He might come check out our board .But found his reply on moparts tonight
A friend of mine alerted me to the chat on this car and the photos. I owned the Supercharger from 1983-1998. I purchased it at a local car auction in SoCal with my dad, when I was 21 years old. My dad was interested in the 30's era cars but I thought this was the coolest car at the sale. I bought it for $11k and planned to sell my Boss 302 to finance it.
The car had 11,000 original miles and was purchased by Larry Rupert (who died about a month later). Rupert bought it from someone who had purchased it right out of Van Nuys Dodge, where it had been since the early 70's. The car was used by Elwood Engle at Chrysler but sold off along with a lot of these types of cars to dealers. The reported price for sale to VN Dodge was $1200.00
The car had no mufflers and original Poly tires when I bought it. The car started life as a 68 and was shown in white with blue stripes and trim. In 69 it was updated using the Daytona nose and painted. It was always a 440 4bbl car NEVER a Hemi as was sometimes misquoted in magazines of the era.
I drove the car all the time cause it was one of the most reliable cars I ever had. I took it to shows and one early morning had it on the interstate on the way to a show in Palm Springs. I pushed it up to where the needle read 125mph and it had another 2300 rmp left in it till I was near redline. Because it was so long and flat on the back, the air kept pushing it down making it more stable at over 100 than you might imagine.
I drove to Canada with it for a show and had to let a border agent crawl into the back of the car to make sure I was not smuggling people or stuff in. There was no trunk, only a removable back panel with carpet covering. Coming home from the show in Canada it started raining. My wife and I just kept pushing on at 75 mph - the rain washing over us at that speed. We kept in the fast lane and unlike most US highway drivers, everyone moved over for us when I flashed. We made it home safely but a bit soggy. I put a space heater in the car that eve to dry it out. My wife was pregnant at the time - we still tell that story now and then to our now 14 year old daughter. All told I put about 7k miles on the car in my 16 years of ownership. Not a lot but those were some great miles with wife, kids, and good friends on the way to Mopar shows.
The first set of pics showing the car in solid orange (earlier in the threads on this board) are the correct original car. They were probably taken by someone who knew the owner in the late 1970's as they are not photos of me or anyone I know. The second set show a car that someone made to look like the original. Their car is well done but has different interior, stripes, and a taller windshield.
I sold the car to Steven Juliano and he restored the car to an astonishingly high level of originality with date coded parts and amazing body and paint work. It was one of the best cars I have ever owned and I have had a lot of interesting cars. It is the ONLY car I ever regret selling, but my ownership was very gratifying. I was lucky to not only own it but to have owned it at a time when I was not afraid to drive it, go fast with it, and show it without worrying about perfection. That was the best part about owing it - using it.
I just signed in to this board but if anyone has questions let me know and I will be happy to answer them as best as I can. If I can figure out how to add photos I will do that as well.
Second part Raffis reply Well if you ever want to do it I know how and what to do with the conversions. The car was really very unique in that the nose is a combination of the Daytona and Superbird styles. The various details and surface work on the car are really unusual and some subtle.
I am a car designer by profession (www.raffim.com) and do a lot of work with cars in general so I have a great deal of appreciation for the design. The 68 Charger was enough of an advancement in design at the time when Richard Sias designed it in the mid 1960's as a fresh out of school designer. I wrote a two part article on the design of that car for HPM years ago to be sure he got the real credit for the design, NOT Bill Brownlie who normally does get credit.
If you get serious about that project to recreate it let me know. I have a lot of information on the car and have done a great deal of evaluation on the surfaces and details of the car, including some of the strange stuff like having no wipers but still having a wiper switch on the dash!!
Thanks for the nice comments.
Raffi welcome to the board and for chiming in and for your replys.I met you at the Franklin Mint Image award show .I think you worked there designing the cars. I was there with a friend and a B5 440 -6 pack superbird . I got a 70-ish newsletter where Dave Taylor was at Van Nuys dodge back in the day.And reported it to the club.Seeing the car and getting a reader story as he had a Hemi car in for service.I can find it and post
If you didnt know the supercharger played a small roll in a movie called Truck Turner circa 1974
http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle.php?id=134567&PHPSESSID=e0f632043bc86fda7d78ac9f5d885093
--------------------(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Annie75414/DaveTaylor.jpg)
1969 Daytona 440
1970 Coronet 500 383 Presently owned
1970 Superbird 440 U 166242
1970 Superbird 440 U 174597
1970 Superbird 440-6 V 179697
1970 Coronet RT 440 U 224126
1968 Road Runner 426 J 134509
1970 Daytona Replica 318 G 178701
Archive pictures of the Supercharger
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Annie75414/1970_SUPERCHARGER_04A.jpg)
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Annie75414/1970_SUPERCHARGER_03A.jpg)
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Annie75414/1970_SUPERCHARGER_02.jpg)
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Annie75414/1970_SUPERCHARGER_01.jpg)
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Annie75414/4957123-70AutoShow12.jpg)
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Annie75414/4957122-70AutoShow37.jpg)
I seen it after 1998
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Annie75414/supercharger2.jpg)
An everyday driver, that is too cool to imagine. :drool5: :coolgleamA:
intresting story :yesnod:
And I always thought the Batmobile was a GTO !!!
The one off supercharger did get used and driven alot for a car thats not that practial and doesnt have much of a windshield.Got to admire its owners :2thumbs:.And Dayclona and our member Magnumcharger who building the Deora replica.They both plan to recreate the Supercharger
Any questions about the car Raffi said just email him .He is also suppose to post pictures Raffi Minasian Email rmdesign@nni.com
The Topless Charger began life as a standard 1968 Charger R/T. Chief stylist for Chrysler Corporation Elwood P. Engel used the roofless Charger as an evaluation in styling. The Charger's roof was cut down to the belt line, while a short windshield kept the debris from the occupants faces. In order to maintain a sleek clean image the door handles were removed and the rear seating area was covered with a roadster hard-shell boot. The white with blue trimmed Charger had its bumpers de-chromed and painted body color (white). The hood and trunk lid were both painted non-glare black. Additional sport features included perforated stainless alloy steering wheel, cone-styled side view mirrors, custom racing wheels, finned side pipes, locking hood pins, and dual quick fill gas caps.
The 1970 Super Charger was Dodge's latest show car entry. Based off the 1968 topless Charger, the Super Charger was designed by Dodge stylist and built by George Busti of Creative Customs in Detroit. By using the 1968 topless Charger, the Super Charger had a strong platform on which the stylist could make cosmetic changes.
New of 1970 was the introduction of tapered nose cone and functional air scoops on top of both fenders, which were borrowed from the Dodge Daytona. Engine cooling was increased by adding two sets of vacuum operated louvers in the hood. The rear deck lid now incorporated an adjustable air spoiler. The driver was able to electronically operated the rear fin for increased rear down force.
The Super Charger's new paint scheme included seven coats of "Fire Orange" paint with non glare black accents. The interior was simply changed to current 1970 standard Charger. The black trimmed interior included fully padded high back bucket seats.
Looks like it had a short stint with the regular 69 charger front end.
More Raffi replys
Very interesting stuff here. I remember meeting a lot of folks over the years through that car so it is nice to see it continues to introduce me to new folks and touch base with others I have not hear from in many years.
The fellow who is doing the Deora replica is one brave soldier. I studied under Harry Bradley at Art Center and he was a very talented designer. He was a hard person to know since you never knew how he would react to certain things but I recall telling him about my interest in the Mopar cars he had worked on and he brought in some drawings to class one day that shocked me. Lots of really nice detailed segments showing tail light sections, venting, trim, etc. He not only designed the cars, he gave detailed instructions on how to fasten, alter, even paint or finish the overall part just so he could get the exact effect. Bradley had an amazing visual library that he could draw from pulling parts from various makes of cars to create new looks. He was one of the best customizers but hated to be thought of that way. His work on the Deora was actually two fold both as a full size and a model car. In recent years he and I stayed in touch as I started working professionally. One day I encouraged him to write a book about his career and that ended our friendship - he hated the idea that his work was done and wanted nothing to do with documenting his life through his cars. The Deora was one of the most complex cars he worked on and remains today one of the most innovative cars of the decade
Neeto huh?
Raffi's own pictures!!
Another few....
:drool5: :2thumbs: :2thumbs: Thanks
A couple more....I hope Raffi comes on board!
One more... :2thumbs:
Never noticed that it has a 22" radiator in it. Must have a nice highway gear in the back 3.23's unless someone changed them out along the way.
Isn't that a Superbird nose?
Does it have rocket launchers ?????
I believe its a daytona nose with a few superbird traits incorporated as center nose seam.The 22 inch radiator I think is also in the pictures. I took underhood .I recall motor was blue no wiper motor and the hood air intake mechanism.Were areas I checked out details.I believe the dash pad was still a 68 type the 70 added later seats were a little higher then the canopy.Steve said there was some unique key chain stuck down the dash .Maybe Raffi will chime in with some other details to this factory one off show car.I think it was in mopar muscle or high performance but not sure
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Annie75414/supercharger2-1.jpg)
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Annie75414/supercharger1-1.jpg)
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Annie75414/number1.jpg)
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Annie75414/vlcsnap35388wj9.jpg)
I know I have that Magazine Article somewhere, Spent about 2 hours going through hundreds of old Mopar mags but could only find it on the cover of MCG :shruggy: What mag & issue is it in with Dave Ferro driving it? LEON.
Im thinking mopar muscle or high performance mopar magazine
Reged: Jan 18 2009
Loc: SF Bay Area, CA Re: RTS Caravan Barracuda? [Re: autoxcuda]
#4962614 - Wed Jan 21 2009 03:27 AM Edit Reply Quote Quick Reply
Juliano owns the 71 RR that Chuck built. I think that car is called the "chicken head" car on account of the little 3D Road Runner heads mounted on the front fenders. It is a funny detail but you remember those things. The car still wears the original paint indeed today. Not sure of the price when it was offered for sale.
The Supercharger had a turquoise engine and no wiper motor. The air cleaner was the standard 440 4bbl black crinkle paint canister with the standard pie plate and graphics. The car had chrome valve covers and the large radiator. To be clear, both the white and orange version of this car are the SAME car. So it is a "two of one" car, meaning if someone were to restore it BACK to the first iteration, it would be correct in white with no nose cone, but in my opinion this would be a shame cause you lose the more interesting and dynamic evolution that the Supercharger became.
The interior used the standard RT dash from 1968 and it had two right side toggle switches that controlled the hood louvers and the rear spoiler angle. When I owned the car, the louvers were not connected to the motor that drove them and the toggle switches were gone. The only thing that remained on the dash (where the switches were) were two "dyno" tape labels that read HOOD and WING. The car had a radio with thumbwheel control and a dash speaker, however with no antenna - it never actually worked. No matter. I never could hear it anyway when I drove and frankly listening to the engine was far more interesting than music. The seats were 1970 style that were added along with the updated door panels in 1970 when the car was redone. There were no seat belts in the car when I got it and the exhaust was long gone. I drove it with no seatbelts for years but when I moved to Seattle, Richard Sias (the designer of the original Charger) GAVE me a set of black date coded seat belts for the car. I installed them. They are probably the same ones in the car today.
In my ownership the car had Rallye wheels. Steve replaced the wheels with the original style American wheel (I think that was the brand) and I rode on modern radials. I did have a full set of the Polyglas tires for the car but they were so slick that I could hardly keep the car on the road so I replaced them. This was 1985. I kept the tires for a few years and then sold them to a guy in the local area I think his name was Jay Adams. He had a 440 4bbl in violet cuda.
The Supercharger used a Daytona nose but it had the crown in the center and it was smoother than the Daytona nose around the headlight bucket sections. It had twin gas filler caps but only one side worked. The caps were molded from SHI LA LA SPEED SHOP (cast into the lid). The rear bumble bee stripe was painted on, not tape. The rear had 69 style side markers but there were none molded into the front fenders.
If I think about it long enough I could probably describe every inch of the car. I still have some reference materials and lots of photos of it filed away. A memory of something special never really fades - and this one was about as good as anything I have ever owned.
This is great stuff. How about some trunk details? Taillight cover and jack(s) for example?
Since I now own a 1968 Charger R/T, it has always been a real temptation to modify it to "Topless Charger" specifications, and since I have a complete 1970 front clip as well, the "Supercharger" option is there as well.
Cutting the roof off of my Charger has been the real issue. It is not a numbers matching car, and to be honest, isn't a track pak or performance axle car either. And since most of the body panels have been replaced, there's no originality to preserve either.
As far as the gas cap(s) go, Steven Juliano replaced the ones on the car with an exact replica set, found in an ad he saw in a vintage car magazine. So I'm assuming he still has the original set.
Quote from: Magnumcharger on January 21, 2009, 06:21:16 AM
Good God!!
I had no idea that you actually OWNED the car!! I really must not have been paying attention!
For the record, Dave (nascarxx29) is cutting and pasting a reply posted by Moparts.com member "raffi", the former Supercharger owner. To keep confusion to a minimum, here is a link to the Moparts.com thread:
RTS Caravan Barracuda Thread on Moparts.com (http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=4950294&page=0&fpart=all&vc=1)
:smilielol: No I dont own such a car .It be in my signature of cars past and present.I did meet Raffi and I know Dave Ferro at Totally auto very well.And seen the post on moparts .Where I am registered on that board also and was sharing wing related post .On page 1 it stated He might come check out our board .Found his reply on moparts tonight
I was just fortunate to have had a limited supply of NOS parts .I sold to Steve for one of his RTS cars.And he said come see the cars.I took a camera and a friend or 2 .It was the best mopar day I ever had in my life surrounded by the cars and tons of memorabila.Thats displayed at www.stevenjuliano.com
Quote from: nascarxx29 on January 21, 2009, 11:58:16 AM
:smilielol: No I dont own such a car .It be in my signature of cars past and present.I did meet Raffi and I know Dave Ferro at Totally auto very well.And seen the post on moparts He might come check out our board .But found his reply on moparts tonight as I had on page 1
I was just fortunate to have had a limited supply of NOS parts .I sold to Steve for one of his RTS cars.And he said come see the cars.I took a camera and a friend or 2 .It was the best mopar day I ever had in my life surrounded by the cars and tons of memorabila.Thats displayed at www.stevenjuliano.com
Where is the Homer Simpson D'OH Smiley?? I need it right about now!!
I guess the lack of quotation marks threw me for a loop!
The cutting and pasting of the Moparts text over here is confusing as to who is exactly saying what.
i'm really curious about the hood venting...
any info on it?..
In the past when I posted a direct link to the moparts site of a topic .And if you were not a member someone said they couldnt view the thread not being registered.But Magnum charger and I have made Raffi aware that there is alot of interest and discussion over the supercharger on the aero forum here.And Raffi did supply his website(www.raffim.com) and email Any questions about the car Raffi said just email him .He is also suppose to post pictures Raffi Minasian Email rmdesign@nni.com. [To answer this reply]
Quote from: DougSchellinger on January 21, 2009, 12:55:20 PM
The cutting and pasting of the Moparts text over here is confusing as to who is exactly saying what.
And I did take undershots on the hood mechanism,Another ? Was about jacks and trunk tail light cover.I was told you had to go behind the front seat and crawl into trunk to replace a light bulb.So getting a detailed picture of its trunk.We can see .If Raffi comes aboard or email him specific ? or photo requests
i'd like a pic of the "chicken head" car too, if there's one Avail. Thanks! :popcrn:
Quote from: nascarxx29 on January 21, 2009, 01:46:00 PM
And I did take undershots on the hood mechanism
Can you post the photos of the underhood mechanism?
I got alot pictures to look through .I will see if I can find the chicken head 71 RR and supercharger details I took shots of
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Annie75414/100_1182.jpg)
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Annie75414/100_1183.jpg)(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Annie75414/100_1177.jpg)
Found these 3 pictures so far
Very cool!! :2thumbs:
I see they have kept the motor 68 blue
Quote from: Brock Samson on January 21, 2009, 04:51:46 PM
i'd like a pic of the "chicken head" car too, if there's one Avail. Thanks! :popcrn:
(http://hangtenregistry.com/mikesposters/albums/Bluenose/ch1_001.jpg)
(http://hangtenregistry.com/mikesposters/albums/Bluenose/ch2_001.jpg)
(http://hangtenregistry.com/mikesposters/albums/Bluenose/ch3_001.jpg)
that was/is the car that encouraged me to want to paint the RR orange... and possibly go a pro touring route...
If, the guy who was supposed to paint it in Oct. '97, had, she'd probably be Candy Tangerine today...
but i digress... :lol:
I understand that Steven Juliano no longer owns the SuperCharger. Does anyone know to whom he sold the car?
I need a reliable daily driver but I may have to lengthen the garage a bit...
Neal
Quote from: Neal_J on January 22, 2009, 02:02:24 PM
I understand that Steven Juliano no longer owns the SuperCharger. Does anyone know to whom he sold the car?
I need a reliable daily driver but I may have to lengthen the garage a bit...
Neal
Har har hardy har!! :smilielol:
Quote from: Neal_J on January 22, 2009, 02:02:24 PM
I understand that Steven Juliano no longer owns the SuperCharger. Does anyone know to whom he sold the car?
I need a reliable daily driver but I may have to lengthen the garage a bit...
Neal
Does anyone know to whom he sold the car? Its a guy I know from my area.I had full shots of all the unique cars .I just came across the underhood and chicken head picture request .Also the website is WWW.STEVEN JULIANO.COM
:shruggy:
Quote from: Neal_J on January 23, 2009, 12:05:24 AM
Its a guy I know from my area.
OK, that's helps. Sorta. I guess..
I think it was George Busti that had something to do with the Supercharger and Diamante show cars.Is he still around and it this guy??
George Busti Creative Customs (313) 891-1400 17260 Gable St Detroit, MI Harbor Town Garage (313) 567-0442 654 Mount Elliott St Detroit, MI Ilm Ind Detailing ...
raffi
member
Reged: Jan 18 2009
Loc: SF Bay Area, CA Re: RTS Caravan Barracuda? [Re: autoxcuda]
#4969239 - Fri Jan 23 2009 11:30 PM Edit Reply Quote Quick Reply
Curtis is still around? That is great. Say hey back to him next time you see him. He had one nice original 71 Challenger. I always wanted to buy that car cause it was not only FAST but it was really original. Had a good used car look about it that you knew was solid and well used but all there. Curtis is a funny guy - lot smarter than you might think when first meeting him. He has engine tricks from the old school that can make a car stand up and walk all over modern stuff.
That is true about the tail lamp on the Supercharger! It was one scary job and took two people to do it. On a hot day it was a furnace back there. Funny thing was going into the dark trunk area you could see all the left over metalwork from the stock Charger rear seat and then trunk metal just welded in place. Even the jacking instruction sheet was still there stuck to the bottom of the trunk lid. For all I know there might have even been a jack way in the depths of it. I never went in too far or stayed too long in there, just long enough once or twice with a flashlight to see what was there. Jay was braver than me!
That custom Cuda shown in the period photos with the claimed 900hp? That is a very interesting car.
I just checked my sources....a book called "Chrysler Concepts".....and it confrmed my supicions....the Alexander brothers built the Topless Charger, which George Busti converted over to the SuperCharger.
Good work .They as you know are also known for the Deora
Quote from: nascarxx29 on February 01, 2009, 06:41:15 PM
Good work .They as you know are also known for the Deora
And the '68 Superbee convertible.
This movie with the supercharger is currently on channel 168 Retroplex TV Channel.Vintage 1974 with Isacc Hayes driving a sunroof 74 Charger.Just seen the supercharger once so far
Also found the 1974 movie on you tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUHmQ0rfejw
I saw the whole movie on TV lastnight on the retrotv channel 168 .Movie was called Truck Turner vintage 1974.Prevoiusly I had only seen 2 stills of the one of one dodge supercharger . But looked it up on you tube from tape time 432-442 .And you can get it on DVD.It also has a 74 sunroof charger .And you see alot of older cars in the background 69 charger 70 challenger etc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEo4DFYolHs&NR=1
Quote from: nascarxx29 on January 04, 2010, 03:30:59 PM
I saw the whole movie on TV lastnight on the retrotv channel 168 .Movie was called Truck Turner vintage 1974.Prevoiusly I had only seen 2 stills of the one of one dodge supercharger . But looked it up on you tube from tape time 432-442 .And you can get it on DVD.It also has a 74 sunroof charger .And you see alot of older cars in the background 69 charger 70 challenger etc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEo4DFYolHs&NR=1
Here's a screen capture of the, maybe, famous supercharger in the movie?
Troy
I was right in the middle of doing the same damned thing! :icon_smile_big:
A few more....
Does this movie have Isaac Hayes in it ?? or the Voice of "chef" on South park to the Younger crowd.
It is good to see a piece of history being well kept
Movie has Isacc Hayes and The lady from Star Trek & more
http://www.whosdatedwho.com/topic/6285/truck-turner.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEo4DFYolHs&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e1y3NackR0&NR=1
Quote from: nascarxx29 on January 04, 2010, 04:08:22 PM
Movie has Isacc Hayes and The lady from Star Trek & more
nichelle nichols
:2thumbs: Thats her I was thinking LT Uhara
The unique car was only seen 2 times in this movie after seeing it lastnight.Previous to seeing the whole movie there was these 2 shots I seen sometime ago
http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle.php?id=134567&PHPSESSID=e0f632043bc86fda7d78ac9f5d885093
This the same car that was at Carlisle i believe ...Don't believe the date stamping i think its wrong!
Yes, it was displayed at Carlisle more than once.
Yes same car as seen at carlisle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL_oIDT22Vk&feature=channel
where is this car now :shruggy:
Last I heard Steven Juliano had it but I also heard a rumor that he may have sold it.
Howdy. I was lucky enough to meet Raffi and the Supercharger while it was here in the Seattle area. A friend of mine Steve rebuilt the front end on it and we towed it on my trailer to his house for the repairs. I am trying to get him to find the pictures he took. He had permission to test drive the car after the repairs were done and I got to go for a ride around the block. Raffi displayed the car at the Mopars Unlimited - Seattle Chapter's car show call the All MOPAR Spring Round Up in 1993. Here are a couple of pictures I tool at the show. I was also at Carsile when the car was on display. I talked to Dave from Total Auto and found out Raffi was not there as his wife was having their second child. Dave was intreged that a guy from Seattle knew so much about the car. Enjoy the pictures and the magazine coverage of the 1993 show with the Supercharger. Yo, SBBob
The rest of the magazine article.
I met Raffi real nice guy he was working for the Franklin Mint they put on a regular car show there.But he had already sold the car.But turned out my friend Steve bought it .And I had the chance to go see it and look it all over
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Annie75414/4957123-70AutoShow12.jpg)
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Annie75414/4957122-70AutoShow37.jpg)
I seen it after 1998
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/Annie75414/supercharger2.jpg)
Raffi is a friend of mine on Facebook. He's an automobile designer by trade. :2thumbs:
Just got off the phone with Mike Alexander, builder of the "Topless Charger".
I brought him up to date on the comings and goings of the Supercharger, and wanted his opinion of the car.
He told me that Elwood Engel was a weird fellow to deal with! He remembers the build as well, and that it was pretty quick, as most PR cars were.
I also wanted to verify that the gas cap off of it (which I got from Steve Juliano) was the same as the Deora. He told me it was, and was a favorite of Chrysler Corp and their PR cars.
Thanks for the update
Steves a great guy he furnished a similar cap to Jim Rodebaughs topless charger replica.
Similar cap Monkey Mobile Heres more Deora pictures for you Magnum Charger
http://public.fotki.com/predmond/cool_trucks_and_cars-1/the_deora/
Well, I don't know how you do it...but you always manage to find something I've never seen!
Thanks!
Quote from: nascarxx29 on April 03, 2011, 03:53:35 PM
Thanks for the update
Steves a great guy he furnished a similar cap to Jim Rodebaughs topless charger replica.
Yes, there were two caps on the SuperCharger...I asked for one...Jim asked for the other. Steven put two new ones on the car after he restored it.
Can anyone confirm who owns this car now? I would be surprized if Steve would let it go. That would be the last concept of his collection I would sell. I get sick everytime I see it as it is my favorite car of all time. I found out to late in 1983 that the car was sold at auction. I would have NEVER let that one go and would have paid at the time alot more than that! :brickwall: :brickwall: I would own it for life. What an awesome ride! 11,000 was free for a car like that.
Besides that rare gas cap .Another piece off the supercharger was on this board 71 Challenger in PA .Knew the shop that worked on it.And got a pice of bondo from it .Dave Ferro totally auto had the car but didnt mess with its original body work and paint
Totally auto restored a few one off cars. They did a friend of mines car the AMX400. A Barris movie custom that was on a TV show called Banachek. He has since sold the car.
Quote from: Magnumcharger on April 03, 2011, 03:46:59 PM
Just got off the phone with Mike Alexander, builder of the "Topless Charger".
I brought him up to date on the comings and goings of the Supercharger, and wanted his opinion of the car.
He told me that Elwood Engel was a weird fellow to deal with! He remembers the build as well, and that it was pretty quick, as most PR cars were.
I also wanted to verify that the gas cap off of it (which I got from Steve Juliano) was the same as the Deora. He told me it was, and was a favorite of Chrysler Corp and their PR cars.
Similar gas cap found on monkey mobile http://thecaveboard.yuku.com/topic/7192
Very cool history....
Has anyone made (or thought of making) a Supercharger Replica?
Looks easier than a full blown Daytona Clone, but maybe I'm missing something?
Not that I need another Divorce laden project, but it might make a good companion for the Daytona....???
Thoughts?
Havent heard or seen any supercharger replicas in the works.Just the base car where it got started 68 topless Charger got built
http://wwnboa.org/rodebaughtopless.htm
Thanks for the link, so if I have this straight.... the 68 Topless Charger became the 70 SuperCharger and one replica of the Topless Charger was recently built in 2009.
Well, that leaves the 70 SuperCharger Replica field WIDE open! :icon_smile_cool:
I may just keep an eye out for an appropriate donor... :think:
Quote from: nascarxx29 on April 03, 2011, 11:46:27 PM
Havent heard or seen any supercharger replicas in the works.Just the base car where it got started 68 topless Charger got built
http://wwnboa.org/rodebaughtopless.htm
Funny...that article makes no mention of the fact that the original "Topless Charger" was built by none other than the Alexander Brothers Custom shop in Detroit.
That fact should be pretty well established by this point.
I did recall a super charger clone .But wasnt that dead on .The Svec brothers in Ohio did a nice job.Page 2 3/4 the way down by MoparStuart
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,64071.msg733080/topicseen.html#msg733080
Quote from: nascarxx29 on April 04, 2011, 08:55:13 AM
I did recall a super charger clone .But wasnt that dead on .The Svec brothers in Ohio did a nice job.Page 2 3/4 the way down by MoparStuart
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,64071.msg733080/topicseen.html#msg733080
also this crazy looking bad copy
Very cool car! What is that in the background that looks like the Monkees car?
That sure looks like the Monkeemobile pontiac to me too.
Dave, where did you take those pics?
My best friend owns the Monkeemobile. Thats not it. The hood is different and the rear looks like a Dodge Dart.
The 71 Cuda style fender gills are not on the real Monkeemobile either. It was a blown 66 or 67 (?) GTO.
I seen that. What was that car? Did someone make a Dart Monkeemobile?
http://www.robertwebb.com/som.htm
Thanks that is a great article I will send it to Mel
Quote from: WB General Lee on April 04, 2011, 07:56:25 PM
Thanks that is a great article I will send it to Mel
Hes another Monkee Mobile archive San Mateo Auto Show 1967. :Twocents: The Monkee Mobile color its refefered to is Pearlesque Pink.Looks Burgundy to me
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae240/Wingcars69/101_2965.jpg)
Cool stuff!
(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv186/barrisbeauty/DSC00078.jpg)
Here is Mel with the Monkees car and one of my Black Beauties
(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv186/barrisbeauty/DSC01023.jpg)
Does anyone have more pictures of the car with the supercharger clone?
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae240/Wingcars69/Monkeedart.jpg)
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,29673.msg323976/topicseen.html#msg323976
Awesome shot! Is that someones creation?
oh deeeeee jaaaaaaay......
a dart with cuda fender grilles
:rotz: :rotz: :rotz: :rotz:
Alright, I think I have secured the donor car for my Supercharger replica project so I would like to ask for a bit more help if possible....
Where can I get similar side exhaust and what was used for the front park lamps, and side mirrors? The hood louver system and gas caps seem unique....any other parts unique?
I'm also wondering if the rear spoiler uses the center wing of a Daytona or SB....anyone know?
Its going to be at least a couple of weeks before I get the donor home and I start my own thread, but I'm hoping to start gathering more info sooner than later.
I know it's a shot in the dark, but are there any "blueprints"/specs available? I plan on sculpting the rear "tonneau" so any reference would be a huge help.
Paul
Geez Paul,
now that's a replica I'd help you with 24/7 if I lived closer to you that is..:)
:cheers:
Don
I retract this statement/offer. Paul is not someone I would ever want to know.
On your Super Charger replica you could try emailing Raffi M Or Steve Juliano.
Jim R did the topless charger replica and copied the unique details
http://wwnboa.org/rodebaughtopless.htm
I thought I'd add this photo to the conversation for posterity.
This is a picture of my dad who took Elwood's car home for the evening. The location is Hamtramck, MI at my dad's mom's house in 1971. I was 8months old. Notice the fiberglass baby bouncer seat by his feet? The neighborhood no longer exists and was razed years ago. My dad was a designer at Chrysler for his entire career and worked under Elwood. I found this photo and vehicle fascinating, so I started researching it. Quite the pedigree with this car. I've talked with Raffi and found out that a guy by the name of Howie Haboush from New Jersey may own the car now.
Stunning car in every aspect!
A friend of mine in California was going to build another 'supercharger' about eight years ago.
He already had a topless 69 Charger body and we spoke at great length about body/chassis strengthening.
We had already dis-membered a very rusty Coronet convert, to get the rocker panel inner support rails out.
But it was shelved and never got built.
Aerolite
Great picture I'm in NJ met Howie once he's in fort Lee nj
http://hooniverse.com/2010/09/21/return-of-the-topless-charger-courtesy-of-a-reader/
Hi guys!
i'm Daniele and i'm writing from Italy.
I'm working on a book talk about Charger history, so i would like ask if you know who is the owner of the rights about images of Charger roofless inside this topic, especially the images about the orange one in the article and the '68 (images in white/black)...thanks for the support!
A friend who passed away Steven Juliano was the owner.It changed hands and is in a NJ collector Byron Howie Habici.The vintage pictures ownership I don't know