A number of standout classic drag racing machines are set to cross Mecum’s auction block in the coming weeks and months, and we’ve already highlighted a pair of them recently here on Dragzine. But perhaps our favorite one yet, and one which is slated to hit the block in less than a week in Kissimmee, Florida, is this gorgeous 1967 Dodge Coronet, which once pulled duty in the NHRA’s hotly-contested Stock eliminator class in its heyday.
This particular car, which was known as “The Avenger”, was sold new by Reidman Motors in Connersville, Indiana and campaigned by Bob’s Auto Sales in the A/Stock Automatic class. In 1969, it was raced in the New England area and later in California, before being placed in storage.
Fifty-five Lightweight B-body Coronet’s like this one were rolled out by Dodge in 1967 for an all-out effort in the Super Stock/B category, with a complete racing-specific package throughout and a 426 Hemi under the hood. Carrying the code “WO23” (the Plymouth Belvedere version carried an “RO23” code), the cars were stripped of their emblems — save for the HEMI badges on the fenders — along with the hubcaps, the radio, heater, weather stripping, spare tires and jack, windshield wipers, floor mats, and even lacked all of the sound insulation and body sealer. Even the front sway bar, deemed redundant by engineers, was deleted from the racking package. The folks at Chrysler wanted these to be the class of the field, and whatever it took to make them light and quick, they did.
The cars were fitted with a now-iconic race hood scoop to feed the 426-inch Hemi, rated by NHRA at 425 horsepower. They were also optioned with four-speed and automatic transmissions, with the automatic cars featuring a specially-built A727 Torqueflite three-speed paired with a 4.87:1 Sure Grip rear end.
“The Avenger” has undergone an expensive restoration right down to the nuts and bolts, with the unmolested body refinished in the factory white color. Muscle Motors in Michigan also rebuilt the original Hemi motor using the correct carburetors, heads, and intake manifold.
Beyond it’s drag racing background, this is just a killer collection piece from the glory days of the muscle car and factory racing era — and the Mecum folks certainly thing those points will draw a price, estimated at $105,000-130,000.