Rediscovering The Motown Missile And Its Journey To Restoration

When you stumble upon a special part of automotive history, there’s a certain magic to it—and for Dale from Old School Rides, that magic recently struck while he was in Boulder City, Nevada staring at the Motown Missile.

Entering the Missile Silo Garage felt like stepping through a time portal. Decades of mementos hanging on the walls: tales of determination, creativity, and victories. Dale also noted the rocket ship mural on the deck lid — a design by Greg, a late ’60s airbrush master. The design is a typical imagery seen on many race cars at that time. The mural by itself was almost capable of beaming somebody back to the golden age of drag racing, when it was an art and a science all rolled into one.

The Motown Missile itself is a testament to Chrysler’s ambition. Built as a factory test bed by some of the best engineers, including the famous Tom Hoover, it was used to trial new concepts before passing them down to legendary racers like Sox & Martin. The car’s original purpose was clear, break new ground, and push what was technically possible. With titanium strut rods and drilled-out components, it was all about making the car lighter to improve launch speed—a vision brought to life with the help of Reges Gully, founder of Trick Titanium.

Dale and Arie’s excitement was palpable as they delved into the finer details of the car. The original Hemi engine under the hood, one of only three dual-plug 396-cubic-inch destroked versions of the 426, was a relic of a time when Chrysler was experimenting with everything from cam profiles to dual-distributor ignition systems.

Around the back, the Challenger’s Dana 60 rear axle and modified frame spoke of further ingenuity. Arie explained how engineers had pushed the limits, adjusting snubbers for better traction and widening the frame to fit bigger slicks, all to make the car aerodynamic and more efficient on the strip.

But Arie’s collection goes beyond the 1970 icon. He revealed a Pro Stock version of the Motown Missile from the 2001-2010 era, boasting a Liberty 5-speed transmission and a monstrous 499-cubic-inch Hemi built by Roy Johnson. With over 1,300 horsepower on tap, it highlighted the leaps in racing technology over decades.

Dale said it was crazy that they could lift titanium axles with just two fingers, a testament to the extreme strategies of weight savings back then. This car was a combination of all…