http://www.allpar.com/racing/pix/hig...ty/burnout.jpg
A group of off-duty Chrysler Corporation engineers racing in their spare time decided to band together and form an organization, called the Ramchargers, to really see what they could do.
Following the ethic of that era’s Chrysler Corporation, they wanted to move from insufficiently proven lore and hunches to a more scientific, collaborative approach.
Their first car was a 1949 Plymouth business coupe, probably chosen for its weight and price; their first budget was low even by standards of the day.
The drag car was powered by what might have been the best engine of the time, a 354 Hemi, complete with 392 Hemi heads for better breathing (in 1960, they put a 392 block underneath the 392 heads; the car was cleaned up and painted white for its sponsor, Mason’s Plymouth-Valiant of Ferndale). In these pre-Torqueflite days, they used a manual transmission - a three speed.
The engine was modified by a group, including Tom Hoover; the intake and exhaust were fabricated by Pete McNichols. To cut weight, they shortened the Plymouth's frame, temporarily dropped the rear fenders, cut four inches off the top, and slid the body forward on the chassis, resulting in half the engine appearing in the cabin.
They ended up putting coil springs from a Buick up front, and used a multilink suspension in back, designed by Dick Burke from the steering and suspension group. Rear wheels were moved inwards, and the engine was tilted, to put as much weight onto the rear axle; that, coupled with the multilink suspension, provided straight launches. The rear fenders weren't modified and added until 1960, from lack of time; likewise, the body wasn't repainted until 1960, when it was painted white.
high and mighty
In two years, the High & Mighty set NHRA records for top quarter mile speed (12.8 seconds at 109.75 mph) and elapsed time (12.62 seconds @ 115 mph). The top speed quarter mile time ever recorded for the car was 11.8 seconds, the top quarter-mile speed 117 mph.