1968 "The First '9' To Get The BO29"

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69 Cuda 440

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February 1968

Chrysler announced that the 'Special 9' would get their hands on the
1968 BO29 Race Hemi Barracuda.
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1} Ronnie Sox and Buddy Martin {Burlington, North Carolina}

Chrysler Factory-backed Racers since 1965, the Sox & Martin Team
campaigned '3' Super Stock Plymouths in 1967;

* 1967 GTX '426 Hemi' {SS/B}
* 1967 RO23 Belvedere II '426 Hemi' {SS/B}
* 1967 GTX 440 {SS/E}

Key Highlights
* 1967 'Champion' Springnationals Super/Stock
* 1967 'Runner-Up' Super Stock Magazine Nationals
* 1968 Winternationals 'Class Champion' {SS/F}
* 1968 Winternationals 'Class Champion' {E/SA}
* 1968 Winternationals 'Runner-Up' Stock Eliminator

For 1968, the Team were already campaigning the following;

* 1967 GTX '426 Hemi' {SS/D}
* 1968 GTX '426 Hemi' {SS/D}
* 1968 GTX 440 {SS/F}
* 1968 Barracuda 340 {E/SA}
* 1968 Road Runner '426 Hemi' {NHRA = A/MP} and {AHRA = Super/Stock Eliminator}

The Sox & Martin Team were 'salaried' employee's of Chrysler
Racing.

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2} Jack Werst {Morrisville, Pennsylvania}

"Mr. 5 & 50"

Chrysler Factory-backed since 1965, Jack campaigned a 1965
A-990 426 Race Hemi Belvedere {Automatic} in SS/AA.

Jack was a consistent winner in the Northeast {NED 1}
Super Stock Meets.
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3} Ed Miller {Rochester, New York}

Ed Miller and race-partner Kip Guenther campaigned a 1965
A-990 '426 Race Hemi' Belvedere {4-Speed} in SS/A.

Ed was sponsored by the 'Syracuse Region Plymouth Dealers'.

Key Highlights
* 1967 Winternationals 'Class Champion' {SS/A}
* 1967 Winternationals 'Runner-Up' in Super Stock Eliminator
* 1967 NHRA World Champion
* 1968 Winternationals 'Class Champion' {SS/B}

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4} Arlen Vanke {Akron, Ohio}

Chrysler Factory-backed since 1966, Arlen had campaigned '2'
Mopars in 1966;

* 1966 Satellite '426 Hemi' {Automatic} in A/SA
* 1963 Sport Fury - 361/265 HP in G/SA

Key Highlights
* 1966 Springnationals 'Junior Stock Champion'

Arlen also designed the 1967 426 Hemi Super Stock {RO/WO} Intake Manifold, which had a modified plenum and smoothed runners.

Also, Arlen designed the 'pretzel-shaped' Exhaust Manifold
for the driver-side of the 1967 A-Body 383 cars.

For 1967, Arlen had an incredible '5' Super/Stock Plymouths
in his stable;

* 1967 RO23 Belvedere II '426 Hemi' {SS/B}
* 1967 RO23 Belvedere II '426 Hemi' {SS/BA}
* 1967 GTX 440 {SS/E}
* 1967 GTX 440 {SS/EA}
* 1963 Savoy '426 Max-Wedge' {SS/CA}

In 1967, Arlen also campaigned his Daily Driver {1963 Sport Fury 361/265 HP}, now classed in F/SA.

Arlen had a 'sweetheart deal' with the Factory.
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5} John Hagen {St. Paul, Minnesota}

Chrysler Factory-backed since 1966, John campaigned a 1965
A990 Belvedere '426 Race Hemi' Belvedere {4-Speed} in SS/A.

John was also an {off-site} Factory-Certified Race Engine builder
for Chrysler.
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6} Wiley Cossey {Pomona, California}

Wiley was a Top Stock west-coast drag racer. Wiley was the
1966 Winternationals 'Super Stock Champion'.

In 1967, Wiley switched over to Chrysler and got a 'sweetheart deal'
with a 1967 RO23 Belvedere II '426 Hemi' SS/B car.

Wiley was also sponsored by Casler Tires and Hooker Headers.
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7} Don Grotheer {Oklahoma City, Oklahoma}

Don campaigned Mopars since 1963, with Max-Wedge cars.

In 1966, Don switched to a 1966 Satellite '426 Hemi' in A/S.
Don also ran that car in AA/S in early 1967 with much success.

Don also received a 1967 Belvedere II RO23 '426 Hemi' and
campaigned in SS/B.

Don was sponsored by 'Cable Chrysler-Plymouth' out of Oklahoma City.
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8} Joe Smith {Lubbock, Texas}

Joe was the Race Car driver for 'Fenner-Tubbs Chrysler-Plymouth'.

In 1964, Joe campaigned a 1964 Belvedere '426 Hemi' and set
the S/SA National Record.

In 1965, Joe campaigned a 1965 A990 Belvedere '426 Hemi', and
again set the S/SA National Record.

During that time-span, Joe had won virtually every Major
Super Stock Event in the South-Central {Division 4}.

Joe campaigned the 1965 A990 Belvedere in both 1966 and 1967,
where he maintained his status as the 'top' SS/AA car in the
South-Central area.
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9} Robert Nance {Ringgold, Georgia}

Robert, who went by the moniker of "Mister Plymouth" was a
Chrysler Factory-backed racer since 1965.

Robert campaigned a 1965 A990 Belvedere '426 Hemi' in S/SA.

Robert was the 'Top Dog' in Super Stock in the South Eastern
Division for 3-Years.
 
I hated seeing this thread disappear. Hopefully you can bring back all of the info that was here.
 
The 1st BO29

#BO29 M8B 299110

The 'First' 1968 Barracuda '426 Race Hemi' was picked up by the Sox & Martin
Team in the first week of March 1968.

The Barracuda was only partially completed, and was brought back to
Burlington, North Carolina for a complete prepping session.

Sox & Martin had '2' BO29 Cars in 1968, and did change the paint scheme on the cars throughout the year.

The 'first' BO29 had 'Lil Boss' lettered on the front fenders, and originally had a plain 'white hood'.

This is a 'photo shoot' from the end of March 1968. This car was on the cover of {June 1968} Super Stock & Drag Illustrated.


http://images16.fotki.com/v382/photos/2/43692/9357356/SSDICoverJune68SoxMartinCuda-vi.jpg
 
The #'s are correct

Ronnie Sox and Buddy Martin received '2' of the Original
1968 'BO29' Barracuda Race Hemi cars.

BO29 M8B 299110 ....... The #1.... 'BO29'
BO29 M8B 299136 ....... The #37.. 'BO29'

The Factory 'sweetheart deal' that Sox & Martin Team had
with Plymouth.

The Team were 'salaried' employees of the Chrysler Racing Division.

Part of the deal, was that Sox & Martin received their '2' BO29
Barracuda Super Stock cars for $1.00.

Also, was a Dodge Truck {Car Transporter} and Trailer.

Added in, was complete factory backing with;
* Information from {Research and Development}
* Parts
* Back-up engines and transmissions
* Replacement components
* All expenses related to Racing.
* Advertising and Marketing
* Shop Car {1968 Barracuda 340-S}

The Team also received in 1968;
* 1968 Road Runner '426 Hemi' {4-Speed}
* 1968 GTX '426 Hemi' {4-Speed}
* 1968 GTX '440' {4-Speed}

The 'gig' was that Sox & Martin were billed as 'GTX Specialists' and performed Super Car Clinics under the 'GTX Super Car Clinic'
banner.
 
I remember being told of a person purchasing one through a Cincinnati Ohio dealer. He got a phone call when it finally arrived telling him it was in. After arriving at the dealer and searching around for a while he thought it was a joke. When he found the salesman that called him he asked where his car was. The salesman took him out back behind the dealership. He asked where is it? The salesman pointed to the car hauler. Apparently since the car came with no warranty the driver refused to drive it off the trailer. He actually didn't drive it on either as he used a winch. So he got in it and removed it from the trailer. He used to race it at Edgewater in Cincinnati.
 
Myth

Could 'Any Joe' could walk into a Plymouth Dealership
and order a BO29 Race Hemi Barracuda in March 1968.

NO

Any order had to be 'approved' by the Regional Office Director 'first', and
then it had to be signed off by Chrysler's 'Special Performance Group'.

Very few of the '72 Built' BO29 Barracuda Race Hemi cars were purchased
by 'Any Joe'.

The last thing that Chrysler wanted, was these 'special cars' to be in the
hands of somebody without 'Race Experience'.

Even some of the well-known 1967 Super Stock and Top Stocker Racers
couldn't get their hands on a 1968 BO29, even after pulling strings.

Remember, these were 'basic' and rough Super Stock cars that
required another $3000 investment {at minimum} to get them ready to compete in SS/B or SS/BA.

* Engine
* Paint {Appearance Prep}
* Wheels
 
The 2nd BO29

BO29 M8B 299111

This Barracuda {Automatic} was 'given' to Jack Werst {Morrisville, Pennsylvania}.

Jack was the East Coast Regional Director for Plymouth.

Jack put together a sponsoring group of the Philadelphia Region Plymouth Dealers, which backed the SS/BA car.

When Jack picked up the Barracuda in the 1st-Week of March 1968, it too was
partially put together.

* Fiberglass Fenders not fastened
* Front-end Body components not installed
* Hood missing
* Steering Column not installed
* Steering components {control-arms} dangling.
* Front-Hubs on the shop floor.

http://barrettjackson.com/staging/carlist/items/Fullsize/Cars/116812/116812_Front_3-4_Web.jpg
 
Here It Is,

The 1st BO29's had steering problems. When going thru the Traps at
'high-speeds', the cars would over-steer.

As per Jack Werst {'Mr. 5 & 50'}

"FRONT-END TRAJECTORY"

The cars did not come through without problems. The front-end geometry was not 'square' as we say. And there were problems
with the handling/suspension.

With the 'shim-plates' installed between the K-Frame and Body-Frame, the
body was now higher. This put more pressure on the lower-control arm,
and there was an alignment problem with the 'straight-plane' of the control-arms, especially on the driver-side unit.

There was also increased pressure on the Ball-Joint due to the odd-angle,
and on 'some' cars the pressure even forced the Ball-Joint to fall out.

When we first tested the BO29 at Island Dragway, man that Barracuda was all over the place once we hit 120 MPH.

Chrysler shipped us new 'control-arms', and these units had an angled-arm so the front-end geometry was square.

They also shipped out 'new' front-spindle assemblies with the
proper angle.

After those units were replaced, the steering was 'tight-as-nuts'.

http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/prodimages/MOOG/K787_lg.gif
 
Ed Miller

Rochester, New York

SS/B {4-Speed} ~ BO29

Ed had the Top Super/Stock car in 1967, with his 1965 Plymouth A-990
Belvedere '426 Race Hemi'.

Ed was the 1967 NHRA World Champion.

And he got off to a great start in 1968 with his 1965 Belvedere, which was
now classed in SS/B.

Ed won the SS/B Class at the 1968 NHRA Winternationals, as well as winning
several Eliminator Events in the NED 1 Division.

Ed then received one of the '1st' BO29 Barracuda '426 Race Hemi' cars in early-March 1968.

By late-April 1968, Ed was running the Barracuda in northern New York and in
Canada.

http://api.ning.com/files/Lb6XhjC*h.../MillerHR68.JPG?width=184&height=184&crop=1:1

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/...AkdrSzyI2BPRdwJdrdYTWzqciWIfB4uw6njWcfbzbOtNQ
 
Tom Nyl and Arlen Vanke pick up their cars together and are one number apart. Plus they are best friends. So I think your list is incorrect.
 
Tom Nyl and Arlen Vanke pick up their cars together and are one number apart. Plus they are best friends. So I think your list is incorrect.

Dave,

No, my list is not incorrect.

I stated 'The First '9' To Get the BO 29" ......'Not' VIN Number Order.

The Plymouth Division sent out a Press Release with the following names
* Sox & Martin
* Jack Werst
* Ed Miller
* Arlen Vanke
* John Hagen
* Wiley Cossey
* Don Grotheer
* Joe Smith
* Robert Nance

These '9' Factory-backed racers were also to perform 'Super Car Clinics' as
part of their factory contract.

Also, Dave Koffell {Massillon, Ohio} and Pee Wee Wallace {Mechanicsville, Virginia} were also on the list.

Both were to get BO29 Race Hemi Barracuda Super/Stock cars, but they opted to stay with the Funny Car route for 1968.
 
So you are saying they were the first ones list or first ones to get them. Tom Nyl also was a factory sponsored car. Tom and Arlen picked up there cars the same day.
 
Dave

I have the 'Original' BO29 and LO23 'Car Designation and Order List'.

* BO29 M8B 299126 {4-Speed} ........ Wilkes Motor Sales ~ Zainesville, Ohio

* BO29 M8B 299127 {Automatic} ...... Tom Myl ~ Coraopolis, Pennyslvania

* BO29 M8B 299128 {4-Speed} ........ Harold Dutton ~ Morrow, Georgia

Note > Arlen Vanke, who had already received {BO29 M8B 299114}
purchased his '2nd' car from Wilkes Motor Sales ~ Zainesville, Ohio.

Arlen had to pay 'List Price' $5700 to get the car from Wilkes Motor Sales.
 
Ray Christian , out of Harrisburg , Ohio had one of the original 68 Hemi Cuda cars and he swears that it was an automatic car when he picked it up at Byers Chrysler Plymouth here in Columbus, Ohio. There is a man in Florida that says he has the car and the numbers on the car state that the car was a 4 speed car. Was this a common thing? Ray Christian was the go to man for the competion torkflites in this area.
 
Gino

Some Of The BO29 Cars You Asked About.

* BO29 M8B 299110 .... Ronnie Sox & Buddy Martin > {Burlington, NC}
* BO29 M8B 299111 .... Jack Werst > {Morrisville, Pennsylvania}

* BO29 M8B 299114 .... Arlen Vanke > {Akron, Ohio}

* BO29 M8B 299119 .... Dave Wren > {Missoula, Montana}

* BO29 M8B 299126 .... Wilkes Motor Sales > {Zainesville, Ohio}
* BO29 M8B 299127 .... Tom Myl > {Coraopolis, Pennsylvania}
* BO29 M8B 299128 .... Harold Dutton > {Morrow, Georgia}

* BO29 M8B 299135 .... Jim Hale > {Fort Smith, Arkansas}
* BO29 M8B 299136 .... Ronnie Sox & Buddy Martin > {Burlington, NC}

* BO29 M8B 299142 .... Don McCallum > {Oakville, Ontario, Canada}

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* BO29 M8B 390659 ..... Billy Vanwey > {Dayton, Ohio}

* BO29 M8B 390663 ..... Alfred Cerrone > {Providence, Rhode Island}

* BO29 M8B 390673 ..... Jim O'Halloran > {Chicago, Illinois}

* BO29 M8B 390676 ..... Ron McDowell & Jerry Taylor {Meridian, Idaho}
 
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