"SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
03/07/2015 at 09:30 • Filed to: None
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"SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
03/07/2015 at 09:30 • Filed to: None | 10
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I present to you an immaculate 1970 Plymouth Superbird. I had the opportunity to visit a really cool car collection the other day and this winged car was one of the highlights. I am writing a book on the winged car era at Chrysler so I took a few pics.
You can spot one of these a mile away - even if it is not in a bright color like this - because of its huge spoiler. The Superbird came along in 1970, the year after the Dodge Charger Daytona came out with a wing and a nosecone.
And then . . . .
The front end also had this nose cone added to it. Which necessitated the pop-up headlights.
And the emblem.
The car also carries a pair of fender scoops which are the subject of some debate. You'll notice they do not sit over a cutout but the ones raced in NASCAR did. They allowed for tire clearance and SOME people claimed they also acted as an outlet for air built up under the front of the car.
The view from inside the trunk. Notice that the wing is held in place with a bracket. The ones raced in NASCAR had much sturdier brackets and cables holding them down. (A wing had broken off of a car in an accident and the nervous Nellies in charge of NASCAR rules started freaking out until Chrysler assured them it would never happen again.)
440 CI 6-barrel. Unless you have a Hemi, this is the way to go.
The steering wheel and pistol-grip shifter. Again, what cooler way could there possibly be to control a car than this?
And in case you missed it, check out my podcast where I describe driving a Dodge Daytona (the other winged car) as well as a couple of other neat cars.
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f86sabre
> SteveLehto
03/07/2015 at 10:37 |
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Pretty sure you are correct on the fender cutout being there to release pressure in the wheel well and under the car. That would decrease lift on the front of the car and aid in stability. the ACO mandated a similar solution for prototypes the last time we had a number of them go flying.
Slave2anMG
> SteveLehto
03/07/2015 at 10:47 |
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A friend owns this unrestored non running 'bird. 440 automatic. It's in pretty good shape; been out of the weather for 30+ years. He's owned it since 1984. The freak factor of these cars cannot be understated. They're simply outrageous but in a good way.
TheHondaBro
> SteveLehto
03/07/2015 at 11:23 |
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WOAH panel gap.
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SteveLehto
> TheHondaBro
03/07/2015 at 11:29 |
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Not uncommon for a vehicle built in Detroit in 1970.
shop-teacher
> SteveLehto
03/07/2015 at 18:56 |
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Gotta love the Superbird!
ldympr
> SteveLehto
03/09/2015 at 15:03 |
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OMG!! a billion stars for you!
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ldympr
> SteveLehto
03/09/2015 at 15:10 |
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All I have to say is please drive it and show it off-they are a blast to drive! get mine past 80 and the wing kicks in-the coolest ever. I have a transition bump here by my house and if I get over 100 mph my car will go airborne :) all my friends say "do it again" when they are with me :)
People ask me to go places because I drive it, they are so rare but they are still a car. I feel like a super hero because it is mine!
And post the video of you driving her :)
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ldympr
> SteveLehto
03/09/2015 at 15:25 |
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I should add that mine is a 71 charger so no nose B body 4 inches wider, so I have U bars that hold the car down and a factory spoiler in front. The wing is bolted right to the frame of mine, with a cable running through the entire wing.
lucky's pepper
> Slave2anMG
03/09/2015 at 15:51 |
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This appears to be a great example of a car that should get just a mechanical restoration (maybe warm that 440 Super Commando up a bit too), be left as-is cosmetically, then thoroughly enjoyed.
That patina is spectacular.
gsg0-w
> SteveLehto
03/09/2015 at 17:16 |
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my dream car. tried to buy one when i was 16 but my parents wouldn't allow it because they knew what a dumbass i was(am).
Forty61Graphics
> SteveLehto
03/16/2015 at 13:44 |
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My favorite personally is the Texaco's around here had a restored Challenger on some of their advertising material... even for the photo shoot on an advertising campaign the damn hood doesn't line up with the fenders/grille.