Merit's collection isn't in...
Merit's collection isn't in some squeaky-clean, air-conditioned museum; it's a working, functional shop with many cars in varying levels of restoration. Some of his cars are missing because they are currently being worked on in other states.
1. The 383 from Merit's '69 Charger now resides in his '72 Demon. With 440 aluminum rods, reworked iron heads, and big King Demon carburetor, this little A-Body is up for sale.
2. The '70 Dodge R/T is an original 440 Six Pack, four-speed car. The '70 Coronet behind it will sacrifice most of its sheetmetal and spare parts.
3. The gold with black-accented '68 Plymouth Road Runner is the first of Merit's Hemi, four-speed Road Runner collection.
4. The Blue '66 was featured a few years back in Mopar Muscle. Yes, it's an HP2 Plymouth Belvedere I. We wonder if Merit's got the monopoly on these cars.
5. This Charger reeks of everything that was wrong with the '70s. Bass boat metal flake green paint, chromed side pipes that don't connect to the headers, and other styling cues we wish never happened to this Hemi four-speed R/T. All it needs now is a barefoot gas pedal.
6. Not all of Merit's cars are original Hemi four-speeds. Some are '68 Super Stock Hemi Dart clones. The awesome A-Body has a stout four-link suspension mated to a race-built Dana 60, with a 12-point cage woven throughout the entire cabin and engine compartment. Custom inner fenderwells were made that incorporate the forward bars of the cage. A massive crate Hemi is being prepped for the Dart as this issue goes to press.
7. One of Merit's most famous and rare pieces is this A12 440 Six-Barrel Road Runner. with a vinyl top and B-pillar post, the big-block, four-speed B-Body is absolutely flawless and a mainstay at many local Florida car shows.
8. Fresh from the paint shop, the '69 B5 Blue Road Runner is number two of Merit's Road Runner collection. Watch for it in the future, because just by the looks of its painted shell, we can almost guarantee it showing up in a future issue.
9. Finishing out the B-Bodies at home is the '69 Coronet R/T with a Hemi and a four-speed.