Great story, I also need the time machine.
I remember in the early 80s I was looking for my 1st car to buy. Guy around the corner had a Blue 70 440 R/T 4spd Challenger for sale. This thing was a legend in the neighborhood, nothing could touch it. I talked my dad into going over to look at it, he talks me out of the car with many reasons why it's not a good deal, guy was asking $1000, probably could have got it for $800-$900.
Since that deal was "no good", I found another car for sale, Orange 70 R/T 383 auto for $750. Dad also found many things wrong with this car.
Looking back at it I can understand why dad didn't want me to get either of those cars. That kinda HP for a first car would have been trouble.
I ended up finding a 72 318 Challenger in the paper from a "little old lady", for some reason Dad agreed this was a good deal for $850.