As always, the Mopar booth here at PRI is loaded with some exciting display vehicles this year that includes the Direct Connection Test Lab Drag Pak Challenger, the Dodge Viper ACR-X factory race car, and Sox & Martin’s ’72 Pro Stock Demon. But one that really caught our attention was this, a 1964 Dodge 330 packing a punch courtesy of a Gen III 426 all-aluminum HEMI crate motor belonging to noted musician and Chrysler aficionado Kenny Wayne Shephard.
For those not familiar with Shephard, the young blues musician and songwriter from Louisiana has released several studio albums and has played alongside legends such as B.B. King, Clarence Brown, and Hubert Sumlin, and has opened for famed acts such as The Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Aerosmith, Van Halen, and The Eagles.
As well, Kenny is a noted car buff, with cars such as the “Xtreme Lee” ’69 Dodge Charger unveiled at SEMA in 2004 and a 525HP 392 HEMI ’72 Dodge Charger.
This ultra clean ’64, powered by the aforementioned 426 HEMI sports a Mopar cold air intake, billet throttle body, billet fuel rails, and starter under the hood, and is controlled by Mopar’s Programmable Controller. The power is transferred through a aluminum-cased 3-speed automatic TorqueFlite to a Sure Grip differential with 3.73 gears and a Mopar center section.
Underneath, Shephard’s new wheels ride on Mopar Super Stock rear springs and shock absorbers on the rear to plant the rear tires, while disc brakes up front and factory-style drum brakes out back give it some nice stopping power. Cragar Aluminum S/S wheels (15×6 up front and 15×8 rear) round out the rolling package.
Inside, you’ll find a roll cage around original A100 lightweight bucket seats with aluminum mounts, Mopar Performance gauges, a floor shift assembly, and a leather wrapped steering wheel. The exterior is finished in Black with Mopar Blue striping features the Kenny Wayne Shephard logo on the trunk lid and stretches over the Mopar HEMI-style hood scoop.
In addition to the modern lightweight powertrain, the modernized Super Stock clone sports high-flow catalytic converters, oxygen sensors, a full exhaust system with an H-pipe, and a programmable engine management system.