At Mecum’s Illinois auction last week, a 1968 Hemi Dart that was sold new through Mr. Norm’s Chicago dealership 45 years ago sold for $125,000. Chrysler produced 80 Hemi Darts in 1968 with the help of Hurst, and Norm Krause’s Grand Spaulding Dodge dealership reportedly sold 13 of them! These were lightweight cars made for one purpose–to own the drag strip. A Hemi said to be pushing 600 hp in a 3150 lb car? Yep, sounds about right! Read more at StreetLegalTV. More pictures after the jump.
This photo shoot was done back in 2010 to promote the Sox and Martin Collector Series Hemi Cuda built by Mr. Norm’s Garage in conjunction with Diane Sox, but it is so ridiculously awesome I’m dropping it here. That ’68 S S&M Hemi Barracuda is amazing. More pics after the jump! Via Autoblog
Did you know that Mr. Norm helped start the 70s van craze? Neither did I. From Golden State Performance:
Mr. Norm developed the conversion van concept as a substitute for the declining market share in muscle cars and scored another first. He opened a van department in the fleet office to supply the burgeoning van conversion business with vehicles. He purchased 280,000-sq. ft. of additional property to store the increasing automotive inventory. Grand Spaulding became the Number Two Dodge dealership in volume sales.
Anyway, check out this crazy van purchased off Mr. Norm’s lot in 1977. Via Moparts
