New C- Body from Germany, Berlin

Greg B. · Oct 28, 2012

I come from an Oldsmobile hobby community online, and I can tell you that Olds guys feel the same way about the SBC as compared to the Oldsmobile Rocket V-8. On our mailing list we wouldn't even spell the name out fully, but used the "Ch*vy" reference.

cm23uoc · Oct 28, 2012

I do have the impression the historically most interested US car owners in Europe are the Chrysler guys, some kind of secret science to get to them as they were at least in Germany non existent, except maybe for the 68-70 Chargers which got some visual attention through Bullitt and these Dukes of Hazzard.

In Switzerland they built CKDs though until the mid 70s I think in Schinznach

has2bmopar · Oct 28, 2012

cm23uoc said:
In Switzerland they built CKDs though until the mid 70s I think in Schinznach

What is a CKD?

My ancestry traces back to Bern Switzerland in the 1500's

cm23uoc · Oct 29, 2012

Completely Knocked Down kit. They got the parts from the US and built it in their plant in Switzerland with use of some parts of domestic production I think there was some quota of domestic products that had to be used mostly tires, batteries, glass, upholstery. This was done to prevent high import customs and to save employment and they also had an eye on superior build quality and rust protection. Don't know too many details about the Mopar production but the rather large GM plant where they built CKDs of German, English and American origin on one assembly line is well documented. After 75 production was not worthwile because of changes in customs laws and production ended for GM, I guess this was also true for Chrysler.

http://www.us-schrauber.de/html/amag_schinznach.html
Here's some production figures I found. Evidently production ended in 72 already. Production figures that any American Chrysler US bean counter would have killed in an instant.

cm23uoc · Oct 30, 2012

has2bmopar said:
What is a CKD?

My ancestry traces back to Bern Switzerland in the 1500's

If there's any genes left from your ancestors you should be an accurate but slow worker. That's at least what they say of the Swiss over here.

has2bmopar · Oct 30, 2012

cm23uoc said:
If there's any genes left from your ancestors you should be an accurate but slow worker. That's at least what they say of the Swiss over here.

That's funny, and it fits my brother even more. Procrastination with my own projects is my big flaw. Speed isn't an issue when you have others that depend on you and I have a reputation of getting things done in good time (at work). I work at a body shop and they always have me finish out the block work. The other guys don't have the patience and feel for the finish work, and if an air hose won't attach to it, they won't use it.

I'm just 1/2 Swiss, my Mother was full German. Both of my parents Grandparents were the generation that came to the US in the late 1800s.

Here's the last project that I have been doing after work, deshrouding sparkplug holes and valves, polishing chambers, and porting the exhaust on a new set of aluminum Mopar LA heads... The chamber finish work on these is really hard on your fingers... 6 hours of hand sanding with 400 and polishing with compound per head after the die grinder work was already done.

commando1 · Oct 30, 2012

Holy crap! That is some EXCELLENT head work!!
The difference between the raw chamber and your finished chamber is amazing.
I'm shipping you my next set of heads.

70NPORT · Oct 30, 2012

Yes, THAT is some puurteee work, nice!

hemipolara572 · Nov 6, 2012

has2bmopar said:
As far as the guy telling you that his small block Chevy is better than a Hemi... I'm just relieved that all the idiots don't live here, and you have a few there for your own entertainment as well... :yes:

ccasion14:

hemipolara572 · Nov 6, 2012

cm23uoc said:
I do have the impression the historically most interested US car owners in Europe are the Chrysler guys, some kind of secret science to get to them as they were at least in Germany non existent, except maybe for the 68-70 Chargers which got some visual attention through Bullitt and these Dukes of Hazzard.

In Switzerland they built CKDs though until the mid 70s I think in Schinznach

Sure the 68 - 70 Chargers are the most famous cars that many people know. But most of them dont have an idea about the hole mopar thing. There many guys who watched the dukes and want to have a 69 charger. Then they start searching for a charger. After a while they are asking questions like: "Where can I get a perfect 69 Charger with a big block engine for about 2000€ maybe 2700$.... ?" the rest of the story you all can imgagine by yourself.. ;)