M.R. Norm's 71' * Challenger Funny Car*

- May 25, 2022

This is the Mr. Norm's Grand-Spaulding Dodge Super Challenger Funny Car, the same that raced in 1971 following the notorious string of Dodge Chargers and one of the final machines under Gary Dyer’s control.

That electric blue metal-flake paint can probably be seen from outer space,it definitely makes the car stand out up in the bleachers, but there's plenty more subtle detail from the blown and injected Hemi to the ultra clean cockpit complete with a Pistol Grip shifter.

Norm Kraus was more than a car owner, he was also the owner of the most famous Dodge dealership from the super-Car era, Grand Spaulding Dodge in Chicago. Norm started his series of professional-grade funny cars in 1965 and were driven by Gary Dyer nationwide.

This time capsule began with a Romeo Palamides chassis, and it’s still equipped with some of the best speed equipment of the era.

The supercharged 426 CI Hemi V-8 engine hosts four-port Hilborn fuel injection and a Bowers magnesium blower. A magneto provides the spark, chrome valve covers give it some eye appeal and Zoomie headers get the nitro fumes into the atmosphere.

Since Dyer was busy driving, only an oil pressure gauge was there to tell him what was going on with the engine. A Moon gas pedal made it go, and a parachute slowed it down from 200 MPH. The body shell is done in blue metal flake, lettered with Norm's Toy on the front spoiler and Grand-Spaulding Dodge livery down the sides.

Crow safety belts keep the driver safe. The detailing is so extensive, with a chrome cover on the Dana 60 differential housing, vintage Halibrand magnesium wheels were color matched with the same paint found on the body and vintage-style racing tires. Perhaps most importantly, after its retirement, this car was on display at the legendary Grand-Spaulding Dodge showroom for a number of years,