Arlen Vankes 1968 SS/N National Champ
Hemi Barracuda
With an incredible, historically significant car like this, I'm not really sure where to start: with the man, the legend, or the machine. For the one or two people out there who maybe don't recognize this amazing car, it is "Akron" Arlen Vanke's record-holding 1968 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda Super Stock factory drag car in fully restored and 100% authentic condition.
I think I'll start with the man himself, since without him, none of this other stuff would matter. They nicknamed him "Akron" Arlen Vanke, a racer whose involvement in drag racing dates back to the mid-1950s with flathead coupes, shoebox Chevys, and one of the first blown gassers in Ohio. He started making laps down primitive drag strips with the likes of George Montgomery and the Arfons Brothers in 1953. Operating out of his little shop in central Ohio, Arlen proved early on he had what it took to be a contender. Arlen first came to national prominence behind the wheels of Pontiacs fielded by Bill Knafel and the Anderson Pontiac dealership. He raced everything from station wagons to Tempests, winning Super Stock class honors at the '62 NHRA Nationals behind the wheel of a '62 Catalina. In a V8-powered Tempest, he set a '63 A/FX mark of 11.89 seconds at 123.98 MPH. After winning the Junior Stock crown in 1966 with a new GTO at the NHRA Spring Nationals in Bristol, Arlen landed a payroll deal with Chrysler's Dick Maxwell and he soon began putting Mopar machinery on the map with performances at tracks all over the country. He became known as one of the masters of shifting a four-speed transmission at wide open throttle. He raced into the early '70s as one of the most popular builder/drivers in the newly created Pro Stock category. As one of the "Hemi Heroes," he was named an honorary starter for the Super Stock Hemi Challenge at the 50th U.S. Nationals in September, 2004. Because he lived close to Detroit, Arlen ended up with a pretty cherry job, drag racing on weekends and working as a test driver for the factory during the week. Vanke is remembered for his work on the '67 big-block A-Body and RO/WO Hemi package cars. He received one of the earliest cars built for Super Stock racing by Hurst, and added this Plymouth Hemi Barracuda to his stables in the middle of 1968. His career continued to build when he won the Nationals at Phoenix and Super Stock B Championships at Pomona, California, where the 'Cuda ran 10.20s at 138 MPH. According to Arlen, "The 'Cuda was dominant in the B Class races." This led to several 1st place NHRA finishes. For the next three decades, Vanke would remain active in the sport and his affable nature and incredible engineering skill would serve him well with competitors and teammates alike. For all his tremendous efforts, Vanke was inducted into the Superstock Legends Hall of Fame in Columbus, Ohio in 1997. The car, a 1968 Super Stock Hemi Barracuda, factory race model B029, is one of very few remaining examples sold in 1968 by Chrysler. All were race-only versions, and competition finish work was done by offsite by Hurst. Most have been destroyed or cannibalized over the years, but this one, chassis #013, remains true to its original form, including the tires it was last raced with by Vanke. It has recently undergone a no- expense spared two-year restoration, and features an incredibly-rare original 426 Crossram Hemi engine built by Arlen Vanke himself. Even today, it is the most famous of all of the Hemi SS/B 'Cudas. It was inevitable that Chrysler would build the Hemi Barracuda. For years, racers had been gutting Barracudas and dropping in 392 and 426 elephant engines anyway. Since Chrysler had enjoyed tremendous success on the drag-strips in Super Stock and Unlimited Fuel since 1963, the decision to build a factory super stocker—with assistance from Hurst—was an easy one. The S/S Hemi Barracuda was assembled by Chrysler as a package and then shipped to Hurst for final assembly. Although the number varies from source to source, at least fifty and possibly as many as seventy-five Barracudas were shipped to Hurst's facility in Detroit. The conversions were coordinated by Dick Maxwell at Chrysler and Richard Chrysler at Hurst. As delivered to the dealers, the cars had fiberglass hoods and fenders, while the front bumper and doors were light-gauge steel, and side windows were thinner glass with simple straps instead of winding mechanisms. The interiors were gutted and Bostrom driver seats installed. No heater or radio was available. To squeeze the mighty elephant engine into the Barracuda's tight engine bay, some modifications were made under the hood. The battery was relocated to the trunk, and the right shock tower was moved, as was the master cylinder. Hurst also installed custom headers, shift linkages for four-speed cars, and special rear-axle assemblies. Off the transport trailer, the cars were delivered on street tires. All that was needed to make the car competitive was paint, slicks, a deeper oil pan (a small pan was installed for shipping), maybe even a hotter camshaft and valve-train. Officially, here are the specialized equipment specs on Hurst package cars built by Chrysler: - 426 cubic inch, 12.5:1 compression race Hemi engine
- Dual 4-barrel Holley carbs
- Aluminum or magnesium Cross Ram intake
- Street Hemi camshaft
- Hooker headers and single-pipe Cherry Bomb mufflers from each head
- Reworked A833 manual or 727 TorqueFlite transmission and shifter
- 4.86-geared 8A (automatic) or 4.88-geared 9A Dana 60 housing
- Sure Grip limited slip differential
- Roller timing chain
- High capacity oil pump
- Front disc brakes 4A bolt circles
- Heavy-duty radiator with aluminum 7-blade fan
- Reworked right front shock tower
- Reworked brake mounting pad
- Reworked K-frame engine support
- Heavy-duty fuel lines
- Reworked front suspension components
- Heavy-duty high-control rear suspension
- Super stock springs
- 14x5 steel wheels and black-wall tires
- Reworked rear wheel opening for tire clearance
- Fiberglass fenders and hood with hood scoop
- Thin-steel stamped front bumper
- Accessories (window wiper, battery tray, and so on) deleted
- Acid-dipped doors with no mechanisms or outside mirrors
- Chemor side glass, opened via 27 inch strap on door
- Battery located in trunk over right rear tire
- Prestolite transistor ignition box
- Lightweight aluminum seat mounts
- Low-profile lightweight bucket seats
- Rear seat replaced with cardstock panel
- Radio and heater delete plates
The S/S Hemi Barracudas were delivered to racers in early May, in time to qualify for the NHRA Spring Nationals. Ronnie Sox was one of the first to get a Hemi Barracuda on the strip and turned mid-10s right out of the box. The introduction of the S/S Hemi Barracudas created controversy in the stock ranks, where the little guy now found himself pitted against national record holders in factory-built race cars. On February 20, 1968, Chrysler-Plymouth general sales manager R.D. McLaughlin outlined for dealers—and racers—what they could order directly from the factory. Check out this letter sent to Plymouth dealers introducing the SS/B Barracuda program: February 20, 1968 TO: All Plymouth Dealers Subject: 1968 Hemi Barracuda Super Stock The Chrysler-Plymouth Division offers for the 1968 models a 426 Hemi-Powered Barracuda Fastback for use in supervised acceleration trials. These cars will weigh approximately 3,000 pounds and have been designed to meet the 1968 specifications of the major sanctioning drag strip organizations. The Hemi-powered Barracudas will be available through production in limited quantities in March. To order this vehicle, use the Barracuda Order Form and specify Body Code BO29 and Transmission Code, either 4-Speed Manual, Code 393, or Automatic, Code 395. No other specifications are necessary. Description of Components · 426 cu. In. 8-cylinder engine with dual 4-barrel carburetors- 12.5 to 1 compression ratio · Cross Ram intake manifold · 1 11/16" x 1 11/16" Holley carburetors · Competition Hooker headers, exhaust pipes, and mufflers · High capacity oil pump · Roller timing chain (reduced timing chain stretch for more consistent engine performance) · Mechanical valve gear · Dual breaker distributor · Transistor ignition · Metal core type ignition wires · Un-silenced air cleaners · Deep groove fan drive pulleys · Heavy duty radiator · Aluminum seven-blade fan equipped with viscous drive · Special offset 15" rear wheels · Chrysler-built 8 ¾" large stem pinion gear set, and heavy-duty axle shafts with automatic transmission (4.86 axle ratio) · Dana-built 9 ¾" heavy-duty axle with manual transmission (4.88 axle ratio) · Sure-Grip differential · 135 Amp. Hr. battery (located in rear compartment) · Heavy-duty high control rear suspension · Front disc brakes 41/2" bolt circle · Fiberglass front fenders · Fiberglass hood with scoop · Light weight steel doors · Light weight front bumper · Light weight side window glass · High capacity fuel lines · Business coupe interior (2 bucket seats - no rear seat)
For Manual Transmission Only · Special heavy-duty 10 ½" clutch and flywheel · Safety steel clutch housing · Competition "Slick Shift" 4-speed transmission · Hurst remote mounted floor-shift unit with reverse lockout For Automatic Transmission Only · High stall speed torque converter (large drive lugs and 7/16"diameter attaching screws) · Heavy-duty manual shift TorqueFlite transmission · Hurst floor-mounted shift unit
Please Note:
The following items are deleted on this body type: Heater, Body Sealer and Sound Deadeners, Silence Pads, Outside Mirrors, Right Side Seat Belt and Body Color Paint NO OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT OF ANY KIND CAN BE ORDERED The policy of Chrysler Corporation is one of continual improvement in design and manufacture, wherever possible, to insure a still finer car. Hence, specifications, equipment and prices are subject to change without notice. These vehicles are intended to use in supervised acceleration trials and other competitive events, therefore, they will be sold without warranty. Special stickers will be provided for plant installation (attached to left "A" post) which will read as follows: "This vehicle was not manufactured for use on public streets, roads or highways and does not conform to Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
All customer orders must be accompanied by a signed disclaimer (sample attached) indicating that the purchaser understands that this vehicle is sold without warranty and does not conform to Federal Vehicle Safety Standards.
Any prospective customer who desires to purchase one of these maximum performance vehicles should be made aware of the following characteristics which make them unsuitable for general use.
A high idle speed is required to insure adequate lubrication, minimize roughness, and to keep the engine from stalling. The modified intake manifold causes a rich surging condition, misfiring and unstable engine operation in cold weather, which makes ordinary street driving extremely difficult and it is not
recommended for this use. Higher than normal oil consumption will be encountered because of increased lubrication to the valve train and cylinder walls. The carburetors are calibrated for maximum power and a high numerical axle ratio is used for acceleration. As a result, the gas mileage is considerably less than for a conventional car. Engine noise would be objectionable due to increased piston clearance and mechanical valve tappet clearance. The ignition system is designed for optimum engine output and must be kept in top condition. This makes it necessary to inspect, adjust and replace the spark plugs and ignition points more frequently than would be necessary on a standard engine. On car equipped with automatic transmission, band adjustment must be made frequently. Due to performance characteristics, maintenance and operating expense will be high since premium fuel is required and frequent oil changes are a MUST. Does not conform to Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Warranty and Policy Coverage Any customer purchasing this model vehicle should be advised that due to the expected use, the vehicle is sold "as is" and the 24 month or 24,000 mile vehicle warranty coverage, the 5 year or 50,000 mile Power Train Warranty coverage, or any other warranty coverage (including, but not limited to the implied warranties of fitness for purpose intended or merchantability) will not apply to the vehicle. The manufacturer assumes no responsibility for
the manner in which such vehicles operate.
Any repairs or adjustments which you believe warranty factory participation should be brought to the attention of your Regional Service Office where such requests will be handled on individual merits.
Attached is a form letter (to be prepared on your letterhead) which should be thoroughly understood and signed by each prospective purchaser and attached to your order for each Hemi Barracuda Super Stock. The purpose of the letter is to explain the normal operation characteristics of these vehicles and clarify that the warranty coverages do not apply. Be sure a letter in this form, signed by your customer, is included with your order so there will be no delay. Holy cow, that's hard core, isn't it? Can you imagine seeing a letter like this from any of today's automakers? Not in your wildest dreams! The cars were actually delivered to racers in very crude condition, with bodies in primer and bare gel-coat on the fiberglass front end components. The rear wheel openings were modified by Chrysler, but most racers, including Arlen, further adjusted them to accommodate even larger slicks. In addition, the cars showed up in the middle of racing season, so they were typically not fully prepped and finished to anything resembling a show car level—these were simple tools designed for only one thing, and they didn't see much love when they were new. They were never taken apart for painting, and any spot that wasn't visible from the outside never received paint—the door jambs, inner fenders and areas like that are still either gray primer or black fiberglass gelcoat. The glass and trim were merely masked off and the car was painted as quickly as possible. Racing was a business, and cars like this were product, nothing more. Nobody knew how special this car would be at first. Ultimately, this Barracuda won the Indy Nationals and set the SS/B class record in 1968. Later that year, it went on to win the AHRA race in Phoenix and won Super Stock Eliminator. Shortly thereafter, it went to the NHRA Winternationals at Pomona where it reset the SS/B record once again, this time with blistering 10.61 run. It also won at the Drag World Open in Columbus. During its short 1-year career with Vanke, it had an astonishing nine overall event wins! The 'Cuda was sold in 1969 as a Super Stocker minus the engine, and it went through a couple of owners before being taken off the track as a bracket car sometime in the early 1970s. It sat for many years, until Le Hodge of Hodge Restorations in Inman, South Carolina, got word of the Nebraska-based car in 2002. The owner had apparently taken it apart long ago, but for a '68 Hurst machine, all the right stuff was there, and there had been no major changes made to the suspension since the early '70s. The owner even knew it had once belonged to somebody named Arlen, but other than that, its use from 1970 on was unknown. The deal was made, and Hodge brought the carcass home in bags and boxes. Along the way, Hodge and Arlen got together on the car's restoration and Arlen was able to contribute both in terms of historical accuracy and with priceless vintage speed parts ranging from the Firestone slicks to a Stahl/Moroso tach-drive tachometer mounted on the underside of the dashboard hood. Cragar custom built the replica wheels just for this project, using the same offset measurements they used in 1968. The front tires are NOS Firestone Drag 500 frontrunners, probably the last such set in the entire world, and never mind how much they cost! As the restoration progressed, Hodge discovered the original paint and almost all of the original Hurst components were still on the car. All of the fiberglass was original to the car, and the rest of the sheet-metal was extremely straight and clean. The only major surgery they did was to clean up the expanded wheel well housings at Arlen's request, since he was never happy with the rush job they had done when the car was new. Mechanically, Lee wanted the real deal, and that meant a full-race Hemi under the hood. Arlen was happy to oblige with a fresh original Cross Ram Hemi, including a set of race-tuned Holley carbs and Hooker headers. One of Arlen's race secrets was the use of six-cylinder Ford Falcon valve seals that he swore by back in the day, and they're on the car now. The only recent piece of equipment on the engine is a deep-sump oil pan built by Charlie Gilbertson of Barberton, Ohio. Of note, Charlie also built the car's first pan back in 1968. We can't give you any specific specs on the Vanke-built Hemi, because Vanke still isn't sharing his secrets—if you want to know what's in it, you'll probably need to buy it and tear it down yourself to find out. But we all know you won't be doing that… Real men shifted their own gears back in the day, and this car was no exception. The original New Process A833 four-speed and 4:56-geared Sure Grip Dana 60 were both rebuilt and went back under the car. The shifter uses a special bracket Arlen fabricated back in the '60s. The car's original one was missing when Lee got the car, but Vanke had a spare one among his parts and pieces at home, and it's on the car now. The paint currently on the car replicates the car's second paint job, which was the one Arlen always preferred. The car's first scheme was too ordinary for Arlen's tastes, so this far-out space-themed look was designed and sprayed, then lettered in gold leaf. Using vintage photographs and stills from an old Chrysler promotional film, Hodge was able to replicate the paint and lettering exactly. The entire job took ten days from start to finish and was one of the most challenging projects of his career. Most of the lettering is buried under the 2-stage clear-coat for long-term durability and a show-level finish—yeah, it's a lot nicer than it was in 1968, but this car is a historical treasure now, not merely a tool, so you can forgive them for their enthusiasm. To Hodge's credit, they also duplicated a lot of the factory flaws, ranging from some overspray in the correct locations, to strategically airbrushed rust on some of the welds under the car where Hurst may not have fully protected the steel with primer. Talk about attention to detail! The glass is all original, the floors are flawless, the interior is perfect and, well, it's exactly as it was in 1968 when it was setting records. The strip of white tape at the 12 o'clock position on the steering wheel is still there, the radio block-off plate is in place, Arlen's homemade driveshaft safety loop is in place, and that Hemi cackles and spits like a brute at idle. Sure, the car is a little cleaner, maybe even a little shinier than it was in '68, but make no mistake, this is still a 10-second car as it sits today. Ultimately, the restoration took more than two years and cost well over six figures. There's no doubt that the car is nicer today than it was when it was new, but with Arlen's input on the project, it is 100% accurate and authentic, with all the original parts intact, including that Vanke-built Cross Ram 426 Hemi. There isn't another race car on the planet with a pedigree like this one, and it will be the star of any high-performance Mopar event in the world. If you are a serious Mopar collector, this car needs to be the centerpiece of your collection, no ifs, ands or buts about it. To this day, Arlen still calls this 'Cuda the greatest car he ever owned. The entire restoration is, of course, heavily documented with photographs and receipts. Photos show things like the Hemi engine arriving at Hodge's shop in a crate bearing Vanke's return address. There's also a full Govier report on the car, plus Govier's signature next to Arlen's on the rear valence panel. The report is summarized here: 1968 S/S Plymouth Barracuda 2D Sports Hdtp VIN B029M8B299126 now in S/S Hemi registry. There were 80 1968 S/S Dodge Dart Hdtps and 70 1968 S/S Plymouth Barracuda Sport Hdtps built. As of the above date, it is #13 of 52 1968 S/S Barracuda Sport Hdtps registered, built at the Hamtramck, MI Assembly Plant. All of the 1968 S/S Hemi cars were scheduled to be built at the Hamtramck, MI Plant between Feb 23, 1968 and May 23, 1968. There were 2 scheduled production dates for Darts (218 & 521), and there were 2 schedule production dates for Barracudas (218 & 419). Additional documentation includes dozens of magazine articles bound in two huge albums, with topics ranging from Arlen's amazing 1968 win at the Nationals, to biographies on Arlen himself, to the resurrection of this amazing car. You'll spend hours reading all about it, and there's so much to learn about this piece of racing history that we can't possibly cover it all here. Here's a list of the articles on the car and the man: · Mopar Collectors Guide, August 2008 "Super Stock Reunion" · Street Thunder Magazine, July/August 2007 "Flashback" · Mopar Action, February 2007 "Hanky Vanke" · Mopar Muscle, January 2007 "Vintage S/S Gathering" · Musclecar Review, May 2008 "Historical Hemi Hardware" · Mopar, March/April 2007 "Hemi Challenge" · Old Cars Weekly, January 12, 2006 "Russo and Steele Offers Historic Mopar Drag Racer" · Mopar Collectors Guide, March 2005 "Mopars at the Forge" · Muscle Car Review, October 2008 "Drag-On Lady" · Mopar Action, February 2005 "NHRA Duster Record Buster" · Mopar Action, April 2005 "Mopar Nats" · Mopar Collector's Guide, November 2004 "Big Fish" · Mopar Action, December 2006 "Stock Yard" · Car Craft, February 2005 "Hemi Super Stock Drag Action" · Mopar Enthusiast, August/September 2008 "Mopars at the Strip" · Mopar Action, October 2008 "Hemi Super Stock Reunion" · Mopar Action, April 1990 "Akron Arlen: The Forgotten Legend" · Mopar Collector's Guide, December 2008 "40th Reunion Extravaganza" · Muscle Car Enthusiast, November 2004 "Total Recall" · Mopar Collector's Guide, September 2003 "SS/AA Racing Past & Present" · Mopar Rare Vintage Photos, Winter 2005 "Special Super Stock Hemi Dart & 'Cuda Section" · Muscle Car Review, June 2009 "Akron Arlen Vanke Interview" · Mopar Muscle, December 2009 "Racing Back—It's 1969 Again!" There's also a scale model of the car, still in the box with Arlen's signature on it. Cool! Finally, the car's original title, still in Arlen Vanke's name, is included, showing that he paid $3744.00 for the car, including sales tax. This Barracuda demonstrates a level of factory involvement that you just don't see any more at any level. Mopar was so single-mindedly focused on winning that they invested a ridiculous amount of time and money in a tiny handful of purpose-built race machines that would never turn a profit. However, they understood their customers very well back then, and knew that putting cars like this Barracuda in the winner's circle also meant putting buyers in showrooms. Back then, it wasn't about money or sales. They knew that reputation and street credibility were built with machines like this, not with flashy ads and discount programs. Sadly, it's an era and a philosophy we'll probably never see again. At Best of Show Automotive, we have a reputation for finding some pretty amazing hardware—it's our specialty. This 1968 Barracuda is by far the most significant car we've ever had the pleasure of showing, and we're honored that it has come back to Ohio in its search for a new home. We have guys in our shop who remember this car when it was new, and who knew Arlen personally back in the day, so there is a special connection with it here at Best of Show. This isn't just an artifact or a museum display, it's a part of so many lives that merely calling it an old race car does it a severe injustice. We know you appreciate that, and that true enthusiasts know why this car is so special. This is among the most significant pieces of Mopar history in the world. There is only one of these, and this your one and only opportunity to own it. Don't hesitate, call Best of Show President Joe Carroll personally and feel the history come alive today. For Images and more information on the
Arlen Vankes 1968 SS/N National Champ Hemi Barracuda
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