Racing Personalities
Top Mopar racers Richard Petty and Sox & Martin released their own albums in 1970 and 1971, respectively. "Meet Richard Petty" has sounds from NASCAR races and King Richard describing what it's like to drive those legendary Mopars. It came with a 26-page color booklet showing behind-the-scene photos at Petty enterprises, at the track, and around the Petty home. Also shown are the Petty staff, a centerspread of the No. 43 Superbird at speed, Petty statistics, and some promo shots of the '71 'Cuda, Duster 340, and road Runner. This copy is still in its original cellophane.
Sox & Martin released "The Drags" in 1971. It features sounds of Top Fuel, Top Gas, Funny Car, Fuel Altered, and Prostock, and a full side with the late Steve Evans (the voice behind the "Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!" radio spots) interviewing Buddy and Ronnie. Inside the gatefold jacket is a killer color photo of the Prostock 'Cuda in tire-melting action. This one is fairly rare and pricey.
Mopar's Vintage Vinyl Records
Racing Sounds
The photos and stories of drag racing's early days are in old magazines. The sounds were captured on vinyl. Massachusetts-based Fleetwood, a leader in recording races, captured the sounds of Al Eckstrand piloting the Ramcharges Dodge.
Audio Fidelity released sounds of the '64 Winternationals in a high-end package with a heavy vinyl disc, lots of photos, and a gatefold jacket. You can hear the dominant Chryslers in action, winning super Stock-A in glorious detail. Their recordings were made with high-end equipment, e.g., German tube condenser microphones and high-speed tape recorders. Microphones were setup at the 60-foot mark and run in stereo to capture the feel of the cars launching and coming at you.
Dealer Premiums Chrysler...
Dealer Premiums
Chrysler signed Italian heart-throb Sergio Franchi to croon the theme song of its new-for-'76 Plymouth Volare. Motor Trend called the Volare its Car of the Year, but that didn't fix what ailed it. The record on the right is on a generic label and appears to have been a handout. The one on the left also appears to be a handout, but is on the RCA label and was sponsored by the Atlanta area Chrysler Plymouth dealers.
Mopar Commercials On Vinyl...
Mopar Commercials On Vinyl
When you heard a radio commercial for a Chrysler product back in the '60s, this is what the radio station was playing. These records, usually one-sided, were produced by the ad agency and distributed to radio stations for play during a specific time. The 7-inch 33 (right) has four 50-second spots for the '70 Challenger, Charger, Monaco, and General. Ten seconds at the end are left open for an announcer to read about local dealers' locations. The red LP is background music for dealers to produce their own spots. These were typically independently produced.
Large dealers produced their...
Large dealers produced their own spots. This record, from Bergeron Plymouth Chrysler in New Orleans, is a Christmastime '71 release with a comedy bit from Cajun comic Trosclair on the A-side and six spots on the B-side. Mr. Norm's did a mid-'60s record as a promo that is rare today.