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This Historic Automobile Offered By Everything Muscle & Classic - WWW.EVERYTHINGMUSCLE.COM
Complete Restoration & Repair Services For American & Imported Classic Cars - 860-349-4570
American Automotive History on Wheels
The Incredible Ray Nichels/EPA 1970 Superbird
It is a magical one-of-a-kind “bird” born at the height of the American muscle car era. Created by the same legendary NASCAR, USAC and INDY car builder that constructed race winning machines for the likes of A.J. Foyt, Bobby Unser, Bobby Isaac and others, she was owned by the U.S. Government and buffeted by jet exhaust while following Boeing 727s down airport runways at over 100 miles per hour! If ever there was an automobile that deserves to be called a unique rolling tribute to American automotive history, it is the incredible 1970 Ray Nichels/EPA Plymouth Superbird!
Plymouth originally designed the now-coveted Superbird, a modified Road Runner, for closed-track racing. Only 1,920 were sold in street-legal form. This particular example was purchased from its original owner by the legendary Ray Nichels of Indiana-based Nichels Engineering, Inc. after winning a government contract to build a vehicle for use by the newly-formed Environmental Protection Agency. After equipping the Plymouth with all of the scientific air monitoring and sample collecting equipment required to perform EPA testing, the Superbird was also fitted with a roll cage, four-point harness seatbelts, fire suppression system, NASCAR fuel cell gas tank, three extra 12 volt batteries and dual alternators to power the fascinating array of electronic equipment on board.
The already powerful Commando 440 big block engine was also modified to enable the Superbird to sustain a speed of 100 mph for at least two hours and accelerate from 0 to 100 mph in 15 seconds. And since the EPA driver’s would have the hair-raising task of positioning the car directly behind large commercial jet aircraft while they prepared for takeoff, the Nichels crew outfitted the Superbird with a suspension control system capable of quickly lifting the bird’s tail and dipping her nose to prevent the exhaust blasts produced by heavy jet engines from potentially blowing the car off the runway! Constant communication between the car’s drivers, pilots and control tower operators was achieved through the installation of an aircraft radio system.
Results of the Superbird’s air sampling efforts from May 1972 to October 1973, along with other EPA tests, played an important role in the government’s decision to phase out leaded fuels and increase national pollution control measures. After reliably performing its assigned duties for a period of only 18 months, it was decommissioned by the EPA in late October 1973 and put out to pasture before being offered for sale at a government auction in 1979. At the time the car was removed from service, only 10,000 miles had been logged on its odometer!
In early 2006, the Everything Muscle & Classic team was excited to locate what the owner described as a “unique” Plymouth Superbird that had vanished from public sight more than 30 years ago. After conducting preliminary research from our Connecticut collector car restoration facility, company president Brian Chaffee verified the seller’s amazing claim that his vehicle was, in fact, the one-and-only 1970 Superbird specially built and outfitted for the Environmental Protection Agency by the late Ray Nichels of NASCAR, USAC and INDY car racing fame!
With the car’s identity confirmed and a promise to the seller of immediate action, Brian and some of his crew made the drive to Goldston, North Carolina within the next 24 hours and soon found themselves standing in front of this historically important muscle car! The on-site inspection quickly confirmed the car’s identity before one of Everything Muscle & Classic’s loyal clients (who has chosen to remain anonymous) purchased the vehicle for an undisclosed sum. The new owner then informed the delighted seller Brian’s company would be performing a show-quality restoration that would return the famous car to its original appearance and functionality.
After carefully transporting this iconic American automobile to Everything Muscle & Classic’s facility located in Middlefield, Connecticut, company owner Brian Chaffee and the restoration staff performed a carefully documented disassembly before undertaking a painstaking “nut and bolt” restoration that ultimately achieved bringing the car back to original condition. The restoration process also included researching, locating, acquiring, refurbishing and installing period-correct, fully functional EPA testing equipment.
The three and a half year restoration process was so thoroughly documented in photographs that everyone from Superbird collectors and NASCAR fans to auto racing enthusiasts around the world will find the project a fascinating insight into 1970’s automotive technology and the late NASCAR Hall of Fame race car builder, Ray Nichels.
Now being offered to discriminating collectors worldwide through the Everything Muscle & Classic organization; this “one-of-a-kind” numbers-matching Plymouth Superbird - and one of only a few Ray Nichels built cars still in existence - would be a true show-piece in any private collection, environmental “green” location, automotive museum, NASCAR-related venue, or other auto racing oriented environment.
The Amazing Ray Nichels/EPA Superbird – American Automotive History on Wheels!
Original Specifications:
- 1970 Model Year – Build Date: November 30, 1969
- Original Paint - Alpine White / Changed to “Ice Blue Poly” Mopar Color by Ray Nichels
- Number 0964 of only 1,920 Superbirds Built
- 440 Commando Engine Producing 375 Horsepower (prior to Nichels’ modifications)
- 8 ¾ inch Sure Grip Rear Axle with 3.55:1 gear ratio
- Plymouth A13 Superbird Package
- Vinyl Roof
- Hood Fastener Pins
- Power Steering & Power Disc Brakes
- High Performance Axle Package
- Heavy Duty Engine Cooling Package
- Dual Exhaust System
- “Hemi” Heavy Duty Suspension
- F70 x 14 White Letter Goodyear Polyglas Tires on Heavy Duty Steel Wheels
- Rally Gauge Package, Deluxe Steering Wheel, 3 Speed Wipers
Documentation:
- Original Dealer Invoice
- Original Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price Label
- Original Owner’s Manual, Inserts, Plastic Envelope & Warranty Pamphlet
- Original Dashboard “Built for the EPA” Plaque Installed by Ray Nichels
- Original EPA Inventory Control Number Dashboard Tag
- Original Photos Taken in Front of Ray Nichels “Go Fast” Facility
- Original Newspaper Article Covering EPA Superbird Build
- Original 1972 Car & Driver Feature Article on Superbird
- Original Gasoline Receipts Signed by EPA Driver John Moran
- Plus Many More Historically Significant Documents
The Ray Nichels/EPA 1970 Superbird has been certified by internationally recognized Mopar authority Galen Govia.
