Ed Strzelecki's '65 Hemi Dodge Is Quite Possibly the Best Preserved
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TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICHARD TRUESDELL BLACK Ed Strzelecki’s ’65 Hemi Dodge is quite possibly the best preserved example of a no-holds-barred factory lightweight IN MOPAR CIRCLES HE’S KNOWN AS “HEMI EDDIE.” FOR ED STRZELECKI (TOGETHER WITH HIS ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE WIFE CATHY) IS THE CURRENT CUSTODIAN OF WHAT SOME BELIEVE TO BE THE HOLY GRAIL IN THE MOPAR KINGDOM, AN ORIGINAL RELIC FROM DRAG RACING’S FIRST GOLDEN ERA — THE BLACK A990 LIGHTWEIGHT 1965 DODGE CORONET YOU SEE HERE. Ed became a Mopar lightweight guy in 1980 when, as a mere boy of 15, his new Turbo Action catalog arrived and the “centerfold” was Steve Bagwell’s ’64 Plymouth pulling the front wheels. His first car was his grandfather’s ’70 Dodge Dart. The next chapter was a ‘70 Charger. Once a lady school teacher’s daily driver, it ended up as a bright yellow 440 Six-Pack Charger R/T clone. Next came his first ‘64 Plymouth, which was transformed into a single headlight clone stuffed with a Max Wedge. After that, Ed bought his first Hemi, but, after building the motor, felt it was too good for his existing ’64, so in the dead of winter he found a very nice red ‘64 Plymouth roller on Long Island that was just right. Over the years, Ed assembled an enviable collection of Mopar exotica including one extremely awesome single-headlight Hemi super stock ‘64 Plymouth Savoy clone. “After the novelty of owning this red clone wore off,” says Ed, “I went searching once more. After reading an obscure ad with horrible picture of the ‘car,’ I thought I had found a real deal do-able project. Almost two years to the day after finding the red car on Long Island I found ‘my kinda dream car’ on Long Island, the ’65 Dodge. It took three trips to New York. Once to look and place a deposit, second to pick-up the car and a third to return a motor and conclude the deal.” In his 17 years employed at the Chrysler Group, Ed’s had quite a ride. “My passion for the cars engulfs my whole day! The people I have met and the places I have been and the information I have gathered continues to support my other passion, building these engineering pedigrees. Along with the ‘65 clean-up and stabilization, I completed two other beauties including a black ‘64 Dodge 330 Aluminum Hemi Super Stocker and Bill Flynn’s Original ‘68 Hurst Hemi Dart 4-speed. I have also done a few Max Wedge clones. My goal with each new challenge is to put it back to the way it should be, and I learn something new everyday.” Besides his wife Cathy, Ed would be remiss if he didn’t mention two other people in this saga, long-time friend Jim Kramer, a man who seems to have everything for these cars, and Steve Atwell. “He handed me the few parts I needed with out ever asking for anything in return,” says Ed. “I returned the favor when Steve handed me two of his pride and joys, the black ‘64 Dodge 330 and the ‘Peddler’ which I returned to award-winning, near perfect Hemi Super Stock specimens.” When queried as to the most difficult aspect of the restoration of the ’65 Coronet, Ed had this to say. “It was like restoring the Sistine Chapel. The car spent most of its life in New York. It still sports the NY inspection stickers from 2001. The underneath was heavily undercoated with 2 MUSCLECAR ENTHUSIAST MUSCLECAR ENTHUSIAST 3 PHOTO CREDT: ED StrZELecKI HEAVYWEIGHT LIGHTWEIGHTS As far as anyone can remember there has never been a group of cars like this gathered in one place. This exclusive club, on display at the 2006 Detroit Autorama, included, from left to right: Dave Strickler’s 1965 Dodge Factory Altered Wheelbase, the only factory 4- speed Dodge built, owned and restored by Steve Atwell and on display at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills, Michigan; 1965 Dodge Coronet Factory Lightweight Hemi Super Stock, owned and restored by Ed Strzelecki; 1964 Dodge 330 Factory Lightweight Hemi Super Stock, owned by Steve Atwell, restored by Ed Strzelecki. And finally the 1968 Dodge Hurst Hemi Dart 4-speed, Bill Flynn’s original “YANKEE PEDDLER” owned by Steve Atwell and restored by Ed Strzelecki. nearly 40 years of dirt, oil and crud. I spent were getting ready for the race of his life. His through the ‘hood. To some it’s a noisy, 55 hours on my back drenched in mineral expression was priceless!” ugly, black car but to a few it is the absolute spirits and gook in an attempt to expose all the “And last year I was invited to the All- meanest machine one could imagine rumbling original factory primer and overspray without Chrysler Nationals at Carlisle. On Saturday through the quiet subdivision. Their reactions scratching anything. To me, a ‘masterpiece’ there were two younger guys hanging around are smiles and thumbs up and I acknowledge was exposed. It was like finding a Picasso or the car and I saw ‘me’ 20 years ago. You them by goosing the throttle to enhance the Rembrandt behind some other trashy picture see, the two guys, 19 and 23 I believe, excitement. It just feels awesome!” at a garage sale. Other than that, what you understood what they were looking at with We asked Ed about the ‘65’s unusual see here is basically a complete car treated to a level of excitement that must be cultivated. attributes. “I thought I knew what I had but a meticulous clean-up that just takes time.” I let them get close real close and I spent the then I realized, this may be one of last original As you can imagine, owning a car like next 20 minutes with them. They already had engine/transmission cars left in existence. The this generates anecdotes practically on a the passion! They were only two people I let engine, transmission, rear axle/gears are daily basis. “I had an argument in my garage over the ropes,” he said. those that were originally installed when the with a friend about sitting in the car,” Ed said. “As far as driving one of these monsters, vehicle was built and there are many more “I wanted him to get in and he was afraid they are a pussy cat until you mash the gas parts just like it. There were only a few parts of hurting it. I told him to just get in. After pedal and open the throttle blades. Then I needed and I have already secured them. I several minutes of discussion he climbed in you’re only trying to manage the distance will continue to research these cars and make the cockpit, wiggled his body to mold the seat between the curbs. I am not sure what most sure every nut and bolt are correct to preserve to his torso, then grabbed the wheel as if he neighbors think when they see me driving history and a piece of it.” ■ CRASH DIET The race-ready 1965 Dodge A990 lightweights achieved their weight savings through ultra-thin steel, used on the front fenders, inner fenders, doors, hood and radiator core support area. The svelte front bucket seats were out of Dodge’s A100 van and were mounted on “swiss-cheesed” brackets, while the rear seats were pitched altogether. The lightened front bumper was attached with lightweight hardware and the battery was moved to the trunk for optimal weight distribution. Non-essential interior comforts like arm rests, sun visors, radio and heater were removed. Even the 426 Hemi contributed to the weight savings that year, thanks to aluminum heads and a magnesium intake manifold. 4 MUSCLECAR ENTHUSIAST .