Quote:
Originally Posted by Mopar Steve
Don Carlton never laid a hand on that car. It was built by Dick Landy for Irv Beringhaus. After Irv's untimely death, Mike Fons bought it from Irv's widow. Fons had already purchased the "Motown Missile" 'cuda and naming rights from Ted Spehar in 1972. After Fons sold the Duster, it made it's way through a number of owners in Ohio. It was being raced on and off up into 2004 by Ron Walker from Central Ohio.
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The Missile was completely redone after it's purchase from Irv's widow in a shop not far from where Carltons cars were built. Thats why you see alot of the unique features that Carlton used his cars on the Motown Missile ( if you ever see the Missile cars notice that the wheel tubs are not rounded as they were made from flat sheets of titanium as well as the use of titanium through out the front area or the car.) to make the cars lighter and faster. ( take it from someone whos been behind the wheel of one of these cars they are a handful) As far as Carlton never driving the car, he did make several passes on diffrent occasions in the car to help Mike with his chassis set-up. The car was pulled from a garage in Columbus OH in late 2007 by Kevin Christner and restored back to it's near orginal condition. He had hoped to use the car in a match race tour this year in support of several childrens charties untill his untimely passing in January of this year. The car is curerently in safe keeping while his family works through his estate preceedings.The only true " Carlton cars" that are known to exist 1) is in Fl that was in the Garlits museum, it has had it's original motor pulled and replaced with a large cid race motor and had the chassis updated to curent 25.1 specs. The "Wire Car" and the "yellow car " that can be seen in some of the photos from Carltons shop in NC are owned by a gentleman in CA who also owns the " Motown Missile " Pro Stock Neon from a few years back. I have heard tell of a Carlton Rod Shop Colt in FL ( Kevin and I had an appointment to see the car in Feb of this year before he passed) but I have not seen any on the track.
Chris