As a child growing up, we were a phord family. That was the only brand I knew since dad was engineer at the phord plant in Detroit. So as a child I was not around anything but phord. After the divorce of my parents, I started high school and my attention turned to cars at about 14. One day I asked my best friend at the time, "If you could have any kind of car in the world, what would you get? He replyed " a 'Cuda!" I said "Really!" and thought to myself. . . "I don' even know what that looks like" About 3 weeks later I was at my mother house and my older brother had a friend come over looking for him but he wasn't home. I heard a loud rumbling in the driveway and looked out the window and saw this awesome looking car sitting there and I tell you . . . I couldn't get out the door fast enough to see this car. It was a 1973 black on black cuda and beautiful it was!! So far in my life, that was the most awesome car I had ever seen!!
3 years later I'm 17 and in the market for my first car. My brother calls me and says, "he has a buddy that has a 'cuda for sale!" All I could think of was that black 'cuda. So . . . he drives me about 50 miles to his friends house and on the way there, we are driving down the road and coming at us is a 1971 purple convert. with white billboards. (never seen billboards before) As it roared by, I felt chills run up and down my spine. I thought to myself, " now that was the coolest car I had ever seen"
We arrived at his friends house and low and behold, it's that black 'cuda. $2000.00 is a fair price in 1982 but I still offered $1800.00 and bought the car. The car had sat for about a year so it took some time to get it to roar to life but once it did, it thumped pretty good. I had to drive the car home that day with a dead battery (had to bump it to start it) I'm new to a 4 speed so that was a bit tricky with a dead battery, (don't stall) 4'11 gears in the dana made for an interesting ride on the freeway. I kept thinking, "there must be one more gear
! and a gas gauge that didn't work! (I had a gallon in the back just in case) Good thing 50 miles isn't too far.
But now I still have a picture of that purple convert in my head!
So almost 17 years later in 1999 I saved some cash and decided
that now is the time to fill that convertible craving! So I took off a month from work and set out across the country to find a convert. I flew to Arizona where my father lives and searched the whole state. Of course he thought I was crazy buying a "brand X". After a week in AZ, I headed into New Mexico and then Texas. I really wanted somewhat of a solid car so after another week and no convert., I stayed along the golf coast and into New Orleans, Atlanta, and then down to Miami, Florida. I had reached the end of land (Miami) and my month was about done so I booked a flight back to Michigan empty handed. On my way to the airport, I found an Auto Trader that I had missed and low and behold
a cuda convert
It was a white 1970 with a black top, 440 auto/floor (not original) 3:23 gears, no dents, no holes, ad sounds good! $12,500.00 I thought right away "what wrong with it"
! I'd been watching 'cudas a long time and the cheapest convert. I ever saw in my life was 20 grand in the 1980's! I hit the nearest payphone and called the guy! He actually answered the phone and said "yep still available!! If you want to see it I'm at work until 7:00. I get directions and 3 hours later 6:30pm, I find the car! Its getting alittle dark now so I shine the lights on it and try to look it over the best I can in 15 minutes. It had a '72,3,4, grill in it but he said he has the center section for a 70 grill at home. The metal on the car was not bad but the Florida sun had taken its toll on the interior. The top was new and the trans had been replaced. The car ran OK but certainly needed some carb adjusting. I acted dissappointed with the car and made a low offer at the last minute before leaving. A quick negotation, and the convert was mine!
I don't think he knew what he had! I got rid of my rent-a-junk and he had his girl come to pick him up and bring the title, by 7:15, I was back and asked "do you think it will make it to Michigan"
! He said "don't see why not" So off to Michigan I go in a car I really don't know anything about. I figure the first thing to do is stop at the nearest gas station and fuel up, check fluids and tires! So I'm pulling into the station, this guy is hanging out of his car yelling something. So I stop and he comes up and beggs me to sell him my car!
I laughed and told him I just bought it 10 minutes ago. He says " wanna make some money for 10 minutes work
! I looked at him and started to tell him the story. He was presistant, actually offered me double what I paid, but to no avail!
I drove that car back to michigan with no problems and it only burned 1 quart of oil! (actually I think it leaked out). The day after I got it home, I tore it into tiny pieces, stripped it to the core! Now in 2004, the puzzle begins! The body is painted and the fun begins!! I'm gonna have a Purple and White Convert!
Here is the black car I've had since high school in 82! Not bad for $1800 bucks!
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