1965 McKee MKV

Sold for $260,000 at 2014 Russo & Steele - Scottsdale.
When Chrysler introduced the redesigned Hemi engine to the world in 1964, it immediately set about world domination, in the world of stock cars (NASCAR) and drag racing (NHRA). For 1965, a decision was made to pull Richard Petty from the NASCAR series after the new Hemi engine was banned that season.

Concurrently, American race car designer and constructor McKee Engineering had just begun construction of a series of mid-engine tube frame sports racers which could be modified to accept a Hemi. Chrysler recognized that a McKee sports racer, with Hemi power, would provide Mr. Petty with another opportunity to showcase his talents. So the order was placed - however, Richard proceeded to drag race throughout the 1965 season and he returned to NASCAR racing in 1966.

The Hemi-McKee raced from 1965 through 1967 in CanAM and USRRC races alongside the McLarens, Lolas, Chaparrals, Ferraris, and Porsches. The car was stored for 35 years until it was restored in 2004. It has been making up for lost time by visiting the Mopar Nationals, The Goodwood Festival of Speed, The Monterey Historic Races, and the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.

Chrysler introduced their redesigned Hemi engine in 1964, and it continued to do extremely well in the world of NASCAR racing and in the NHRA series. For 1965, NASCAR put a ban on the Hemi engine. In response, Chrysler's Director of Racing, Ronnie Householder, pulled Richard Petty from the NASCAR series in 1965. Both the Hemi engine and Richard Petty had been an integral part in gaining fanfare for the NASCAR world. Losing both was sad news to racing fans everywhere.

In 1965, Richard Petty continued to compete in other forms of racing - Drag Racing. He had visited McKee Engineering while attending the Chicago Auto Show, and accepted an offer to campaign the factory-backed racing effort of the Hemi-Powered McKee Company, in the CanAm racing series.

The McKee MKV had a tubular frame and a mid-engine layout. The project was championed by Bob Montana, a former Marine jet fighter who was residing in Phoenix, Arizona. He owned a Chrysler-Plymouth dealership and had a passion for racing. He fostered a relationship with Chrysler racing executives and saw an opportunity to fit a Hemi engine in the McKee sports racer.

When the McKee was complete, Bob Montana campaigned the Hemi-powered McKee. It was raced during the 1965 through 1967 season in CanAm and USRRC competition. By 1968, it was raced solely in regional SCCA competition. It was retired in 1969.

After Bob Montana passed away in 1971, the car was put into storage, where it remain for the next 35 years. In the 2000s, the car was given a restoration, which was completed by mid-2004. It made its debut at the Mopar Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.

The following summer, the McKee was invited to the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Monterey Historic Automobile Races.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2010