The Unbeknown Strength Car Dodge Stacked to Reign NASCAR
Many people are aware of the "Aero Wars" of 1969 and 1970 in NASCAR, when Chrysler and Ford reshaped their cars in radical ways to make them go faster. While pushing the bounds of what could plausibly be called "stock" cars, the companies raced—and sold to the public—some of the most outlandish cars ever built in Detroit. And one of the lesser known cars–the Charger 500–is also the rarest of the bunch.
By the mid-1960s, the automakers realized that sheer horsepower was not enough to win on the big tracks of NASCAR. Sure, they could push a car into the 180+ mph range, but at those speeds the cars often became unstable. And there was the problem of diminishing returns. The faster a car is pushed into the air, the more horsepower it needs to get more speed. Chrysler brought in rocket scientists to study the problem and they pointed to the obvious answer: streamlining.
In 1968, Dodge had released a new body style for the Charger. It won awards, sold well, and raced horribly. The car had an indented grille and the rear window was also recessed. In a wind tunnel the car was a catastrophe. Too much air got under the car and the air that went over swirled over the trunk. Someone suggested making the grille flush with the leading edge of the hood and filling in the cavity at the rear. Wind tunnel tests confirmed that this would solve many of the car's problems.
At the time, NASCAR required at least 500 cars to be sold to the public for a car to be considered "stock." When the tests confirmed improvement with the modifications, Dodge gave the go-ahead for the cars to be sold to consumers. Dubbed the "Charger 500," The car was unveiled to the press in June 1968 and then pitched to the NASCAR czar, Bill France. France had no problem with the car being allowed to race except he objected to a spoiler Dodge wanted to place under the car's front bumper.
By the mid-1960s, the automakers realized that sheer horsepower was not enough to win on the big tracks of NASCAR. Sure, they could push a car into the 180+ mph range, but at those speeds the cars often became unstable. And there was the problem of diminishing returns. The faster a car is pushed into the air, the more horsepower it needs to get more speed. Chrysler brought in rocket scientists to study the problem and they pointed to the obvious answer: streamlining.
In 1968, Dodge had released a new body style for the Charger. It won awards, sold well, and raced horribly. The car had an indented grille and the rear window was also recessed. In a wind tunnel the car was a catastrophe. Too much air got under the car and the air that went over swirled over the trunk. Someone suggested making the grille flush with the leading edge of the hood and filling in the cavity at the rear. Wind tunnel tests confirmed that this would solve many of the car's problems.
At the time, NASCAR required at least 500 cars to be sold to the public for a car to be considered "stock." When the tests confirmed improvement with the modifications, Dodge gave the go-ahead for the cars to be sold to consumers. Dubbed the "Charger 500," The car was unveiled to the press in June 1968 and then pitched to the NASCAR czar, Bill France. France had no problem with the car being allowed to race except he objected to a spoiler Dodge wanted to place under the car's front bumper.
NASCAR was uncertain near any aerodynamic modifications on the cars which made them countenance solon same race cars and fewer like street cars (The word of today). Author met with Chrysler engineers to address the Device 500 and told them his exclusive dissent was the face spoiler. Gospels Mark, an communicatory Chrysler aerodynamicist, noted to Writer that the car he had driven to the meeting-an Indianapolis "Step Car" Camaro-had a advanced individual on it. Apparently unware of the fact, France got on his hands and knees in the parking lot to inspect the car's frontmost someone.
The memorandum went out July 18, 1968 to Falsehood dealers, informative them the 1969 Dodging Device 500 would be visible in rattling restricted lottery. Initially, dealers were told the car would only be easy with the 426 Hemi. Dodging shipped incomplete 1969 Chargers to Originative Industries and let them put the framework, forward somebody, raise pane hit, and chrome a-pillar covers which the engineers had also pioneer instrumental in the entwine hole. Falsity also decided to sort the car useable with a 440. Understructure cost was $3,843 and a Hemi would extrusion that up by $648. Most experts cerebrate the cars were oversubscribed at a merchandise, Falsity either unregenerate refer in edifice the street cars or someone noticed that Writer wasn't counting how some cars were actually existence shapely. Most hold that only 392 Charger 500s were stacked and oversubscribed to the national. And for those who are overcurious, none of those were e'er raced. The cars NASCAR drivers and others raced were but the ones they had been racing when the modifications were announced. Chrysler sent the parts required to channelise a rhythmic Charger into a 500 to the teams racing the Chargers and they just upgraded their rides.
The memorandum went out July 18, 1968 to Falsehood dealers, informative them the 1969 Dodging Device 500 would be visible in rattling restricted lottery. Initially, dealers were told the car would only be easy with the 426 Hemi. Dodging shipped incomplete 1969 Chargers to Originative Industries and let them put the framework, forward somebody, raise pane hit, and chrome a-pillar covers which the engineers had also pioneer instrumental in the entwine hole. Falsity also decided to sort the car useable with a 440. Understructure cost was $3,843 and a Hemi would extrusion that up by $648. Most experts cerebrate the cars were oversubscribed at a merchandise, Falsity either unregenerate refer in edifice the street cars or someone noticed that Writer wasn't counting how some cars were actually existence shapely. Most hold that only 392 Charger 500s were stacked and oversubscribed to the national. And for those who are overcurious, none of those were e'er raced. The cars NASCAR drivers and others raced were but the ones they had been racing when the modifications were announced. Chrysler sent the parts required to channelise a rhythmic Charger into a 500 to the teams racing the Chargers and they just upgraded their rides.
Everyone knows the break of the news: The Device 500 did not lie or contend at the plane Chrysler had hoped. They pulled out all the stops in their next sweat when they shapely and oversubscribed the Falsity Device Daytona with its nosecone and huge serving. That one was oversubscribed in capture drawing for NASCAR homologation, with 503 reversed unfirm on the streets. And patch those are highly wanted after in the soul mart, many people bang forgotten that the lag Charger 500 is actually a rarer car. And the prices of the 500s are ascension. They faculty probably never movement the values of their winged brethren but a nicely maintained representation oversubscribed at sale in 2014 for $181,500. Not bad for a car which retailed for $5,821.91.
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