Ralph Moody Talladega

Whenever Talladega owners get together it seems someone will always ask, “Do you know what is happening with the Ralph Moody black Talladega?” We have written several articles on the car’s history and status over the years. To read them and learn more about Ralph Moody click here. I recently contacted Ralph for an update after hearing he was back on the restoration.

Ralph immediately replied with photos! The car is on the ground and driveable but far from being finished. He got the car back from bodywork last summer (2024).

He is currently working on fine tuning minor things like charging A/C, calibrating the gas gauge, and similar chores. Currently, it is in line to return for paint and installation of the fenders and hood. He has not installed any exterior parts in preparation for the paint. You might notice that some of the grey primer has a little overspray. This is because the final paint is on the door sills/sides as well as the trunk sills. The gray primer will get a final sanding before the final paint.

The chassis has been treated to an epoxy black coat. In the photos, the rotisserie brackets were still on, but they are now removed. All of the side glass has been installed, but the windshield and rear glass have been left off for final black paint and headliner installation.

One of the most exciting moments in any build is when the engine is fired up for the first time and a test drive is possible. Even without the interior, paint, and sheet metal, that first test drive is a thrill we all remember for a lifetime!

The reader may question the unique wheels: Ralph stated that these are reproductions of the original wheels that were installed when it was assembled at Holman Moody. With a little research, he found out they were period correct Cougar wheels with Mercury heads on them. He states that he still has one of the original wheels (it was the original spare). The originals developed cracks around the studs and were obviously not suitable for the restored car. They have chrome trim rings which will be one of the final tasks. These should add to the car’s unique appearance.

I hope we can soon be reporting on the car’s final reintroduction to the car community.