1964 Dodge Polara Rigor Mortis

Terry writes:

Some pictures from back in the 1960's....

The Dodge Rigor Mortis ran in the low 11's @ 130 mph
and was completely stock, except for a set
of Headman Headers and 14 inch M & H Racemaster Slicks.

The Dodge was built at Chrysler's Hamtramck assembly building and had no wipers, wiper motors, radio, and heater.

I think sometime in 1968 or 1969 the rules changed and we had to run a set of wiper blades...can't remember exactly how that went....

The Dodge was a real rush to drive:
it launched very hard and had a heck of a
top end with the 4:89 rear gears.

Racing this Dodge was a team effort on the part of Jim Cousler, Bill Weaver and myself. Everything was shared, hours working on the car and also the driving duties that all three of us did.

Jim was the oldest, and was in his 70's when we lost him in June, 2003. Attending his funeral was Darwin Doll, longtime NHRA starter at York US 30 Dragway and good friend of Jere Stahl and Bill Stiles....Somewhere in Mopar heaven, I know of a 70 year old kid sitting in that Dodge with his fingers on the buttons of that Torqueflite grinning from ear to ear!

I wonder how many other obscure super stock cars there were running at that time....

By the way, does anyone out there have information about a race car called "Tightnuts"? Let me know if you do, please.

Thanks Terry!

Looks like a lot of great memories about a very special time.

Gary H.

October 18, 2003

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