If you see another ’61 Plymouth Belvedere, it won’t look like this!

Congratulations to Tony Netzel from Duluth, Minnesota, on being chosen for the Power and Performance News Editor’s Choice Award at the Du Quoin Street Machine Nationals.

Tony Netzel bought this car from a junkyard in North Dakota in 1994 – unintentionally! He says they were looking for a big station wagon, but for one reason or another didn’t get it. He didn’t want to listen to the empty tow dolly rattling around all the way back to Minnesota, so he went through the lot and settled on this car for $300.

In ‘95, he back-halved the car and put an Art Morrison setup under it and tubbed it. He put a 440 with a blower in it and drove it around back then. Netzel says it got a little bit of recognition, so he decided to ramp it up. After starting the project, life got in the way and unrealistic goals, budgets, and time stretched the projected build time, but he slowly plugged away at it until you see what it has become.

The Belvedere has a 496 c.i. engine with a small solid cam. But it is the old-school Mopar long runner cross-ram setup with Holley carburetors mated with two 64mm turbos that really make the engine stand out. Netzel says it is really tame making 700 horses. The power transfers to the Ford 9” rear through a 700 Torque-Flite. He installed an Art Morrison front frame and airbags. The interior matches the cream color on the roof and he had the door panels made to mimic the original ’61 door panels.

Netzel says he was looking to do something that hadn’t been done to death . . . something different. Goal accomplished! Even if it wasn’t a rare car, the Snakeskin green paint helps in that regard. The stance and big meats out back don’t hurt either.

Tony has already racked up a couple thousand miles on the car since it’s completion in March, but Du Quoin was the first big show he has attended and he was rewarded for his efforts. In addition to the Editor’s Choice award, he received two additional awards.

Tony Netzel is a humble guy, but he deserves all the accolades the car gets and for keeping ProStreet alive and well by getting the car out on the road. For that we thank him and think he and his Belvedere perfectly represent what Power and Performance News is all about.

Tony received a one of a kind trophy designed by FastLane Metalworx to recognize him for the hard work he put in on a one of a kind ’61 Belvedere.