While trolling the grounds at Beech Bend Raceway during the 2010 Holley National Hot Rod Reunion we spied what looked to be an old race car out of the corner of our eye. Closer examination revealed the car to be an awesome barn find that the owner has gotten back into running condition. This former Super Stock Dodge Demon was raced all over the country and has some really cool history behind it.
According to the owner, the car was built into a racer from the brand new and it was built right. Petty Enterprises handled the modification of the rear suspension, Bob Lambeck built the small block, and someone (Chrysler we presume) handled the acid dipping of the body to reduce weight.
After seeing active competition all across the country, including at the 1972 Winternationals, the car ended up sitting in a driveway, on an open trailer, for more than 30 years! The owner rescued the car and then the horsepower gods began to smile at him when he started investigating the history of the machine.
Calling guys who used to have a hand in the car, he found one of the original Super Stock engines, 100% complete, sitting under a work bench. He also got the transmission and all the associated parts and pieces to make it all work. The original hood was so weakened by corrosion and the acid dupping that the skin ripped off of it while the car was being towed down the highway. There are photos illustrating how thin the metal is.
After getting the car back up and running, it was raced at a local eighth mile track, just as you see it here. It went in the low 7-second zone which means that it would run in the low 11 second bracket down the quarter mile. Awesome!
Don Johnson was the original owner and racer of the car. It sure was a hell raiser back in the day. We were super excited to see that it lived through more than thirty years of neglect.
Hit the link below to see a full gallery of photos and the rest of the story in their captions.
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