When Tom McEwen decided to make the big switch from front to rear-motor diggers, he opted to go with the reigning rear-motor expert: Don Garlits. The 215-inch-wheelbase chrome moly Swamp Rat 1-R chassis built by Garlits and Connie Swingle was delivered to Lil' John Buttera's shop where it was slightly modified, assembled, and covered by a magnesium body built by Buttera employee Lou Techenoff. Kirby paint and Youngblood lettering were added, as well the decals that show McEwen's heavy sponsorship with such firms as Coke, Wynn's, Mattel and Plymouth. The late-model Plymouth Hemi was built by the Ramchargers using Mondello heads, Venolia pistons, Brooks rods, Crower cam, D&D pushrods, Cragar headers, manifold and blower pulleys, Pennzoil, Cirello magneto, Fram filters, Champion plugs and a Velasco.400-inch stroker crank giving a 473-cubic-inch…
