Our Ex Tony Paul ATCC R/T E38 Charger race car.
G'day all. As promised, here is my story on our E38 R/T Charger. I want to test the memories of the people that followed/supported the Australian Touring Car Championship back in the early 70's as I am trying to source any information/pics/footage of the car that people may have. Also any information from people who might know the whereabouts of original CAMS logbooks.
Please bare with me as it is quite a long story.
Basically the Charger in question belongs to my Grandparents (well Nan actually now that Pop has passed away). The car is a 9/1971 model E38 Big Tank and is build number #104. It has all the "Track Pack options and is the rarer model with no front quarter windows and is Vitamin C (Orange) in colour. Pop purchased the car in June 1973 from a bloke named Barrie Gibson who owned a car yard/boat yard in Mooloolaba called "Mooloolaba Boatel". When pop purchased the Charger he was told that it was an original ex ATCC car and was raced by a privateer named Tony Paul. The car had been passed on to the car yard by Tony so Barrie could sell it on Tonys behalf as they were good friends. The car was still fitted with the original roll cage, racing harnesses, bonnet pins and passengers side exit exhaust in front of the rear wheels when purchased. Pop removed the roll cage, harnesses and side pipes due to the fact that he had only purchased the car as family car to cart their 8 kids around and to tow his 26ft (yes 26ft) caravan. I have been researching this car for the past 6-7 years and have been in contact with a lot of big names from back in the day. From the 10 Chargers that entered Bathurst in 1971, I managed to track down at least one of the two drivers from seven of the teams that entered. Many of whom could remember Tony Paul. I have had numerous conversations with Leo Geoghegan who was good mates with Tony and he also said that he had helped Tony set the Charger up for racing. He also said that both Tony and the Charger were very competitive. During my research I managed to track down Max Stahl who used to own the old Racing Car News (RCN) magazine. I also purchased some copies of RCN from him from the early 70's to hopefully find some stories on Tony and the Charger.
After reading each magazine I found reports where Tony was mentions numerous times. On 7/11/71 he entered in the Rothmans 250 at Surfers Paradise where RCN reported Moffat was leading Bond and Brock with the Chargers of Chivas, Geoghegan and Tony Paul in hot pursuit. 6/2/72 in the South Pacific series opener, Geoghegan and his Charger were in seventh place, clear of the similar Charger of Tony Paul. RCN reported that Tony Paul in the Charger pitted for good in a cloud of smoke. 13/2/72 at Warwick Farm the first lap was a near disaster with Bond and the leaders clear when Bob Beasleys Charger slipped off the edge at Homestead. In trying to get back onto the track Beasley rammed Don Hollands Torana, while Tony Paul and Graham Moore clashed whilst trying to avoid Beasley. 25/5/72 at Surfers Paradise the Tony Paul Charger was reported having made an expensive retirement earlier in the day. During my researches I have managed to obtain copies of original race programmes from the era stating Tony having entered the Charger under two different race numbers in two different classes, being #35C and #46D.
Clearly I have extensive evidence of the Charger having been raced by Tony Paul although I will continue my research. The Charger is stored safely in Nan's garage and still presents in Good condition. It has an undocumented original 83000 miles and was restored around 20 years ago so the paint us showing some signs if age with crows feet throughout all the black outs. The engine could now do with a rebuild from sitting idle for too long and having only covered 1000 miles in 20 years. Pop also set the car up to run on avgas so this will need to be changed back to unleaded also. During his ownership he also ditched the three speed in favour of a four speed as this was more suited to towing the caravan.
At the moment after 41 years of ownership Nan is thinking of selling although she still believes the car should fetch in excess of the $100,000 that the car may have achieved 6-7 years ago during the muscle car boom. I currently own a Silver Mink/ Goya Red trim HK Monaro running a very warm 327 chev. I would like to sell the HK to fund the Charger but due to the Monaro not fetching the sort of figures nan would like I will have to hold off. I think it would be a crying shame to let such a car leave the hands of our family with such a long history. If I managed to purchase the car I would like to rebuild the engine and give the paint a fresh re spray. I have heard that due to the fact that the car is what it is that in NSW I could refit the car with the roll cage, harnesses and side pipes whilst still having it on full rego for street use while still being completely legal. Due to the fact Tony Paul was a privateer he didn't really have any sponsors so to have a sticker kit made up to match the Chargers race guise will be fairly straight forward. I do also have a few photos of the car racing so if I can figure out how to post them on here I will.
That pretty much sums it up and I hope you guys enjoy the read. If anybody has any information whatsoever whether it be minor or major, it would be greatly appreciated if you could contact me. It would be great to obtain more race stories of the car and also pictures but I have never seen any video footage of it racing which I would be ecstatic if I could find some. If it's easier to contact me via phone my number is 0408375508. Email munro_mad@hotmail.com.
Kind Regards
Brad.
