A Kaleidoscope of Muscle

Tim and Pam Wellborn will offer a rainbow of rarities at the world’s largest collector car auction

By Geoff Stunkard

Photography by David Newhardt

Tim and Pam Wellborn’s museum in Alexander City, Alabama, has long existed as one of the most important and impressive gatherings of muscle cars ever made available for public viewing. The couple’s efforts in the car hobby have been honored and nationally showcased during the past decade, and one aspect of their work involved honing in on specialty muscle often considered to be the most vivid representation of the era. In Kissimmee this January, the Wellborns will bring a strong selection of this unique machinery in an eye-watering color palette.

Of course, the Wellborns have always been known for their Mopars, and the upcoming selection of their muscle cars all hail from the Pentastar stables. These include both stock and modified versions, and this group of remarkable muscle is sure to be among the event highlights crossing the Mecum block on Friday, January 10.

Sunroof Spectacular

Just as Tim and Pam did when Mecum sold their Hemi Dodge Daytona for a world record back in 2015 among other cars, the pair has again trusted Dana and Frank Mecum with handling some of the very best of their collection. The 2020 auction will feature, for example, two of the rarest Hemi B-body models. These two cars were built in 1971, the final year of Hemi production, and both feature the optional sunroof. While Chargers were never offered in convertible form, this alternative was still expensive and required the factory to send the vehicles to an outside contractor prior to final delivery. The GTX had been available as a convertible from 1967 to 1970, but the sunroof was the only open-top variant available in 1971. Both cars are documented and feature a level of optional equipment rarely seen on muscle cars from any manufacturer. Wellborn’s extensive research on Hemi Sunroof cars has revealed that fewer than 10 Hemi Mopars of all models were built with a sunroof in 1971.

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The couple’s Plymouth Hemi GTX is one of two produced with a factory sunroof and stands tall as the most highly optioned Hemi GTX ever built, and this great go-getter came from the family of a decorated Vietnam veteran who cared for the car from 1971-2005. Beyond its rarity in the realm of optional equipment, the car is also in amazingly original condition, including its rare EL5 Bahama Yellow paint. The original owner parked the car after a mishap that caused slight damage to the passenger door. The Wellborns searched high and low for an identical original-paint door and found one from Canada; it was gifted to the Wellborns by Mopar collector Peter Swainson and installed when the car was detailed for museum display. The 426 Hemi/A833 4-speed/Dana 60 4.10 Sure Grip driveline is all business, coupled to the Air Grabber hood, spoiler package and extra-cost moldings group. In honor of its first owner and its sterling originality, several day-two changes, such as the chrome engine dress-up kit, were left intact, but this 49,416-mile car retains its original driveline, interior and rust-free body.

One more thing: the list of options here is so long that the car is also noted as the most expensive Hemi car ever built, its $6,592.75 price tag making it more expensive than a Cadillac Deville and the highest priced factory muscle car ever built.

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The Charger is one of just two Hemi Charger R/Ts built with the factory M51 Power Sunroof option, and it is also the most highly optioned 1971 Hemi Charger R/T known to exist. Painted in Hi-Impact Hemi Orange with a stunning white vinyl top and interior, color-keyed bumpers and mirrors, and Ramcharger hood, this car is the epitome of the 1971 model release. Under the hood is the 426/425 HP V-8 Hemi engine, backed by the Slap-Stik-shifted TorqueFlite automatic and A34 Super Track Pak differential. Inside is the six-way driver’s seat, power windows and top, rim-blow steering wheel, rear window defogger and AM/FM radio with 8-track player and Dictaphone. The extensive combination of factory options is documented by its factory broadcast sheet.

Yellow Fever

The collection of sunroof cars continues with a Challenger R/T in a very scarce Citron Yella with white top, interior and hood graphics combination. The Challenger R/T was not offered in convertible form in 1971. This car features a 383 CI big-block engine, factory air conditioning, sport hood, deluxe moldings package and is one of just 31 created with the sunroof option. Another car covered in its correct Citron Yella to cross the block in Kissimmee is a Charger R/T with white top and interior, this one powered by the U-code 440 Magnum V-8 engine. Highly optioned, this car featured covered headlamps, black graphics, spoiler packages, slatted performance hood, Magnum 500 road wheels and Goodyear Polyglas tires. Inside are power windows, wood-grain accents, Rallye Dash and Slap-Stik floor shift. Both cars are stunning.
There is a third 1971 model in this bright CY3 color, which was called Curious Yellow by Plymouth. The outstanding Cuda is complete with factory billboards, spoilers, window louvers and a Shaker hood layout. It’s a gorgeous enough example that it could have been used for advertising, and, in fact, it boasts the same color combination seen on the example that toured with the Rapid Transit System exhibition. Equipped with an automatic transmission, power steering and brakes, this classic has the bucket seats with console, Rallye instrument cluster, sport mirrors and AM/FM radio.

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And Hers Too

Pam Wellborn has been partial to certain cars in the collection, and the following two are among her personal favorites. Most eye-catching is the FM3 Panther Pink and white 1970 Charger R/T. The bold beauty is powered by the 440 Six-Pack engine and is one of only two V-code Chargers built in this color. The car came from the factory with its deluxe black and charcoal houndstooth interior, TorqueFlite automatic transmission, bucket seats with console and 5-spoke road wheels with Goodyear Polyglas tires. Built late (July 10, 1970), it has been part of the Wellborn collection since 2004.Pink and purple seem to complement one another, and Pam has especially enjoyed the 1970 Challenger R/T convertible coming up in this collection offering as well. This car wears factory Plum Crazy with a white interior, side stripes and top, a powered by its rebuilt 383 Magnum V-8 engine and equipped with rare factory air conditioning with upgraded compressor. With its power top, optional luggage rack, AM/8-track equipment, dual exhaust and Rallye wheels with Goodyear Polyglas tires, it’s certain to turn heads regardless of who is driving.

 

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Plus More …

The Wellborns have three more G-series Chargers being offered as well. The first is a stellar take on modern muscle, using the beautiful 1971 body design and upgraded with a Gen-3 Hemi engine with fuel injection, a 4-speed transmission and associated suspension upgrades. This project was built around a very original 318-powered car and showcases Resto Mod exclusivity. The other two are later factory builds that were recently seen in “Mopar Action” magazine’s write-up in the “Next Big Thing,” which featured Tim’s post-’71 Chargers. The first is a 400 CI big-block Charger SE from 1973 in Top Banana paint with factory air conditioning, while the unrestored 1974 SE example is powered by a 318 CI small-block and retains its original Gunmetal Gray paint with a plethora of optional equipment.

Oh, and there is still one more Charger to cover: the most powerful one of the group. This is Tim’s personal 2015 SRT Hellcat Charger, and the only reason they are selling the Hellcat is to upgrade to a new 2020 Widebody Hellcat Charger next year. Alas, the car wears the extra-cost Ivory Tri-Coat Pearl paint, but its performance alone makes for a colorful finale to this amazing group of cars.