Any ALASKA members here?????? 1970 Charger wing car...70's show car

[Joshua]

Any members from AK?

I remember in @ 1988/9 in Palmer Alaska...there was a 1970 Charger at a tow yard/repair place. It was an old '70's show car and had a Daytona nose with three headlights per side recessed, a Daytona wing and the rear window was flush. It was a custom metallic red with *I think* multi-color blue stripes on the sides running along the body lines to the R/T scoops on the doors, 383, pistol grip, white interior and slotted mag wheels. There were pictures on the wall of the office of the car during it's hayday in the show scene......

A buddy and me had went to look at it, talked with the owner and had said it was for sale.....$1500, it had some rust in the 1/4's. We took it for a spin around the block and it ran a little rough but at the price, we both wanted it BAD.......but being high school kids had no $$$$...

Always wonder whatever happened to that car!

This may be a long shot, but anyone else remember it?

[Alaskan_TA]

My brother lived up there back then. He drove past it all the time, then one day it was gone. I have not heard anything about it since. Until now.

Barry

[dads_69]

Oh yeah. I know the car. A for sure clone made from a real Daytona that was supposedly a stolen car at won time. Car is now plum crazy purple sitting in
a field outside of Palmer,AK. towards Sutton,AK. as of this moment. I seen it a while back in mid field. Seen it up close back in 1986. Looked ok for what he had done to it, but not impressed with workmanship. Guy also had a '70 Barracuda he done up with an old school paint job, graphics all over it. Yellow car originally with every color you can think of on it. It was supposed to look twisted, and it definitely was. Weird hearing about this car again.
Mark

Yeah, car was there when I last looked in February.

[69bronzeT5]

Is it still there?

[konigcharger]

Is it still there?

Yeah, car was there when He last looked in February.

[FJMG]

A for sure clone made from a real Daytona

   I wonder if that is one of the Canadian cars???

[dads_69]

The guy I spoke to about the car years ago said the owner who custom built the head light doors with three head lights was a body man for Lowell Haun who has since past away.It had damage up front is why he did such a thing. It had Cragar S/S wheels on it when I seen it in Wasilla driving around in the early 1990's for a while then it disappeared for a while again.At the time I had 4 or 5 2nd gen chargers is why many knew where I lived in town in Fairview. Where is this office at where you seen the car photos also?
Mark

[Joshua]

WOW.......cool that a couple of ya have seen it as well......interesting that was last seen purple.....it was red when I saw it....

I even have a picture that I drew of it in HS shortly after my freind and I's test drive of the car.

The car didn't have the scoops atop the fenders....hard to believe a Daytona gave up it's parts for a show car...

OK...two more. Anyone know of the '70 GTX "Purple Haze"? White front half with a "Z" purple graphic back half? Engine compartment almost ALL chrome.....Had Centerline Convo Pros on it, white and purple interior.... Ran around Wasilla. Was a freind of mine's. His buddy had a '70 Super Bee 383, 4 speed car that was FAST....bright Yellow with Centerlines.....last I heard the GTX had a blower on it and the Bee went through a few engines, ending up with a Hemi....

Thinkin' back of the cars I came across in AK, in Seward in a guys yard was a '70 GTX, all Purple, with lettering on the 1/4's saying "Purple Peril".
Another GTX, a '67, not far from where I was living in Wasilla in the front of a guys place, big yard, lots of cars out back. But this GTX was just sitting out towards the end of the driveway, sunk in the mud to the rockers. The car was COMPLETE. 440, 4 speed with factory and white interior. My buddy and I went and knocked on the door but no answer. Alot of dogs around and the place looked sketchy, so we never persued it further......Alaska is a different kind of place......

[Joshua]

The guy I spoke to about the car years ago said the owner who custom built the head light doors with three head lights was a body man for Lowell Haun who has since past away.It had damage up front is why he did such a thing. It had Cragar S/S wheels on it when I seen it in Wasilla driving around in the early 1990's for a while then it disappeared for a while again.At the time I had 4 or 5 2nd gen chargers is why many knew where I lived in town in Fairview. Where is this office at where you seen the car photos also?
Mark

Mark, I was 16, I don't remember the place, but it was a small repair shop on the west? side of Palmer with a small fenced off lot behind it. That's where the car sat, but you could see the wing over the fence. When I went to go check it out with my friend, the car had been moved out to the street. The car had slots on it when I saw it too. I forget if it had a console, don't think it did, but it had a pistol grip.....I remember that like yesterday.

[dads_69]

I heard about the GTX. A guy named Brandon ended up with it for a while, no idea since then. 1996 or so last I remember. Frank has a lot of mopars in the valley. That might be the guy your talking about also with all the other mopars. Don't really know him well myself, like you said, different people live out in the valley. When the sign says *no tresspassing* you best obey what it reads! There are a lot of mopars hiding up here still. Do you rem' the Demon painted up white body with red/blue stripes w/a 340 driving on the streets? It was a bad car, I lost every weekend racing that guy. Marty Houser owned it back then, mid 80's. Ken at Anch. Dodge built it though originally. I have a lot of older photos from back in early 80's also, but I would have to email them to you. If you want, I can this weekend. The shop in Palmer sounds familiar. I'll do some checking around this week.
Mark

[Joshua]

Mark, are you in AK right now??? I left AK in 1990 at age 17.....did some crusing in Anchorage......was a nasty looking dark blue or purple '69?(it was dark) Charger crusing, let's see, was it Northern Lights Blvd? 3-4 lanes wide one way?

The white and purple GTX was owned by a guy named Robert, he was a year older than me in school.....his best friend Haskel had the Bee....
I wanted that Bee, it was for sale in Palmer, near the end of town heading out to the old Polar Raceway......I think it was $5000......I remember the first time Haskel drove it to school after he had bought it.....Robert already had the GTX for a few weeks i think.....That Yellow Super Bee is the reason my Charger is Yellow! hahaha....loved the look with the black stripes.....
There was a guy not far from the strip my friends and I would stop at to check out his cars.....Chevy man, had an orange '70 or so 'Vette with an L-88 hood and black side pipes, a '69 SS396 Chevelle, white with some 80's style graphics, and I *think* a mid 60's GTO.....
Ah, the memories.....good times.......

[dads_69]

I had a purple/black/dark blue '69 in high school. I drag raced it at Polar as well on weekends. Swap rearend gears and go! Ran 11.80's pretty consistently.Its now called Alaska Raceway Park. I raced on the strip also. Ever go by McDonald's at 110 mph on Northern lights? Man those were crazy times. I'm in Eagle River right now till we move back to Washington in the next few years. I'll post some photos up here of what I have for cars that cruised around back then.
Mark

[Joshua]

Pics would be cool Mark.......11.80's is pretty fast for a street car up there......back when I was living there anyway.....
Was a blue Pinto wagon that was pretty hot....ran the "strip" and Polar.....I never got into any street races on the "strip", but I can imagine.....a little late night action in Wasilla though....HS stuff.


I have a friend in Eagle River, last I talked to him he was there anyway......

[chargerman68]

I have a friend in Eagle River, last I talked to him he was there anyway......[/b]

EAGLE RIVER......

[dads_69]

Chargerman68 must be having personall issues this morning. Weird dude... I'm trying to post photos here, but it keeps telling me to re-name photos, which I have and still won't show up, f'in computers. Do you remember the '67 Coronet named Grim Reaper that drag raced? Green with graphics down the center of the car owned by Skip. He still has that car and its now painted red with same color scheme down the center. Lorenzo owned a '70 Superbird also that I lost out on for $1700.00 440 car B-5 blue w/black guts. He was a black guy in Fairview had a body shop and kept trying to get me to buy the car, but I walked away from it. Another story of if I knew then what I know now theory. Mike Mullins owned a bunch of mopars also. Brown '69 charger w/a 318 w/tunnel ram and dual carbs, dusters and a '70 Coronet w/a 426 hemi now. Orange car back then, weird blue now.
Mark

[Joshua]

Don't know the '67...but I remember a Plum Crazy '71 (or '72) Charger running Polar.......it was cool to watch it launch, cause the whole car LIFTED when it took off......musta had Super Stock springs.....I have it on VHS..
I always took a video camera with me to the drags! Remember how dusty that old track was??? And the left lane was rough near the end too! There was a good looking gal that worked the lanes as well.....

How 'bout Alaska's fastest Cat......the green '68 or so Cougar running on Alky? Also a REAL HARD running white '70 Challenger....glass front end, tubbed....drag only....

All this reminessing almost brings a tear to my eye.........I miss AK sometimes.......except for the cold and Skeeters........

[dads_69]

I heard of the Cougar from others even now. Squeaks O'Connor raced also, motorcycles and cars. I raced him a few times on the track. Wes Rasmussen also w/his '70 orange 340 Duster. Snellson & Son had fast cars there also. I'll have my wife help with photos later tonight.
Mark

[Joshua]

I heard of the Cougar from others even now. Squeaks O'Connor raced also, motorcycles and cars. I raced him a few times on the track. Wes Rasmussen also w/his '70 orange 340 Duster. Snellson & Son had fast cars there also. I'll have my wife help with photos later tonight.
Mark

Cool..I WANT TO SEE PICS Mark!!! Sending PM......
The orange Duster had the black side stripes and fully polished Centerlines right? I have that one on tape as well.....super nice car and sounded good too! There was also a dark red, '68 or so notchback Barracuda, 340 4-speed, BIG slicks.....very fast...every shift the wheelie bars would SLAM the ground! Said "Barracuda" in silver along the sides.
I gotta dig out those old VHS tapes and watch 'em......this is bringing back alot of memories.....
I recall the name Snellson too....over the loud speaker at the track....

[Joshua]

Wes Rasmussen also w/his '70 orange 340 Duster. Snellson & Son had fast cars there also. I'll have my wife help with photos later tonight.
Mark

Watched my VHS last night..... No stripe on the side of Wesley's Duster like I thought, clean car, no decals or lettering then....dialed in at 13.20
Derek Snelson running a blue, rear engine rail, brother and dad helping stage car....
Green cougar..."The Last Fast Cat"...running a BBF, blown and injected on alcohol....
A few other cool Mopars that I had forgotten about until now....

On another tape is me racing my Charger in the HS drag class,a week after I wrecked it.... Wasn't running good that day....would stumble off the line...vaporlock. Lost in 2nd round because of it .....

Back to the topic of the winged '70.....I'll dig out the old pic I drew in HS history class of it and post it!

[dads_69]

I owned about 16 chargers up here, did you buy your charger up here in the mid 80's. Do you remember where and from who? What color also originally? Cool, I'd lie to see that video someday myself. Wes has a bunch of video's but he drag races all over the world now,just to try to keep up with the big guys I guess, I don't see him much anymore. He has a alcohol car now, motor alone was like 60 grand. Wes' old duster is still up here, its white now w/purple graphics and pink pin-striping. Its for sale on craigslist w/a tunell ram 340 for 20 grand. It needs a lot of help, the new owner is nuts! I have the 340 H.P. exh. mainfolds off it though for my car. I'll email you more photos this weekend. Sunday, I'm gonna go try and get some photos of the '70 Daytona clone also.
Mark

[Joshua]

I'll email you more photos this weekend. Sunday, I'm gonna go try and get some photos of the '70 Daytona clone also.
Mark

Mark, my car was driven up from Arizona by my Grandparents......my Uncle in Oregon had bought it from the original owner....Cali car. More info here.... http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,33561.0.html
I think the rust issues with it are from the Alaskan winters and sitting under the pine trees in OR.
Also on one of my tapes is a pic of our house in Wasilla with @ 3'-4' of snow and the Charger sitting there with it's snow tires.....

Somewhere in my stuff I still have a Black Polar Raceway T-shirt....ya know, the one with the Polar Bear doing a burnout...hahaha!

Thanks for the pics.................Pics of the '70 would be really neat to see.....

I keep telling myself that someday I'll visit AK again ......have relatives spreadout between Palmer and Willow.

[dads_69]

The Cougar race car, wasn't the motor placed under the windshield somewhat if I rem' correctly? I rem' the old style front mags also. Race season is done here sadly. I'll see what I can find out about it though still. Theres a guy w/a '70 charger here painted purple w/a 440 centerlines last name Weber in Wasilla I know of. It was a brown charger I do know for a fact, might be the same charger 500 318 car? I also had a '68 charger I drag raced during summer of '85 and '86. Same motor as '69 running in the 11's and 12's depending on weather conditions. Alaska's race track is actually fast due to low sea level and always cool in between the mountains.
Mark

[Joshua]

The Cougar race car, wasn't the motor placed under the windshield somewhat if I rem' correctly? I rem' the old style front mags also. Race season is done here sadly. I'll see what I can find out about it though still. Theres a guy w/a '70 charger here painted purple w/a 440 centerlines last name Weber in Wasilla I know of. It was a brown charger I do know for a fact, might be the same charger 500 318 car? I also had a '68 charger I drag raced during summer of '85 and '86. Same motor as '69 running in the 11's and 12's depending on weather conditions. Alaska's race track is actually fast due to low sea level and always cool in between the mountains.
Mark

Yes, the engine was set back and the Endurle scoop for the injection was cut into the windsheild.....My video was shot in May 1990....the Cougar had Polished Centerlines on it at that time.....

Good possibility that purple '70 Charger is same as the brown one I saw.....not many '70's around....

There was an indoor car show each year in Eagle River. I drove my Charger there @ 1990 and down the street in a parking lot was a '68 R/T Chargerfor sale....I *think* it was light Yellow/creme, white? interior....had PW, I know that, as mine does as well......anyway, there were a group of shops there and the owner worked at one. I asked how much for the car....$10,000 ... The car was all there, but mine was sooo much nicer at the time than his.....my buddies and I just laughed, and he proceded to bust out his value guide to show us "kids"........we knew better....hahaha!

Did you do any racing between 88-90???

[dads_69]

That '68 R/T is owned by Dave Arbuckle. He had it restored through a *friend*(trade out deal) and so far has over 40 grand and its not assembled yet least I heard. Frank owned the car for a while and so did Bud who is most likely the guy you spoke with at that time since he was current owner, and a little off also, ha-ha. Indoor car show is at the Harry J. McDonald center. Its an OK show for the most part. But also small and always fords/chevys for the most part. I raced summer of '85 and '86 and then '95 for half the season.Ran summer of '96 in a plum crazy purple '72 dart w/a 340 ran 13's all day long (no traction) and '98 also but it was a '79 f-150 w/a 431 stroker 1/2 ton long bed. I built it to spank a buddys Lightning and things got carried a way during the build! Ran a 12.90 best time @ 116 mph.
Mark

[Joshua]

I found the pic I drew back in 1990 of the '70 Charger show car.....the stripes on the sides were different shades of blue.....

And my old Polar Raceway T-shirt!

[dads_69]

That t-shirt brings back some memories. The drawing is cool, didn't find the car today. I did find and get a '71 Demon w/no motor/trani' for free w/no title already gutted it tonight and a '69 Valiant w/a /6 not currently running for free also w/a title. I have a running /6 to put in it this weekend though. I'll email photos to you in a while that I did take. Still can't post them here for some damn reason.
Mark

[akhemirt]

Lifelone ALaskan and Mopar nut here. I remember a lot of the cars discussed and know a few of the guys, at least the ones still here. I've got a short video clip of the GTX in Seward, my buddy owned the V8 pinto and such. Got cruising video of Northern Lights in the late 80's and polar raceway too!
Mike

[4aThrill]

Don't know the '67...but I remember a Plum Crazy '71 (or '72) Charger running Polar.......it was cool to watch it launch, cause the whole car LIFTED when it took off......musta had Super Stock springs.....I have it on VHS..
I always took a video camera with me to the drags! Remember how dusty that old track was??? And the left lane was rough near the end too! There was a good looking gal that worked the lanes as well.....

How 'bout Alaska's fastest Cat......the green '68 or so Cougar running on Alky? Also a REAL HARD running white '70 Challenger....glass front end, tubbed....drag only....

All this reminessing almost brings a tear to my eye.........I miss AK sometimes.......except for the cold and Skeeters........

I try to go home every year since I am in the Military, but one year saying 2007 walking behind the Diamond center there was a 71 Charger SuperBee Plum Crazy it was locked up in the service area for the mall.  Mopars are up there mine was there for about a year or so then restoration started again.

[akhemirt]

True Stories: When I was in Junior High School, I live in a neighborhood of Anchorage named Mountain View.  This is back in the 70's. We had to walk 5 or 6 blocks to school and we used to see a guy driving his 70 superbird to work most days. It was beat up and needed body work but wasn't too horrible. Fast forward to 1980. My brother and I were/are mopar nuts and he had heard to the only hemi car in town, a blue 1968 Charger RT. My brother took me over to his house and I asked if I could see under the hood. Man, blew my socks off! A real live hemi. In a charger no less. The guy had another slightly beat up 68 charger he was trying to sell. He said the original rear end was gone, replaced by a 8 3/4 and it's original engine was missing. A 383 resided where the original engine was. $1500.00. I was interested until he told me the engine was knocking. Well, I'm 15 and still riding my 10 speed. I was working at Mcdonalds and 1500 seemed like a lot back then. I passed on the car. In fact, he couldn't sell it so he took it  to the junk yard. Yup, it was an original hemi charger. Could have been mine! If only hindsight was 20/20!  Ironically, the guy with the Superbird lived right around the corner from him. Years later, someone in Palmer bought the Superbird, restored it and someone in California bought it for $18,000.00 which also seemed like a lot back then! Though I drive a 69 Coronet now, I did manage to buy my first car, a 69 Charger a few months after missing out on the deal of my lifetime! It's all good now, and I've made many friends, but my mopar brothers are the best!

[AKcharger]

Hey...I live in Alaska!

Never saw the car in question though...relative new comer '98