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Clint Brunner Collection

By: Tom Olsen

As a car guy from the 1960’s, I hear a lot these days about concern for the future of the automotive hobby. Each of the automotive magazines I subscribe to has had articles recently questioning whether or not there is enough interest in today’s young people to carry the hobby into the coming years. As the “baby boomer” generation of hot rodders dwindles, are there young people out there with interest in vintage cars from the 1960’s-70’s (and older) that will keep those cars on the road? After meeting Clint Brunner and his wife, Erin, and their sons Will, John, and Ryan, I am optimistic that there is no need for concern.

Clint’s interest in cars developed as a teenager, and it seems that his sons’ interests in cars are following in a similar path. Clint’s dad was a bit of a hot rodder and he bought a 1970 Dodge Charger 500 new in Chicago. He showed Clint some basic tune-up and maintenance procedures and this led to Clint developing a serious interest in cars by the 1990’s. Soon, Clint was hopping-up everything he could get his hands on. He even dabbled in drag racing his Honda V65 motorcycle for a while up until he had a motorcycle crash. In the interest of safety, his family did an “intervention” about this time and steered him from motorcycles back into cars.

In 1996, to ease the pain of giving up his beloved motorcycles, Clint’s dad gave him the 1970 Charger. This car really started it all for Clint; when he was born Clint was brought home from the hospital in this car! The Charger had about 90k miles on it when Clint took ownership, and it has its original 383 Magnum engine, 727 Torqueflite transmission and 3.91 gears. Over the years Clint has upgraded performance with an aluminum high-rise intake, different carb, cam, and headers; the engine produces approximately 425 hp now. A restoration was done on the car in 1996-97, and Chad Verhoek of Mr. V’s in Brookings repainted it in the original FK5 Dark Burnt Orange Metallic paint. The front bucket seats were recovered but the back seat remains original as does the black vinyl top. Disc brakes have been added all around and the car now sports American Torque Thrust-D wheels. This car is a “family favorite” with all its sentimental history!

Clint’s interest in the hobby really mushroomed from this point, but was put largely on the back burner while Clint attended Medical School and did his residency. Some years later, when Clint and Erin were working in their chosen professions (he as an M.D. and her as an attorney), Clint bought a new 2007 Mustang Shelby GT500. This black convertible is driven regularly, when weather permits, and does have its share of modifications, as do most of the Brunners' cars. Modifications include a blower upgrade to a 3.4L Whipple (21psi boost), cold air intake, bigger injectors, headers, and adjustable shocks. Clint did most of the modifications himself and Joey Keyman at Excessive Motorsports does the tuning on the car. Presently the 5.4L engine is producing 751 RWHP and 740 ft/lbs of torque. A Tremec 6-speed, 3.73 gears, Weldcraft wheels and Nitto tires put the power to the ground.

The SRT Challenger was introduced in 2008, and Clint’s is number 1316 of 6400 produced. Clad in Hemi Orange Pearl paint, it’s powered by the 6.1L Hemi coupled to a 5-speed automatic trans. This is one of the cars closest to stock in the collection, but Clint couldn’t resist just a few modifications. The Challenger has a cold air intake system, a performance computer re-tune, and stickier rear tires for some traction help. (At an estimated 460 hp, it does require a certain amount of traction!) This car is driven regularly in nice weather, and the family finds it to be a very comfortable cruiser on longer drives.

This month’s cover car is the stunning 1969 Dodge Daytona in Q5 Bright Turquoise Metallic paint. There were a total of 503 Daytonas built in 1969 (the only year) and only three were produced in this color! This car won the “Winged Class” at the 1996 Mopar Nationals in Columbus, OH, and ERTL based a model on this particular car. Clint has the judging sheets from the show along with all original documentation for the car. This is one of the most heavily documented Daytonas in existence. The engine is the stock/original 440 Magnum 4-barrel rated at 375 hp, and uses the Torqueflite trans and 3.55 Sure Grip rear end. The car has had one restoration in its 43k miles, done prior to Clint purchasing it in 2014 from a seller in Charlotte, NC. Originally the Daytona had the stock steel wheels and deluxe wheel covers, but Clint upgraded it to chrome “Magnum 500” wheels for a sharper look. Other unique features include the 6-way power seat and rear de-fogger options. I find the fact that Clint drives all of his cars to be particularly impressive. “A lot of people were shocked to see this car driven to a car show in Irene, SD,” Clint tells me. I like that.

The black 1968 Dodge Charger in the fleet was bought to be a project car for Clint and his oldest son, Will. The car was bought on Racingjunk.com out of New Hampshire, and Clint tells me he “got burned on this one a bit”. It was supposedly “ready for paint” when purchased, but was found to have a variety of body issues. That provided for many father/son project areas, however, and Clint and Will had hours of bonding time working on this one. They changed the interior to black, then restored the dash, grill, and console. The original 383 engine has had a 4-barrel carb added, along with headers, chrome valve covers, electronic ignition, tachometer and gauges. A hotter cam and high-rise aluminum intake is going on soon. Kustom Joe’s did the body and paint work on this one. Will likes the “sleeper” look so Dog Dish hub caps are used on black painted steel wheels. Keeping with the sleeper look are the electric exhaust cut outs; Will is particularly fond of those…and who wouldn’t be?

While vacationing in Florida two years ago, Clint and Erin visited some classic car dealerships one rainy day. That’s when a Flame Red 1957 Ford Thunderbird caught Erin’s eye. After returning home, they thought about the car for a few weeks, and eventually bought it as a car for Erin to enjoy. The T-Bird sports a stock 312ci V8 rated at 245hp and the Ford-O-Matic trans. Both the “port hole” hard top and white soft top are included, and the interior is the stock style vinyl. Kustom Joe’s touched-up a few paint issues after purchase and it’s a classic head turner. Erin drives this one a bit, but only on the nicest of summer days!

For Clint and the family the bonding of a father with his sons is a huge part of what the car hobby is all about. And, “having an accepting and supportive wife is certainly key to making it all happen," Clint is quick to add.

This gives you a feel for just part of the Brunners' car collection. Does a 427 Shelby Cobra, a nasty 572ci Hemi GTX, or a Ford GT supercar interest you? Those cars and more will be in a continuation of this article next month. Be sure to pick up our May issue to see “the rest of the story.”

April 2016

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