Horsepower at the Horse Park

Butch Arnold plans to show his 2016 Dodge Charger Hellcat at the 39th annual Sunshine State Mopar Car Show and Swap meet on Feb. 27 and 28 in Ocala. [Submitted photo]

Horsepower will replace horse hooves at the Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park during the 39th annual Sunshine State Mopar Car Show and Swap meet on Feb. 27 and 28.

Butch Arnold is president of the Mopars of Ocala club, which includes current, vintage, classic, historic and modern brands. He also is chairman of the Florida Mopar Association, an organization set to promote and unify Mopar clubs within and outside of the state of Florida. He said the show will include clubs from Ocala and Brevard and Citrus counties, as well as Tennessee Valley Mopars and Big Easy Mopars.  

“We expect about 200 all Mopar vehicles, Dodge, Plymouth, Chrysler and Jeep,” Arnold said, adding that along with modern Mopars, lovers of 1960s and 1970s muscle cars will see iconic models like Road Runners, GTX’s, and Barracudas.

He said he expects at least one Superbird will be at the show.

The article “1970 Plymouth Superbird – The Ultimate Winged Warrior” at heacockclassic.com states that the Superbird was based on the Road Runner muscle car and designed for use in NASCAR competition, with about 2,000 of the models being manufactured.

The Aug. 21, 2021, article “What’s a Mopar? Here’s the History of One Hugely Misunderstood Brand” at motortrend.com discusses how the Mopar brand came about. The name was a combining of “motor and parts” used by Chrysler Corp. in 1937 for their line of parts and supplies, which began with antifreeze.

“When talking with an enthusiast, a Mopar car is one built by one of the original Chrysler Corp. brands, which in order of ascendancy are Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, Ram, Chrysler and Imperial. Out of those original legacy brands, only Dodge, Ram and Chrysler remain,” the article states. The Jeep line was part of a 1987 acquisition.  

“Mopar muscle cars of the Plymouth persuasion include the Barracuda (A-Body), Duster (V-8 only), Road Runner, GTX, Superbird, Belvedere, Fury (B-Body only), and ‘Cuda (E-Body) models. Dodge muscle car models are the Dart (V-8 only), Demon (V-8 only), Polara, Coronet, Super Bee, Charger, Daytona and Challenger,” the article notes.

Arnold said he plans to show some updated Mopar muscle at the event — his 2016 Dodge Charger Hellcat, which has a 6.2-liter engine that is rated at around 700 horsepower.  

Registration on both days will be from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. The Show & Shine display, dinner, wine/beer and music event from 5 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 27 is for pre-registered guests only.

Judging for more than 80 awards will begin at 11 a.m. on Feb. 28 and presentations will be made at 3 p.m. Spectators can attend on Feb. 28 for $10 per carload.

Early vehicle registration at floridamoparassociation.com is $35 for the weekend; $40 the days of the event.

In addition to hundreds of cars, trophy awards, a 50/50 drawing and parts swap meet, the show will feature a question-and-answer session with Herb “Mr. 4 Speed” McCandless, a hall of fame drag racer, at 11 a.m. on Feb. 28.

McCandless is associated with Mopar cars and the Sox and Martin race team. He is a 1988 inductee to the NHRA Division 2 Hall of Fame, known for his expertise with shifting a four-speed manual transmission, according to mccandlesscollection.com

The Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park is located at 11008 S. County Road 475A, Ocala. Show proceeds will benefit the Helping Hands charity organization, according to an event flyer.

To learn more, go to moparsofocala.com and find the club on Facebook or visit floridamoparassociation.com/event/39th-annual-car-show-in-ocala