​Ramcharger Funny Car

​    Jim Matuszak and his wife Julie are the proud owners of this thoroughly restored Ramchargers Demon Funny Car, that's as "period correct" in appearance and construction as it was when storming the drag strips of America back in 1972-'73. This dastardly Demon was the first Funny Car to break the 230-mph barrier when driven by drag racing great Clare Sanders. Every part of this car has been researched, and actual parts that were on the car back in the day are still on it today-- And any parts that weren't on the car during its painstaking restoration were duplicated by the original craftsmen who fabricated 'em the first time around. 

The Ramchargers were always a free-standing group; financially and operationally from Chrysler. Members' activities were always after hours and off the clock from Chrysler. However, several members' day jobs at Chrysler did eventually involve developing its race program. The Ramchargers had four phases through which the group evolved during its life: 

Phase 1) spanned 1958 and 1959, when a confederation of individuals working on their cars banded together to form an NHRA-sanctioned Hot Rod Club, the Ramchargers. 

Phase 2) spanned 1959 through 1961, with the group evolving from a confederation of individuals with separate interests to a group with a common interest. This federation built the first team car in the form of a '49 Plymouth C/Altered; High and Mighty, followed in 1961 by the team's first Super Stock Dodge. 

Phase 3) spanned 1962 through 1967, where the team incorporated itself, raced Super Stocks, developed the Funny Car, and introduced the 426 Hemi to Top Fuel.

After 1967, in Phase 4) a number of members retired to their day jobs at Chrysler, while four members opened Ramchargers Racing Engines, building engines. They opened five Detroit-area speed shops while competing in Top Fuel and Funny Car through the mid-1970s.