Fantastic site! Thanks for what had to be a lot of effort! I love this kind of stuff; I own the ex-Ed Hamburger SS/IA Duster, and there are a lot of clever things that were done even to a lowly Super Stocker.
I seem to recall that years ago the Wire Car had been found & offered for sale; where is it now? I've seen several photos of it, and it was fascinating.
It's a true loss to the sport that Don Carlton isn't around to interview.

Awesome site! Thanks for keeping IT alive. Would you know how much money was spent in building the "wire car"? How long did it take the crew to build? And I'll ask again, were is it now? It should be restored and sitting in a museum.

Stewart, I really liked the story about you racing the Colt. Man, those were the days!

What does the "Wire Car" mean?

What technology was used that made it the Wire Car?

Just wondering I have heard the name but never knew the tech that made it so

The "Wire Car" was called that because the rear of the body was held up with wires -Look at the photos in the Wire car section and you will notice the thin lines running next to the rear bars. It was probably the most expensive ProStock car built at that time, I have heard numbers in the 250K range, that includes material, man hours, research and development costs etc. It weighed about 1880 ready to go. Pappas and Oldfield could pick the car up, less motor and trans, but with all the other suspension pieces and carry it around. It never ran, as Don Carlton was killed before it got finished. I believe it has been restored, but do not know where it is. There were numerous magazine articles about it in years past.

Ray -- "sixpackgut"

Where did you get that Missile challenger photo?

Thanks
Stewart

When I was compiling the photos for the "Missile" section, I asked some people to review the section for errors. I then received a disrespectful email from someone claiming some of the photos belonged to them, and by my including them in the "Missile" section, they would have to change their format for the new magazine they were preparing. This was my response. As you all know, this is my passion, not my money making scheme.

--------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr XYZ

Thank you.You have helped me realize that there are two types of people involved with this hobby. Those that contribute their time, energy, and money with NO expectations of any monetary benefits, and those that use the hobby to enhance themselves, their ego's and make money. I am of the group that totally contributes. I do not sell photos, create magazines, recreate and label bogus cars, nor write articles that are so full of errors that they are a joke. Since I have been involved with this hobby, I have given away, and share for free, any and all of the photos or items I have acquired. I am fortunate that I know a lot of the "famous" people from the olden days, and through those friendships I have gathered a great many unseen photos. I share those freely with all that are interested. I scan and burn to disc, numerous photos that are sent to me, by people wanting to share and preserve these historical photos, and I do that for free. These are not my photos, nor my cars, nor my things. These are historical items that belong to all the people that appreciate Chrysler Drag Racing history.
Therefore, your unwarranted attack on me, and the threats you made are totally unjustified and extremely disrespectful of me. You could have sent me a simple e-mail, telling me that you were going to use the Koffel construction photos in your new magazine, but you choose not to do that. Yes, you did send me the Koffel photos, and you told me they came from Koffel in a round about way. Before I placed them on the Hamtramck site, I contacted Suzie Koffel directly, and got her permission to use them in this non commercial venture. After your very abusive e-mail, I had those photos removed immediately and they will not go back up. Not because I feared you, and your petty tirade, but because they did come from you and I wanted to respect that. If I had known that you had indirect permission to use them, and were planning to use them in your new venture, I would have never used them.
At one time, I considered you a friend. But now, I realize that you are aligned with the new class of "collectors," the money restorers, that do not restore to the original representations of these cars, the magazine writers that make numerous errors, and the dumb schmucks that pay outrageous amounts to stroke their ego by being able to say "I own the XYZ car."
Good luck, and now we truly part ways with my complete understanding of who and what you and your compatriots truly are, and what really motivates you.

Stewart

So on the wire car there was no frame rails so to say in the rear of the car and the rear axle kinda floated out there somehow?

Pretty wild stuff I see the wires running along the rear bars in the back window shot.

I would like to see the engineering drawings on that car

AWSOME!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!

There were no bars past the rear end --- the body was held up with the wires. The rear was standard chassis stuff. Also, extensive use of titanium and magnesium. Most of the interior was magnesium. The rear end was a RamCharger Magnesium unit, with titanium tubes and brackets - also the drive shaft was titanium.

Stewart, thanks for putting that togeather and for a job well done

+1

We keep updating photos in the section - take a look often
Stewart
http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/vintageRacing/missile/Missile.shtml

It's a shame the Missile cuda is in that rough of shape, how old are those pics? any plans to restore it?

Awesome Site....!!!!!! I have fond memories of the missle competing at New England Dragway...!!!

Thanks for the memories....!!!!!

Rickster

stewart, that missile picture was emailed to me by a friend. i assume it came from a magazine. i could find out but havent talked to him in awhile.

you know i love the missile and want to thank you publicly for all the photos you shared with me.

ray

Stewart, Thanks for all your efforts and your generousity in sharing this with everyone. It sure is nice to see guys like yourself willing to dedicate their time and effort out of a true passion. But I guess thats what a "real" car guy does huh?
I'm sure that everyone who checks out the pics is thinking of how cool those cars were and appreciates the chance to see them.
Great site and thanks again!


Hmmm, some black paint, yellow and orange stripes, get me a snorkel scoop and some old Fentons.....

Missile in the snow explanation