Former Daytona and SuperBird used as short track cars nearing end of usefulness

[odcics2]

Guess they thought keeping the wing would help.
If anything, the extra weight back there did!

The original Ray Elder Daytona had a Charger 500 front end put on it.
We know the wing and Daytona front end was saved.
Wonder what happened to the chassis?   

Chuck Bown owned the Bird with the standard Road Runner front.
Anyone know the whereabouts of the Bird front end and wing, or chassis ?

[Redbird]

The Bown Superbird front clip was listed for sale in the Winged Warrior newsletter about 1976.

I believe it started as a street car.

[Aero426]

The Bown Superbird front clip was listed for sale in the Winged Warrior newsletter about 1976.

I believe it started as a street car.

I believe that both the Bown and John Soares cars started as street cars.

[odcics2]

The Bown Superbird front clip was listed for sale in the Winged Warrior newsletter about 1976.

I believe it started as a street car.

I believe that both the Bown and John Soares cars started as street cars.

I believe the same.   

[djcarguy]

The Bown Superbird front clip was listed for sale in the Winged Warrior newsletter about 1976.

I believe it started as a street car.

I believe that both the Bown and John Soares cars started as street cars.

[djcarguy]

Bown an soares both west coast races? what area were they based from? in 77-78 there was Bown auto sales an wrecking in Bonnylake Washington.

    they had some roundy,round cars out by the shop.dont think I will ever forget the wrecked cougar with teeth still in the steering wheel.  Did either car survive or more history 

[wingcar builder]

Guess they thought keeping the wing would help.
If anything, the extra weight back there did!

The original Ray Elder Daytona had a Charger 500 front end put on it.
We know the wing and Daytona front end was saved.
Wonder what happened to the chassis?   

Chuck Bown owned the Bird with the standard Road Runner front.
Anyone know the whereabouts of the Bird front end and wing, or chassis ?

Ray told me he sold a Nichels chassis to a guy here in Pa. Got a deposit but never got the rest of the money. car ran a race or two then vanished. he said he thought the guy put road runner sheet metal on it but wasn't sure. I'm thinking that was the Daytona chassis. and we know where the hood it too.

Yes Soares told me his bird was a street car he picked up at the dealer. He got limited support from Chrysler and Nichels but he said Ray did slip him stuff. He said Ray flew out to him and brought him some jigs and parts too. Bown car was a street superbird and I was told the Kevin Terris  Superbird was a street car also that Gary Sigman built.

[odcics2]

 

[Aero426]

Sal Tovella got the blue #2 Norm Nelson Superbird in 1975.    Norm got the car in mid-1971 when Chrysler was done testing with it.    It became a 1971 Road Runner in 1973 and was sold to Sal in 1975.   You can see the rectangular opening in the dash to the right of the gauges where the Lockheed data recorder push buttons sat in 1970.  After 1977, it became a Magnum.    After 1980, it disappeared.    

[odcics2]

Now, THAT would be a rare find!

[Aero426]

Here is the other side of the coin where wing car parts were repurposed after 1972 for short track use.     

This car has parts from Roger McCluskey's Superbird after the body was cut off and the real car reskinned as a newer Charger.   The Superbird parts went on an older 1966 Plymouth short track car and continued racing (sometimes on dirt) for a while in Wisconsin.   

[hemi68charger]

You guys amaze me with the stuff/pictures you have...... 

[Mytur Binsdirti]

You guys amaze me with the stuff/pictures you have...... 

Agreed. Interesting stuff for sure.