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Topic starter
20/03/2025 12:50 pm
This candy cane striped Ramchargers 1971 Dodge Hemi Challenger Pro Stock marked the end of an era of the Torqueflite automatic used on their drag cars from 1963 as well as using the last year production 426 Hemi that was also introduced in 1963 for NASCAR competition. That merry band of Chrysler engineers got the white '70 Challenger R/T-SE body which offered less weighty glass with its obligatory vinyl top that hid a roughly welded metal plate on the C pillar. Off came the vinyl top and the metal work was finished on the C pillar before the body was sent out for an acid bath. With the body off, the boys reworked the chassis and pumped up the Hemi according to the new Pro Stock class specs. The 1970 version was a failure in the 1970 season with constant suspension and engine woes so to run it in 1971 they had to replace the larger rear window and remove the deck spoiler that wasn't offered on '71 models. The 1971 season began with a new driver but neither the driver or the car lived up to expectations while their funny car version was setting new records in both years. Giving up on this Pro Stock Challenger, it was sold at the end of the season and ultimately was found in a cow pasture and is now hopefully awaiting restoration.
The model, by Acme, has a little embossed metal tag in the trunk with the number "0055". I don't know it signifies a numbered limited edition so if anyone else has this model, let me know if the number on yours matches or not.
20/03/2025 1:24 pm
Acme always does a nice job and this is no exception. The car looks like the real thing! And whatever the cost; it's justified by that beast of a mill - the detailing is fantastic! Excellent pics as always Rich!
20/03/2025 2:15 pm
That replica is most certainly an eye-catcher ! Those era Dodge Challengers look fantastic and I am delighted to have that era Challenger represented by 3 models in 1/18.
Back in that time, one of my Dad's clients was Dodge and one of his co-workers at the exhibit company was over at our house and I got to briefly drive his white Challenger around town. Even with a 383 it was a fast and very cool ride !
Topic starter
20/03/2025 2:53 pm
@michaeldetorrice Yep. I had a HiPo 383 w/440 heads and dual point ignition and it certainly could haul ass although the dual points required weekly adjustments and re-timing. Tuning it every Saturday morning, it would run like a champ for the weekend. As the weekdays progressed, I could feel the performance declining only to be revived the following Saturday AM.
20/03/2025 6:07 pm
although the dual points required weekly adjustments and re-timing.
You're a better man than I am.... I'd put up with that twice, there'd be no "third adjustment." I remember being puzzled about my cracked distributer; it was "somehow" crushed in my 318 '68 Satellite 2-dr HT. Turns out, I had a broken motor mount. 🙄
Great pics Rich. 😎
Steve Jacobs and Rich Sufficool reacted
20/03/2025 8:56 pm
Rich, the embossed tag on my version says "189."
Also, I never needed heavy readjustment on the dual points on my '71 429 SCJ Ram Air Mach 1 Mustang.
Christopher Moroni and Steve Jacobs reacted
20/03/2025 10:45 pm
I can't believe to this day that I'm so happy I lived in the best of times !! Yay baby... 👍🙏
⛽ Was cheap and we had a few $ to spend on wknds cuz we were all working instead of asking mom and dad for an allowance. I remember ⛽ at 29, 31 and 33cents a gallon in '72 when I worked a station. On weekends they would raise the price by two or three cents a gallon... You all remember this...right ?
Steve
Christopher Moroni and Marty Johnson reacted
20/03/2025 10:47 pm
Rich, the embossed tag on my version says "189."
Also, I never needed heavy readjustment on the dual points on my '71 429 SCJ Ram Air Mach 1 Mustang.
I remember many hours under the hood of my 61 Country Sedan and many hours underneath the bottom of it... And that's how I learned to work on cars !!! I wouldn't trade those years for anything in the Universe...👍
Christopher Moroni and Marty Johnson reacted
Topic starter
21/03/2025 10:47 am
@marty-johnson How is that possible? Just the arcing will change the gap as the electrodes wear... it wouldn't be once a week but it's certainly inevitable.
Christopher Moroni reacted
21/03/2025 11:53 am
@rich-sufficool - I'm not saying NO maintenance. I'm just claiming I didn't have to adjust or change the dual points more than the annual tune-ups. They would last for the entire period of the tune-up cycle. We used to tinker with them just because it was fun to do. But a frequent weekly adjustment, as you described, wasn't necessary on my Ford.
The biggest pain was getting to the sparkplugs. The 429 was a snug fit in the Mustang body. Each plug required a different combination of rachet extension and u-joint socket adapters to get to each plug. No two plugs had the same combination. I remember making a record list of what combo was required for each plug. Ahhh, good times and memories, indeed! I loved that car!
Christopher Moroni reacted
21/03/2025 12:51 pm
The biggest pain was getting to the sparkplugs.
We stuffed a 429 (from a '69 Thunderbird ) into a '73 MACH 1 ..... "Sparkplugs?" Good luck! 😬 😬
Marty Johnson reacted
21/03/2025 1:11 pm
@chris - Then you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about!
Tony Perrone and Christopher Moroni reacted
Topic starter
21/03/2025 3:30 pm
@marty-johnson The kid across the street from me had a GT500KR and to get at the last plug, he needed to have the engine pulled. I was amazed at the engine compartment that was so stuffed, you couldn't throw a dime in there with any expectation it would hit the ground!