Ray Evernham Unveils Custom Muscle Car, Featuring Sherwin-Williams® Automotive Finishes, at SEMA 2012

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- NASCAR legend and ESPN racing analyst Ray Evernham wears many hats today in the automotive and racing industries. The three-time, NASCAR championship-winning crew chief is known as an avid classic and race car collector, but Evernham has yet to put his collecting passion, racing expertise, and eye for innovation to use as a car designer, until now.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121031/CL00295)

Today from the Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes booth at SEMA Show 2012 in Las Vegas, Evernham unveiled a street-legal 1964 Plymouth Belvedere that combines old school American style with modern NASCAR racing technology.  Aptly named 'ForPly,' the custom car marks Ray Evernham's debut as a car designer and builder.

"We set out to design the ultimate street machine that takes a vintage American muscle car with great motorsports heritage and brings it into the modern age," said Evernham.  "There is not another one like it in the world.  We hope it draws the attention of racing and non-racing enthusiasts, as well as the collector who is looking for that one-of-a-kind vehicle."

Following SEMA, Evernham will present the ForPly for auction as a featured vehicle at Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale auction in January 2013.  Net proceeds from the sale will go to Evernham Family Racing for a Reason, a foundation that is funding IGNITE, a new program and facility in Davidson, N.C. operated by the Autism Society of North Carolina.  IGNITE enables adults with High-Functioning Autism or Asperger Syndrome to enjoy a better quality of life as valued members of the community in which they live and work. 

"Enthusiasts are really going to enjoy Evernham's entry into this side of the automotive business," said Gary Bennett, VP of Consignment at Barrett-Jackson. "The ForPly is an innovative and beautiful-looking street racer built with great craftsmanship by the very man who revolutionized the crew chief role by leading it – and now also the Plymouth Belvedere – into the modern age of racing.  It should attract lots of interested buyers at Scottsdale."

Housed in the restored body of a near-half-century-old 1964 Plymouth Belvedere – the year, make and model that won the 1964 Daytona 500 and NASCAR Grand National Championship – the ForPly features a Dodge racing powertrain, plus the driveline of a modern day race car that Evernham's former team Evernham Motorsports built and raced in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

The 2-door, hardtop coupe, blazoned with a distinctive Radiant Red automotive matte finish with Graphite racing stripes, features the popular, slant-back roofline and a Graphite Grey-colored custom interior with carbon fiber inlay and bucket race seats. 

The same technology as used on the ForPly is also now available from Sherwin-Williams in kit format.  Planet Color® Barrett-Jackson® Restoration System Kits contain all of the tools required to mix and prepare primer, color, or clear coat, simplifying the entire paint purchasing process. The Planet Color® Barrett-Jackson® Restoration System allows automotive enthusiasts to achieve a professional quality paint finish for under $500.

Now available through The Pep Boys – the nation's leading automotive aftermarket service and retail chain – which has partnered with Barrett-Jackson as the exclusive distributor of Barrett-Jackson® car care products within its new Automobile Restoration System.

"Sherwin-Williams is proud to partner with Ray Evernham on his first design venture, and we're also excited Ray specified the car's color scheme using Sherwin-Williams® Automotive Finishes," said Bobby Moody, Director of Motorsports for Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes. "Our new Restoration System inspired by the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction includes primer, color, and optional clear coat kits. These kits provide the tools and products to make each step in the restoration process easy to follow."

Finally, under the ForPly's hood, is a former Evernham Motorsports Dodge R5-P7 race engine (previously run by NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kasey Kahne), which has been re-formulated as a fuel-injected, 358-cubic-inch, 8-cylinder powerhouse that outputs 750+ horsepower.  Racing components integrated from the Evernham Motorsports #10 Dodge Charger driven by Scott Riggs at the 2007 Daytona 500 include the four-speed manual transmission, front and rear clips and fully-adjustable suspension. Other special features include NASCAR Sprint Cup shocks, custom 18-inch NASCAR-style wheels, NASCAR-style front splitter and rear spoiler, and an all-digital, backlit dual-display dashboard.

For more information about Ray Evernham, visit www.rayevernham.com.; about Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes, visit www.sherwin-automotive.com; about Barrett-Jackson Auction Company, visit www.barrett-jackson.com.

About Sherwin-Williams

The Sherwin-Williams Company, founded in 1866, is one of the world's leading companies in the manufacture, distribution and sale of coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial and retail customers.  Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes, a division of The Sherwin-Williams Company, manufactures and distributes a complete line of advanced technology paint and coating systems for automotive and fleet refinishing industries.

SOURCE Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes