-- The 2008 "Top Eliminator" vehicles will be chosen at events during the
year and displayed in Mopar Alley at the 2008 SEMA Show from Nov. 4 - 7 in
Las Vegas
-- Mopar(R) launched the national recognition program in 2007 to showcase
some of the most meticulously modified and customized Chrysler, Plymouth
and Dodge vehicles in the U.S.
CENTER LINE, Mich., March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Mopar(R) announced the
return of its popular "Top Eliminator" awards recognition program that
showcases the most skilled Mopar enthusiasts and their restyled or
customized Chrysler, Plymouth and Dodge vehicles. Mopar, Chrysler LLC's
original equipment parts manufacturer and supplier, launched the national
program in 2007.
Mopar will look for meticulously customized and modified vehicles at
popular enthusiast and car collector events in 2008 including:
-- Detroit Autorama, March 7 -- 9
-- Mopars at the Strip in Las Vegas, March 28 -- 30
-- Carlisle All-Chrysler Nationals in Carlisle, Pa., July 11 -- 13
-- Mopar Nationals in Columbus, Aug. 8 -- 10
Mopar will select three vehicles on display at these events and
showcase them in Mopar Alley at the 2008 Specialty Equipment Market
Association (SEMA) Show from Nov. 4 -- 7 in Las Vegas.
"The exterior, interior customization and mechanical upgrade work done
by the 2007 Mopar 'Top Eliminator' Award winners was outstanding," said Rob
Richard, Director -- Mopar Parts, Sales and Service Marketing, Chrysler
LLC. "For our 2008 'Top Eliminator' program, we're looking for that same
spirit, craftsmanship and attention to detail in this year's
enthusiast-crafted Mopars."
As part of its first "Top Eliminator" awards, Mopar showcased
enthusiast- built vehicles at the 2007 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The modified
and customized vehicles displayed included: a rare 1964 Dodge Ramcharger, a
rare 1967 Dodge Coronet R/T, a 1969 Dodge Dart Swinger 340, a 1973 Plymouth
Barracuda, a 1970 Plymouth HEMI(R)Cudzter, a rare 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda
440-6BBL and a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T.
According to SEMA, retail sales of specialty automotive products
reached $36.7 billion in 2006. Retail sales of the industry's niche
categories reached:
-- $2.1 billion for Street Performance -- products to change the
vehicle's appearance, performance and handling
-- $1 billion for Street Rod and Custom -- products to construct,
modify, maintain and operate street rods and custom vehicles
-- $1.4 billion for Restoration -- products to restore a vehicle to its
factory/showroom operational condition
-- $1 billion for Racing -- products for "off-street" professional and
amateur racing and motorsports competition vehicles
70 Years of Mopar
When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts
manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing
enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation
(CMPC) in 1929.
Originally used in the 1920s, Mopar (a simple contraction of the words
MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937.
It was also widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its
mark in the 1960s -- the muscle car era. The Chrysler Corporation built
race- ready Dodge and Plymouth "package cars" equipped with special
high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of "Special Parts" for super
stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar
Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing
use.
Today, Chrysler LLC's Global Service & Parts division is responsible
for the manufacturing and distribution of nearly 250,000 authentic Mopar
replacement parts, components, restoration parts, accessories and
performance parts for Chrysler, Jeep(R) and Dodge vehicles sold around the
world. To assure quality, reliability and durability, all Mopar parts and
accessories are designed in strict adherence to Chrysler engineering
standards.
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