1965 Dodge Coronet Sedan

In 1965, Chrysler had 6 Dodge and 6 Plymouths specifically built for A/FX Drag Racing (A was the top class, and FX stood for Factory Experimental). Dodge sent bodies to Amble Wagon, a metro Detroit firm, to be modified and assembled. Amble Wagon, to improve traction wîth weight transfer, altered the wheelbase on the A/FX Dodges by moving the wheels forward.

These altered wheelbase cars were amongst the first Funny Cars, nicknamed for the unusual appearance of their forward-shifted wheels. They were the first drag racing cars to differ substantially from cars that could be found in automotive showrooms, and they foreran today's flip top fiberglass Funny Cars.

This car was campaigned by Bud Faubel, a factory sponsored racer, as 'The Honker.' Faubel raced the car wîth great success, winning many well known races and landing features wîth many major magazines. He and his 1965 Dodge were named in SuperStock Magazine's top 10 of 1965 Best Car and Driver.

Later, the car was extensively modified and needed major restoration. It still has many of the original body parts and has since been restored to the condition as raced in 1966. The exhibitor has owned this car for almost 20 years. Only three Dodge's A/FX cars still exist, and this car has not been raced since 1967.

To have known Bud Faubel in later years would have led one to believe he was just another mild-mannered ex-racer. Truth be told, he had driven stock cars in the 1950s between stints of flying fighter jets for Uncle Sam over Korea and Vietnam. Of course, drag racing fit him perfectly. A close associate of some higher-ups at Chrysler, Bud ended up getting his 1964 'Honker' Dodge in the spring of 1964 in Detroit and driving it home to Pennsylvania.

Faubel became one of the first Super Stock record-setters with the new Hemi engine, running 11.53 seconds at 123.79 mile per hour in May 1964 in S/SA. This successful venture would allow Faubel to obtain this car for the 1965 season, where he would certainly take things to the next level.

The 1965 AHRA Winter Nationals held at Beeline Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona marked the debut of the altered wheelbase factory experimental cars. It was at this race these cars with the front end aluminized and the rear wheels moved forward several inches were referred to as 'Funny Cars.' They had their own eliminator and produced one of the most historically important races of all time. Bud Faubel qualified #2 at this race running 10.84 with The Honker.

Source - Vehicle Owner