Share The History of Your Car

[1970grancoupe]

 As we know, our cars are more than just a ride. They are our passion. If you would like to share the how,why and when you got your Mopar, I for one would enjoy hearing about it. Pics would also be good.

[Carlwalski]

I guess I'll go first....


Short story long: Got my car in 2003 and had been looking for around a year or so for a Challenger any year, particularly a 1970 but at the time I was in a cash crisis. Then out of the blue on a lone NZ web site there it was a white 70 Challenger R/T #'s matching 440 Magnum with a TorqueFlite and only 30 minutes drive from home!?!?!?!?
What were the odds!!! Needed plenty of work and in the end when striped her RIGHT back.
2-1/2 years later she's better than new and I'm enjoying her.

She came into New Zealand in July 1971 so is one of the oldest E-Bodies/Challenger's in New Zealand.
I am still trying to find out if in fact she was the first in the country, has a good chance being only a year old.

Photos of when I first got the Challenger. See signature for how she looks now. 


Cheers,
NZ440R/T

[Killer_Mopar]

I inherited my car, so I will tell my dads side of the story and then mine. My dad purchased the Challenger in 77' off a guy who was going through a divorce. From what I am told, the guy had raced my dad's old roadrunner and lost. I guess he always remembered the race and one day when he bumped into my dad, he offered the challenger to him. The car had been sitting for a few years but was in decent condition, so my dad bought it....cost him 350 bucks and it brought 3 engines. Over the next 2 years my dad reworked the car and by 79 it was painted and was a pretty good driver. He drove the car for a few years, but with work and 2 kids, it was eventually parked in 86'. Flash forward to around 98' when I am a teenager and I take interest in mopars. I start hitting the shows and envisioning what I wanted. In 03' I started working on the car to get it running, by 04' I had the engine compartment done and it was road worthy. That lasted about 8 months and I decided that I wanted the car done, so I stripped it down and that brings me to where I am 2 years later.

[RusTy/SE]

  I purchased mine (JS29U0B230751) in Jan '94 through an ad in Hemmings for $3500. Sold new at Oakland Dodge on 14 Mile in Madison Heights and had remained in Detroit until picked up as an adandoned vehicle in Mar '93 and auctioned off by the Police to the fellow i bought it from.
  Recently purchased a Canon S2 IS digital camera and 512mb memory stik as every resto needs documentation and pics - lots and lots of pics Please excuse the fuzzy fender tag pic...

Russ

[rtgambit]

I bought mine in September of 1998 from a classic car dealer in Keene, New Hampshire. Never driven - purchased as a basketcase.
Unfortunately I don't have any information on it right now other than the fact that the previous owner lived in Merrimack (NH, VT, or CT, not sure yet). I'm still trying to locate the town and the guy. If anybody lives there and could do some digging I'd really appreciate it!

[71 shaker]

got mine in 1987 just after I graduated from high school.fell in love the first time I saw her in 86,a friend of the family had her with a tunnel ram and 2 fours poking through the shaker.He tried to sell her for about 6 months,lots of tire kickers but no deal.He then took the shaker,the ralleys,and some chrome off and I worked out a deal to buy the car for $2300.00 and a 70 barracuda,318 auto,that had little black rubber scoops behind the doors on the rockers.This is my first car I bought by myself and I still have her.Did buy the hood back later and have new ralleys,and the chrome.Tracked down the original hood in 89 and cost me 2000.00.Almost as much as the whole car but I'm glad I did.

[Stacked440]

Last year (2005) around June or July I started roaming Ebay daily for every kind of muscle car (except GM )  I looked at mustangs and pony cars like that.  But at the time I didn't have money to work with...soooo i turned to my car obsessed father.  But he also was influenced by my mother who wouldn't have me getting any sort of muscle car.  Until I came upon an auction for a 71' challenger in tennessee.  My mother for once was interested because her first car was a 1970 dodge challenger 318-auto, Avacado Green with sport mirrors and magnum 500 wheels.  However her dad wouldn't let her get the big engine .  So she gave the go ahead to my father who bought the car for $4150.  He then told me it was mine to put money into, and once it was done I needed to pay him back .  It was just all pieces, came with a freshly built HP 440 and lots of little parts and a shell.  So we drove to tennessee and towed it back up to michigan.  Taking apart this car we found a few hints that this car most likely had a troubled past.  It was once in New Jersey as i found a matchbook half used with the name of a sheriff of Galloway County, which through research was in NJ.  It had the remnants of a early 80's alarm system in the car, it was painted about 4 different colors, the original being metallic brown.  Has about 3 different vin's stamped on various parts of the car, the fender tag is non-existant,  The vin says it was originally a slant six.  The guy we bought it from said he bought it from a guy in Kentucky.  This car has been ALL OVER as far as I know.  I'm getting the front of it and the floors prepped for primer but here is an older pic.  Long story, lets hope it has a happy ending!

[1970grancoupe]

NZ440R/T  That is a very cool lookin' Challenger! Did it come factory with the spoiler on the rear? Either way, it looks fast and mean.

[1970grancoupe]

Stacked440   Were so glad you chose a Mopar. Welcome to the family. You will find that Mopar Guys and Gals are very friendly and helpful. We enjoy the thrill of seeing every color and kind of Mopar. Have fun with your resto. and please keep us posted on your progress.

[1970grancoupe]

71Shaker   What a deal. Would like to see some recent pics. Auto or 4-speed? Did you keep the Cuda? Those scoops at the rear quarters were a very rare option. Thanks for sharing.

[1970grancoupe]

rtgambit  I'm sure someone will be glad to help you find the info you seek. What is your car? Do you have the build sheet or the fender tag? With that info we could help you in knowing what was factory on your car. Good luck

[1970grancoupe]

RustySE  What a find, at a police auction no less. Plum Crazy Purple, too! Did you look under the back seat? With that kind of luck you'll probably find a bag of money. LOL Looks like you got a winner. Lots of work, but, a tough lookin ride. Keep us posted on the progress. I'm currently restoring my FM3, '70 GranCoupe and it looked a lot worse than yours. Enjoy the Ride

[1970grancoupe]

Killer  Mopar    Holding on to that car for all those years says it all. You will want to keep that car forever. Can't wait to see it when your finished with it. I've had my car since 1980. Drove it for a year and blew the engine. Parked it, got married, and let it set until 2004. Now I'm working on it as I find the time and money. Keep us posted on the progress.

[Fred]

My wife got it new in high school.  Dad wouldn't let her get one with a bigger engine.  The dealership had it on display at the Texas State Fair in Dallas as the new 71 Barracuda.

Wrecked once, and at the time, I found a '72 front clip for it.  Needs a '71 left fender and grill.  It's been painted once and 318 engine rebuilt once.  Has 225,000 miles on it.  Was parked in '96 till now.  BIG mistake.  Installing a new gas tank, but need some rear trunk/body work first.

Runs and drives fine.

Can't wait to get this baby back on the road!

[Autophile]

My 71 black/black 440 auto rally hood Cuda was originally a 71 butterscotch-on-black 340 4-speed shaker hood Cuda. The engine/trans/hood/color conversion was made sometime before I got the car in 1989.

I got the car in trade from my brother (I traded away a 50,000 mile 71 tor-red/black 340 4-speed shaker Cuda, with some rust and light body damage). My brother bought the black 71 from a guy named Paul Fenner in Roseville, CA for $2500 in 1986.

The only numbers I have for the car are the dash VIN, and the only historical documentation I have is what's in my head. The lack of a broadcast sheet and fender tags makes the car less valuable on the resale market (this doesn't keep me up at night), but it makes it relatively guilt-free for me to drive it hard and modify as I wish.