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04/08/2021 9:16 am
"Mr. Norm" Krause of Grand Spaulding Dodge in Chicago showed the Chrysler engineers how to stuff a 440 V8 into a Dodge Dart. He had been petitioning Chrysler to upgrade the powerplant if the A body Dart to make it competitive with the Mustangs and Camaros. Chrysler answered with the 383 V8 but it still was not competitive with the likes of the 390 Mustang and the 396 Camaro. When the 375 hp 440 ( an upgrade of the 426 Wedge) was introduced in 1967, Mr Norm found his solution. His mechanics and fabricators fitted the 440 into the 1968 Dart and utilized the 3 speed 'Torqueflite' automatic transmission because a 4 speed manual would require a Dana rear axle that couldn't be fitted. They called this creation the Dodge Dart 440 GSS ( for "Grand Spaulding Special"). Impressed Chrysler (with mods by Hurst-Campbell) went on to produce 50 of their 440 GTS which homologated the car for the NHRA strips. In full race tune, it broke 10 seconds in the 1/4 mile.
04/08/2021 9:50 am
Great history lesson, Rich...never knew about these. Very cool!
Rich Sufficool and Rich Sufficool reacted
04/08/2021 10:17 am
I owned this car with a 340V8. It is hard to imagine a 440 in that light chassis. Great story and images Rich. I always enjoy your posts. Thanks!
Rich Sufficool and Rich Sufficool reacted
04/08/2021 12:25 pm
Norm Kraus passed away on Friday, February 26, 2021 at the age of 87.
Perhaps no one was responsible for more sales of Dodge performance vehicles during the muscle-car era than Norm Kraus, AKA Mr. Norm. As a co-owner of Grand Spaulding Dodge in Chicago from 1962 through 1977, his focus on high performance helped it become the biggest Dodge dealership in the world.
The Kraus brothers grew their business into the largest Dodge dealer in the world, selling trucks, vans and standard cars along with the high-performance models. When others were turning away the younger crowd, Grand Spaulding courted them. "The competition didn't want to deal with a young fellow. If I caught a salesman playing games with a kid, his ass was in trouble."
In 1977, Norm sold his share of the dealership, which closed within a couple of years. Still in his forties, he wanted to spend more time with his family, something not possible when on the showroom floor from Monday through Friday and then at the race track all weekend.
Frank Kocour and Frank Kocour reacted
04/08/2021 9:44 pm
both presentations are great...
05/08/2021 12:04 am
Lovin it all, thanks !