Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine
Pete,
'Part I'
In depth research from 'The Dodge Detective'
The 1971 Dodge Charger R/T {WS23} 'J-Code' 426 Hemi 'Automatic' was built in May 1971. {1 of 63 built}
The #3850 lb. Charger R/T was 'Chemically Engineered' {acid-dipped} by the Factory before it was shipped out.
It was rumored that that the car was under 3500 lbs. after it's 'bath treatment'.
'The Dodge Detective' said it was to be run by 'The Rod Shop'
out of Columbus, Ohio in Stock Class {C/SA = 8.00 to 8.49 Wt/HP} in Division 3.
It was supposed to be ready for the 1971 NHRA Springnationals .{June}
It was prepped and painted, and set to go after the C/SA Record of
11.74 @ 119.26 MPH.
Now here's where it gets 'tricky'.
Supposedly, it was to be a car for Judi Boertman.
But, after a few test runs, Judi was uncomfortable with the Charger R/T as the lightened car got 'real squirrely' going thru the traps at
120 MPH.
The 'thin-skinned' Charger R/T was then sent to Western Dodge Sales in Owensboro, Kentucky where they ran the Charger R/T in C/SA
for 1971.
It was still painted with 'The Rod Shop' design, with Flag stripes on
the rear quarter panels, and Stars on the roof and trunk deck-lid,
but the 'Rod Shop' lettering was removed.
The Charger R/T was campaigned in C/SA for 1971, where it ran
11.90's and was competitive in Division 3.
In 1972, the NHRA Stock Class rules were changed, and the Charger
R/T was sent 'packing' back to Chrysler {Vehicle Performance Planning}.
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This is pretty much what we could pry out of people back then. We bought the car in 73 with a connecting rod hanging out the side of the block. From a kid in Manhattan Beach Brooklyn. He bought it new from a dealer. We started thinking the car was something special when we took off the door panels and found no safety side bars. We put it together as a stocker and even with heavy wheels and a full exhaust it was 400 pounds light. They running gear was all really stock (not dipped it had heavy disc brakes up front) In full street race trim (no interior, glass hood, etc.) it weighed 2980 pounds. I believe the body was in a tank at one time.
We made a lot of money on that car when you told someone it was 4000 pounds they believed you. We ran it as a stocker before the street racing. You could see the outline of the "Rod Shop" stars and stripes though the "factory" black paint. It had a build date of May 1971 at least 4 months after they stopped producing hemis. We talked to the guys from Chrysler and while they never admitted to it. Off the record they talked about a car that Judy Boertman didn't want to drive.
I sold the shell for $300 a factory original hemi numbered car. That was even dumber than selling a 58 corvette for $500. LOL
I sold the car and it eventually wound up in Pennsylvania. The guy called me begging to get it titled in my name and transfer it to him. Prior to 1972 there were no titles for cars only a assignable registration. I didn't even have a drivers license so I couldn't register the car.