NASCAR legend and ESPN racing analyst Ray Everham will present his custom designed 1964 Plymouth Belvedere as a featured vehicle at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale, Ariz., auction on Saturday, Jan. 19. Known as the "ForPly," the vehicle is listed in lot No. 1394 and is offered with no reserve. The auction will be featured live on the SPEED Channel.
The ForPly was unveiled at the 2012 SEMA show, marking Evernham’s debut as a car designer and builder.
“We set out to design the ultimate street machine that takes a vintage American muscle car with great motorsports heritage and brings it into the modern age,” said Evernham. “There is not another one like it in the world. We hope it draws the attention of racing and non-racing enthusiasts, as well as the collector who is looking for that one-of-a-kind vehicle.”
Net proceeds from the sale will go to Evernham Family Racing for a Reason, a foundation that is funding IGNITE, a new program and facility in Davidson, N.C. operated by the Autism Society of North Carolina. IGNITE enables adults with high-functioning autism or Asperger syndrome to enjoy a better quality of life as valued members of the community in which they live and work.
“Ray Evernham’s Plymouth shows an extraordinary level of design and craftsmanship and a very unique theme,” said Mike Joy, voice of NASCAR on Fox and SPEED and collector-car expert. “While repurposing NASCAR Sprint Cup cars are not new, hiding the framework and components inside a nearly 50-year-old body shell is certainly a new twist. This is a very special build and I hope the bidders take the time to examine it carefully in the display area. There just won’t be near enough time to describe all its special features when it is up on the block.”
“Enthusiasts are really going to enjoy Evernham’s entry into this side of the automotive business,” said Gary Bennett, VP of consignment at Barrett-Jackson. “The ForPly is an innovative and beautiful street racer built with great craftsmanship by the very man who revolutionized the crew chief role by leading it – and now also the Plymouth Belvedere – into the modern age of racing. It should attract lots of interested buyers at Scottsdale.”
Housed in the restored body of a half-century-old 1964 Plymouth Belvedere – the year, make and model that won the 1964 Daytona 500 and NASCAR Grand National Championship – the ForPly features a Dodge racing powertrain, plus the driveline of a modern day race car that Evernham’s former team, Evernham Motorsports, built and raced in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
The unique vehicle, which is entirely street legal, was personally tested and set up by Ray Evernham to the same exacting specifications that made him a championship crew chief.
The two-door, hardtop coupe, blazoned with a distinctive Sherwin-Williams Radiant Red automotive matte finish with Graphite racing stripes, features the popular, slant-back roofline and a Graphite Grey-colored custom interior with carbon fiber inlay and bucket race seats.
The same technology used on the ForPly is also now available from Sherwin-Williams in kit format. Planet Color Barrett-Jackson Restoration System Kits contain all of the tools required to mix and prepare primer, color or clear coat, simplifying the entire paint purchasing process. The Planet Color Barrett-Jackson Restoration System allows automotive enthusiasts to achieve a professional quality paint finish for under $500.
Finally, under the ForPly’s hood, is a former Evernham Motorsports Dodge R5-P7 race engine (previously run by NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kasey Kahne), which has been reformulated as a fuel-injected, 358-cubic-inch, 8-cylinder powerhouse that outputs 750-plus horsepower. Racing components integrated from the Evernham Motorsports No. 10 Dodge Charger driven by Scott Riggs at the 2007 Daytona 500 include the four-speed manual transmission, front and rear clips and fully-adjustable suspension. Other special features include NASCAR Sprint Cup shocks, custom 18-inch NASCAR-style wheels, NASCAR-style front splitter and rear spoiler, and an all-digital, backlit dual-display dashboard.
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