Although it looks great, it offers more than aesthetics.
Greg Friedrich bought a 1960 Plymouth Fury from a scrap yard a few years back. The original goal was to make a four-door wagon out of the rusty vehicle. Friedrich decided to change his plans and turn the Plymouth into a land speed racing car.
The ultimate goal is to drive from Cedar in Minnesota to the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, then race back home. Friedrich accomplished this feat with Project 606, traveling 160 miles per hour (257 km per hour) at the top.
Although the Project 606 did not reach its original goal of breaking 200 mph (322 km/h), it is a fine-built land speed car that deserves a second glance.
The then four-door wagon was converted to a two-door. For a more elegant appearance, the roof has been removed. The grille has been redesigned, custom Brembo brake discs have been installed, and custom fenders were added. The paint finish on the Project is original, and makes it look like a work of art.
The 528 EFI HEMI powerplant is under the hood. It comes with AEM Electronics EFI. This engine was built by Wheeler Racing Engines. Although output figures are not known, it is safe to say this car isn’t slow considering its experience in land speed racing.
The Project 606 was designed to be heavy so it is all-metal. Friedrich explained that this was to increase the machine’s traction, which was necessary for the speed run.
Friedrich is not the first to be involved in a land speed racer. Friedrich had previously owned a 1934 Henry Ford steel-body coupe equipped with a 572 EFI EEMI HEMI. He is also an experienced car-builder and chassis-builder , which he learned from Don Ness who was a well-known builder of drag-racers in Minnesota.