By Rich Truesdell

Automotive Traveler

I had the pleasure of the first drive of the ultimate Challengers, Mr. Norm’s Challenger and ‘Cuda ragtop versions of Dodge’s reincarnated muscle car. Based on the highly regarded Challenger SRT-8, the Mr. Norm’s 426 Hemi Challenger and 426 Hemi ‘Cuda convertibles do what Chrysler should have done right from the start, offer a ragtop version of its retro iconic muscle car thus opening a new and open air chapter in the Challenger’s storied history that now spans nearly 40 years.

Mr. Norm’s Garage isn’t some backyard car company. All the Mr. Norm’s Challengers and ‘Cudas are built in a state-of-the-art, 26,000 square foot facility located in Hudson, Florida, where design, prototyping and turnkey Mr. Norm’s performance vehicles are built. Working directly with Mr. Norm, who made Grand Spaulding Dodge in Chicago the Mecca for ultimate Mopar muscle cars during the golden age of high performance, Mr. Norm’s Garage continues this proud legacy by offering a comprehensive line of award winning modern and vintage Mr. Norm’s vehicles, parts and accessories. Read more at Automotive Traveler.

By Brian Lohnes

BangShift.com

Chicago’s “Mr. Norm” Krause has not lost his verve for hopping up Mopars. Back in the 1960s his Grand Spaulding Dodge dealership was a performance leader. Guys nationwide were members of The Mr. Norm’s Sport Club. The good news is that he’s still at it.

The newest thing to roll from his shop is a blown, Hemi-powered, convertible 2009 Challenger. This is cool stuff as Chrysler does not manufacture a “new” Challenger convertible model, nor does it equip any with Kenne-Bell blowers off of the assembly line. Check out more pics and read the press release after the jump.

Continue reading "Mr. Norm is Building 2009 Challenger Convertibles, and They've Got Kenne-Bell Blown Hemis" »

By Rich Truesdell

Automotive Traveler

Norm Kraus, better known as Mr. Norm, is legendary among Chrysler fans. His dealership, Grand-Spaulding Dodge, was the epicenter of the Mopar performance universe from the mid-sixties into the early seventies when the first muscle car era came to an untimely end. When you wanted to drive the very fastest Mopar off the showroom floor, you headed to Chicago with your checkbook in hand. When you left, you could rest assured that you had one of the fastest street-legal Dodges on the planet. Times really haven’t changed all that much in the last 40 years; to get the fastest new-gen 2009 Challenger you still visit Mr. Norm, only this time he’s semi-retired in Florida. However, he still has his thumb in the high-performance pie. Together with Mike Staveski and Bill Sefton, he has reincarnated Mr. Norm’s Garage. Continue reading at Automotive Traveler

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

Back in 1970 Chrysler put together plans for a run of 50 super stock Demons for the 1971 model year, similar to the S/S Darts and Barracudas of 1968. Sadly, changing NHRA rules, cutbacks in Chrysler’s racing budget and a general decline in the muscle car market caused these plans to be scrapped.

Mr. Norm recently acquired the original plans for these S/S Demons and has decided to build a run of cars based on these specs. In addition, he will build a more modern Demon, with a new Gen III Hemi and tri-power fuel injection system. Stay tuned for more on this project, and check out the rendering of the modern Demon after the jump.

Continue reading "Mr. Norm's New Demon Projects" »

Mr. Norm and his Grand Spalding Dodge dealership in Chicago were legendary in the 60s, and he’s come back in recent years, with the vintage GSS Hemi Darts and the new Dodge Ram Super Truck. And now there’s a new website devoted to promoting both his new cars and to preserving some of the history around Mr. Norm and his dealership. I especially dig the collection of old photos and the vintage ads like the one below.