With the recent completion of their Big Time ‘69 HEMI Charger, we wanted to see what other impressive rides YearOne’s Ghostworks Garage has cranked out. Although we found that they are behind a number of unique hot rod and muscle car creations, the one that especially caught our eye was their ‘70 Superbird tribute car. Built a couple years ago for none other than Bill Goldberg, this creation is anything but your ordinary winged car.
Built to be auctioned off to benefit the Darryl Gwynn Foundation, which raises money for spinal injury research and aid for individuals suffering from paralysis, the YearOne/Goldberg Superbird pays tribute to the race car once driven by racing great Richard Petty.
To create it, YearOne extensively reviewing Superbird race cars at the Talladega Motor Speedway museum to get their footing and then run with the project. The trick was getting its NASCAR details right while creating a completely street-legal car.
With Goldberg’s ‘70 Plymouth Satellite in hand, YearOne did some custom metalwork to create the Superbird profile and fix some rough areas on the body. In order to establish the period-correct NASCAR feel, the transmission tunnel was raised, wheel tubs were installed and the fenders were opened up a bit for a wider tire radius.
To tie the massive car together and improve the handling, YearOne also installed an X-brace to connect the subframes, a modern coil spring system, Magnum Force tubular K-frame with tubular control arms and a custom 4-link rear suspension on the Superbird.
Obviously, a NASCAR Superbird tribute car wouldn’t be complete without a powerful engine so Gillette-Evernham Racing stepped up and donated a NASCAR-spec 358cui Dodge R5 engine that produces 780hp. Although the engine was virtually all NASCAR by specifications, it was detuned to be able to run on pump gas from the equipped Brown & Miller racing fuel system, something very important considering the goal for Goldberg was to have a street-legal NASCAR Superbird. Gillette-Evernham Racing also contributed a Borg-Warner T-101 4-speed manual transmission to the project that feeds the 8 ¾-inch, 3.90-geared rear end that was fitted under the NASCAR exhaust with integrated Flowmaster mufflers.
The YearOne/Goldberg Superbird features NASCAR-esque details from the interior to the engine.
Sticking with the early NASCAR theme, the Superbird was equipped with a full cage and just enough seats for a driver and passenger to sit. Complete with YearOne’s restoration interior panels and reproduction “Tuff” steering wheel, a Flaming River steering column, Auto Meter gauges, and a Painless Wiring harness, the Superbird was set up for some serious competition inside and out.
While we wish we could tell you that you have a chance at owning the amazing YearOne/Goldberg Superbird, the car was auctioned off back in 2009 and the panel of celebrities that took care of the bidding was as unique as the project.
Driven in by Richard Petty, the car was auctioned off with the help of Goldberg, Gwynn, YearOne’s president Kevin King and country music artist Kenny Wayne Shepherd. With other well-known celebrities and automotive industry personalities in attendance, the Superbird was auctioned off to one lucky bidder for $501,000 with other pledges for the Darryl Gwynn Foundation reaching $175,000.
As if a customization by YearOne and ties to Goldberg weren’t enough, the Superbird was also featured on MuscleCar TV and PowerBlock. Check out these videos to see the YearOne/Goldberg Superbird come to life.