Van Nuys Mopar_® Extravaganza – Part 1 

– 37th running of this All-Mopar® Spring Fling event
– Modern Mopar vehicles mixed in with vintage Mopar Muscle
– A Bob’s Big Boy Friday night gathering to kick off the activities

Van Nuys, California, is an ideal place for a major league Mopar event. Located in the San Fernando Valley, the region has a long history in the automotive speed equipment industry, including the early days of Alex Xydias So-Cal Speed Shop, Ed Pink Racing, B&M Racing Transmissions, Dick Landy Industries, Milodon Engineering, Joe Mondello Porting, Air Flow Research, Larry Ofria Racing Head Service and more. Both Service Centers and Super Shops once had their shops there, as well as Glendale Speed. And one of the truly hot spots of car cruising in American history was the legendary Wednesday night Van Nuys Blvd cruising! Going back to the ’50s, that stretch of road was where famous drag racers such as Tommy Ivo, Don Prudhomme, Tony Nancy and Larry Dixon, Sr. got their start in the sport. Van Nuys is a place of car culture, California car culture!

CHARGER DAYTONA: STAGE 2

Amongst all the gasoline-powered cars staged in the grass of Woodley Park was this 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack equipped with Stage 2 upgrade. With 670 horsepower, 627 lb-ft of torque, the EV muscle machine can achieve 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds. When inquiring with the woman who owns it, who is a previous HEMI^® Challenger owner, she pointed out the variety of responses she had received when pulling into the event and parking it front and center. With that, she pointed to the group of cars that were lined in rows at the event and stated: “This car is faster than 99 percent of them!”

MODERN MOPAR MUSCLE

Walking throughout the show, there was an ample supply of modern-era Dodge Challengers, various models, some stock, some upgraded. There’s no question that within the Mopar community, as seen and heard in talking and visiting with car owners and visitors, there’s a definite “peace and harmonious” respect for the Gen III HEMI engine-powered cars by all in attendance, no matter if it’s from those who also dig early Max Wedge, Gen II, Six-Packs and related – Mopar power is Mopar power regardless of what year is on the title! All are welcome at Spring Fling.

SERIOUS HEMI POWER

This is what street-legal 1,025-horsepower looks like when running with E85 fuel, and 900 ponies on pump gas. Oh yes, the SRT^® Demon 170, the most powerful production HEMI engine-powered vehicle ever. B5 Blue and, as one observer at the event noted, “That’s a pretty car!” Yes, pretty quick too, 8.90s with a talented driver and ideal drag strip traction. 

ACR

A “1-of-38” car (being a stripe delete version), this 2001 Viper “ACR” (American Club Racer) has been upgraded with the Hennessey Venom kit, and has just 8,300 miles on the odometer!

Brand-new condition on the V10, now fitted with Edelbrock headers and Mopar free-flow exhaust.

TWO-TONE PAINT MAGNUM

The Dodge Magnum is a part of the scene! They were produced in limited numbers (model years 2005-2008), this particular example received a two-tone paint treatment with color-acented wheels. Magnum owners love them and they’ve been overlooked by many as “modern-day collectibles.”

FACTORY MUSCLE ATTENDED

V-Code (440 Six Pack) ’70 Challenger R/T convertible, complete with luggage rack, Texas car.

“A12” 440 Six Pack ’69 1/2 Coronet Super Bee Hardtop (stripe delete) factory fitted with lift-off scooped fiberglass hood, deleted hub caps, chromed lug nuts.

Yes, a rather rare bird, 1972 “Road Runner GTX” with 440 engine and Air Grabber. Not many left today!

’68 Dodge Dart GTS 340, “QQ1” Blue paint with “Day Two” Cragar S/S wheels, complete with copy of window sticker price sheet, total cost in 1968 dollars: $3,582.60.

LIMELIGHT ’70 ROAD RUNNER

Part of the “CP Mopar Garage” group of cars displayed, a 1970 Road Runner Coupe (note B-pillar) which was fitted with a 747-horsepower, 511-cubic-inch Gen II HEMI enginebuilt by Bob Mazzolini Racing, backed by a 5-speed Kiesler transmission with Pistol Grip Hurst shifter. Limelight Green in all its glory!

It’s a HEMI engine upgrade (original 383 car) with retro “Coyote Duster” air cleaner marking providing O.E. flavor under the Air Grabber hood.

Dog dish hub caps, original California Blue Plates (used from 1969 – 1986) and chromed exhaust tips, it was like 1970 all over again!

PSEUDO BIRD

Done up as a fun throwback, this ’70 Plymouth painted up in Petty Blue with replica front clip and wing, all that is missing for accurate presentation would be A-pillar covers and flush backlite. Richard Petty tribute cars always stand out at shows.

FLAWLESS FURY III

Showing 80K on the odometer and in the family since 1977, this pristine 1973 Plymouth Fury III 2-door Hardtop proudly represented the C-body contingent! Factory 360-cid V8 power and a wonderful throw-back to what the top-of-the-line Plymouth looked like back in the era!

LETTER CAR

For 1960, the Chrysler 300F saw the fitting of the long-ram 413 RB powerplant, first year of unit-body construction. A very clean “survivor” example in black hue.

CORONET WAGON

1967 Dodge Coronet wagon, cop car wheels, small block Mopar power and a fine example of a B-body cargo hauler from back in the day!

HAZZARD COUNTY SHERIFF

Themed on the television show, a 1973 Plymouth Satellite 4-door sedan in full Hazzard County Sheriff markings!

BARRIS KUSTOMS

A rarely seen 1968 Barracuda Formula S with the “Barris Kustoms” treatment, special styling in the way of unique hood, side scoops and rear spoiler. Add in some side pipes, stripes and Cragar S/S wheels and it’s a serious time machine!

ADVENTURER SE D100 PICKUP

1977 Dodge D100 Step Side with factory paint treatment, chromed exhaust stacks, Centerline-themed aluminum wheels, that was one of the ways dealers were selling Dodge trucks at the time in a very competitive market. This truck is a total flashback machine! 

CLUB PARTICIPATION

Mopar enthusiasts from all over California made the scene at this 37th annual event, and we caught up with this energetic group that traveled from the south, members of the Mopar Club of San Diego, a large group that numbers around 120 members and very active! Clubs are a great way of networking, sharing information, plus just in general, having fun with their cars!

Coming up next: More to see from Van Nuys, including a Dick Landy tribute car from a member of the family, Paul Rossi’s Direct Connection 440 Six Pack Challenger Old School Super Stocker, some true “survivor” HEMI engine-powered cars, plus Joe Dirt’s Daytona. 

Author: James Maxwell