A historical race car • The Dodge Challenger Message Board

by **Christer (Christer)** » 26 Oct 2002 19:17

Is the car above familiar? No? There were 6-pages in Popular Hot Rodding (1977) about the car.
Let me tell you the short story about this historical race car, a car with a history worth mentioning.

From the beginning, the car was a T/A. In 1973, the well-known engine builder Dave Koffel bought the car for the very small sum of $350!!! Koffel was only intrested in the engine (for a Nascar-project) and the rest was placed in the corner of a garage, collecting dust.

At that time, Paul Rossi raced a HEMI equipped Cuda -68 in SS/AA. He had begun to search for a new car. He was sponsored by Direct Connection so the car had to be a Dodge. Money was not a problem, thanks to Direct Connection. Dave Koffel let him have the car for free and Rossi immediately sent the car to pro-builder Ron Butler. The body was dipped into acid. Direct Connection had to pay $12.000 for modifications on the chassie only. A lot of money in 1975! The engine was a 440 Wedge with a six-pack intake designed by Paul Rossi toghether with the pro´s at Weiand. Horsepower ratings were a well kept secret but the car was quick!

Two years later, he begun racing the car and had three glory years between 1977-1980 with lot of wins. He dominated the Super stock class and took some world records. In the first year, he drove 10.85 in SS/GA. A fantastic time, back then.

When Rossi decided to switch class to Super gas, the car was sold to England and Sylvia Hauser. Her husband, Geoff modified the car according to Super gas rules. Sylvia won several champinships with the car.

In 1985, the car landed on swedish ground, with a new lacque and a Hemi under the hood.

The current owner, Jocke Mårtensson, bought the car in 1997. After that he had understood what a rare car he had bought, he decided to start to restore it into "1977-1980 Rossi"-condition.
He started with a wedge block from a mobile home (lots of miles-very little stress left in the block). The hardest part was to find the correct intake. A contact between him and the guys at Weiand was established and they made him a new intake (of the old design). Nice with friendly people! (Two weeks later, he got another intake thanks to a friend of him. He bought that too. Now, he had two intakes!!!) The engine is built exactly as it was when Rossi raced with it, with the exception of another camshaft and connecting rods. (Everything is built according to SS/GA-rules)

In the first race with Jocke behind the wheel, the clocks stopped at 10.65! A new swedish record in that class, with one houndred of a second. Now, the car´s best time is 10.48 but Jocke looks forward to the 2003 season with even better times in mind.

The rumours of the new-old car has spread to US, and Jocke has got some requests to take the car back to home country, and to race the car over there. But it is all a matter of money and as long as no sponsor is ready to pay the costs,
it will probably only stay as a dream.

He is intrested to get in touch with Paul Rossi! If anybody can establish a contact, he would be grateful.

Intrested in more photos? Look at: http://w1.877.telia.com/~u87721532/challenger/

(Source: Bilsport Classic magazine, Nov 2002)

by **Alex (Alex)** » 26 Oct 2002 21:51

So that's what happened to the Hauser car!

by **Christer (Christer)** » 27 Oct 2002 10:28

Have you seen the car in action, Alex?

by **David Robson (Admin)** » 27 Oct 2002 11:49

I saw it many times when the Hauser's were racing it in England. I took these photos myself.

I think this is the same car after some swede got his hands on it.

by **Hans (72challenger)** » 27 Oct 2002 12:10

Somethiong different, but there's also a 'Persakers speed shop' 440 charger running here in the Netherlands. (defenitly not as fast as this challenger)

by **Alex (Alex)** » 27 Oct 2002 14:08

Long ago! was one of the reasons I got into Mopars!

by **Christer (Christer)** » 28 Oct 2002 7:04

Thanks for the photos, Dave! I have forwarded them to the current owner
(as he requests old photos of his car).

by **Joakim Martenson (Mr_sixp** » 05 Nov 2002 9:50

Hi guy's.

It's fun to see that you remember the old warrior.
If you find the magazine that did an article on the car in UK when Geoff and Sylvia Hauser had it, I'm interested to buy it.

Thanks.
Joakim

by **Dave_R (Roppa440)** » 05 Nov 2002 11:40

I used to have a 'Custom Car' magazine that had the car on the centre pages I think but I can't remember now if it was this one or the earlier 71 Challenger that Geof and Sylvia raced. I had to throw out most of my old magazines anyway ten years ago when I had to give up my home. So I don't have that copy any more. I do have a black and white photo of it in a book somewhere though. I will e-mail you a scan with details on the book in case you ever find a copy.

by **Dave_R (Roppa440)** » 18 Nov 2002 10:39

Ooops! I forgot to look for this. Remind me if I forget stuff!

by **Christer (Christer)** » 23 Nov 2002 16:21

I looks like this car is full of stories. Here is the story of how the car ended up in Sweden.

A guy named Jöran Persåker was visiting an event called Doorslammers nationals at Santa pod
(in 1984?). He was there with his Hemi Cuda. During an attemt to steel his car,
the car caught fire and became a wreck. The only things that were saved was the engine,
trans and rear end. He was helped with his burnt Cuda by Geoff and Sylvia Hauser.
The Hausers and Jöran became friends. Geoff told him about his plans to sell the Paul Rossi
built Challenger. They planned to sell the car without engine but not until their new car was ready,
a Sierra. In may ´85 the Sierra was ready and in june, the car landed on swedish ground.
A neat little story, isn´t it? (Source: Wheels, nov ´85)

by **John P (Blue)** » 23 Nov 2002 19:07

by **John P (Blue)** » 23 Nov 2002 19:09

by **Jay Gilmore (Mickey_mouse** » 24 Nov 2002 1:10

Hi Dr l have the article which was in custom car april 1981, along with some other early stuff in other mags l have on CD l will post off to you asp

by **David Robson (Admin)** » 24 Nov 2002 10:17

Cool. Thanks Jay.

Here is that b&w image I promised to find.

by **Joakim Martenson (Mr_sixp** » 25 Nov 2002 7:24

Hi.

It's fun to see the pictures you have shown here, as you can see one the new pictures of the car i'm missing the rear T/A spoiler on the trunklid.
I think it got lost when Geoff and Sylvia had the car, Joran Persaker said that it was missing when he took over.
But there where an plastic trunklid with a T/A spoiler on it, but that is not correct to use in Super Stock.
So I'm looking for a sheap spoiler (original or repro) fiberglass or what ever.

Thanks.

Joakim

by **Joakim Martenson (Mr_sixp** » 25 Nov 2002 12:39

Sorry for the misspelling.
(as you can see ON the new)
and I'm looking for a cheap spoiler not a sheap spoiler LOL:-)

Both my english and swedich sucked big time this morning, but it's monday

See you.

Joakim ;-)

by **Dave_R (Roppa440)** » 25 Nov 2002 14:10

And here was me trying to imagine a sheep with a wing on the back!

Barr - zoom!

by **David Robson (Admin)** » 26 Nov 2002 15:00

Jay has sent me a couple of fantastic discs full of scans of mopar stuff from british mags. I will send the articles on to you Joakim but here is a couple of the photos.

by **Freddie** » 11 Dec 2003 6:56

I know, i know... it's not a challenger, but since it seems like you guys have a lot of old pictures, i wonder if anyone has any of my 66 plymouth satellite when it was over to the UK in 1988 or 89; it has a metal plaque on the parcel shelf from Garys' doorslammer nats. The car has cutdown front fenders "gasser style" and was possibly in primer at the time.

Thanks

Freddie

by **dave-r** » 08 Jan 2004 12:37

This photo was in the Jan 2004 issue of the UKs Custom Car magazine.

by **Christer** » 08 Jan 2004 17:43

Any thoughts of adding a periscope for added visibility, Mr Sixpack :?:

It must be an awesome feeling to drive that brute beast, isn´t it?

by **Christer** » 08 Jan 2004 18:25

R/T ??? I have always thought it was a T/A (see grille) from the beginning

by **dave-r** » 08 Jan 2004 18:35

I don't think they ever made a 440 six pack T/A Christer!

by **Christer** » 08 Jan 2004 18:41

oh, s**t!

I have always been convinced that Rossi´s old racer is a T/A! I put the blame on the T/A-hood.
It must have fooled me from the beginning. (excuses, excuses... :oops:

)

I stand corrected :roll:

.

by **Alaskan_TA** » 06 Apr 2004 3:37

It started life as a T/A, the 440-6 was added later.

Barry

by **NZ440R/T** » 06 Apr 2004 3:42

WHOA!!! Thats real cool!! I can't stop looking at the very first photo's tires at the back and thinking of all that traction!!! :shock:

I love Ma Mopar!

by **dave-r** » 06 Apr 2004 7:47

Alaskan_TA wrote:It started life as a T/A, the 440-6 was added later

Is that right? Did they ever race it with the 340? Any times or photos of it from then?

We don't have many photos of the car from when it was raced in the USA.