New Members Welcomed Into 2009 Mopar 'Top Eliminator' Ranks
Gare Perry’s 2008 Jeep® Wrangler Rubicon 4-door was picked as the fourth 2009 Mopar® “Top Eliminator” award-winner at the Moab Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, on April 12. Perry’s Wrangler was named as the “Top Eliminator Trailhead” recipient at the event.
Four Mopar “Top Eliminator” winners have been chosen thus far, with three additional winners set to join the prestigious Mopar “Top Eliminator” line-up. John Copage’s 1970 Dodge Challenger HEMI® and Canadian winner Clarence Arnoldussen’s 1971 Barracuda took home the honors at the Mopars at The Strip event in Las Vegas. Keith Wiederhold’s 1969 Plymouth Road Runner claimed the first 2009 “Top Eliminator” award at the Detroit Autorama.
Perry’s Detonator Yellow Wrangler is upfitted with various engine, suspension and axle modifications for extreme-duty rock crawling, yet can perform just as well as a daily driver. “We definitely play hard with it,” says Perry, of Gilbert, Ariz. “We gave this Wrangler just about all it could handle this year at Moab and it performed flawlessly.”
Perry painted the top inside and out to match the striking yellow body color. Custom front and rear bumpers and a light bar with three HID lights complete the custom look. A Mopar accessory navigation system and Jeep-branded floor mats personalize the interior.
The Wrangler not only stands out, it also stands up tall with a 4" Rock Crawler suspension, Mopar Dynatrac performance axles with differential covers, 20" wheels and 37" tires; all powered by a supercharged Jeep 3.8L V-6 engine.
Copage, of Edgewood, N.M., rotisserie-restored his 1970 Dodge Challenger HEMI in the original FE5 Rally Red. “It was in surprisingly good shape,” he said, “making the restoration easier than usual.” Copage purchased the car’s Mopar HEMI Crate Engine at a Mopar Direct Connection dealer in Albuquerque and upgraded it with original 426 Street HEMI valve covers, intake and exhaust manifolds and carburetors. The original parts came from a marine engine.
Lethbridge, Alberta native Arnoldussen’s 1971 Barracuda coupe has a Mopar 392 HEMI Crate Engine under the hood. The engine swap was done by Shaun Harrison, a service manager at Bridge City Chrysler in Lethbridge. The car is painted its original GY3 Curious Yellow color and has the original-style white interior with center console. “We originally planned a 528-cubic-inch HEMI engine,” said Arnoldussen, “but when we heard about the fuel-injected 392 from Mopar we grabbed the opportunity to get modern drivability.”
The Mopar “Top Eliminator” program, now in its third year, recognizes the most skilled Mopar enthusiasts and their restyled or customized Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge and Jeep® vehicles. Additional winners will be selected at the All-Chrysler Nationals in Carlisle, Pa., and the Mopar Nationals in Columbus, Ohio. Mopar Speedshop dealers will also nominate a vehicle to be selected by a panel of Mopar representatives. The winning vehicles will be on display at the 2009 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas in November.
