Van Nuys Mopar_® Extravaganza – Part 2

Check out the first installment of the famous Chrysler Performance West gathering for 2025, the Spring Fling in Van Nuys: Van Nuys Mopar_® Extravaganza – Part 1

Once a year, there’s a fantastic Springtime gathering in Southern California that is put on by the CPW Club (Chrysler Performance West), which is based in Granada Hills, located in the San Fernando Valley. This Mopar-themed car club was started by a young, energetic and ambitious group of Mopar hobbyists back in 1985, and soon was filled with a diverse group of car owners of all ages (with both stock and performance-modified vehicles), along with a selection of Dodge trucks of all eras.

All these years later, the Spring Fling has become a true “Woodstock”-type annual event of all-Chrysler products and we were there with a full report. One of the exhibiting vehicles was the re-popped Paul Rossi Direct Connection 1970 Dodge Challenger Super Stocker from the glory days! Here’s a selection of other highlights of this 37th running of the gathering.

LANDY’S DODGE

As a Silver with Black-hued 1965 Dodge Coronet Hardtop rolled into the grounds of the Van Nuys Woodley Park facility, with its large “Landy’s Dodge” marking on the sides, nobody knew what it was all about or had seen the car before! Once parked, the spectators started to surround it, and when the name “Henry Landy” was spotted on the displayed info sheet on the dash, well there’s an actual Dick Landy connection! Henry is a nephew, built the car to honor his uncle, and it was the public debut!

Henry on the left, Dick Landy’s son Richard on the right, two proud family members enjoying the moment at Van Nuys!

Extremely well-detailed engine compartment reveals the big cubic inch GEN II HEMI^® engine, fabricated tunnel ram with dual Holleys, dry sump oiling system, this is a serious high-horsepower modern-day build that is show-quality in appearance all the way!

Fully caged, the interior is custom all the way, including the completely revised dash – a whole lotta metal fabrication going on there!

Tubbed and fitted with safety fuel cell, the cargo area is strictly business with extremely detailed finishing touches … well done in every aspect!

HEMI SURVIVORS

The “HEMI SURVIVOR TENT” featured a group of real survivor, unrestored factory HEMI engine-powered cars. These types of vehicles are important artifacts to the Mopar community, showcasing and verifying the details of how the factories built them, down to every last production line detail.

WINGS CARS IN ATTENDANCE

Spring Fling never disappoints in regards to displaying wing cars!

Superbird for 1970, left, came with vinyl tops, Daytona 1969, no vinyl tops.

CHARGERS MADE THE SCENE

1968

A 1968 Charger R/T in Bright Red, white interior, white bumble bee stripe, Magnum 500 wheels, it’s a Code 568 car: Front Shoulder Belts. Pristine!

1970

1970 Charger R/T models could be purchased with two different stripe options, as seen here: Bumble Bee and longitudinal, or in certain cases, “stripe delete.” Lots to see and study at Van Nuys!

1971

Mopars 5150 brought along their 1971 440 Magnum Charger R/T, factory A/C car, cruise control, column shift, bench seat and, oh yeah, the color: FM3 Panther Pink! Rare, beyond rare. Said to be the only big block car in this High Impact color for 1971, factory coded “147” in the paperwork.

CP MOPAR GARAGE CAME IN FORCE

Chris Price (CP) is the owner of CP Mopar Garage and specializes in providing rare Mopar vehicles to clients for use in photo shoots, videos, movie production and special events. For Spring Fling, there was some six of their Mopar available-for-rent cars showcased, including a Lemon Twist Superbird, ’69 HEMI Road Runner, ’68 HEMI Charger, ’70 Limelight HEMI Road Runner, ’67 HEMI R/T and an In-Violet ’70 Hemicuda.

Rarest of them all: Numbers-matching 1967 Coronet R/T HEMI with TorqueFlite in AA1 Buffed Silver Metallic hue, a 1-of-287 426 R/T car for ’67, and said to be the only one in this color. Not often seen, and in excellent condition.

BH27 BARRACUDA

A flawless 1967 Barracuda Convertible, Model BH27, attended the event, a DD1 Light Blue example with 273-cid V8 power. Sano!

HEMI ’68 BIRD

What’s a Mopar show without a 1968 Plymouth Road Runner as part of the assortment of cars? Well this one is a fine representation of the breed, a Coupe model, “day 2” wheels (Cragar S/S) and under the hood: 426 HEMI!

JS27 1970 CHALLENGER

Upon entering the show, we saw this Top Banana Yellow 1970 Dodge Challenger, a “JS” (means Challenger R/T) “27” (convertible) with N-code engine (335-horsepower 383) with “V6X”Black longitudinal side stripes. In addition, the V21 Performance Hood Treatment. Yes, an attention grabber for certain!

SATELLITE SEBRING-PLUS

1972 mid-size Plymouth Satellite Sebring-Plus was the luxury version of the Satellite group, and featuring unique hoods, side body chrome moldings with lower Argent Silver finish. Kinda-sorta looks like a Road Runner model from a distance!

SHARKTOOTH DUSTER

The “Sharktooth” Duster grille was a 1971-72 model year feature on “Twister” and 340 cars, shown here on ’72 model Duster 340.

Wide taillights is a one-year-only 1972 styling feature.

LONG RAM LETTER CAR

1964 Chrysler Letter Car 300K, long-ram 413, A/C and “mag” wheels, which adds a performance flavor to the big beast!

WHITE WHALE

Chrysler C-body from 1971, these were big cars! Right around 4,000 pounds, top engine choice was the 440 and this vinyl top version has upgraded 300 grille featuring hide-a-way headlights. California Blue Plate car.

RAMCHARGER MAX WEDGE POLARA 500

The top-of-the-line standard size Dodge model for 1963 was the Polara 500, factory accented with full-length side trim and extended chrome ornaments at the rear of the quarter panels. While it certainly would look as being an up-level but “normal family car” back in the day, under the hood is a “Ramcharger” 426-cid Max Wedge, incorporating the 2×4 induction and early 4-bolt valve covers. Sleeper all the way! 

OLD SCHOOL JOB RATED TRUCK

Marketed as being durable and capable for a wide range of work applications, vintage Dodge trucks were promoted as “Job Rated” and this classic example is a two-tone 1950 B-1 model, still running the 230-cid inline flathead six and now upgraded with 12V electrics.

DIRT N DISPLAY

Joe Dirt was a Columbia Pictures production from 2001 and featured David Spade, and some time after the film was released it became a true cult favorite. The real movie car, a fake Daytona, was at the Van Nuys show in all its glory!

RETRO DODGE CARGO SHORT WHEELBASE

Classic ’70s Dodge vans are highly cherished today, this short wheelbase example is set up not as a rolling bedroom on wheels but rather an era-correct Yamaha dirt bike hauler with workbench included. Chromed side pipes add to the nostalgic flavor!

COP MOTOR, COP SUSPENSION, RUNS ON REGULAR GAS

Right out of Chicago, a Blue Brothers Dodge Monaco from 1974, and an Elwood Blues stand-in ready to pose for pictures … it’s a Universal Pictures flick from 1980 and the four-wheeled movie prop was just part of the Spring Fling fun.

SOMEHOW SURVIVED

Late ’50s Chrysler Corporation products had a very low survival rate, yet somehow this ’58 Plymouth Belvedere 2-door Hardtop has remained rust-free, no doubt thanks to the mild Southern California climate! The Plymouth “V-800” engine, displacing 318 cubic inches, was the standard V8 powerplant. 

NEXT UP: We venture over to the large “Swap Meet” area of the event and check the available Cars For Sale, Project Cars, and rare parts and pieces galore

Author: James Maxwell