Story of my first A12

[joe smith]

I was 16-17 and a senior in High School, class of 79. The kids at school with the new Z-28s and Trans Ams just had to try the "old" 71 Charger R/T 440 4bbl...
Now I know if I would have had an A12, I really would have brought them pain!

Anything like mine and you would have missed half of your High School classes because it was BROKE down and undependable to get you to school and back...

 

[biomedtechguy]

Anything like mine and you would have missed half of your High School classes because it was BROKE down and undependable to get you to school and back...

Thanks for the reality check...
My 727 transmission crapped out, but it was relatively cheap to have fixed at a chain transmission repair shop. I also had to have the oil pump replaced, which may have been a sign of excessive wear of the main bearings in retrospect. No real reason for the wear, it only had 5X,*** miles on it when I bought it in 78, and was driven mostly by the owner's wife. Yep, a 71 Charger R/T grocery getter! I had to change the starter as well. Did that by pulling the front wheels up on a curb, slid under the car on my back, and with my arms stretched out over my head, I put that heavy starter in.
If I only had the strength and stamina now that I have so many more of the required tools and knowledge...

 

[33 IMP]

When i first got my A12, in the mid eighties, i minded my own business, and didn't look for trouble, (yeah right?!). Mine had been repainted the original color, but had lost the 440 6bbl sticker on the hood as a result. I also ran it with the black wheels, with
dodge hubcaps (i didn't care for the factory naked look, and besides, i liked the red ring on the dodge caps)
One day, i decided to just leave my centerlines on the car for a while. My runner, which people hardly noticed with poverty caps, soon had more attention from the squirrels than i wanted with the centerlines.
Minding my own business one day, a couple guys pulled up next to me at a light, in a mid 70s z28. The driver said he was selling it to the other guy and he wanted to show him how fast it was. I didn't really want to, but i said, OK.
Light turns green, he stands on it, i keep up with him at about 2/3 throttle, still only in the center carb. He shifts, and i stand on it, still in first. He's suddenly three cars back, my car barks second, (fmvb), leg it hard till the shift into third, barks tires, he's ten cars back and turns off before the next light.
I wonder if he sold that camaro?

 

[GetX'd]

Cool story - thx for sharing. I had 3 brothers in Nam at that time. I’m the one that bought the ride tho. Got hooked on 68 GTX - couldn’t let go. Just sold it about 6 months ago after 48 years. I cloned it with the A12 setup way back in the day. She really screamed. Still does.

 

[ricks_RR]

thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service in keeping us safe

 

[biomedtechguy]

I cloned it with the A12 setup way back in the day. She really screamed. Still does.

When I test drove my 70 V-code Roadrunner at Fast Lane in St. Charles MO, it pulled to the right and the outboard carbs were not opening. I bought it anyway, and I'm glad I did, because my baby deserved a good home and the issues addressed.
Adjusting the 2 rods that regulate the point where the outboard carbs can open fixed that. The rear carb throttle blades were hanging up a bit, but a few cycles of WOT along with the rods adjustment fixed that. Pretty exciting when I stabbed the gas and felt the outboard carbs kick in for the first time.
That's my point. The difference in performance between the HP 440 4bbl in my stock 71 Charger R/T w/auto and 3.23 R&P and the 292/.509 cammed 6bbl 440 in my 70 V-code Roadrunner with the 4 speed and 3.54 Dana 60 seems to be a much bigger difference than the specs would suggest.
I'd love to do a side by side comparison of the 440 4bbl and the 440 6bbl with all other parameters identical. I get the feeling that it may seem like a bigger difference between the 2 than 15 horsepower and 10 ft lbs of torque.
The A12 cars are impressive, and I know just the transformation that the 6 pack setup and all that means is enough for me, but the A12 as a whole was truly THE definition of what an upgraded Roadrunner or Super Bee should be! A reasonably priced, all of the right stuff in the right place muscle car, like the mandatory 4.10 R&P, boxed frame, skidplate support, Dana 60, etc, WITHOUT the ability to or the factory adding a lot of available or standard included accessories that reduce the ultimate performance.
I am absolutely one of THE biggest fans of the A12 concept, and the V-code as well.

 

[ramchager63]

I'm including my TRUE story here although I have posted most of it long ago. Maybe some of the newer members will enjoy it.




My summer, fall and winter of 1968 and into the spring of 1969 was spent keeping my head below the sandbags in South Viet Nam. I was able to convince my brother to send a car magazine now and then and dreamed about the Hemi GTX that was destined to be mine upon return to the world, (that means home to a GI). Well, I survived all the bad moons and returned home to Lincoln Park, (a downriver sub of Detroit) in March of 1969 where I was glad to be reunited with my trusty 1966 triple black Plymouth Satellite 383 4speed. My brother was in charge of it during my absence and had let his girl friend drive it who then rear ended another car. It was fixed when I got home except the front bumper, which was gone. Oh, well.

After a couple days of "hi... how are ya's" I headed to Downriver Chrysler/Plymouth in nearby Southgate Michigan. My dad had bought several Chryslers and Imperials there and I had always kept my eye on the car lot as many interesting machines would turn up on the lot.

I was excited at the thought of ordering the Hemi GTX and got hooked up with
ed Rushlow, a salesman who was more than happy to talk about it. I was working my way down the option list and the GTX was taking shape on the order pad. We were discussing tire size options when he located a memo in his in box on his desk. It was a one page sheet, new product bulletin and it outlined the A12 option on the Road Runner. He showed it to me and the list of equipment was impressive! Basicly a hemi car but with a 440 and three two bbl carbs. AND a NASCAR style lift off fiberglass hood with a scoop....... Whats THAT all about...? He didn't know either.

Just for curiosity we spec'ed one out and he quoted me a price. It came in around $1500.00 less then the Hemi GTX we had on paper!!! HUMMMmmmmmmmm..... now I had something to think about. A 440 with three 2BBLs in a Road Runner sounded like one bad *** car to me.

Asside from being my primary car I had visions of some racing at Detroit dragway and some street racing on Telegraph rd. and Woodward ave. (Although I think it was illegal to do that). I was familure with the high maintance the Hemi engine required to stay running well and so the multi carb 440 was sounding pretty good.

I left the order in limbo, told the salesman I had to think about it, and left. There was another Chrysler/Plymouth dealer, (Buckingham CP), not far away so I thought...... compare pricing.... I walked in, found a salesman, which is not that hard to do, and asked for a price quote on a Road Runner with a 440 3 2BBL engine. He looked at me like I was a Chevy guy and said..."you can't get a 440 in a Road Runner" It's a 383 or Hemi. He had not heard about the A12 package.

I was convinced, that got me fired up and I returned to the first dealership, found Ed and said, "sign me up"!

I ordered a 69 Road Runner coupe with the A12, automatic, all tinted glass in T5 bronze fire metallic with black interior.

There was a new fm radio station in Detroit at the time that played only rock music.... WABX..... the "Air Aces". I got to thinking and called the salesman later that evening and added a am/fm radio.

Then it began.... the wait. This was to be my first new car, ever! And I had no idea what I had ordered. There were no A12's at the dealership, no one I knew had seen, or even heard of one. The salesman didn't even have a picture. Nothing was ever said about the cars being built on only two dates and my car was scheduled for 4/26.... this was early March! It was agonizing...!

I did receive a call from the salesman at the second dealership I visited, (He had taken my contact info), sometime in late March. He had one on the showroom floor. I headed straight over there and WOW!!!!! It was awesome. My first incounter. It was a Ralley Green hardtop with a 4 speed and black vinyl top. It looked menicing with the black hood and huge scoop, redlines and no hub caps. He offered it to me and it was tempting but I decided to wait for the one I had ordered.

I got the call sometime in early May..... my Runner was here! I will never forget walking into the service area and seeing it just as it had been unloaded off the truck. It was to be prepped and I could get it the next day.

I got off work and went by the house. My dad and brother went with me to the dealership and as soon as we turned into the drive.... there it was, parked directly in front of the entrance to the showroom. BUT wait...... It has a set of Dodge dog dish hubcaps on it.... whats up with that....? Apparently the prep guys didn't know about the hubcap delete thing. They thought the factory had forgotten to put the caps in the car and so got a set of Dodge caps from the parts dept and put them on. I may have taken delivery of the only A12 to come with hub caps.... LOL.

The saga continues from there with many great and memoral times crusing the streets, Woodward ave, drive-ins, girls. It was a magic time and I wished I had been more aware of that then. It was a machine in a time that will never be duplicated.

Enjoy your A12's guys.... If ya have em...smoke em...!

View attachment 878379

 

[ramchager63]

Great story really like it. Just got my first roadrunner two weeks ago 383 4 speed numbers match post car. I'm glad to be apart of the forum to read stories like that.

 

[70chall440]

Awesome story, great car. Just something about a 6 pack car, I've never owned a factory one but I have owned (and still own) a number of cars with 6 packs; currently a 440 and stroked 340 with EFI 6 packs, love them.

 

[bluefury]

A pet peeve....... Just for the record. My A12 Road Runner was a 440 6BBL. Six Packs were Dodge Super Bee's.

 

[biomedtechguy]

A pet peeve....... Just for the record. My A12 Road Runner was a 440 6BBL. Six Packs were Dodge Super Bee's.

I had to debate that when I chose my "prestige plate" for my V-code Roadrunner...
After having a "MADE 4 2" license on my TWO SEATER Corvette, and the number of people who asked "They only made forty-two like that?" (it was an 82 Collectors Edition) I knew that I wanted my license to be easy to understand, so rather than "6BBL440" I chose "6PAK440"
The same reason why I didn't want "4406PAK" or "4406BBL" so I would not get a question about "four thousand four hundred six" of....whatever...LOL

 

[bluefury]

I had to debate that when I chose my "prestige plate" for my V-code Roadrunner...
After having a "MADE 4 2" license on my TWO SEATER Corvette, and the number of people who asked "They only made forty-two like that?" (it was an 82 Collectors Edition) I knew that I wanted my license to be easy to understand, so rather than "6BBL440" I chose "6PAK440"
The same reason why I didn't want "4406PAK" or "4406BBL" so I would not get a question about "four thousand four hundred six" of....whatever...LOL

The tag on my last 6bbl read.... six 2go

 

[6PKRTSE]

Cool story. Thank you for your service. I love six pack cars. I have never had a real A12 so I made a lift off hood car out of my 69' Coronet R/T. I also have a sixpack 70' Charger.

 

[OldToys]

I had this A12 Super Bee for a short time.......

View attachment 878694

What a cool story, and thank you for your service.
I just got an A12 and loving it. My build sheet says it came with wheels painted orange and dog dish caps, this picture shows both. Do you know if this A12 came from the factory like pictured?

 

[33 IMP]

What a cool story, and thank you for your service.
I just got an A12 and loving it. My build sheet says it came with wheels painted orange and dog dish caps, this picture shows both. Do you know if this A12 came from the factory like pictured?

To the best of my limited knowledge, the a12 cars all came with black wheels, fifteen inchers, g70-15 Goodyear redlines, no hubcaps, and chrome lug nuts with tits.
BUT.... with mopar, never say never! They have been proven to have done stuff that they said they never did. We a12 guys would love to see the wheel and tire section of your broadcast sheet. You show me yours, I'll show you mine?

 

[Durandal25]

Such a cool story. I really appreciate it.

 

[vitamin c]

The cars came with black wheels, no caps. I think all the build sheets show body color wheels.

 

[WS23RT]

Thank you for your service and what a story. That's awesome.

A friend of mine's step dad bought a 1969 HEMI Roadrunner brand-new. A few months later the A12 was released and he promptly traded his HEMI in for the 6BBL. It's an interesting story for a different time. I'll try and get pics of his cars and make my own post.

 

[biomedtechguy]

As awesome as the 426 HEMI is and always will be, this in no way takes anything from that well deserved legendary status...
The difference in the experience of driving a HP 440 4bbl auto and my current warmed over 440 6bbl manual transmission Roadrunner is like a different engine entirely! I can't say it enough: when a strong running, properly tuned 440 6bbl opens up those outboard carbs...WHAT A RUSH!!
Mega kudos to the A-12 cars, truly the essence of what a muscle car IS, and a great showcase for the amazing experience that a 440 6bbl can provide!

 

[33 IMP]

The cars came with black wheels, no caps. I think all the build sheets show body color wheels.

I learned something new today. I dug out a photocopy of my broadcast, and sure enough, it says body color wheels, and dog dishes. I KNOW mine came with black wheels, no caps and chrome lugs with tits. It does have the correct tire code on the broadcast, and g70x15 written in grease pencil on the bottom side of the trunk lid.