Hello guys, it's been a while I'm reading some threads here, it looks like the biggest Cuda/Challenger resource on the internet !
So let's introduce myself...
I'm Sly, 31 years old, I live near Lyon, France.
I always dreamt of owning a classic US car but only had an opportunity to make my dream reality in 2011, I bought a red 72 Mustang Grande, same model that my step father owned in the 80s.
He promised to help me restoring it as I was a total newbie. We did tons of things on the car but I've never been really satisfied with it. The reason is I always wanted a Challenger, or else, a Cuda, but budget was a problem since here in France, prices of those car are going skyrocket each year. In 2013 I decided time had come to sell the Mustang and asked the bank if they could help to buy a Challenger
After a few months I finally sold the Mustang a faire price, and trust me that wasn't an easy car to sell... The Mustang Grande isn't really appreciated by Mustang lovers, and it's not the most beautiful car from that era.
So I decided I won't do the same mistake : my goal was to find a Challenger or Cuda with great base value. My dream was a big block (or 340 ci) car, with the four speed transmission, in good shape.
But when I looked to the prices, I had to reconsider. Budget was 20000 € (which is approx. $24300).
Then I fell in love with a car that was for sale in Germany, approximately 900 km from where I live. I gathered as much infos as possible to be sure the car was worth it as I planned to keep as long as possible : a white '71 Challenger with a 383 2-bbl from the factory converted to a 4 bbl, automatic transmission. It kind of looked like the Vanishing Point car, which was very exciting. Underbody looked very well, but the seller told me "the car is great but the only thing is that it has rust under the vinyl roof". It had a bizarre Shelby scoop on the rally hood, and a broken grill, with velvet interior. It was sold as an SE Challenger with the small rear window. I learned later that it was a quite rare 71 Challenger that had the A78 formal roof package option.
I wanted to go and see the car by myself before buying it, but due to health problem I couldn't. I finally decided to buy it judging only by the pics and infos I had.
On august 4, 2013, the car arrived during the night on a trailer. One of the best moment in my life for sure ! I was in love !!
It's been one year and a half I own this car, and appreciated every second of it.
I will post some pics and details tonight