Richard Petty Autographed One Of A Kind Car To Be Auctioned For Charity

Imagine touring around town in a one of a kind “Petty Blue” over black 70s style Superbird muscle car powered by a 750 horsepower engine and autographed by Richard Petty. On January 17th, at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event in Scottsdale, Arizona some “lucky dog” will bid their way to that reality, while benefiting the Darrell Gwynn Foundation. Built by YearOne of Brazelton, Ga, the car is gorgeous and a “near exact replica” of the Superbird Petty drove into the NASCAR racing history books.

Darrell Gwynn, former NHRA star, was paralyzed in a 1990 racing accident and has since founded the Darrell Gwynn Foundation, a Florida based nonprofit organization which benefits people with spinal cord injuries and works to raise awareness on how to prevent such injuries with special emphasis on childhood injuries. Their goal is to assist in specific research that will ultimately find the cure for spinal cord injuries and other debilitating illnesses. This group, in recent years, has donated more than 60 power wheelchairs worth more than $300,000. and assists in providing other special services.

But just how did this amazing car and the whole idea of it’s conception and the auction to benefit DGF come to be?

“Bill Goldberg who is a former wrestler and big supporter of mine,” explained Gwynn, “and a guy who attends Barrett-Jackson every year, told me a couple of years ago that we were going to do something special. He said he had something in mind but he didn’t keep me in tune to what was going on and then about 6 months ago I got little hints here and there of what he was doing. Basically, he took this 1970 Superbird that he had and sent it to YearOne and they agreed to build this thing up in kind of a retro NASCAR type look, painted baby blue, the Richard Petty traditional colors with the big wing on the back. It’s one of those things that when you look at it, you know. It might as well have the #43 and STP on it. Ray Evernham donated the engine for it.”

“I mean, this thing looks just like a NASCAR(car), it sounds just like a NASCAR (car) and it’s street legal,” continued Gwynn. “It’s beautifully done. YearOne did a great job with this thing. Evernham’s motor is right out of one of their cars. They just put a little bit lower compression in it. And Richard Petty signed the rear wing of it We’re discussing right now with Richard about coming out to Scottsdale with us to be a part of this. It’s certainly a one of a kind piece, I can tell you that. It will be Saturday night prime time, January 17th live on Speed. Bids will be taken over the phone and internet as well. Interested bidders can go to barrett-jackson.com to register. This is a Barrett-Jackson car. When you get one of a kind pieces, the passion, the work and the detail that somebody puts in a car there is only one place for it and that’s Barrett-Jackson. This is a premium car and it’s for charity which makes the bidding a little easier. And before we auction the car we are going to give a wheelchair away.”

Kevin King, president of YearOne is also the builder of this amazing car. “Bill Goldberg and I are friends,” began Mr. King. “I also do a lot of TV with Muscle Car TV up at RTM Studios in Nashville. Goldberg had asked me to build the car and help him with the charity, so, we basically took the car from Bill and did it from start to finish there at YearOne. It is pretty.”

“All of us at YearOne are extremely proud to be associated with this project and to support Darrell Gwynn’s wheelchair program. We couldn’t be happier that we took the project on and we hope to go out to Scottsdale and hit a big number.”

As you can see this car is amazing. With skill and ingenuity, Kevin King and YearOne have given Barrett-Jackson what they are so well known for….perfection, excitement and beauty. Couple all of that with an extraordinary man like Darrell Gwynn, his foundation and add “King” Richard Petty’s autograph to the mix and the results are something that fuels fantasy and haunts dreams. Then realize that this car will go a long way to fund the research that can find the cure for spinal cord injuries. It’s going to be exciting, as it always is, so. be sure to watch the show live on Speed.

Please visit the DGF website to learn more about this extraordinary man and his extraordinary foundation at: darrellgwynnfoundation.org. And be sure to learn more about Year One visit their website at www.yearone.com.