Dodge 330 Hemi Charger Was the First Funny Car Ever

Beginnings of a Legend

The history of drag racing is ripe with important developments. But one of the most notable was the creation of the funny car, a division that's one of the most exciting to watch even today. And we can trace the funny car's existence back to this very Dodge Charger that we spotted at Mecum Auctions.

Photos: Mecum Auctions

Immediate Success

Landy took delivery of this 1964 lightweight 426 Hemi Dodge 330 in June of '64. He immediately went out and scored an A/MP class win at the "Hot Rod" magazine race, followed by a stint in the NHRA Nationals.

>>Join the conversation about this original funny car right here in Dodge Forum.

Heavy Modifications

Following the conclusion of the Nationals event, Landy took his new ride back to the shop for some modifications. He proceeded to move the front wheels forward 6-inches and the rear axle up 8-inches

>>Join the conversation about this original funny car right here in Dodge Forum.

Drawing Attention

Unsurprisingly, these mods drew a lot of attention before Landy even got to test them out on the track. His funny looking Dodge wound up being featured in a number of magazines for obvious reasons.

>>Join the conversation about this original funny car right here in Dodge Forum.

Make It Official

Landy's Charger went on to experience great success, including a notable 147 mph best top quarter-mile trap speed. The very next year, "funny car" became an official tile.

>>Join the conversation about this original funny car right here in Dodge Forum.

Changing Hands

Hemi collector Pete Haldiman took possession of Landy's funny car and owned it from the late '70s until 2015 when it was sold to Todd Werner. Handiman had already completed a correct restoration on the car, leaving all of its Landy mods in place.

>>Join the conversation about this original funny car right here in Dodge Forum.

Heart of the Beast

The heart of the car is, of course, its A864 with the correct K-code iron heads, an aluminum cross-ram intake, dual Holley 770 CFM carburetors, and Doug’s Headers.

>>Join the conversation about this original funny car right here in Dodge Forum.

Perfect Mixture

Backing up that large mill is a pushbutton A727 TorqueFlite transmission, sending power back to an 8.75-inch differential. The Charger's body is a mixture of steel and aluminum, with an extra pair of taillights out back.

>>Join the conversation about this original funny car right here in Dodge Forum.

Stay Strange

Special care was taken to ensure this car's wacky attributes remained in place, as even the lettering was hand-painted to ensure authenticity.

>>Join the conversation about this original funny car right here in Dodge Forum.

Keep History Alive

Thanks to a couple of dedicated collectors, this very important piece of drag racing history looks as good today as it ever did. And we hope that its next caretaker continues to keep it alive for future generations to enjoy!

>>Join the conversation about this original funny car right here in Dodge Forum.

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