FROM THE MOON TO THE RACETRACK.
BUILT TO RACE. BUILT TO ADVANCE. — what can be said about the Motown Missile Challenger, and where each point comes from.
| Topic | What we can say | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Chrysler and Apollo | Chrysler's Space Division developed and built the Saturn IB first stage for early Apollo missions. | Stellantis corporate history, 22 July 2019 |
| Aerospace to racing | Ron Killen moved from Huntsville aerospace electronics work to Chrysler Race Division data analysis for NASCAR and Pro Stock. | East13 Pro Stock Missile Seminar transcript |
| Test-bed role | Period reporting calls the Challenger an engineering test bed whose findings went to other Chrysler team cars. | Hot Rod, January 1972 |
| People | Tom Hoover conceived and championed the program; Ted Spehar and team built the car; Dick Oldfield and Don Carlton drove. | Owner-supplied Proof 10 booklet, p.6 |
| Power | 426 dual-plug HEMI, Ron Killen capacitive-discharge ignition with crank triggers and dual distributors, ported heads and tunnel ram, modified Holley 1050 CFM carburetors. | Owner-supplied Proof 10 booklet, pp.7–8 |
| Drivetrain and chassis | Aluminum A-833 four-speed, Hurst shifter, Dana 60; lightened body, adjustable wheelie bars, titanium strut rods, front aero development. | Owner-supplied Proof 10 booklet, pp.7–11 |
| Film | Launch Control — The Vision Film: 105 seconds, narrated, a cinematic interpretation. Space scenes are fictional brand storytelling. | Motown Missile project |
| Sale | Private auction, Q1 2027, tentative. Auction partner and date not yet confirmed. | Sale details |
Please do not state
NASA endorsement, Apollo-flown or NASA-built car parts, "Saturn V", race-result or first/fastest claims, valuation or price figures, or a confirmed auction date. Booklet details are the owner's historical account, not a current inspection or authentication.
Image credits
Cliff Gromer, Dick Oldfield Collection, Motown Missile Racing, Tom Hoover family, Joe Pappas, James Maxwell; trunk artwork by Greg of Akron. Keep each credit with its image.
Media contact
Felipe & Jeralin Soares, Motown Missile project team · motownmissile1970@gmail.com · +1 702-370-8015 (project contact)
About Motown Missile. Motown Missile is the digital archive and collector-engagement project for the black-and-yellow Dodge Pro Stock Challenger presented by current custodian Arnie Klann. Its purpose is to connect the car's history, available sources and next-custodian process. The project is seller-led; it is not an auction house or independent authentication service.