And Because We Like Cars

Funny how some of the old cars I wouldn’t consider owning, now look good to Me. Dad raced a brand New ‘65 Plymouth Sattelite every weekend at Detroit Dragway, and Toledo. Growing up on the East side of Detroit, Mopars were everywhere. Even a few Grandpas had Roadrunners, and Chargers, Challengers. Too bad collectors discovered Mopars. I like it better when they were undesirable, except to a few hoarders. Probably the worst of all , are the Mopar fanatics like myself, I’m just glad the old cars are getting saved. Still a chance for Me to own one more. Always looking, not as picky anymore. Can’t afford to be, still get excited about “ the deal” itself. The old 50s and early 60s fin cars are cool pieces of Americana Art Deco, and ofcourse the Mopars are my favorites. It’s aggravating to see the outrageous prices, when I knew, as everyone else did, it would happen eventually. Honestly never thought the restoration bussiness would get so big, would really like to be a part of it.Id like to see prices come down, as they do sometimes on Classic cars. Muscle cars are the first era to be passed along to the next generation. More so than other eras of cars. I doubt they’ll drop much, if any. They’re just so unique. Rolling history.

 

On the other hand, the cars that weren't collectible? Vanished into dust and are now rare because nobody saved them.

AMC Javelin? Chevy Vegas? Chrysler Cordobas? When's the last time anyone saw one of them in the wild?

 

That'd probably scare the bejeebers outta ya!! Hopefully they recover quickly

 

I see them occasionally, know of a yard with at least 5 Vegas all for sale.I don’t think the Cordobas held up very well. Saw a nice one, recently. My Dad had a 77 Black w/ gold metallic paint. Black Rich Corinthian Leather, 400 lean burn never ran right. Even the Engineers at Highland Park HQ, worked on it. Ran great for a week, till it got hot outside. They had advanced timing so far, it cranked forever, had to take it back. He Drove Truck, 10 yrs for Chrysler, laid off in 79, eventually traded it in on a Volkswagen Shirocco S. Up until then all his cars were Mopars, except for a 57 Chevy, and a 67 Bonneville, and a 66 Toronado. The Córdoba bought new, w/ employee discount,$6700, was the last Mopar He ever owned. It was a beautiful car, but never ran right, always a hard miss. After the VW, it was a 85 Caddy Eldorado,(2.4.6) ,then a 85 Chevy P/U, last was a 85 Caprice. Old Man liked his cars. Always after the latest technology. Sometimes at a huge cost, like the lean burn, or the 246 Caddy, another failed experiment.

 

Recently went on a tour through a local guy's collection. He's got a lot of unique and firsts, including the original AMC AMX "push car" and prototype. He's also got Peter Revson's 1969 Javelin Trans Am car, a factory drag car and even a four-wheel-drive 1969 SC/Rambler built by James Garner for racing Baja. The last of two four-wheel-drives and last of ten total built by Garner (article).

 

I lusted after a Cosworth Vega for a very long time.

I'm over it now.

Probably.

Helped some friends build a couple V-8 Vegas in high school.

 

Wow well thought out