Mopar and Ford were not just rivals on the sales floor. In 1965, they were bitter enemies at the racetrack as well. Whether it had something to do with Henry Ford II’s legendary temper (and maybe even his red-mist viewpoint that was influenced by Ferrari) is lost to history, but on dragstrips and oval tracks across America, Ford had one target in clear view: anything with a Chrysler pentastar on it. And it was vice-versa…Chrysler had brilliant engineers who were also gearheads to the core. They had an engine that was quickly leaving jaws dropped wherever it went, they had dragstrip provenance, and they had a reason to keep kicking Ford every time they came around: win on Sunday, sell on Monday was never more appropriate than in the 1960s.
The Ford 427 and Chrysler 426 had been booted by NASCAR for the 1965 season. The Chrysler Hemi had been a barnstormer from the moment it appeared, kicking ass wherever it went. But between deaths in racing accidents, the AMA crying foul at the speeds the cars were carrying, and some protesting from Ford, the Hemi was put out. Ford’s 427 Cammer got the boot as well for being too European and exotic for his racing series. But drag racing welcomed both engines with open arms, and the battle raged on.
Weight transfer was a big deal in drag racing at this time. The more weight you put on the rears at launch, the better your chances would be for a good launch. Chrysler knew this well, and proceeded to turn twelve B-body vehicles into freaks that were the predecessor to the Funny Car class we know today. Here’s the rundown on the Chrysler Corporation altered wheelbase machines:
I used to literally worship these awesome beasts as a child here in the UK and was overjoyed when my Dad’s boss who was from Florida brought me a model kit over from the States!
They were truly a huge shot to try to get the traction they needed. In those years most “slicks” were recap tires. Not a lot of purpose made drag race tires.That is the reason for such an altered wheelbase. To get as much weight on the rear tires as possible . Then once they were able to get the bite they needed.The front went to the moon.So they lengthened out the front a bit to put weight out there to keep that end on the ground.So all in all,the way I see it. If it weren’t for crappy recap hard as a rock slicks in 1965. You would have never seen the “Funny cars” of 1966. I always liked the shot of Dick Landy’s silver car. With the front end 3 feet in the air.And him with a big old cigar in his mouth. Great time in the sport to have the factories trying anything possible to win a race.
Huffin’ Testors glue obviously has a serious detrimental effect on some then doesn’t it geordie?
Molars are ugly enough as is and then they go and make them uglier
Mopars