SUPER STOCK BO29 HEMI Barracuda and LO23 Hemi Dart forum
BO 29
One of the original 1968 BO 29 Barracuda Race Hemi Super Stock cars was damaged
during a delivery.
Town & County Plymouth ~ Phoenix, Arizona
The car {Automatic} was shipped to Phoenix via the typical Car Hauler,
When the Barracuda was being backed off the Trailer, the track-rails shifted
and the car went 'splash' to the pavement.
The entire right back rear body had buckled, and the rear frame-rails bent like a Pretzel.
The large back Window Glass panel popped out and landed on the ground.
It was called 'The Phoenix Flop'.
The BO 29 was shipped back to Detroit, and stripped of the 'goodies'.
A replacement BO 29 was 'never' sent back to Phoenix.
'The Phoenix Flop'
Town & Country Chrysler-Plymouth ~ Phoenix, Arizona were the biggest Mopar High-Performance
Dealership in the Southwest Region.
They were big performers early S/S cars, and AWB cars during the mid-60's.
They ordered a 1968 BO-29 Race Hemi Barracuda {Automatic} from the 'initial' batch of
1st Produced BO-29 cars.
It was shipped to them via Car Hauler {with several other 1968 factory Model cars} in
early-March.
'The Phoenix Flop'
As per Eddie Jansen, who was there to help unload the BO-29.
The Barracuda had been loaded onto the car hauler, 'nose first'.
Instead of getting a few guys on the Hauler, and push the Barracuda off, we made a major mistake.
We had somebody from the dealership get in the car, and start the thing up. It was as loud as Hell.
The guy put the Transmission in 'Reverse', and he tried to back it up at idle. The car stalled.
Then he started it up again. But when he put it in gear, it stalled again.
The 3rd-time, he started it up, and revved it up while he put it in gear. Well, the rear tires
grabbed the right side ramp, and it snapped the rail like a sling-shot.
The Barracuda came crashing to the pavement on it's right rear. A 10-Foot drop.
The right-real quarter-panel buckled like a Pretzel. The back glass panel popped out, and
landed on the right-side of the car. Amazingly, it didn't crack or shatter.
But, the right-rear frame rail was bent and twisted up. Now the right-rear of the car was
about 12" higher than the left side. The trunk-lid was bent, and it was a real twisted mess.
It was not only sad, but funny as hell.
We had to call Chrysler to tell them the bad news.
So we put the car back on the Hauler, and it was shipped back to he Hurst Facility at Madison Heights,
Michigan.
We were told that we would get another BO-29 within 10-Days.
We needed a BO-29 fast, because we had scheduled several Match-Races at Bee-Line Dragway
for all of the month of April. Plus we had '2' big AHRA Meets upcoming as well.
Plus we had set up a photo shoot with E.T. Magazine {AHRA Publication}
We need time to prep the car, paint it and get it ready.
When the end of March came around, we were told that we would have to wait a few more weeks to
get one, or drive up to Detroit to pick one up.
Somebody 'high up' at the Dealership then said to forget about it.
