South Bay Mopars Club Meet

Gary Banks and son rallied with us in their '66 Dart.

It's grizzled old man and greenhorn speed-squirrel all shoved together. It is burnout-happy primer Dart and zillion-buck R/T convertible resto-clone parked side-by-side. Most of all, it's all about rear-wheel-drive Mopars and leaving your Neon at home. Or not even owning one. A minivan is OK as long as you cut tubs into it and plumb in a 340.

These guys are the South Bay Mopars, and you can meet them at the Stick and Stein on Sepulveda in El Segundo, California, for breakfast once a month and share what's new. Starting back in 2001, President Mark Fink nurtured the club from a mix of Mopar hangers at Costco and Ruby's Diner cruise nights, and now they even have real events at Ricky and Ronnie's cruise-in and at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles. There are 20-30 cars at the meetings, even in the middle of winter, so there's always something to see. It's what we like about car clubs. Meet some of the members here, and see more at southbaymopar.com.

500ci Polara RB

C-body A/C delete? Check the 8-track with era-correct tunes.

'70 'Cuda 440 five-speed

In 1978, Aby scored a fiberglass hood off a Super Bee for $100. He put it on the car and stored his original green twin-scoop 440 factory hood. Once in a while he switches hoods to make the car look original.

Aby Nazario, O.G. Member Since 2001

Aby's best time is 11.28 at 120.89 on the motor. "I believe in a lot of cubic inches. I don't believe in nitrous, well I do believe in it, but as much as I race, I just can't afford it." One time he missed a shift so the Coronet is a standard-trans turned TorqueFlite 727 with a 2,800 stall. The original 440 was bored to 4.350, and with a 4.150 stroke, is now a 493. He runs Edelbrock heads and RPM intake, 11.0:1 Ross flat-tops, and an 850 Holley through Hooker headers and 3-inch exhaust.

'69 Dodge Coronet R/T with a Super Bee Hood

"In November 1969, the month I bought the car, I wanted to buy a '70 Hemi 'Cuda. But it was 5,900 bucks and I couldn't afford it. Not only did I not have the cash, but I would also be buying a gas hog. Right before I left the dealership, the salesman threw me the keys to a green '69 R/T. I left my '67 Fastback VW at the dealership and drove it home. That night I went street racing and beat a '67 Fairlane GT 390. I didn't want to race, but this guy followed me from the A&W all the way to the freeway. Then he called me chicken so I said, `you punch yours and I'll punch mine.' I just left him there. The next morning the speedometer was stuck at 70 mph in the driveway so I went back to the dealership and told them to sign me up! Had the car ever since."

"Know what my nickname is? We. Like when my wife says we don't need another Mopar."
Aby Nazario