NASCAR legend and ESPN racing analyst Ray Evernham, known as an avid classic and racecar collector, can now add "car designer" to his resume. Evernham unveiled a street-legal 1964 Plymouth Belvedere that combines old school American style with modern NASCAR racing technology at the 2012 SEMA Show, which marked his debut as a car designer and builder.
On Saturday, Jan. 19, Evernham will present the ForPly as a featured vehicle at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction. The ForPly is listed in lot No. 1394 and is offered with no reserve. The auction will be featured live on SPEED Channel.
“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.
Housed in the restored body of a near 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. This 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, emblazoned 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 as 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, according to Sherwin-Williams.
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 re-formulated 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.