The Chrysler Kit Car

[C Body Bob]

This is Larry Piazza driving the Harry Hyde prepped Chrysler Kit car. Harry & Chrysler Engineer Larry Rathgab pick Piazza to drive because they didn't want a top highly susessfull driver. Why? Because they wanted to sell these to the average Joe short track racer. By putting a regular driver in the car they could prove the car made him better. Here Larry is at Concord speedway outside Charlotte, NC. Larry dominated the first race & won. He was so happy that he bought the car that night & went on to have a great year. Proving the Chrysler Kit Car program was the way to go if you could afford to buy one

 

[C Body Bob]

Pete Hamilton testing one of the early Kit Cars. Petty Enterprises was a distributor & built many of them. That's Tex Powell at the front tire. Richards brother in law Randy Owens on the jack. Randy was tragically killed at Talledega in 1975 in a pit road accident. Chrysler Lead Engineer Larry Rathgab in the tie. And Pete Hamilton standing to his left

 

[C Body Bob]

Vance Murray out of Flordia. Does that look like Petty Blue on the inside?

 

[C Body Bob]

More pics of Larry Piazza at Concord

 

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[C Body Bob]

Richards Kit Car. I believe this is Joey Arrington driving. Buddy Arringtons son. He had a short driving career, but couldn't get funding. He has gone on to be a top engine builder & does a lot of late model Hemi stuff at his shop in Martinsville, Va

 

[C Body Bob]

Woody Fisher

 

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Ramo Stott

 

[1978 NYB]

Yep, I remember the kit car's. Very cool for back in the day race car in a box.

 

[65sporty]

That's soo cool plus I learned something new

 

[livininharrow]

great pics. thanks

 

[78Brougham]

Nice work again Bob! You got me pining for the old days AGAIN! Don't know where you get these pics from butt they're great!

 

[C Body Bob]

Thanks. Many more to come. Fell asleep in the recliner

 

[C Body Bob]

Stock Car magizine ran an article on the Kit Cars way back in 1973. I'm pretty sure I had this issue

 

[C Body Bob]

Sal Tovella won a LOT of races in Kit Cars. ARCA legend Bill Venturni got his start when he bought one of Tovella's Aspens. It's amazing to me at how many of the well known & sucessfull drivers, mechanics & crew chiefs ran or worked with Chrysler teams. Chrysler was a MAJOR player in the racing world in the 60's & 70's.

 

[C Body Bob]

Lou Funk jr

 

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The Pettys Kit Car at their shop in Level Cross, NC. Joe Milican was the driver. He could wheel it.

 

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Ernie Derr at the Mikwauke Mile. Ernie was a die hard Dodge guy & won more than one championship in his Dodges

 

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USAC racer Ken Rowley from Bloomington, Ill

 

[C Body Bob]

Jack Hall driving the Phillips Bros Kit Car Davenport speedway, Iowa