In the mid-1960s, Chrysler needed to keep its edge. Unable to squeeze the fat Hemi into the early A-body cars, the B-body was the only choice. So with a handful of standard Super Stock race cars in hand, Chrysler engineers set out to raise the bar even further by building not only a much lighter car, but also one that would provide vastly improved traction with the front and rear wheel positions moved ahead several inches. These single-purpose cars became known as altered wheelbase A/Factory Experimentals (A/FX) and were a hit for their power and performance, while also gaining notoriety for their unique appearance. Almost immediately, these funny-looking, altered-wheelbase cars became the first "Funny Cars," and, thus, the term began.

The AWB cars evolved quickly to fuel injection, nitro, and blowers, all within a short two-year period. By 1968, tube chassis cars with flopper bodies retired the AWB cars to history, but those who witnessed these cars in action will never forget them.

This 1965 Plymouth Belvedere is a one-of-a-kind recreation of the world’s first funny car, the “Ramchargers” A/FX. Built by Richard Lefebvre AKA "Mr. Rich The Performance King," it is part of a growing movement known as Match Bash. Match Bashers are essentially Hemi Super Stock clone cars that have been sent to the funny farm for altered-wheelbase surgery. They're streetable, but pack serious Hemi power and are loaded with period-correct details. They're not clones, copies, counterfeits, or moldy nostalgia acts. They're simply respectful tributes to early factory and independent funny car match race heroes from every camp: Ronnie Sox, Doc Burgess, Melvin Yow, Dick Landy, Lee Smith, Cecil Yother, Dick Brannan, Don Nicholson, Russell James Liberman, Pete Seaton, and countless others who introduced drag race spectators to the wild spectacle of "ordinary" family cars packing insane power in an escalating arms race that culminated in the modern, four-second, Top Fuel funny car (many of which are still Hemi-powered, by the way).

This Belvedere was built from original A/FX plans and dimensions, and every detail is period correct. Instead of ill-fitting fiberglass panels, however, this car is 100% steel, and even in black, all those body mods are invisible and flawlessly executed. Front and rear fenders were modified, with the wheel openings moved forward ten inches in front, and fifteen inches in back, but you would never know that it was cut apart and spliced back together like a giant jigsaw puzzle by looking at it today. After all, that's how the factory boys at the top-secret AmbleWagon A/FX conversion shop did the real ones back in 1965 before their revolutionary Beeline Dragway debut party. An original Coronet grille was modified to accept a vintage 3-gallon Moon tank, as external tanks like this appeared as the factory A/FX teams began playing with nitro mixtures. It’s a critical part of the Match Bash look.

Of course, you can’t miss those eight velocity stacks sticking out of the hood, doing their very best impersonation of a vintage Hilborn injection system. Underneath, you’ll find a monstrous 472 cubic-inch 1965 Hemi block and heads running 10.5:1 compression, a solid roller camshaft, and modern EFI that only looks antique. Match Bash happily embraces modern electronic fuel injection, as long as it is subtle and hides in plain sight. In fact, the only other "correct" choices are Holleys on a factory-style cross-ram (to replicate early stage, NHRA-obedient, legal '65 FX cars) or a 6-71 supercharger (used later on the all-out '66-'67 match-racing circuit). On the dyno, this elephant cranked out 671 horsepower, yet thanks to that modern electronic fuel injection system, it remains docile and totally streetable. Drive it to the track, click off some 10-second runs, drive it home. Is there anything better?

The engine is delivered to the relocated rear axle via a built HD 727 TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic with column shift and a reverse manual valve body. A custom-built driveshaft with heavy-duty yokes and U-joints powers the narrowed Dana 60 rear packing 4.56 gears and built by Dutchman Motorsports. It all hangs on a set of relocated leaf springs augmented by a set of adjustable air shocks so you can fine-tune the suspension to track conditions. The tires are 29x11.50-15 Hoosier Quick Time Pros hugging a set of 10-inch steel wheels.

Up front, there are two period-correct ways to get the 10-inch forward push dialed into the suspension: torsion bars or a straight axle. Extra-long torsion bars and relocated K-members and control arms were part of the factory '65 A/FX hardtop recipe, though in 1964, Dodge released a factory bulletin detailing the installation of narrowed Dodge A100 van axles for NHRA acceptance in Factory Experimental. The conversion of Dick Landy's '64 Hemi sedan to a straight axle was documented in several high-profile magazines of the day, and the restored car still exists, beam axle and all, in the collection of noted Mopar collector Pete Haldiman. This particular Belvedere runs a straight axle with period-looking aluminum skinnies sporting 7.75-15 4-ply BFGoodrich Silvertown bias-ply tires for a real ‘60s look.

Inside, there’s a complete A990 Super Stock interior by Gary Ball that closely replicates what you would have received if you had ordered one of these cars back in ’65. It’s bare-bones, no doubt about it, but the detailing is authentic and execution is first rate. The gauge cluster and original steering wheel have been fully restored, there are three auxiliary gauges hanging under the dash for keeping an eye on that big Hemi under the hood, and a period-correct Mooneyes tach sits on top of the dash. In the glove box, you’ll find the controls for the modern SDS EFI system, including an air/fuel monitor. But when you’re sitting behind the wheel, it’s awfully easy to imagine you’re back in 1965 again.

Match Bash is all about that vintage vibe, and this car has it in spades. Like the original A/FX cars, their primary mission is to go fast and everything else is secondary. That’s why the modern EFI is here—it makes the car work better without detracting from its mission. Wherever possible, period parts and techniques were used to duplicate the feel of the ‘60s when cars like this were tearing up tracks all over the country. Today, you can drive this car anywhere with confidence, rip off low-10-second passes, and draw a crowd anywhere you go with the wild yet accurate “funny car” look. Someone spent more than $100,000 building this car, and it might be one of the nicest examples of Match Bash available anywhere in the world. Put it in your garage today and feel the history come alive.