Mr. Norm - Mopar Legend Raw Interview and Bonus Short Documentary

Newly found interview with the High-Performance King Of Mopars "Mr. Norm" Kraus. Mr. Norm's Grand-Spaulding Dodge in Chicago was the home of Dodge performance during the muscle car era. Grand-Spaulding Dodge was the biggest performance Dodge dealership and Dodge's largest dealer.
Recorded in 1997.

[@mc-mk9oj]

One thing that stands out in this video is Norm wasnt really a car guy he was a very astute businessman that decided to do cars for business and knew he had to understand them to be successful at it. His ideas of dyno tuning the cars in front of customers and projecting their photos on the wall, his car club etc were the ultimate example of "sell an experience dont just sell a product "

[@dodgeguyz]

I never knew he did an interview. It’s good to hear his story from him! He had a huge impact on Mopar performance and was the reason factory’s started offering specialty cars.

[@TheRonpog]

Back in the 60s when I was a kid in Evansville, I always wanted to go to Mr. Norm’s. We used to listen to their ads on the radio. I really enjoyed the interview.

[@bigiron8831]

Having spent quite a bit of time in the Chicago area in the 60s and 70s i remember hearing Mr.Norm's Grand Spaulding Dodge on a daily basis and I still race at Byron ( rockford)Drag Strip......👍

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

Wow. Its a shame that you can't do anything like this today. The car and racing community isn't for the poor anymore. A guy like me with a decent job could buy at least one new car. And go racing at least once a month. Today, no way. You've gotta be rich to do anything now

[@MacBolden]

That was a very enjoyable interview. I've heard of and somewhat idolized "Mr. Norm" for about as long as I've been a car junkie. Great job by the interviewer, and the guest delivered some great insight regarding his roots and business world. Thank you!

[@brody.4098]

I think the interviewer might be Kevin Oeste, but I'm not sure.

[@MacBolden]

@@brody.4098 I've seen Kevin in other interviews and didn't put it together. Thank you for answering. Regardless, he (IMO) directed the interview in a way to extract answers to questions that I've always thought about asking if I'd had the opportunity. Again, great job!

[@jamesmisener3006]

Find your niche and run with it. It took Norm 8 years or so to find his. He was a distant legend in magazines in my day. Cheers 🇨🇦

[@williamcole464]

I was homered to know Norm, and his brother Lenny. I bought my first car from them in 1968, it was a 65 Coronet 440, 426 Street Ram. That begain a long time relationship with Norm and the whole crew at G/S Dodge. After all these years, I still feel honored to have been a employee of them, will always treasure the memories

[@toddclark332]

Mr Norm that s a name we all know even when i was a young man thanks Dennis have a great Saturday sir ❤

[@matrox]

This was filmed about 25 years ago. 1/4 of a century ago.😵‍💫

[@johnchildress6717]

Thanks for the timeline.I was curious about it.He was sharp.

[@farnorthhomested844]

ya i was gonna comment on how good he looks today.

[@matrox]

@@farnorthhomested844 He's dead.

[@jobamasux]

If you grew up in Chicago , you will remember Schmerler Ford and the singing Ford man and Mr Norm!

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Oh wow, love this!!!!!!!!!! 👍👍

[@captjim007]

Sure wish it was the late sixty's again and you could go to Mr. Norm's and buy a Hemi whatever.

[@watchman11000]

What a cool down to earth guy, stayed humble in his success.

[@LongIslandMopars]

Buddy of mine bought an original Grand Spaulding Dodge custom van. Oh the stories that shag carpet can tell.....

[@johnchildress6717]

It,s sure sad to drive by this old location.Just a tall fence and nothing.

[@extramile150]

excellent stuff...between Gary Dyer and Mr. Norm, MOPAR thrived, and they actually were the forerunners of the blown funny cars along with Arnie Beswick. They lived for match racing and the fans ate it up.

[@TheTreasureGuard]

Hi Norm, used car dealers never die, they just trade away.

[@Shrpdrt]

lol

[@sudsysutherland359]

Mopar = MoPower! I live in Windsor,Ontario which is right across Detroit the motor city. Windsor is the automotive capital of Canada 🇨🇦 & obviously Detroit is the automotive capital of the United States 🇺🇸 I worked at a chroming plant in Windsor called “Rust Shield Plating” which was changed to “Chrome Shield Plating” & we did rear bumpers for the full size GM trucks in full production on a 3 shift lines & on midnight shifts I’d do custom work for the bikers & muscle car guys.

[@dennisharvey7899]

Made the mistake of buying a 1965 Dodge Coronet 500 with a 318 automatic from Zelki Motors in Berwyn instead of going to Mr Norm and buying a real Dodge.

[@marioncobaretti2280]

What an incredible dude

[@gregsimon9061]

Great memories of Mr Norms

[@marcstruglia5910]

Damn good story!

[@GTP427cobra]

I live in Alabama and I remember listing to WLS Chicago at night and advertise MR. NORM Grind Spalding Dodge

[@charleshaggard4341]

We listened to WLS all the way south to Etexas.

[@tomcox2565]

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Norm a few times at Mopar Fest in New Hamburg Ontario. Cool mopar legend . May he RIP.

[@stoneylonesome4062]

I can’t get over his hairline. Solid as a Slant-Six, until the very end.

[@kadillacdeville]

Great honest down to earth interview with a legend.

[@SSV-i-c-e]

I’m a Chevy guy but no and respect who mr norm is great video.hi from New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@Spectre-y5u]

Mr. Norm was very dapper with glasses that matched his tie.

[@hausf.kartreit1111]

WowIt's great to finally see who Mr Norm was👍🍺🤳Legendary Man✌️🤠🌵

[@danam0228]

What a great no nonsense guy

[@haroldbirge6881]

🏆Mr. Norm 🏆was the man 🍀got er done 😎✌️

[@haroldbirge6881]

Thank you Dennis 🍀 you rock 😎✌️

[@OakLawnSpeedShop]

Gary Deyer is a south side Chicago legend. Romeo Palimedes also

[@larryb6715]

Dennis, how did you lose this?

[@LesMorrisracing]

I got a 1968 Cuda 340 6 pack 4 speed from Bobby Dyer. It was his car and he sold it. I raced it at US 30 Drag Strip. Good old days. I miss that car

[@Dcw-rp6ib]

I had a 69 dodge Dart GTS that I was told was a Mr. Norms dart but by the time I got it in 1979 it had no hemi and no vinyl top was also red with a 383. I don't think the story was true but had to sell it due to a work strike of 7 months. Damn even tho not sure it was one I wish I still had that car. When I had a chance to get it back the guy that owned it totalled it.

[@jasonjhuber]

This is a wonderful interview. A TRUE Car Guy’s Car Guy!! 😎 Thanks for the (American) dreams and memories sir, and God bless you. 🇺🇸

[@jasonjhuber]

Dennis: Now do Gary Dyer!!… 😉

[@MikeJBlues]

Wonder where the Buckinghams 440 Dart is today and man would we live to see the slides

[@brianandglendaharkin9457]

MOPAR for life 👍🏻🇦🇺💯⛽️

[@arneminderman3770]

Mr Norm for life!!!

[@rtraymond]

Got to meet him at Moparfest in New Hamburg Ont in 2002 ish

[@hendo337]

It's a shame Mopar didn't revive the B block in the early 90s as a 488ci with an aluminum block for the Viper and an Iron block for the 2nd gen Rams instead of that goofy sounding V10.

[@lewis730]

Oh man, what a businessman. Great interview!

[@tyronebiggims1613]

Many people didnt know that Norm was a Made guy. AKA. The Mob Notice the pinky ring. A ''good guy'',, Or Good Fella..A hella of a guy that you never wanted too piss off.

[@hendo337]

What's that behind him, A Reg Cab 2wd 318 Dakota square body?

[@barryknodel9654]

Always wanted to meet & speak with Norm, and listen to his wisdom. His love for creating relationships was awesome. Thank you Dennis, for this episode

[@Gregorybridgewater]

Amazing interview! How awesome would it have been to have grown up during those times!

[@yodajolewis1728]

Mr. Norm is the best

[@Merylstreep1949]

The best thing from Chicagoland next to deep dish pizza❤

[@mikram2613]

This is just a likeable guy what a good business sense

[@johnkufeldt3564]

Great interview. Cheers from Canada.

[@uncleclownb9239]

mr norm is the back bone to the baddest mopars on the planet batteries where included .peace

[@taylormoses5884]

Now this is mr Dodge Mr Norm

[@paulwest4755]

Fantastic interview, sure glad i watched it. ❤

[@quagmiredavis4117]

Mr norm and graveyard cars need to do interview

[@MyClassicCarTV]

That would be pretty difficult since Mr. Norm passed away in Feb 2021.

[@joshuagibson2520]

Mark Worman is a real piece of work. Fuck that guy.

[@Thunderstruck951]

Can you upload your old show intro? It had a guy working on his car outside at 1:00 am outdoors. It was a really cool setting.

[@MyClassicCarTV]

That was me, working on my E-Type coupe back in 1995. It would be kind of interesting to upload the original open of the show from back in the day. We'll put that on the list!

[@Thunderstruck951]

@@MyClassicCarTV Thank you very much!

[@Thomasploeg1968]

​@@MyClassicCarTV please do

[@KyleRich-fm5xw]

I have seen more than 1 67 383 darts factory

[@MikeJBlues]

Mr. Norm is Mr. Mopar

[@reallivehumandrummer4438]

Amazing intrview

[@jamesemmeneckersr.1875]

This is an awesome interview

[@mattskustomkreations]

I always wondered if the Buckinghams got the idea for “Kind Of A Drag” from playing & hanging out at Mr. Norm’s dragstrip parties? 😅

[@terryenyart5838]

I bought Gary's SuperFlow dyno & was honored to meet Gary & his employees. They treated me great & I was impressed with Gary's shop & equipment to make blowers. I would be honored to me Norm as well. Great people. Arbie Beswick is another gentleman I've met and enjoyed meeting.

[@scottbrown7415]

A genuine legend right there! Mr.Norm is proof that if you actually did it, "it ain't bragging!"

[@davidcoudriet8439]

What a cool guy. Great stories!

[@peterwhitman5575]

What a cool interview

[@tommymcdonnelljr1582]

Wish I could have grew up back then

[@johnchildress6717]

Please do an episode om Nicky Chev

[@madmanmechanic8847]

Wow I am so blown away how grounded he was so real no ego no BS just a real down to earth gear head. I wish we had people like that now. People are so freaking cold now and just want to be left alone and dont want to talk. I would of loved to meet him

[@MyClassicCarTV]

Norm was a really cool guy!

[@BryBry2ply]

When was this filmed?

[@MyClassicCarTV]

1997

[@DJ_Driven]

Is Mr. Norm's brother Larry still with us and the racer Gary?

[@nickpanaritis4122]

He was a great man. One of a kind.

[@jimmungai1938]

Mr. Norm. Thank you my first carbs in a 1962 Dodge dart 318 with a whopping two barrel Stromberg on it. Anyway, I shut down a couple small block Chevy‘s with it. I wasn’t gonna light the world on fire with the car, but hey, my old man always said a third class ride beats a first class walk and I told my dad this in the third class ride the first class ride. This is a Jim Mungai from Kennerdell Pennsylvania oh by the way Mr. Norm I have a Mopar performance Sammy cylinder block stroked and poked to five 26 in.³. I got a Kieth black crankshaft in it came out of want to Jerry Ruth cars and I have a set of stage five hemi conversion heads on it very mild cam in the past emissions in my 1972 satellites Sebring anyway this thing runs so clean if you pulled in a small garage and decide you were going to end at all you probably could even kill yourself with the exhaust anyway Mr. Norm thank you for what you did over the years you give a lot of us Mopar guys a lot of hope thank you again it’s a Jim Mungai from Kennerdell Pennsylvania. Oh my current pet project 1991 three-quarter ton dodge with six in a row under the hood. I go by six in a row.Jim thank you again

[@nhra7110]

Awesome part of history!!

[@z06doc86]

Humpy Wheeler of performance car sales?

[@arneminderman3770]

This time never comes back !!

[@kennypool]

Haha , that's what I call it , kitty crack. Storage on bikes really is important. My helix reflex and shadow all have top cases

[@papasmodelcarroom8450]

That was AWESOME

[@leahcimthgirw3163]

Ive lived in rockford for the past 23 years from the chicago land area and hadnt herd that rockford had a dragway, is he miss speaking about byron dragway i wonder

[@MyClassicCarTV]

They are the same thing. Technically Byron, but often referred to as Rockford.

[@hastur666]

And that was Tony Defeo who interviewed him Right?

[@MyClassicCarTV]

No, it was me.

[@joshuagibson2520]

Tony DeFeo. Lmao. You got one thing right. All Tony does is talk.

[@marioncobaretti2280]

Thats so awesome that he is still alive

[@phillipcramer7936]

Norm sadly passed away in 2021. He was 87. This is an interview from circa 1997.

[@youtubecarspottersguide1]

@@phillipcramer7936 he lived the full circle of moper the rebirth of Hemis .... str8 hellcats and vipers

[@stephenpoe2037]

Very interesting !

[@arneminderman3770]

Great guy!!!

[@dang5553]

Awesome video

[@terryeustice5399]

Very cool 😎

[@matttravers5764]

Cool!😎

[@dogdoc1]

Was this at McCormick Place?🤔 Auto Show?

[@MyClassicCarTV]

Nope. The SEMA show in Vegas.

[@herbs4921]

Mopar or no car.

[@wildestcowboy2668]

Mopar or no car

[@Shrpdrt]

Traction bars don't work on MoPars with torsion bars.

[@hendo337]

They're talking about ladder bars to stop the leaf springs from wrapping up and wheel hopping.

[@Joesmusclecargarage]

Torsion bars? News flash rube; torsion bars have nothing to do with traction bars. Traction bars don’t work with semi-elliptical leaf springs. Class dismissed.

[@77chevy4x4]

1971 challenger rt yellow shaker 383 /440 “special” 6 pack To be created in . Is a one in a lifetime opportunity… To build the level of hell . As the image says. Only car held its doors was a 1970 454 vette .

[@SixBarrel]

Great 🍻