Page 46 - Experience Magazine Spring 2022

LOT #734 - 1970 PLYMOUTH HEMI SUPERBIRD – NO RESERVE
AERO WARRIOR

1970 PLYMOUTH HEMI SUPERBIRD SELLING WITH NO RESERVE

Wildly popular from inception, the by 1967/68, forcing engineers to
NASCAR stock-car circuit continues realize that raw horsepower was no
to host some of the fiercest racing longer sufficient to win. Plymouth
anywhere in the world, pitting stalwart Richard Petty may have
automobile manufacturers against won 27 of 49 races during the
one another in one of the ultimate 1968 NASCAR campaign in his
applications of the “Win on HEMI-powered Plymouth Satellite,
Sunday, Sell on Monday” spirit. but arch-rival Ford enticed him to
Special factory-available racing switch camps to a sleeker, purpose-
parts, larger-than-life personalities, built Torino Talladega for 1969.
and increasingly wild factory-built Chrysler’s only hope of beating
cars have always been essential to Ford on the new and extremely fast
NASCAR’s appeal, most importantly NASCAR superspeedways was to
fueling the hearts and minds of drastically reduce aerodynamic drag
millions of fans flocking to dealer to unlock higher speeds. While the
showrooms. Several peaks were more specialized Dodge Charger
reached during the 1950s and early 500 was a definite improvement,
1960s, with America’s auto industry even more drastic measures were
giants briefly pulling back from racing soon required for the NASCAR arms
collectively in 1957, followed in 1963 race against Ford. Using the latest
by GM’s self-imposed racing ban.
wind-tunnel test data at Lockheed,
Despite the various manufacturers’ Chrysler engineers devised a more
official positions on factory-backed radical solution in 1969 – the
competition and the obvious risks Charger Daytona. Featuring a bullet-
associated with unleashing thinly style extended steel nose cone, chin
disguised racing cars on America’s spoiler, pop-up headlamps, and an
roads, the late 1960s saw increasing outrageously tall but effective rear Development of a Plymouth
racing speeds. Engine development wing atop aircraft-style stabilizers, counterpart to the Daytona
peaked with Chevrolet, Chrysler, the Daytona sliced through the air kicked off in June 1969 but
Ford, and Pontiac all busy and rewrote racing history as the temporarily halted that August
developing NASCAR-ready first NASCAR competitor to break before NASCAR announced a new
hardware for loyal racing teams. the 200-mph barrier. Just enough 1,000-car production requirement
While Chevrolet and Ford were – 503 in all – were produced in or a number equal to half a
unable to qualify their new radical, time to qualify the wild Mopar company’s dealers, whichever
low-production engines for for NASCAR. Debuted late in ’69 was highest, giving the Superbird
NASCAR use, Chrysler’s mighty at the formidable new Talladega a new lease on life. Unknown
426 cubic-inch HEMI engine first superspeedway, the Daytona to many enthusiasts, the Road
hit the track in 1964 and soon scored its first win there with driver Runner-based Superbird was quite
reached its development zenith Richard Brickhouse. different from the charger-based

46 BAR R ET T -JA C KS O N E X PE R I E N C E S U M M E R 2022
46 BARRETT-JACKSON EXPERIENCE SUMMER 2022