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Topic starter
08/03/2023 12:10 pm
Chrysler's Race Engineering team, lead by Tom Hoover, began tinkering with the idea of moving axles forward to put more weight and therefore traction to the rear wheels. For 1965, they built the first 11 altered wheelbase on their intermediate bodied Coronets and Satellites moving the front axles forward 10" and the rear 15". The Hillborn injection systems were actually given Mopar serial numbers to maintain "factory built status.. The work was actually done by Amblewagon, a Detroit based ambulance fitter. When presented, the NHRA refused to allow them in the A/FX class, but the rival AHRA put them in a special "Ultra Stock" class. The AWB's real successes were in match races ("Run what ya brung"), In this car, Dick Landy won 39 of 40 of these match races. Tweaked to about 600 hp, they found their mark in the 9 second range good for 150 mph. All of these cars had identical beige interiors with a single seat taken from a Dodge A100 van. This Landy Dodge car is one of the few surviving AWB drag cars that were a short-lived segue to the funny car era.
08/03/2023 12:32 pm
Yep! Cool cars and even "cooler" models! I had to have some of these. What took so long to even make AWB vintage replicas, right? I was unaware that those seats were lifted from Dodge vans. I still remember Marlowe's first 1/18 AWB fabrication before Supercars released theirs. 😎 😏
Topic starter
08/03/2023 5:00 pm
@chris I just adored these one year only Plymouth and Dodge B bodies for '65. When the AWBs came out, I really flipped out they were so cool. I was a freshman in college and my notebooks were filled with sketches them as well as other favorite marks at the time also converted to AWB.
10/03/2023 11:41 am
@chris -
Yup! I built that Butch Leal car at the same time you were recreating the tribute to your Mom's '56 Chevy 150. Gosh, man! That was almost 14 years ago!
The term "Funny Car" was born as a result of these cars being built. When Fran Hernandez, the Mercury Drag Racing Chief, first saw the cars. he said they looked "funny." Obviously, the term stuck, and the rest is history.
Like Rich, I was enthralled with these cars. Even as a diehard Ford Fan I could help but admire what Chrysler had done to these cars.
I vividly remember when I saw the very first one, and my first impression was they extended the trunk. After more careful scrutiny, I realized the wheelwells were "altered." Indeed, my Butch Leal modification (My first radical diecast modification project) was born out of wanting an AWB Mopar for DECADES! I actually built a plastic one in 1965, but I wanted it in 1:18 diecast. I contacted most of the diecast makers asking if they had any intentions of producing them. The response was always a polite, "Not in our plans at this time." When Supercar Collectibles came out with their line of Plymouths, I was over-the-Moon happy! I remember promising Jim Thoren that if they did the Dodges too, I'd buy every one of 'em! I didn't quite live up to that promise, but I do have 10 (including two custom modifications) in my collection.
The Dick Brannan Mustang was the first "factory" AWB car. It predated the longnose 1966 versions. Now that ACME has done a ton of the A/FX Mustangs, maybe I'll unretire my Dremel and get to work! Maybe!
10/03/2023 1:31 pm
@marty-johnson Geez! I guess it was that long ago.... 🙄 🙄
How could you NOT want to make one of those AWB Mustangs? THAT project's got your name all over it.... really just involves moving both (F & R) wheel openings forward.
Without even needing a Dremel, you could probably do ALL the cutting (neat, clean & tidy) with a Jewler's saw. Then simply re-assemble the pieces, add a bit of Bondo/spot putty.... Done!
Heck, you'd probably spend more time with decals & paint! 😉 😉
PS
Jewlers saws allow for precision cuts through diecast like butter. You have no excuses, post pics please! 😏 😏
Marty Johnson and John Kuvakas reacted
11/03/2023 6:31 pm
Hmmm....! A change of livery and paint, and I could have the Dick Brannan AWB Mustang! Hmmm!
Christopher Moroni and John Kuvakas reacted
12/03/2023 12:46 am