Hammer
Project
1970 Plymouth Road runner
You may have seen Steve Strope’s big-blocked ’70 Roadrunner at last years SEMA or when it was featured on the television show RIDES. If so, then you were treated to a look into many of the new trends in hot rodding; show cars that are more about engineering than chroming every part in sight. Automotive art that is concerned as much with handling and braking as it is with going fast in a straight line. Steve’s shop, Pure Vision in Simi Valley, California, was contacted by Eric Reed to build such a car. A classic muscle car with modern flair that would combine the best of both worlds. Seems that while Eric was surfing the net in search of a car and a builder, he came across pictures of Steve’s previous project called Challenger-X. At first, Eric wanted Steve to build a near clone of the Challenger-X car, but Steve managed to steer him towards a ’70 Roadrunner. “We went to car shows and events to check out the different Mopar choices.” Steve said. Once Eric gave Steve the thumbs up on the Hammer project, the car was designed and the wheels were set in motion. In a turn of fate Chrysler became aware of the project and a spot was made for the car in their 2004 SEMA booth. Getting the car done was a challenge, but it arrived just in time to wow the crowds in Vegas. According to Strope, “The insanity on the TV show wasn’t staged, if anything it was toned down to PG-13 levels.”
HIGHLIGHTS
