MyStar featured a car story back in 2009 about a beastly 1961 Chrysler Windsor.
This was one of those moments when the driver wasn’t around the car so there was no way to trace the absent owner.
The title to the October 1, 2009, story was ‘SCARY RIDES—1961 CHRYSLER WINDSOR: THE BATMOBILE WITH THE PHANTOM DRIVER”.
Jerry Sutherland
The driver remained a phantom for 16 years until last month when the car turned up at a local car show. The story was worth the wait because this ’61 Chrysler had an incredible back story.
It started in 1992 when the father-son team of Bruce and Paul Heroux started work on a 1961 Chrysler Saratoga. Bruce had owned a ’61 Chrysler Windsor in his younger days and his grandfather owned one exactly like his at the same time.
Bruce met his future wife when he was behind the wheel of his original ’61 Chrysler, so that was a huge factor in the nostalgia game. Bruce had to part with his beloved Chrysler to attend school—but he never forgot it, so the ’61 Saratoga (Canadian-only) was a natural fit to retrieve an automotive memory.
Paul said the Chrysler was a big project because it had “a rusty floor and a hole in the trunk” so this unibody car was a challenge. The 383 V-8 “ran a little bit” but Bruce and Paul had bigger plans.
They had a legendary local engine guy build them a monster 500 cubic inch big block that cranked out a massive 640 horsepower on the dyno. They tried to use the push-button setup with the big block, but ran into problems because the ’61 Chrysler didn’t have a defined park brake.
This was a problem for Paul’s dad because he was never comfortable without a park brake, so he didn’t drive the big Chrysler as much as he wanted to after it was roadworthy. Paul said he was “worried about rolling when parked”, so road trips were minimal.
The solution was found via a Camaro console that did the job—it was hooked up to a built 8¾“ inch rear end. They also added traction bars to wrestle the tires down under acceleration.
The Chrysler has comfortable aftermarket racing seats, so they telegraph the non-sleeper attitude of this big Mopar. The big wheels are another clue this Saratoga isn’t the same as it was back at the factory.
The Chrysler has been completely soundproofed inside with double layers of sound deadening material and brand-new rubber. The front end has been completely rebuilt up to and including the steering box, so the Saratoga is rock solid on the road. It also has disc brakes at all four wheels
Paul’s car has played a big role in the family, despite its relatively low road miles. It’s been a guest at two weddings—including Paul’s own. Bruce celebrated the event by laying down a massive smoke show in front of the church and Paul’s uncle did the same thing at another family wedding.
That’s how you showcase a family legacy. Paul knows he’s the caretaker of an important piece of personal history and he’s up for the challenge because this car is going to stay in the family for the next generation.
Was this story worth a 16-year wait? You be the judge.
Jerry Sutherland
By: Jerry Sutherland
Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.
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