Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

I am collecting info for a class paper. I chose the Sox and Martin Superbird and any impact it might have made on car culture. I'd like to be able to get quotes from drivers/owners of the car throughout it's career. There's not a lot known about the car.

Basic stuff needed:
- pics of the car - would like to have some buildup shots, race shots, driver shots, mag articles, wreckage shots, and post racing life)
- Sox and Martin story - why/when did they get the car and what condition was it in when they got it?
- Where/when did McCandless race the car before they sold it?
- who raced it after it became SuperChicken and where did it run?
- are there specific race dates/locations that it ran?
- memories from spectators/competition

If you can thing of anything else, please share. Here's the latest pic I could find...anybody have enything more recent?

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

I remember that Joe Fisher drove it a few times. He worked for Sox&Martin.

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

little herb comes here all the time maybe he will see this and ask his dad for info for you or try to pm him

jim

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Yeah, just replied to Mike McCandless's post on jalopyjournal. Would be nice to get something after . I've been working it from a few different angles, but keep coming back to S & M ownership. Just not a whole lot out there on Joe Fisher, Herb, S & M AND the bird. Plenty of pics with the cuda's, etc.

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Why dont you PM me your phone number, Herb Sr is out of town but will be back Tuesday and Ill have him call you.

Herb Jr

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Joe Fisher drove the Suberbird at an NHRA points meet in Gainesville in 1970. I raced him first round of eliminations and he missed a gear and I won the round with my SS/FA 1968 Mustang.

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Good stuff, Rusty. Thanks. Do you by chance have the date or any other details?

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Sox & Martin's 1970 Superbird:

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

slide over to Moparts.com post up you request there. Ronnie's wife Diane is on there from time to time as well as HemiFred ( www.prostockhemi.com) who has a ton of pics & info on team Sox and Martin.

Chris

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Yup, I've got a post at moparts.com, but not much has come of it. HemiFred hasn't replied to my requests, yet.

Moose: Sweet pics. I don't have the one on right. Where was that taken? Looks like it's later in the year...added two stickers (fwd of the valvoline and champion stickers) and the hooker sticker looks like it's been ripped off.

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Sorry I have no idea where that photo was taken, and I suggest you look at your other thread for any new updates because I heard it is long gone.

But I do have a question myself, and would like to know if this was a real 1970 Hemi Superbird (or other engine originally) or maybe a body in white from the factory. Can anyone here confirm the VIN # of the Sox & Martin 70 Superbird?

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Sorry, I wasn't very clear above...I've seen what he wrote on moparts, but it was very vague...no specifics, so I sent him a private message and emailed his aol account, but no reply, yet. I'm sure there's somebody out there that knows specifics about when/how it was destroyed, crushed, blown away, or whatever (heard them all). Better yet, I'd just love to be able to talk to folks that raced it, but there are no names after Sox and Martin sold it.

Your questions: Jack Werst's Mr 5&50 was supposedly similar to body in white...it's vin is on the NASCAR registry (sox car is probably on there also, but not identified yet), and it is believed that it was a 'modified' NASCAR bird, which means it was delivered w/o the vinyl roof and the plug seams would have been smoothed. I would think the S&M car would have come to them the same way.

Werst's was a hemi auto, S&M was a 440 4spd, but Chrysler Historical can't find records of any birds being made for NHRA/AHRA.

When I get back to the Norfolk area, I hope to take a weekend and go see Diann (sp) Sox to see if she's got anything that could help.

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

I'm no expert, but

wasn't that a 440 6-Barrel hood scoop on the car.
Was that car an original 440-6 barrel / 4 speed to start with
for SS/G.
Than switched to SS/E, and than onto to C/MP, and then
back to Super/Stock.

A shot in the dark !

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

I almost assure you that when you get in touch w/ Herb Sr he can tell you exactley where the car went who drove it and where it is now. I thought @ one time in and story on another site about Todd Werner down in Fl I caught glimpse of the S&M bird.

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Recent moparmusclemagazine article about Jake King says it was a Six Pack car. The six pack hood was a S&M add on hood. All of the early pics I've seen of it have the blue roof/factory hood with SS/E on the windows and later pics have Vinyl roof/6pack hood with C/MP on the window. Looks like it was later run as SuperChicken with the 6pack hood on it.

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

i thought that S&M had two Superbirds that they ran in different classes? i thought there was one with the 440/6-pack and another one with a Hemi and a rat roaster intake manifold.

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Nope, just one. I've been told they just swap motors/hoods for different classes. Would like solid confirmation in the way of Vin #'s, pics, etc. So far, there's no pics of 2 birds, Ronnie Sox had said there was only one, and those that raced them said there was only one.

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

there is a picture in the Hemi Dart thread of the Sox&Martin shop that shows two Superbirds in the pic. one is clearly shown while the other is in the background and mostly just the roof and wing are visible.

i don't think it was as simple as swapping hoods and engine combo's, i still firmly believe that there were two different cars and there are enough differences between the two in old pics to support that.

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Notice the difference in the Wing Angle, some people say that car in the background is a 69 Daytona... Also notice on the bench there is a couple of cross-rams or tunnel ram intakes being prepped. Anyone care to comment on exactly which it is, my guess is with the Superbird having a flat hood they're the cross-ram intakes

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...IRD_RWB_15.jpg

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

S&M worked on cars for other folks. That was the case with the Daytona (Chuck Neely's) in the corner and the baracuda next to the sox bird.

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Hey guys, Jack Werst's car was originally a Petty car that Chrysler re-routed. It was built (new) as a stick and later converted to auto. It was originally blue. There are quite a few "hidden" tricks that MANY people never knew and might not believe. The wheelbase was changed and remains so now. The "cheater" motor Chrysler built to beat Ray Allen was immediately removed and sent back to Chrysler after the race that never was. Werst red-lighted on purpose so the car could not be torn down. The sail panels were filled with balast. The engine was set back. All kinds of TRICKERY. Werst sold the car to some racers in Maryland and they raced it for a short time under the name "Enginuity". Ken Jennings drove and after a very limited campaign, the car went into loooooooong storage and was found within the last couple of years. It was sold by Jenning's family to a fellow I know, changed hands again, and is now in a private collection. The car is in as-raced condition with a Hemi and automatic, but the original numbered four speed is with the car. The car still wears some of the " Mister 5-50" paint and all of the "Enginuity" lettering and "lace". The interior is un-touched. I seem to remember the odometer read 1400 miles. I was in the car and drove it in the driveway of the owner that bought it from the Jennings family and sold it to the current owner. I spoke to Jack Werst at the York re-union and he was astounded that I knew so much about this car and verified what I know to be true. What a car!!!!!

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Jack Wersts Mr. 5 & 50 1970 Hemi Superbird:

http://inlinethumb50.webshots.com/45...600x600Q85.jpg

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Deke,,,,,,

For 1970 NHRA Records
SS/E,,,,,,,,,,,, 11.10
SS/EA,,,,,,,,, 11.33

Dick Landy had the SS/E record early in the year with his
1969 Hemi Charger.

Later in the year, he set the SS/EA record with an 11.27 with
his 1970 Hemi Charger R/T.

That is what the Hemi Superbird would be shooting for.

John Tedder won the SS/EA Class at the 70' Winternationals and
70' Springnationals with his 1969 Hemi GTX convertible.

pc

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Deke,

Car Weights for SS/E or SS/EA, all with 426 Hemi

70' Superbird,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,#3837 lbs.
69' GTX convertible,,,,,,,#3845 lbs
70' Cuda convertible,,,,,,#3682 lbs..
69' Charger,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,#3845 lbs.
69' Coronet R/T ,,,,,,,,,,,,,#3731 lbs.
69' Charger 500,,,,,,,,,,,,,#3872 lbs.
70' Charger R/T,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,#3840 lbs.

Total Superbirds built with the 426 Hemi 'R' Code
Numbers range from 93 to 135

Build dates;
October 22, 1969 thru December 15, 1969

If it is 135,,,,,,,,,
* 77 Automatics
* 58 4-speeds

A well built Hemi Superbird (NHRA legal) would usually turn 11.60's in 1970
Probably 11.45's in 1971.

pc

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

And this is the guy Ray Allen and his 1970 Chevelle SS LS6 454 convertible that raced Jack Werst's 1970 Superbird when he owned it...oh the stories about these two cars!

http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/43...600x600Q85.jpg

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Helluva lot of info! You think the Sox bird was a petty bird, too? Wish there were records of them.

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Ray Allen won the SS/EA Class at Indy in 1970,,,,,,,,
but he did not win the S/S Eliminator at the 70' Nationals...

It was Ron Mancini SS/AA 68' Hemi Dart over Lou Downing SS/D
69' AMX.

The SS/EA Hemi Superbirds were not really 'flying there'.

Anybody ever try parking a Superbird in a crowded parking lot...:eek:

pc

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Anybody know when/where this pic of Jake King was taken? Notice the red bird? Awfully close to the Sox rig...could it be the bird before paint?

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Came across this on line and thought I would post it for all...

http://dragracingonline.com/features...perbird-c.html

Nice story.

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Notice in these early photo's there's no six pack scoop and no vinyl top...in later photo's it shows it with them installed on the Sox & Martin 70 Superbird.
http://classracer.com/classforum/pic...pictureid=3352

http://image.moparmusclemagazine.com...+superbird.jpg

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Here's a couple of before & after shots of the Karl Gould Chrysler / Plymouth sponsored 70 Hemi Superbird driven by Tim Richards of top fuel crew-chief fame.
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/in...h=123262;image
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/in...h=123538;image

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

I would say it is a Rat Roaster intake that would be used on the Superbird which was the intake also used on the Challenger & Cuda SS/D SS/DA cars

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

I remember a multi colored Superbird running SS at Columbus, OH once during one of the National Dragster events they held there

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Good point about the rat roadster...but after looking at the photo again, I see the one on top of the cart is what look's like to be a medium rise tunnel ram, and the one below is a cross ram intake...but your probably right about them using the rat roadster intake in super stock, they started using the tunnel rams in the early 70's everyone was using them by then in pro stock.

.

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

The Sox & Martin car also ran in Modified Production, therefore the tunnel ram. Usually had a '69 A-12 "Six Pack" scoop on it too when running in MP.

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

The Sox & Martin 70 Superbird getting towed by a Sox & Martin Cricket !!!

http://images31.fotki.com/v1050/phot...ters007-vi.jpg

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Thanks for the cricket pic Moose! Just got back from deployment...I've been neglecting the SuperChicken search.

Re: Sox & Martin Superbird aka SuperChicken
 

Not a good picture, but it is the Superbird vs Dick Landy in a match race at Carlisle AR. Both were MP type configuration. This was probably 1970 or 71.


http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ps3f3702b8.jpg