You would think that a guy like three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Crew Chief Ray Evernham would be a hot-rodder at heart, with a garage full of rare, self-built and modified awesome machines, but as we find out in this video, that’s exactly the opposite of reality.
In fact, the wicked ’64 Plymouth Belvedere – “FOR PLY” – he recently built was constructed to be auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson to benefit IGNITE, which is a local foundation targeted towards people with Asperger’s Syndrome, like Evernham’s own 21-year-old son, Ray. The foundation’s goal is to provide those with Asperger’s and their family to connect, share stories, and provide a place for them to get job training skills that they need.
The car itself is a one-off concoction that includes a number of custom touches, including modified wheelwells, a race-inspired custom suspension, and even an engine with a true NASCAR heritage – it came out of one of Evernham’s Cup cars and has in fact been raced by Bill Elliott and Kasey Kahne. The chassis is also NASCAR-inspired, as it features a full rollcage and tub-style construction to protect the driver in the event of a mishap.
Although we wouldn’t expect a vehicle like this to be driven very often, the ability is there to do so if the new owner wishes to put it through its paces. There are lots of neat little touches on the Belvedere that we were able to spot in the video – we really like the application of the NASCAR-inspired wing, the inset fuel fill door, the stance, and especially the blacked-out wheel treatment. All in all, one heck of a custom car, for a good cause. Thumbs up!