Al
Macdonald sent this story on the Fireball 500.
In late
1965, American International Pictures (AIP) contracted with George
Barris to build 2 cars for upcoming movies. Chrysler Corporation
provided a 1966 Barracuda Formula S for Fireball 500 and a 1966 Hemi
Charger for Thunder Alley. The Batmobile was also being built at the
same time. Both movies were filmed at the same time and used many of
the same actors. After the movies release in 1966-7 the cars toured
the country to promote the movies and Chrysler. Around 1969, both
cars ended up on the east coast stored in warehouses.
The
Fireball car remained in a warehouse in Rutherford NJ until 1-30-72
when George Barris signed over ownership for storage fees. The
warehouse then sold the car to Adler Foreign Cars Ltd of Monsey NY on
11-15-72. Executive Car Sales of the Bronx NY was then hired to find
a buyer and sold the car to Reydel Pontiac in Edison NJ on 2-21-73.
Reydel used the car as a promotional for a while, then requested
Executive to find another buyer. On 6-6-73 Dom's Auto Sales of North
Plainfield NJ purchased the car and used it to promote the opening of
their new Dodgeland dealership in North Plainfield NJ. I purchased
the car from Dom's Toyota in 8-31-81 for $1500 with only 5,926
original miles.
These 2
pics are of the car on display at Dom's Toyota (note how it's outside
in the snow).
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The car
had sat outside for years and was in very poor condition. Parts had
been stolen off it and water had gotten into it.
There was only a
sheet of plywood over the cockpit and a tree had grown up through the
louvers in the hood.
I worked on the car for 3 years and debuted it
at the Mopar Nationals at Milan dragway on 8-10-85. At the time, I
was working at a Chrysler dealership and had a demo vehicle. I would
take the dealer plate off and put it on the Fireball car and drive it
locally and at car shows. I sold the car in 88 or 89 to Jerry
Juenemann at the Wheels & Spokes museum in Hays Kansas. Sometime
after that, he sold the car to Bobby & Cheryl (don't have last
name) in Washington state where they displayed it at an amusement
park. It was then sold to Vince (don't have last name) in Vancouver
BC Canada. It was then sold at a Barrett Jackson auction in 2015 for
$137,500 to John Staluppi of Fl and NJ. The picture I posted was of
the car at a show in NJ. The car is now part of the Galpin Auto
Sports museum in CA.
The first picture is in my parents back yard after picking
it up. The second pic is me working on it in my parents 1 car garage.
The 3rd pic is when it was in the weeds behind the dealer. The 4th
pic is me driving the car with my tow vehicle following. The 5th pic
is at Englishtown Raceway Park with former Miss DC 84 Claudia Abel.
The first
pic is the car after I sold it on display at Wheels & Spokes. The
2nd pic is at the Mopar nationals, the 3rd pic is the father of the
Hemi engine Tom Hoover. The 4th is at a Northeast Hemi Owners meet at
Cortese Dodge. The 5th is at a car show.
