''...history tells us the first public appearance of altered wheelbase, late-model drag strip machinery occurred on January 29, 1965 at Beeline Dragway in Phoenix, Arizona, a full year before Lincoln-Mercury introduced the tube-framed, plastic-bodied Funny Car architecture we still have today. On that breezy desert day, four Plymouths and three Dodges introduced the Beeline crowd to the sight of oddly proportioned, altered-wheelbase door-slammers packing 600-plus horsepower.
These cars were the start of a two-year fever that spawned hundreds of copycat door slammers based on Mopar and non-Mopar host vehicles. Drag strip announcers and promoters alike quickly defined them as Funny Cars because of their odd proportions, and a legend was born.'' - Mark Tyrol (owner)
Built by Rich “The Performance King” LeFebvre
511ci Hemi engine
Factory 1965 Hemi casting
Milodon high-volume pump, 7-quart oil pan
K&N filter
Hooker headers, full-length undercar exhaust system by Flowmaster mufflers
Chrysler electronic distributor
600 hp at 6,800 rpm
Built by Richard LeVangie
1965 Chrysler 727 tranny
Rearend: 4.10 Dana 60 with Sure Grip
Chassis: altered wheelbase, axle spindle center lines moved forward 15 inches in
rear and 10 inches in front. Final wheelbase is 111 inches, 5 inches less
than stock to place 55 percent of static vehicle mass on rear tires at rest.
Front suspension: stock 1966 Dodge A100 van leaf springs and beam axle adapted to
Dodge Coronet frame. Axle narrowed 2 inches to yield 60 3/4-inch front
track width
Born a slant-six 4-door Coronet Deluxe, converted to 2-door sedan
configuration by Richerd LeFebvre in 2004. Steel doors, trunk, and hood
with fiberglass front fenders and bumpers from Fiberglass Plus
Paint: stock 1965 Dodge Gold Metallic by Richerd LeFebvre, graphics by Bob
Thompson/Team Thompson, Pomona, CA. Detailing by Mike Mancini
A990 Super Stock interior kit by Kramer Automotive Specialties
Wheels: American Racing aluminum Torq Thrust wheels
Tires: 7.75-15 Uniroyal (front), M/T ET Street P275/60R15 (rear)
Photos by John Machaqueiro
Words by Steve Magnante
The full article @ Hot Rod
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