Chrysler's Motown Missile

The Motown Missile--it really was rocket science!

Drag racing exploded with the excitement of Pro Stock in 1970, and no one was more serious about it than the Motown Missile group. Developed by factory engineers at Chrysler as a testbed for new ideas, the Missile quickly went on to become one of the most notorious cars of the early 1970s era, winning multiple world championships and events and spearheading scientific advances in the class. The racing world was never the same after these guys showed up!

This book provides an inside track to the people and processes that made it all happen. From the technological challenges and their solutions to the stories of life at the races and on the road, this is a never-before-compiled look at the era, the sport, the team, and the philosophy that drove its success.

From the Challengers and 'Cudas to the Dusters, Demons, and Colts, this book showcases the cars that made Chrysler so much a part of this racing era, as well as Ted Spehar's never-before-revealed information about the 1970s Pro Stock engine program. Numerous quotes are drawn upon from team members, such as the late Tom Hoover, Spehar, crewmen Dick Oldfield and Joe Pappas, and many others. Chrysler's Motown Missile weaves an unparalleled narrative of their efforts and frustrations. Making ample use of the archives as well as the extensive professional film libraries of both Steve Reyes and Bob McClurg, the result is a depth of illustration that highlights this volume's interest to all racing enthusiasts.