Mr. Norm's Grand Spaulding Dodge

Everything changes; that includes the '60's and very early 70's muscle-car era during which Norman Kraus, aka "Mr. Norm", rocketed to fame on the basis of his car dealer, Grand Spaulding Dodge, which was the first to put a 383, 440 and 426 Hemi V-8's into the boxy Dodge Dart and created a performance legend in the process.

Yes, he's still alive; yes, he's still designing cars. If you saw his 600 hp Super Challenger at the L.A. or Chicago Auto Shows or at this year's SEMA show, you know he's still got the touch.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Chicago
• Mr.
• Norm
• Norm's
• Grand
• Spaulding
• Dodge
• Dart
• GSS
• GTS
• 383
• 440
• 426
• Hemi
• dealer
• muscle
• car
• Charger
• Challenger
• Coronet
• Super
• Bee
• R/T
• RT
• drag
• race
• Gary
• Dyer
• funny
• A990
• Chrysler
• ruin
• ruins
• abandoned
• empty
• vacant
• building
• buildings
• show
• room
• showroom
• used
• lot
• carlot
• service
• repair
• garage
• ghost
• ghosts
• boarded
• boarded-up

[brandon6pk]

great video man! it almost brings a tear to my eye to see a piece of history just sitting all boarded up like that, i wish i could have been there to see that place in its hay day and im only 20 :(

[artistmac]

@brandon6pk Even in its boarded-up state, it would be a great place for a muscle car show... if somebody could get Mr. Norm on board. He's famously unsentimental.

[brandon6pk]

@artistmac what does Mr. Norm think of his old dealership just sitting there like this?

[artistmac]

@brandon6pk I'm only guessing, but judging by his not-too-favorable reaction to the video once he saw it, it's probably a painful reminder of a period in his life that he would just as soon forget and move on. And he has moved on... he was at the Corvette and Muscle Car Nationals last weekend in Rosemont, and he licenses his name to car projects like Mr. Norm's Super Truck (highly modified Dodge Ram 1500 pickup). If he keeps up with the comments, he knows he has plenty of fans here.

[artistmac]

@brandon6pk He's also licensed his name to a car-building garage and classic car storage facility in Rockford, IL, run by a wealthy Mopar aficionado and businessman named Bill Sefton (owner of SIX Mr. Norm's GSS's, among other Mopars).

[artistmac]

@brandon6pk Even in its boarded-up state, it would be a great place for a muscle car show... if somebody could get Mr. Norm on board. He's famously unsentimental.

[varigdc10]

@jcowboy123 Yes, I remember the name, they were I think way up north on Western or Ashland Avenues, their ads had the K reversed, I think, getting old and forgetting things, love those days when going to Lane Tech HS, wish I can take a pill, go to sleep, and wake up tomorrow at North Avenue beach in 1964, best regards.

[jcowboy123]

Anybody remember Nicky Chevrolet and the yanko Camaros

[jcowboy123]

Awesome Dude just Awesome !I grew up not far from there.Bought my 69 Road Runner from Mr Norm. The memory's run like a flood. Thank you

[scotfree61]

What a great piece. Thanks for the memories. I use to live in Naperville,Il and it was fun to go into the city and visit this place with all the great cars.