the 426 Wedge was no longer available at the time, so it's more of a prototype. The unit was hand-built using OEM parts from previous years.
It's still unclear why Chrysler decided to use the discontinued Wedge in a 1966 Dodge, but Jim speculates it's because the company needed to show NASCAR they would be ready for the said season with a 426-cubic-inch powerplant. Chrysler was having difficulties rolling out the HEMI. However, the latter arrived on time, so Mopar scrapped the plan-B Wedge option.
Noted Mopar expert Galen V. Govier also documented the car's authenticity as a 1966 Wedge. According to him, only three vehicles were special-ordered with the 426 Street Wedge. However, this 1966 Coronet is the only one known to exist. It's also the only unit with extensive documentation from all previous owners.
The previous owner also successfully linked the car to Grand Spaulding Dodge, the iconic performance-oriented dealership that sold the sought-after "Mr. Norm's" vehicles. The vehicle's data card has been recovered, confirming that it shipped to that dealership.
More proof comes from an ad Mr. Norm ran at the time. The print said, "Would you believe? Brand-new '66 Coronet 2-dr Street Ram" with "full factory equipment." The ad confirms the engine wasn't a swamp performed by Mr. Norm Kraus. It seems he was also surprised Dodge fitted a 426 Wedge in a 1966-model-year car.
It wasn't commissioned by the dealership, either. Dodge simply chose to send it to Mr. Norm because they thought he was the only man who could sell such a car. Furthermore, according to Mr. Wicker, the numbers stamped in the core support, rear bumper support, and broadcast sheet "all match and coincide with each other."
The second owner replaced the hood, painted the car purple, and named it "Gentle Ben," bringing it to the condition it was discovered in decades later. He also made several mods to the body and under the hood. The Coronet changed a couple more owners before it ended up in storage in the mid-to-late 1970s. It then went into a storage box, where it remained for decades.
The Coronet was unearthed in 2012. Its fifth owner noticed the discrepancies between the VIN and the fender tag and sold it, thinking it had a misprinted VIN. The sixth owner, who showcased the car in 2023, discovered the broadcast sheet under the rear seat and did the initial research toward unveiling its special-order 426 Wedge status.
After touring it at various events through 2023, the sixth owner sold the 1966 Coronet to Jim, who completed the documentation process.
