Functional replica of “Akron” Arlen Vanke’s “Ol’ Brownie” Super Stock racer. 500 cubic inch Max Wedge, TorqueFlite, Dana 60, and more. Campaigned in NMCA Nostalgia Super Stock classes. Built for combat but very streetable. Drive a legend!

If you’re looking at this car, you probably already know who Arlen Vanke is. If not, do some reading because he was an incredibly influential builder/racer who delivered the goods in the 1960s. This killer 1963 Plymouth Savoy, affectionately named “Ol’ Brownie,” is a streetable replica of Vanke’s racer, complete right down to the thundering Max Wedge under the hood. Built by noted authorities on the subject Paul Suloff and Bob Kyle, they started with an ultra-clean Savoy 2-door sedan and rebuilt it from there. The body was stripped bare for the plain-Jane Light Beige paint, which is how Vanke’s car looked in the 1960s. Correct decals and emblems were added (they’re vinyl, so you can remove them if you want a stock look) and a twin-snorkel Super Stock hood was added (the original hood is available if you want it). The relatively lightweight Savoy has an industrial-strength look that we find insanely appealing, and with details like the fiberglass front bumper, deleted wipers, and no side mirrors, it definitely looks the part of a bare-knuckles brawler. Finish quality is far better than most race cars of the period, with nice gaps, doors that close with authority, and a nice shine to the paint that makes even the Light Beige look appealing. This car is right.

The interior was likewise restored to stock specs, save for the 6-point roll cage, which is only a good idea in a car with this much performance on tap. It neatly straddles street and race, with comfortable bench seats and stock instrumentation, which is joined by a panel of auxiliary dials neatly bolted to the side of the dashboard. Factory gauges remain intact, complete with their funky western-style lettering, and the pushbutton shifter controls still manage the TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic transmission, which now has a manual valve body. Even the original steering wheel remains in place, so this car can certainly pass for a street car when it has to. It’s not a bad place to hang out. There’s also a big back seat (with admittedly limited access due to the roll cage) and a positively massive trunk which is super clean and now houses the battery (with provisions for a second battery, should you decide to go to the track on a regular basis). You can see just how straight and solid this car really is and how expertly it was restored.

The engine is Chrysler’s legendary “Max Wedge” V8. Originally displacing 426 cubic inches, this one has been bored and stroked to right around 500 cubes and features Stage III Max Wedge heads, 11:1 compression Wiseco forged aluminum pistons, and a custom flat tappet camshaft for the right soundtrack. Up top there’s that awesome cross-ram dual quad intake with Stage III Carter 3705 carburetors, and the exhaust manifolds are stock Chrysler pieces, so it looks and sounds right. A big radiator up front keeps it cool, and it has been upgraded to a dual master cylinder with front disc brakes in the interest of safety—that’s a lot of power to keep in check! The front suspension is stock, although the steering linkage passing through the oil pan is a neat trick. A custom fabricated exhaust system features removable cut-outs for maximum effect, and the aforementioned TorqueFlite automatic transmission has an extra-deep finned aluminum pan. Out back, a rugged Dana 60 rear end is full of reasonable 3.54 gears on a Sure Grip limited slip and running through the Flowmaster mufflers, it remains surprisingly civilized. Weld-in subframe connectors reinforce the tub, and again, please take the time to note just how clean this car really is—that’s all original sheetmetal. There’s a new gas tank hanging out back and it sits on a set of Vanke-style Torque Thrust front wheels and widened stock steelies in back with period-appropriate rubber to match.

Documentation is extensive, including details about Arlen Vanke, period photos, magazine articles, and even a videotape featuring Arlen and the original Ol’ Brownie. We also have access to the original hood (painted to match the car) and original front wheels should the new owner wish to take it back to a more stock appearance—please ask for details.

Vintage race history and nostalgia drags are still a great way to have fun in an old car. This beautiful tribute to one of the all-time great racers neatly straddles the line between street and strip, making for a car that’s a ton of fun to drive no matter where you take it. We realize this car isn’t for everyone, but for the guy who understands its place in history and appreciates the hardware of the early 1960s, this car is a fantastic tribute to one of the most innovative periods in all of racing. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.