Alternative '68: What do you think of this thing?

[Brock Samson]

it's really a Block Off plate, it would look alot better with four headlights... if those are actually headlamps...
or even a grill of a '68 charger or charger 500 like Kab is workin' on...

[Troy]

Just wondering...

It's hard to believe that they'd add the grill and A-pillar covers and then slap a giant scoop on the hood. Wouldn't it have been better to run cold air ducts and if more clearance was required then bulge the hood instead? I remember that car from when it first came out and I have always thought it was pretty cool. They seemed to have tried hard to keep it original - I'd have probably flared the fenders like a stock car (as long as it wasn't really rare). I have enough Charger love to go around for stock, modified, and race cars.

Troy

[Lowprofile]

This car was built with one mission in mind, and it does it quiet well. As a matter of fact, this was always my plan with my car.....to build a road racer type resto-mod. This car and "HibankHauler's" C-500 are my favorites.




"The grille was blocked off for aerodynamics—at high speed, a grille opening acts like a parachute. When we first saw the car, it didn't have headlights. To make it a true street car, we coerced them into installing a pair, and they work. Nowaczek opened up the lower valence panel and built an aluminum airdam to grab air for the radiator and to try to keep the nose of the car on the ground. Just visible in front of the oil pan is a plastic skid plate that protects the pan if the car bottoms-out at speed".

Also.....

"With everyone telling them they'd never get the car over 150 miles per hour, every little aero trick was mandatory. An aluminum filler panel smoothes off the stock molding on the A-pillar, the mirror mounting hole was filled with a smooth aluminum piece, and the cowl vent was closed off except for a little vent to allow air in to cool off the driver. Engle and Nowaczek are true Mopar guys in that they didn't want to cut up the car, and that's why the bolt-on filler panels were used instead of just cutting, filling, and smoothing. The windshield clips ensure that the glass doesn't pop out at speed and really lend to the NASCAR look. Even though the hoodscoop probably negates everything shown here, it's an example of the work that went into the car. Engle said the car was rock solid, and he couldn't detect the slightest bit of lift at speed.

[RallyeMike]

Good observations. I'm pretty impressed that the car hit 191 with that air scoop and such a small front spoiler. The drag from the air passing under the car had to be substantial.

[bull]

Wouldn't a cowl induction setup (basically turning the scoop around 180-degrees) be much more aerodynamic and yet achieve the same intake results?

Is it just me or are half the people not reading the part about it being an open road race car???

Troy

That's sort of my fault. I kind of focused the thread title on the looks of the car rather than it's overall function. Even though the looks are a secondary consideration I still think it looks pretty cool the way it is. Like Shakey said, I think they could have come up with something a little more attractive in a traditional sense that did the same job but it serves its purpose.

[bakerhillpins]

Is it just me or are half the people not reading the part about it being an open road race car???

Troy

That's sort of my fault. I kind of focused the thread title on the looks of the car rather than it's overall function. Even though the looks are a secondary consideration I still think it looks pretty cool the way it is. Like Shakey said, I think they could have come up with something a little more attractive in a traditional sense that did the same job but it serves its purpose.

That is the way I read into the topic. Looking for comments on form, not function.

[bull]

I was kind of looking for both but I'll fix it right now. Originally I was going to post some other pictures of different grilles that I had found but I got distracted looking at something else and didn't fix the title. Anyway, carry on.

[CaptMarvel]

Looks like all business...but I dont like it as a "beautiful charger", its just utilitarian and tough looking, kind of like Special Forces meets Ma Mopar.....The classic grille on 68/69s are part of what makes the look. Dont get me started on those ugly 70 front ends though (heh heh heh) 

[Ghoste]

"Special Forces meets Ma Mopar".   I like that.

[69bronzeT5]

IMO, put a normal '68 grille in it and it would look sweet! Love everything but the grille.

[NMike]

all they'd have to do is slap a coronet grill over the front. have looks and function.

[Jon Smith]

Thats the car that made me put black stock car steels on mine
I seem to remember something about them using that hoodscoop because they ran out of time to fabricate a cowl hood....
Does anyone know where it is or if it ever raced again? or what became of the hemi roadrunner they were building

[NYCMille]

That car probably one of my favorite Chargers out there - all business, no BS... I love it. 

[PocketThunder]

Can i buy Goodyear tires with lettering that size?  Those would look good on my C500.

[ChargerSG]

191 MPH Thats fast!

[Joshua]

You mean this car has never been posted here before??? The HOTROD issue it was in is OLD (mid-late 90's?).......I have it somewhere.....

Was built to run the Silver State Challenge in Nevada..............function BEFORE form.....sometimes fast isn't pretty.

But it IS badass.......

[Ghoste]

I think it was or maybe even on the old site.  Never hurts to be reminded again though.

[MoParMetal]

just the picture brings one word to mind



FAST

[NYCMille]

One of my all time favorites... that's nuthin' but a good ole' fashion kick ass muscle car 

[myk]

Good observations. I'm pretty impressed that the car hit 191 with that air scoop and such a small front spoiler. The drag from the air passing under the car had to be substantial.

Heh, you can feel that drag anywhere over 90mph on a street car.  Driving these cars at those kinds of speeds is downright frightening.  My T/A on the other hand...

[speedfreak68]

I think that its completely badass. it would be cool to do something like that with my 68  does anybody have any pics of the rear spoiler mods that they put on?

[Vainglory, Esq.]

This has got to be almost 10 years old.  Tell me I'm not the only one who remembers this!

[69*F5*SE]

Hell, I'd burn down the dragstrip in it.