DJ Johnson Unveils ‘Steel City Charger’ Nostalgia Flopper

Andrew Wolf
October 13, 2011

Images courtesy: Dave Ferrin

The Nostalgia Funny Car movement has been on a meteoric rise over the last half a decade, and every time the racing community begins to think the growth has reached a plateau, another slew of these vintage machines is released into the wild. These cars are exciting to see, smell, and hear make a pass; but adding to that is the classic styling of the bodies and retro paint schemes and the vintage themes that the creators of these incredible race cars have thought up.

One of the newest additions to the Nostalgia Funny Car fraternity and one that we’re sure to see more of next season is the recently-unveiled Steel City Charger 1972 Dodge Charger flopper, which is owned and driven by DJ Johnson.

Johnson, a native of Pittsburgh, wished to utilize the Steel City’s iconic colors featured by the city’s longtime sports teams, with black, gold/yellow, and white for the paint scheme. The result is an impressive paint scheme that’s been influenced by the Pabst Blue Ribbon Charger from the 1970’s that was owned by Charlie Proite and driven by Russell Long, as evidenced in the striping down the side and over the hood and roof section.

The Charger body was constructed by Army Armstrong’s Funny Factory ans has been stretched some 5-inches. Johnson recently made his first shakedown runs in the new car at the Milan Dragway in Michigan, with plans for a debut in 2012.