norm modified into the legendary big
block GSS model, to a European style sedan with a 4
banger. If you’re like me, the
first time you saw the new
Dart, you were probably
thinking it was a downgrade.
After all, there’s nothing retro
about the Dart, unlike the
new Charger and Challengers,
and obviously there is a significant lack of power. However, we need to realize that
with changing times comes
changing styles. The 2013
Dart is definitely no
Toyota Prius but rather a new
breed of Mopar machines. I
hear it all the time from older
guys, “Young guys these days
just don’t like cars.”
Needless to say, this is
simply not the case; the times
have changed and the era of
cheap 32-cent a gallon gas
feeding multiple carbs is a
thing of the past. Nowadays
we have PCMs to tune when
doing performance modifications as well as fuel economy
to consider, even if the car is
geared towards performance. I
made the switch from my
2004 Dodge Ram Rumble Bee
with a 5.7L Hemi to my 2013
Dodge Dart with a 2.0L earlier
19
this fall for a variety of reasons but the main one was
better gas mileage. I’m sure
some
ignorant
car-scrub
would make the argument
that you can’t make the ladies
come running to a car whose
primary virtue is exceptional
fuel economy.
This is not really reality.
As an example, a new Challenger SRT-8 produces 475hp,
yet it still gets 21 mpg on the
highway. Compare that to a
1970 Challenger R/T with a
425 horsepower 426 Hemi
that delivered about 10 miles
per gallon.
My point is, we’re living in
the future and the technology exists to produce a car
that’s a fuel saving sedan
from the factory and a badass machine when you
drive it off the lot.
In my search for performance parts and visual modifications for the new Dart, I
realized that there’s just not
a lot out there for Dodge’s
new tuner. Maybe it’s because the car is so new, but
the fact is there’s a demand
for more aftermarket parts
for the Dodge Dart. I can
guarantee that most, if not
all owners of the new Dart
desire
more
aftermarket
choices. Therefore, I have
faith that in the near future,
more companies will start
producing parts for the Dart
as they become more popular, because even though it’s
not a muscle car, it’s still
Mopar.
Stay tuned for upcoming
modifications on my own
Dart that we will perform at
Bosak where my dad works.
Our goal is to build it into a
Dart that Mr. Norm would be
proud to call his own.
This month, we welcome
Andrew Schultheis and his
column, Millennial Musings.
Andrew is 17 years old
and a senior in high school.
He lives in Northwest Indiana
with his mom, dad and sister.
His hobbies include cars,
wrestling,
cross
country,
hunting and engineering.
Andrew’s interest in cars
may have been genetically
influenced by his father and
grandfather, both of whom
are big time enthusiasts. In
fact, you may recognize his
last name, as his dad is John
Schultheis, the new car sales
manager at Bosak Motors.
His 850 horsepower supercharged 2013 Mr. Norm’s
50th Anniversary GSS-R Challenger was the subject of a
feature story earlier this year.
Andrew has a youthful take
on cars and life and provides
a fresh perspective on our
hobby.
Does it look like Andrew has been doing front wheel drive burnouts? Might be a new generation, but some
20
Unpredictable
A Plymouth that’s better the second time around
1971 Plymouth Sport Satellite right after unloading from transporter. The Plymouth might look a little rough, but the dry Arizona climate was kind to the car. Imagine what it would have looked like after 35 years as a daily driver in New York. Can
you say Swiss cheese?
By Larry Weiner
Restoration photos courtesy of
Howard Brook
F
or many of us, the
passage of time causes us to focus on
good memories, while
simultaneously
overlooking
the bad ones. Others may say
that as we grow older, we
choose to look at the past
through rose colored glasses.
Regardless of how you phrase
it, the result is the same. As
we reflect on our youth, we
tend to recall the good times
more easily, and wax nostalgically about how wonderful
they were.
Among the things we inevitably look back on fondly is our
first car. Even if it was used
and abused before we got it,
that first car marked a rite of
passage into adulthood, opening the gateway to a new freedom we had not previously enjoyed. And if that first car was
nearly new, the experience
was even better. In 1972, Anna was sixteen and had
worked hard to save up
enough money to buy her first
car. With the help of her father, she was able to purchase
a nearly new 1971 Plymouth
Satellite Sebring with just
2,800 miles. Painted an attractive metallic blue with a
matching blue cloth bench
seat interior, the Satellite was
a heady ride for a teenager
just coming of age in the early
‘70’s.
Anna drove the Satellite as
an everyday car, and as it
21
aged, like so many cars of the
era, it had its share of mechanical problems and developed idiosyncrasies that only
Anna knew how to deal with.
This led Anna to nickname the
Satellite “Unpredictable,” since
she never knew what kind of
problems she would have with
the car on any given day. Toward the end of the time she
owned it, the 318 was burning
a quart of oil between gas fillups, the fuel gauge had
stopped working, leaving her
stranded on more than one
occasion, and even the horn
had taken to honking on its
own. Needless to say, while the
Satellite had been a good car,
the time had come to move on,
and Anna sold it in 1979.
Fast forward to 2007. Anna
and her husband Howard had
built several award
winning show cars at
home in their garage.
Howard was an industrial engineer at UPS
until he retired, but his
passion is building and
restoring cars. The
cars he has built include originals like a
Jaguar XKE to restomods like a Shelby inspired 1967 Mustang
and a rare 1959 Chevrolet sedan delivery.
One day, Howard and
Anna were trying to
decide what they would
build next and Anna
suggested
a
1971
Plymouth Satellite Sebring like her long lost
first car.
Immediately,
the
search was on, and before long, Howard had
located a 1971 Plymouth Satellite Sebring
in Arizona. The seller
said that it was a solid,
running, rust free original western car that
would be a perfect candidate for a restoration.
The photos the seller
provided looked good,
so Howard and Anna
took the plunge and
purchased the car.
When it arrived in New
York, Howard looked it
over and came to the
conclusion that it was
fairly represented by
the seller; an original,
unmolested 35 year old
car that was ready for
a complete makeover.
Rather than restore the
Plymouth as a number
matching original that
would have mirrored
Anna’s long lost first
car, Howard and Anna
decided to build it as
an upscale GTX with
some modern enhancements.
The body would
look like a factory built
GTX, right down to the
stripes, but with a
modern color.
Likewise, the interior would
also be factory correct
in white vinyl, swapping out the pedestrian
bench seat column
shift for a sporty set of
original GTX buckets, a
console and full factory
gauges. For the powertrain, Howard and Anna decided to replace
the anemic 318 with a
440 Six Pack, and the
Torqueflite with a 5
speed Richmond.
After showing the
car to Ken Pezdek, the
owner of Aero Collision
and
Fabrication
in
Lancaster, New York, it
was agreed that the
body of the Plymouth
would get a complete
rotisserie restoration,
including proper metal
repair of all dents,
dings and rust, followed by detailed prep
and two stage paint. At
this point, Howard and
Anna jumped right in
and disassembled the
car at home, being
22
Tired 318
shows
years of
use
Removing
the interior,
carpeting
and insulation revealed rust
free floors
The engine
bay after
removing
the 318 and
904 Torqueflite
Even the
trunk floor
was nice
Some
Bondo behind the
rear wheels
careful to bag and label all of the parts. In
no time flat, the car
was little more than a
roller. Prior to sending
the body off to paint,
Howard altered the
tunnel to accommodate the 5 speed
transmission, and tri-
a tired out old car into
an exciting early ‘70’s
Mopar muscle car,
along with the addition of several modern
components.
This
month we’ll focus on
the beginning of the
build, including the
metal work prior to
al fitted the new 440
Six Pack and Tremec
transmission to be
sure that everything
fit properly.
Follow along with
us as we chronicle the
journey of this 1971
Plymouth Satellite as
it is transformed from
Removing the
Bondo revealed
rusted out lower
quarters
paint.
In the December
issue of Pentastar
Power, you can watch
as this beauty is
painted and reassembled into a show winner.
Howard
stripped the
original paint
from the body
at home
Van Gordon
Racing 440
Six Pack engine in the
crate
The interior completed gutted. The
tunnel has been
cut to accommodate the 5 speed
transmission
Check fitting the
new tunnel sheet
metal for the
Tremec 5 speed.
Check fitting
the 440 and 5
speed transmission
23
The metal in
front of the rear
wheel opening
was replaced
due to rust issues.
Unpredictable
SOURCE BOX
Aero Collision &
Fabrication
975 Ransom Road
Lancaster, NY
14806
Service: Body Restoration, Paint and
Fabrication
716-685-AERO
Working the
sheet metal on
the left quarter
panel to remove
dents. Also note
that the rusted
metal on the
lower quarter
behind the wheel
has been replaced
Classic Tube
80 Rotech Dr.
Lancaster, NY
14086
Products: Stainless Steel Brake
and Fuel Lines Stop
Flex D.O.T. Stainless Steel Braided
Brake Hoses
800-882-3711
classictube.com
Eaton Detroit
Springs
1555 Michigan
Detroit, MI 48216
Product: Leaf
Springs
313-963-3839
eatonsprings.com
The right rear
quarter also
suffered from
dents and
Legendary Auto
Interiors, Ltd.
121 W. Shore Blvd.
Newark, NY 14513
800-363-8804
legendaryautointeriors.com
An entire portion of the left
cowl in front
of the door
hinges was
replaced due
to rust
Pirelli Tire North
America
100 Pirelli Dr.
Rome, GA 30161
Product: Tires
800-243-5105
us.pirelli.com
Some of the
rusted sheet
metal that
was cut off
and replaced
Sherwin-Wiliams
Automotive
Finishes
101 Prospect Ave.
N.W.
Cleveland, OH
44115
24
Product: Planet
Colors Custom
Paint
216-566-2062
sherwinautomotive.com
Stainless Steel
Brakes Corp
11470 Main Street
Clarence, NY 14031
Product: 4 Wheel
Disc Brake Kit
800-448-7722
ssbrakes.com
Quiet Ride Solutions
6507 Pacific Avenue Ste. 334
Stockton, CA 95207
Product: Vehicle
Insulation and
Sound Deadening
209-942-4777
quietride.com
Van Gordon Racing
Engines Inc.
1846 W. 11th Street,
Unit J
Upland, CA 91786
909-946-5991
vangordonracing.com
Year One Inc.
1001 Cherry Drive
Suite One
Braselton, GA
30517
Product: Restoration Parts
800-950-9503
yearone.com
Interior of the
Plymouth with
the first coat of
primer
Spraying
primer on
the bottom
of the body
Priming inside of body
Finished primer on bottom
of body
Primed body
parts after
sanding to
check for
imperfections
Primed GTX
hood
Primed body
parts after
sanding to
check for imperfections
Body in
booth ready
for first coat
of paint
24
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
27
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
28
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
29
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
heavy vinyl and include metal rings for easy mounting
Check out the Mr. Norm’s
Store on the Mr. Norm’s website at
GRAND
SPAULDING
DODGE
MUSCLE
CAR
MAGAZINE
ADS
www.mrnorms.com
to view and order all of the
banners.
30
Tech Page
GEAR
VENDORS
When You’re
Ready for Life In
The Fast Lane
By Larry Weiner
P
icture this if you
dare. A vintage big
block Mopar B-Body
in the slow lane on
the Interstate that sounds like
it’s wound way too tight while
doing little more than the double nickel. Adding insult to
injury is the space cadet in a
Toyota Prius passing this
mighty Mopar at 75 while
talking on a cell phone. It’s
enough to make a grown man
cry.
If this sounds like you and
your car, then it’s time for you
bolt on the one product that
will enable you to live life in
the fast lane where you belong. What you need is an
overdrive. Sure, the A-833
four speed or 727 Torqueflite
you’ve got backing up that
Street Hemi or 440 Six Pack is
plenty stout, but neither
transmission was offered by
This Gear Vendors install is for 1966-1970 Mopar B-Bodies with A-833 4speed manual transmission, like this 1968 Plymouth GTX 440 Six Pack Wagon.
Ma Mopar with an overdrive.
And if you’re running any kind
of a gear, the situation only
gets worse. Like you, there
was a time when I got really
fed up with riding along in formation with eighteen wheelers. The thing is, I really like
my A-833 four speed. It’s an
extremely strong transmission, rowing the Hurst Competition Plus is great fun, and
the trans had absolutely no
problem handling the power
from the 440 Six Pack.
When we restored the A12
inspired Six Pack Wagon, we
made sure that everything in
the driveline was Mopar. And
while I really wanted an overdrive, I did not want to change
the trans out for a late model
Tremec five or six speed. The
answer was simple; just add a
31
Gear Vendors Under / Overdrive to the back of the transmission and pick up an instant 22 percent overdrive.
Adding a Gear Vendors to the
big Plymouth would provide
us with the perfect final drive
ratio so we could cruise the
California freeways at the
same speed the cars in the
fast lane were running without feeling like we were beating the snot out of the 440.
Among the advantages of a
Gear Vendor is reduced engine
rpm and increased fuel economy, while a side benefit is reduced pollution. Yeah, I know
that many of you could care
less about what’s coming of
out your tail pipes, but it is
nice to know that instead of
being branded as part the
problem you can look the
green weenies in the eye and
tell them that you and your
ride are actually part of the
solution! Wanna see their jaw
drop? Just lay it on how your
70 AAR Cuda is really an environmentally respected member of society. And don’t miss
the look on their face when
they realize you that you are
more knowledgeable about reducing emissions on vintage
engines than they are.
Another great virtue of a
Gear Vendors is that it is an
extremely robust unit. It’s rated at 1200 horsepower and
can be found in dragsters that
run two speed Powerglides like
Jim Luttrell’s, who holds the
Super Eliminator Record at
1 2
Stock
driveline
prior
to installing
the Gear Ven-
204.80 mph. Another excellent example is Edward Miller’s 1970 Plymouth Duster
that ran 8.63 @ 155.97 mph
to win the Pro Street Naturally
Aspirated Category in the
2013 Hot Rod Magazine Drag
Week Competition. Not only
did the Duster win its class in
competition, but it also completed the grueling 1054 miles
between racing events. These
examples
speak
volumes
about the durability of the
Gear Vendors Under / Overdrive.
The Gear Vendors is easy
to install, and if you start in
the morning, your favorite Mopar can be back on the road
the same day. Follow along
Checking angle of transmission
5
3
with us as we install a Gear
Vendors unit in the 1968
Plymouth 440 Six Pack Wagon. Once you experience the
thrill of a Gear Vendors in
your vintage muscle car, you’ll
never be able to drive without
one again.
Oh, and the brain dead
driver in the Prius with the
cell phone; the next time this
mental midget tries to pass
you, just push the button and
engage the Gear Vendors. Now
you can put the moves on ‘em
that’ll let them see and hear
what a Mopar is capable of
while you drive past like
they’re chained to a telephone
pole. Bet they didn’t see that
coming…..
Checking the
distance from
the back of bell
housing to the
driveshaft, which indicates the length of new,
shorter driveshaft that
will accommodate the
extra length added by
4
Marking the
arms of the
Hurst shifter
to ensure
that they are reinstalled on the correct
transmission shifter
fork arms.
6
Unbolting the
U-Joint Cap
bolts
32
Removing
the
driveshaft
7
Removing bolts
from transmission mount
8
Using Gear Vendors templates to
determine clearance in tunnel for
gear splitter
10
Removing the
transmission
cross-
11
13
Removing drain
plug from
transmission.
14
33
Unbolting
head pipes
Unbolting
transmission from
bellhousing.
9
Hurst shifter arms
unbolted from
transmission
12
15
Removing
the transmission
crossmember.
Draining
transmission oil
17 18
16
20
Removing transmission
from vehicle.
thru
Separating tailshaft from transmission.
Removing speedometer gear
21
Transmission without tailshaft
housing.
22
A833 4speed
transmission with
new Gear
Vendors tail housing loosely
24
23
Tightening
the tail
housing
bolts.
25
Transmission
tunnel
needed
to be
slightly dimpled to accomodate the Gear Vendors
Transmission
reinstalled in vehicle with
new Gear Vendors tailshaft housing, prior to
installation of Gear Ven-
34
28
26
27
29
30
Splined
coupling
that mates transmission
output shaft to Gear Ven-
Installing
nuts on
Gear Vendors
mounting
bolts where it attaches to
Gear
Vendors
unit prior
to installation.
Transmission and
Gear Vendors unit
reinstalled
in vehicle.
Measuring for shimming to ensure correct fitment of Gear
Vendors input shaft.
31
New GV
speedometer drive is
mounted
on Gear
Vendors unit.
32
The GV
speedometer drive mates the factory speedometer cable to
Gear Vendors cable. This device also sends speed signal
35
33
Install the
new shorter
driveshaft.
34
Head
pipes
reinstalled.
35
Photo
showing
driveline installation
completed.
36
Routing of
Gear Vendors
speedometer
drive, along
with wiring that
connects to GV computer
mounted inside vehicle.
Thanks to the Gear Vendors, this is the view that other cars now have of the Plymouth GTX
440 Six Pack Wagon on the freeway.”
36
Women’s World
When it comes to getting herself
serviced, the choices a woman
makes might surprise you
By: Linda Mandalas
S
could substantiate it.
But I am here to tell all of
you that women no longer just
care about the shoes on their
feet. They know that the shoes
on their daily driver/family automobile are just as important,
if not more so because of the
precious cargo their automobile carries.
In today's society, there are
hundreds of facilities to choose
from: the small corner repair
shop, the mid-size chains such
as AAMCO or Pep-Boys or a
new car dealership where you
may have purchased your vehicle, such as Chrysler, Jeep,
Dodge, Ford or Chevrolet. Is
your head spinning yet?
I wanted to get a better understanding of what women
are looking for, what is important to them when they
make the decision on how and
where and who works on their
vehicle. Here’s what I found
out, and some of it may surprise you.
Women who are involved in
their communities, school organizations, volunteer groups,
church groups get much of
their information from word-of
-mouth. The women I spoke
o
many
choices,
where do we start.
When you think of
the choices women
usually make, your first
thoughts probably go towards
shoes — Jimmy Choo or Manolo Blahnik; clothes —Dolce
& Gabanna or Versace. Or
where she buys her groceries
— Jewel or Whole Foods. But
you normally don't
ask a woman how she
chooses the automotive service facility for
her vehicle.
Here in 2013, we
still face the old, but
thankfully disappearing, stigma that rears
its head when it
comes to the family
automobile,
something that was always
considered the domain of the Man of
the House. This was
certainly still the case
in the 1960's and
during the heyday of
performance at Grand
Modern, well lit area where service advisors meet with customers with pricing for
Spaulding Dodge, I’m services and rates posted on the wall. Note that there are both men and women
sure that Mr. Norm service advisors.
37
with say that any business
can advertise, but they find
that they are better off using
the service facilities that
friends, family or those community acquaintances recommend. Sometimes these facilities might not be the biggest or
even the best-known in their
area, however it is a business
that has proven it can satisfy
customers. Most women are
candid with each other. We tell
it like it is!
Many women are leery
when it comes to walking into
an automotive service facility.
They feel that they are not taken seriously and that they will
be taken advantage of. Some
women pointed out that when
they walk into a facility, the
majority of the personal, including the Service Advisors,
are men. Sometimes, these advisors make them feel, as they
put it, “stupid” when it comes
to describing what issues and
problems their vehicles are
having. One woman mentioned that she was describing
a brake noise she was having.
She said the noise was like a
"bang-bang-chrip-chrip"
sound and the man behind the
counter snickered at her. She
said “I was so humiliated I had
to walk out of there, and I never went back.”
With the times changing,
more woman are taking the
lead when it comes to their vehicles. With this thought in
mind,
our
conversations
Customer waiting area in photo is adjacent to new car showroom. It’s
clean, with comfortable chairs and couches, big screen TV , WIFI and
an amply stocked magazine rack.
weighed heavily on their need
to know, as well as have the
facility and its personnel listen
attentively when they ask
questions, which hopefully are
the right questions.
Women
today go in smart and ask
some key questions like the
following. “Will you call after
your diagnosis and prior to
completing any work, what is
your standard diagnosis fee,
do you provide a shuttle service while I wait for repairs,
what is the warranty on the
work you perform and what
types of parts will you be using during repairs,” to name
just a few. Women are more in
control than ever, and they
want to be kept in the loop
through the entire repair process. Most importantly, they
want to be listened to and taken seriously.
As I mentioned earlier, the
38
majority of Service Advisors
are men, but these women
stressed how comforting it is
to see more and more women
behind the service desk. These
women mentioned that this is
a step in the right direction in
understanding the ever growing population of female drivers, making them feel more
understood as well as their
business being appreciated.
In addition, some of the
women I spoke with say they
choose to stay at the repair
facility and wait for their vehicle. This brought up my question; “since you choose to wait
for your vehicle, what are
some of the features you enjoy
seeing at the facility, features
that make your stay pleasant?” This is where the small
things seem to mean the most.
First and foremost the
women said one of the most
important things they look for
is a clean facility. Many of the
women bring their small children with them, and it is important to be clean and safe.
The women who are accompanied by their children also appreciate the availability of a
children's play area with toys,
games, crayons...all of this
helps pass the time it takes for
the repairs as well as keeps
their little ones occupied and
less likely to be fussy.
Many women let me know
that is was also important that
the facility provide free Wi-Fi.
More and more woman today
have a fulltime job. They are
no longer just a mom; these
women bring their work with
them, lap tops and all. They
said waiting areas that offer
Wi-Fi enable them to keep up
with their work, so it is like
they are not missing a day in
the office when they need to
have their vehicle serviced. It
is amazing just how important
this feature is to them.
With customers waiting as
long as several hours to have
their vehicles serviced, the
women made it clear that
nourishment was important.
Now don't misunderstand,
they are not looking for a seven-course gourmet meal to be
served. However, it is important that there is access to
fresh brewed coffee or tea as
well as a nice choice of cold
drinks. They also stated that
having access to a nicely
stocked vending machine is
appreciated as well as free local shuttle service that gives
them access to local
restaurants.
These
women
know that not every
facility they visit
will have their best
interest at heart or
in mind. However,
they
are
smart
enough to know
what they want,
and recognize that
even if they don't
receive everything
they are looking for
the first time or at
the first repair facility, they have options and are not
A play area in the waiting room is a big plus.
afraid to find the
shop that does offer
what they are looking for.
that for a moment, that’s 17
It is so important that the customers your facility will
professionals at repair facili- never win back or have the opties listen to all of their cus- portunity to service.
tomers, women and men alike.
During my conversations,
The team behind any repair all of the women made one
facility cannot stop striving to thing clear as to why they
be the be — not just for wom- chose and stay with the Bosak
en, but for everyone who walks Motors in Merrillville, Indiana,
through the doors. Every day the dealership I work at. The
is a challenge, and this chal- consensus was that this deallenge should not be taken ership provided them with evelightly. So a word of advice to rything they felt is important,
owners of automotive repair and that they were treated like
facilities, large or small; re- family, because this dealership
member to always put your is owned and operated by the
customer first. As the old say- Bosak family.
ing goes, “One bad apple can
spoil the whole basket.”
Just a little PS......Mr. Norm
With that being said, stud- is a huge supporter of the ever
ies by one of the top marketing growing surge of women taking
research firms in the country, the lead in this ever changing
TARP, shows that one dissatis- automotive world. Thanks!
fied customer will tell 16 people about a negative auto repair experience. Think about
39
West Coast Report
I
nevitably, whenever we
attend a car show or automotive event, we make
new acquaintances. Car
people are generally outgoing
and enjoy meeting likeminded
folks. Last month at Nitro
Night was no exception. We
brought our all original, 1967
Chrysler Town and Country
nine passenger wagon to Nitro
Night, and as soon as I parked
it, a man walked up to the car
and introduced himself. Klaus
is a station wagon enthusiast
and he wanted to know all
about the Chrysler. Turns out,
he has a mint, one-owner, low
mile 1976 Chevrolet Kingswood Estate and is very passionate about wagons.
In the course of the conver-
The variety of
vehicles was
very interesting,
and while they
were not Mopars,
their rarity and
uniqueness
makes this an
event that any
enthusiast could
appreciate.
Jaguar XK 120 in British Racing Green. Nothing could be more appropriate.
sation, he told us about an
event I had never heard of. The
group that puts it on is called
the Secret Car Club and every
Saturday morning a group of
enthusiasts show up with their
cars at about 9 a.m. in downtown Rancho Santa Fe, which
is not far from the Del Mar
Racetrack where Goodguys
shows are held. They have
some coffee and donuts, talk
about their cars and by 11
a.m., head out. Klaus said that
most of the cars that show up
every week are different, and
can range from vintage preand post-war European models to ‘60’s American muscle
cars and even modern domestic and imported high performance vehicles. You never
know quite what to expect.
Needless
to
say,
this
sounded like fun, so we made
plans to meet Klaus at the Secret Car Club get together the
40
following Saturday. The morning dawned bright and sunny,
making it a perfect day to take
the big Chrysler C-Body out
for a ride in the country. We
left at a little past 8 a.m., and
Pump choices and prices
Here’s a close-up of the MG. No navigation system here. That’s what the co-pilot is for.
in no time flat, we were on Del
Dios Highway, which runs directly into Rancho Santa Fe.
Del Dios is a very picturesque
two lane canyon road that
winds its way through the
hills as you head west, passing such landmarks as Hernando’s Hideaway, a well
known local watering hole,
and the Lake Hodges Dam. At
this early hour, we had the
road to ourselves as the sun
was rising high into the clear
blue sky behind us.
We arrived a little after 9
a.m. and, sure enough, there
Racing Red Lamborghini. Moments later, a Wimbledon
White 1965 Shelby GT350
with blue racing stripes arrived, followed by a diminutive
bright yellow early 30’s Austin
roadster and a 1973 BMW
2002 TII.
The cars kept coming and
an all original Sebring Silver
1964
Corvette
Roadster
showed up at about 10 a.m.,
followed by a black Jaguar Mk
1 sedan and light blue1953
Ford wagon that looked like a
recent barn find. Other cars
such as a 1966 GTO, a late
model Ferrari and even a Triumph Bonneville motorcycle
showed up for the get together. Several times, a Panther
was already a very interesting
group of cars lining the
streets. Some were English, like a British Racing Green Jaguar XK
120 and a bright red MG
TC, while on the other
side of the street, a
beautifully
restored
1954 Porsche 356 coupe
was parked at the corner. A light green, early
‘70’s Land Rover owned
by the event organizer
was parked across from The car that really put BMW on the map in
the Porsche, in front of the US, the 2002.
a factory fresh Italian
Our 1967 Chrysler Town and Country dwarfs post war MG TC
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1953 Ford wagon looks like it just emerged
from a long sleep.
Pink 1970 Challenger R/T SE
drove down the main street
where the majority of the cars
were parked, as did a black
Maserati Gran Turismo MC
Coupe, but neither stopped to
visit.
We also walked around the
town and happened upon an
old gas station that dated
back to the early 1920’s. It’s
still in business and to our
amazement, in addition to ordinary gas, had VP Racing
Fuel at the pump, including
both 95 and 100 octane choices. With a price tag of $6.99 a
gallon for the 95 and $8.99 a
gallon for the 100, it’s definitely not for the faint of
heart, but it’s nice to know
that you can actually buy racing fuel at the pump in California.
The Secret Car Club weekly get together is all quite impromptu. The variety of vehicles was very interesting, and
while they were not Mopars,
their rarity and uniqueness
makes this an event that any
enthusiast could appreciate.
We’re already planning on going back again; one can only
imagine what kind of cars will
be there next time.
Diminutive pre-war Austin roadster. This car made the MG TC look large!
Land Rover belongs to the president of the Secret Car Club
We couldn’t resist snapping a photo of the dash in the 356
Porsche
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But Wait, There’s More
Race On Sunday, Sell On Monday
I
n the 1960’s, a very popular
slogan was “Race on Sunday, Sell on Monday.” In
those days, the “Big Three”
actively raced against each other
in sanctioned NASCAR and
NHRA competition with well
funded factory sponsored teams
whose sole purpose was to win
races. It was an undeniable fact
that winning races helped sell
vehicles, and the manufacturers
knew it. When they won a major
event, they spent untold dollars
promoting their victories on television, in newspapers and magazines and even in radio spots as
part of their national advertising
campaigns.
At the dealer level, Mr.
Norm took the same approach. As an example, check
out the competition Hemi
Ram featured in full page
magazine ad that was pub-
lished in Drag News in 1964.
Mr. Norm used the Hemi Ram
as the focal point of the ad,
taking advantage of the racing
victories garnered by this
highly feared Super Stock to
promote the entire line of high
performance Mopars that
were available for immediate
delivery from Grand Spaulding Dodge, along with a huge
inventory of performance parts
and accessories.
Like the factories, Mr. Norm
knew that success at the track
resulted in increased vehicle
sales, because people wanted to
own a vehicle that was associated with a winner. And the new
1964 Dodge Hemi Ram was a
winner. Mr. Norm’s team raced
the Hemi Ram all over the Midwest, the East and the South,
and put Chevrolets, Fords and
43
Pontiacs on the trailer regularly.
The more races Norm won, the
more Grand Spaulding’s reputation grew. And by advertising
every week in Drag News, the
word spread like wildfire from
coast to coast that not only did
Grand Spaulding have Hemi
Rams and Max Wedges in stock
for immediate delivery, Mr. Norm
would even fly you to Chicago for
free to pick up your car!
Not
only could you take delivery of a
high performance Dodge from
Grand Spaulding the same day,
but Mr. Norm’s experienced techs
would tune it to help you win
races. No other new car dealer
was doing anything like this, and
Grand Spaulding quickly garnered the reputation as the dealership to purchase a high performance Dodge if you wanted to
win. And everyone wanted to win.