Actually, I bought the Mopar new in July, 1964 with a 383, Torqueflight, and SureGrip rear. I drove the Plymouth on the street 'till June, 1969, when I bought a RT Charger and started racing the Plymouth.
The Belvedere was an AHRA formula stocker in '71 and '72, setting the F3-EA record @ 12.40 in St Louis in 1972. That was a flat-top 383 with a borrowed Rochester 2BBL.
In Fall of '72 I bought a 1964 Max Wedge car from S&M. However it turned out to be a ragged 426-S car with a Stage 3 motor. I put the motor in my car with the 4-speed from the other car.
Bad choice! Too many years of button pushing.
So I raced in SS/E in '73.
Then in 1974 I bought an aluminum front end from Andy Bodewin (Mr.Wedge SS/EA record holder) for the sum of $500. (Ah the good old days! By the way , I paid $700 for the car from S&M).
We rebuilt the car in '74 for SS/DA.
In '75 I went to St. Louis again, and set the AHRA F1/BA record at 11.12 123 MPH.
However in '76 I went to Bowling Green & Indy Nationals and drew the Ramchargers HemiCuda both times, first round.
Not Good!
In October 1976 I sold the car and lost track of it.
But in December 1990 a guy in California called and said he had the car. The Belvedere still had the lettering shown in the pictures. So in September 1991 I drove to L.A. and bought the car back. Only
problem...the West-Coasters had SOLD all the Max Wedge Stuff! I got a body shell ONLY.
Well 12 years later, I'm about ready to put it on the street again!
The Plymouth now has a 440, Pushbutton transmission and lots of stuff I collected over time.
The Belvedere will wear paint just as it was when raced, but my wife says NO lettering or Scare Stickers! -- (we'll see!).
When it's done, I'll send the new picture.
Thanks, Bill!
That's a return of an old friend and a second chance to have more fun with the Belvedere!
