1965 Belvedere Hells Hemi
Mark writes:
I put together a model
replica of my Dad's 1965 Belvedere, the Hell's Hemi quarter-miler
that he once campaigned:
(Above) Photo of the original Plymouth
My
dad, Clyde Robillard, raced the Hells Hemi here in the South between 1968 and
1972. The car was a consistently wining machine. Running a 1/4 mile in the low
10's he won the Gainsville, Florida Turkey Trots, NHRA's Nation Open, and also
the Dallas, Texas NHRA Event. Of all the cars he raced, he won more with the
Hells Hemi than any other. The Car was a Chrysler production 426 Hemi super
stock, 1 of only 100 made. He later built the Hells Hemi II (virtually the same
car.)
Earlier this year I asked him to pick his favorite car (so that I could suprise him with
a replica). After talking with his friends and looking at old photos, and using
a resin body from "he Good Stuff" a small company in Roseville Minnesota, I was
able to recreate the old legend.
The decals were custom made on my computer. In order to simulate the gold leaf lettering, I used an ALPS printer and printed
them on blank water-slide decal paper. They came out beautifully!
I had a great time putting it together and my wife suggested I take pictures of the
building process along the way. Those pictures resulted in a book to accompany
the model - "Replicating the Hells Hemi". It was a great idea, and he loved it.
Book and model are now safe in his curio cabinet.
(Below) Photos of the model of the Plymouth:
I gave the model to him as a birthday/Christmas present: he loves it!
Thanks to Ben Morgan and Gary H. for their help in making this model go from plan to
reality!
Beautiful job, Mark!
One of the neat characteristics of these
Mopars is the special bond they bring between strangers, friends and family.
I can't think of a better example of family ties than your custom
creating a "Hell's Hemi" model as a surprise gift!
Gary H.
December 25, 2001
