Muscle Cars

NASCAR 1973 Grand Am driven by Gerald Thompson, built by Pontiac engineer Herb Adams. Despite its great looks, this car had very brief career in NASCAR. Running a 303 with a 3.375-inch stroke crank, 6.08-inch Carillo rods, 4.15-inch pistons, and RAIV heads, the 366 c.i.d. race engine had some decent power. Back in 1971, the 366 c.i.d. engine was installed in David Pearson's 1971 NASCAR GTO. It qualified 8th at Talladega, quite surprising considering the Top 15 qualifiers were comprised of Ford and Chrysler products. But lack of support from Pontiac, and the fact it was an independent team, made it impossible to be competitive on a weekly basis. For the 1973 NASCAR season, Pontiac engineer Herb Adams bought a body-in-white 1973 Grand Am and prepared it for the NASCAR season using the 366 c.i.d. engine. The car looked promising, but Adams and company ran into a great deal of trouble dealing with the NASCAR rules committee. At its first race of the season the car did poorly, and at the Daytona 500 it failed to qualify, running just 13 laps in the Twin 125 Qualifier race. While at Daytona, Herb Adams learned that the Pontiac PR Director had contacted NASCAR chief Bill France Sr. and told him he did not want the Grand Am to run the Daytona 500. Pontiac was focused on new 1973 emissions regulations and had shut down Pontiac Special Projects at the end of 1972, so they didn't want to see Herb Adams (Special Projects) engaged in racing activities with one of their new Grand Ams. When Adams returned from Daytona, he handed in his resignation to Pontiac. Coincidentally, Tom Nell (engineer and part of the Special Projects group) also handed in his resignation to Pontiac. - MCN
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The Car That Changed Drag Racing Forever
Introducing the Ramchargers' legendary “High & Mighty” — a car that didn’t just race, it revolutionized the sport.
Back in 1959, a group of young Chrysler engineers, eager to prove themselves, took a humble 1949 Plymouth business coupe and turned it into one of the most iconic drag cars ever built. They didn’t have much—just creativity, a passion for speed, and a garage full of tools.
The result? A car that set records, broke rules, and changed the game for drag racing:
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High center of gravity for optimal weight transfer, boosting traction.
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Tunnel-ram intake manifold, an engineering breakthrough that gave it more power.
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Adjustable 4-link rear suspension, a design ahead of its time.
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Megaphone headers, creating that unmistakable, spine-tingling sound.
Though “High & Mighty” didn’t take home big trophies from the NHRA Nationals, it set a national record and was so innovative that NHRA had to revise its rules to keep up with the changes it introduced. The car was ahead of its time, pushing the boundaries of what was possible on the drag strip.
It wasn’t just about speed; it was about engineering brilliance, ingenuity, and a vision for the future of racing. Chrysler’s Ramchargers had shown the world that innovation can change the course of history—and that spirit still runs deep in the world of drag racing today.
From a garage project to a game-changing legend, “High & Mighty” is a reminder that with the right mix of passion, innovation, and hard work, anything is possible.
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