1965 Factory A/FX Hemi

Standard Wheelbase

Altered Wheelbase

Chrysler was dominating with their Hemi powered lightweights, and they carried this over into 1965. The NHRA had a Factory Experimental class (A/FX)with less restrictive rules, so Chrysler took the opportunity to build a really outrageous factory race car. Unfortunately, the NHRA found these cars to be unacceptable for this class, so the cars actually debuted in the AHRA in Phoenix, Arizona. They were an instant success with the fans!

12 factory A/FX cars were built; 6 Dodge and 6 Plymouth.

( * Other racers made an unknown number of copies)

Dodge
* Bobby Harrop, The Flying Carpet
* Bub Faubel, Hemi Honker
* Dave Strickler
* Dick Landy
* Jim Thornton and Mike Buckel, Ramchargers
* Roger Lindamood, Color Me Gone
Plymouth
* A/FX Test Mule (for Plymouth)
* Al Eckstrang and Forest Pitcock, Colden Commando Club Car
* Butch Leal, California Flash
* Lee Smith
* Ronnie Sox, Sox and Martin
* Tom Grove and Cecil Yother, Melrose Missile

The bare bodies were constructed at Chrysler's Los Angeles assembly plant, and shipped to an outside vendor for acid dripping. This process allowed the body weight to be reduced by 200 pounds. The A/FX mods were pretty extensive, so they could not be done on the regular assembly line. The bodies were then shipped to Amblewagon -- a Troy, MI contractor specializing in ambulance conversions.
Obviously the forward relocation of the front and rear axles caused considerable sheetmetal work (unibody construction).
The front wheels were moved forward by installing special lower subframe rails and sectioning the inner fender panels. The upper control arm pivot and shock mount were moved 10" forward. A lightweight stainless steel K-member also bolts on the new frame rails 10" farther forward. The steering linkage was extended and longer torsion bars installed to compensate for the relocation.
To move the rear axle forward, the floorpan was sectioned and a 15" section removed. The floorpan "kick pan" was moved forward to the area formerly housing the rear seat. The quarter panels were sectioned and the stock wheel openings moved forward.

Sheetmetal filler panels were added to the sectioned areas and everything was welded back together. A cross braced four point roll bar was installed for chassis stiffening.
Finally, fiberglass doors on lightweight hinges were added to the already light body. A fiberglass deck lid with an OEM latch and fiberglass hood with a slightly taller version of the A990 tyep scoop were installed. The fixed windows were thin Chemcor Plexiglas. The front bumper was also fiberglass, with molded in mounting brackets. The rear bumper remained steel to maintain rear end weight.
Inside the car was the roll cage, a fiberglass dashboard replica, lightweight Bostrom bucket seats on aluminum mounts and carpeting. The radio, heater, arm rests, sun visors, dome light, rear seat, carpet padding and sound deadeners were all removed.
The cars weighed 2800 pounds when delivered.
Weight distro was excellent, with 56% on the rear.
The power for these A/FX cars was the same engine as the 1965 A990 Super Stockers (the A990 426 Hemi). Actually, an actual A990 S/S car was cannibalized for the engine, driveline and interior for each A/FX car. The A990 426 Hemi cranked out over 500 horsepower.
During the 1965 season, Chrysler engineered a fuel injection system using Hillborn injectors with reworked mid-range and high-speed circuits. The velocity stacks varied depending on the transmission type. 13-1/4" stacks on TorqueFlite cars and 7-1/4" stacks on 4-speed cars. Performance was increased with this system over the dual Holley carbs. High 9s at 140-mph were not uncommon near the end of 1965.

1966 brought on total madness as these cars were changing rapidly with all sorts of chassis, suspension and motor changes and some cars could not be classed, so a new "MATCH BASH" class was created for these new FUNNY CARS ! The rest is Drag Racing history !!!

Drag Racing is the original "EXTREME" sport. Nothing was more extreme than the original Drag Racers of A/FXer's, Fuel Altereds, Front Motor Slingshot Dragsters, Fuel Coups, Gassers, Funny-Cars or any combination of these monsters of mayhem that lit up a Friday night at your local Drag Strip !
Part engineer; Part dare devil...
Part mad scientist, Part test pilot...
Part artist and part gladiator...These diabalicle, designers of deaths construction were ride'n shot gun with the devil in these home built Hell-wagons. These powder kegs, soaked in kerosene tied to Nitromethane filled wheel barrells, hardly resemble Automobiles...Nor did the pilots seem human. The ominous image of these brave competitors continue to inspire, intrigue, frighten and excite new and old generations of, not only Drag Racers, but all those who have the courage to shut thier mouths and actually step into the ring themselves; Adjust thier goggles; Grab the wheel barrell by the handles; and tell your brother to light the friggin fuse....and run.