Winged Warriors/National B-Body Owners Association
Special Feature Cars - Ray Williams

Introduction by Sue George
Other Text and Photos by Ray Williams


Ray Williams is the original owner of club president Sue George's SuperBird, which he traded off in 1974. He was anxious to see the car again and so he coordinated and hosted the Winged Warriors/NBOA Darlington meet in March, 2001, in which we were headquartered in Conway, SC. Shortly after that meet, Ray purchased a 1971 Road Runner from Florida. Later in the year, Ray was fortunate enough to find an all original mint condition 1964 Coronet. Here is his story:

[Ray's 1971 Road Runner]

The idea of finding a loud, throbbing muscular B-Body Mopar came to me that morning in Conway, SC when Mike Svec cranked up his #42 Marty Robbins Daytona clone. Ever hear that car idle on a quiet morning? I was waiting on Ed and Sue George, Wayne Perkins and Mike McGuire to get ready to drive down to Shoney's for breakfast. All were in town for the spring Winged Warriors meet in March, 2001.

I'm the original owner of Sue's Tor-Red SuperBird and had been re-introduced to the car after a 27-year separation. Sue had it looking better than it did when I drove it off the lot at Gateway Chrysler-Plymouth in Omaha, NE in December, 1970. This was Friday morning and only a handful of the roughly forty cars had arrived. I was admiring a couple of LemonTwist SuperBirds, Wayne Perkins' #99 Hemi Daytona and a couple of other early arrivals when Mike started ol' #42 and began the process that would end up costing me what little discretionary income I have, and disrupt the peace of a formerly sedate neighborhood!

Shortly after that meet, I began buying old car magazines, surfing Internet sights and attending car meets in my search for something both wicked and affordable. Finally I saw an ad for a Plum Crazy 1971 Road Runner, 383 4-speed, with a Go Wing and sure grip. The price was only $6,500, so I'm figuring the car was a clunker, but called the owner in Tampa, FL and asked her to forward pictures. I was sold as soon as the photos arrived, bought the car sight unseen, and had it delivered to my home about 15 miles west of Myrtle Beach, SC.

The fenders on the hauling trailer prevented fully opening the Road Runner's doors, so I climbed through the window like Richard Petty himself! Actually, Richard probably never got a door-locking knob up his ass while gliding into his Mopars, but otherwise I figure I did well! Then I started her up. Wow! The owner told me the engine had been rebuilt, but this engine ain't sounding at all like any 383 ever made. I asked the driver what he knew about the car. "Oh, they stuck a hotter cam in it, installed headers and a 750 cfm Edelbrock carb, messed with the ignition, put tractionmasters under the rear axles, and lots of other stuff, too. Sounds good, huh?" Did it ever! Wait till I see Svec at the next meet! We're going to have a roar-off contest!

[Ray's 1964 Coronet 440 
cruiser]

I'd only had the Road Runner just a few months and already mothers start gathering up their children when they hear it start up. The day after the car came in, I was giving a friend a ride on a country two-lane and we came up to a small church just as services ended. An older lady in a Chevy Caprice backed out in front of me, saw the Road Runner, then pulled back into the parking lot out of my way. Ah, but by then I had come to a complete stop. You guess it-I took off like a rocket ship, tire screaming with every gear change, leaving the faithful staring, jaws agape. I could tell other stories-an unfortunate power shift from first to second just as I was crossing a small bridge with a slick surface-had to drive looking out the window for a few hundred feet, but you get the idea. This thing is more fun than showering with the Spice Girls! Hey, I love and lust after all the restored SuperBirds, Daytonas, Charger 500s, etc in the club, but all you motorheads need to get a daily driver like my '71 Road Runner. I guarantee you'll have a great time.

In November, I drove out to visit a guy south of Conway, who is a total Mopar nut. He had a red 1964 4-door Coronet 440 that his mom had bought new and drove it until her death. He kept it maintained and his wife drove it occasionally in the last five years to get groceries. I looked it over carefully-no hint of rust or body damage anywhere on the car, detailed engine and trunk, power steering, excellent gold bench seat interior, newly rebuilt carb, good radio and perfect hubcaps. It has a 225 slant six with push button automatic. The jack has never been removed from it's position in the trunk! It's dead stock and has documentation dating back to April 24, 1964 when it was purchased new in Oklahoma. I bought the car and am surprised how much I like it. I get a lot of compliments on the Road Runner as you might expect, but people go nuts over the old Dodge as well. It can idle in traffic for hours if need be, you can drive it anywhere at night, it rides very well, has two living-room-sized sofas for seats and it's trouble free. The push button tranny blows everyone away-few people under age 40 have ever seen one. It cruises nicely at 70 mph, it just doesn't get there in any big hurry! The difference is: the Road Runner is excitement-the Dodge is unhurried Sunday driving!

Click On A Photo To View The Full-Size Version
The Road Runner arriving in Conway, SC from Tampa, FL
The Road Runner arriving in Conway, SC from Tampa, FL
The Road Runner arriving in Conway, SC from Tampa, FL
Here I am climbing through the window of the Road Runner, getting ready to take it off the trailer after it arrived
The Road Runner's engine compartment
I'm the proud new owner of this Mopar muscle
The Road Runner behind Planet Hollywood in Myrtle Beach, SC
This is the '64 Coronet 440 cruiser
The Coronet's spotless and all original trunk.


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