{"id":798836,"date":"2019-10-30T03:50:03","date_gmt":"2019-10-30T10:50:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bangshift.com\/?p=798836"},"modified":"2019-10-30T03:50:03","modified_gmt":"2019-10-30T10:50:03","slug":"2019-mopar-southern-classic-coverage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bangshift.com\/bangshift1320\/2019-mopar-southern-classic-coverage\/","title":{"rendered":"2019 Mopar Southern Classic Coverage: More Tire Smoke And Killer Chryslers Drag Racing In Kentucky!"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Words and photos by Doug Gregory) –\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>The phrase \u2018Mopar or no car\u2019 is manifest in the folks wailing and wrenching on their machines at this event.\u00a0 Anyone can see their pride for the marques from the clothes they wear to the lettering and decals on their mechanical monsters of acceleration.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s pretty common for non-Mopar folks to talk about colors when attempting to describe this group intelligently.\u00a0 I am guilty of this too.\u00a0 Instead I\u2019m going to dive into is the interesting names applied to various models among the three makes.\u00a0 Many of the names invoke readily understood images such as:<\/p>\n

Demon, Charger, Dart, Challenger, Barracuda, \u2018Cuda, Duster, Valiant, Lancer, Fury, and so on.\u00a0 Many of these are menacing, intimidating, and\/or dangerous.\u00a0 It\u2019s a very simple yet effective marketing scheme.\u00a0 Others are not so easy to grasp or understand.\u00a0 Belvedere is one that doesn\u2019t seem to impress a sense of fear or strength, yet these models definitely had some serious punch.\u00a0 Belvedere means \u2018beautiful view\u2019 and is primarily used to describe a structure with an awesome vista.\u00a0 Hmmm.\u00a0 I\u2019ll go along with 60\u2019s Belvederes were and are beautiful automobiles.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know the history of the nameplate, but given the times (scenic road trips were very popular) it possibly referenced the view from inside the car as the travelers experienced the countryside in comfort and style.\u00a0 Seems plausible.\u00a0 If I am wrong there\u2019s little doubt correction will come swiftly.\u00a0 Coronet is another that doesn\u2019t seem to imply much in automotive terms.\u00a0 Many model names, regardless of make, continue to be an enigma to me.<\/p>\n

Not totally off topic, it seems interesting to me that in the 60s the Hemi was considered a Chrysler entity however virtually all the performance models were Dodge and Plymouth.\u00a0 Chryslers were considered to be more of the luxury line at the time.\u00a0 Fast-forward to the 21st<\/sup> century and Plymouth is gone, Chrysler is still the parent, but the company is now more known for Dodge performance models, RAM trucks, and Jeep with the \u2018Chrysler\u2019 Hemi being the dominant name in the game\u2026still.<\/p>\n

So, lots of color in the gathered Mopars with one of my favorites being the copper Belvedere with daisy wheels and that wide, gaping scoop.\u00a0 Old paint schemes like the red, white, and blue \u2018Cuda doing the burnout naturally draw mental pictures of the great muscle car wars, Super Stockers, and more.\u00a0 The white over black Duster with the yellow, orange, and red is reminiscent of the Direct-Connection days and factory-backed teams well into the 90s.<\/p>\n

Hope you enjoy these photos.\u00a0 Look for more soon.<\/p>\n

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