1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda 'Sox & Martin' Pro Stock
This car was raced by the legendary Sox & Martin team during the 1971 National Hot Rod Association Pro Stock season. Of the final eight rounds of NHRA Pro Stock that season, the car was entered into six of them and won each meeting. Victories at Pomona, Gainesville, Dallas, Montreal, Indianapolis and Ontario signalled true dominance, one which NHRA determined would never occur again for the Hemi engine and it drastically rewrote the rules for 1972. In fact, legendary driver Ronnie Sox would never win another NHRA national event following that season, nor would any 426 Hemi win another Pro Stock World Championship. Before the rules revisions, there was no end in sight to Sox’s capabilities in this car; as Plymouth wryly noted in 1965 advertising when NASCAR took a similar tact against the engine – 'If you can’t beat them, outlaw them!'
During his time as a driver Sox won five NHRA championships and more than 59 events. Together with racing partner Buddy Martin, Sox was the most successful Pro Stock driver (nine victories in 23 events) in the 1970-72 'four-speed era'.
Mecum Auctions will be offering this example at their Indianapolis auction between the 17th-21st May. For more information on this and other vehicles at the sale, click on the link below. Photos: Maggie Pinke, Courtesy of Mecum Auctions.