First E-Body I owned is the one I still have. I bought her in 1987 From a friend named Rich, he owned Mid Amercia Mopar at the time. When I meet him in 1985 he was impreesed by the fact I had got my 1968 Road Runner when I was 17(Mon and Dad got her new) I had owned her for 16 year's then and still have her.
Rich had just redone my Cuda (it was his then he got her when he was 15) But was looking to sell her so he could do his 69 Hemi Bee that ha got when he was 14. Well I was hang out there a lot and one day to guy's came in looking to buy a Charger. Rich showed what he had at the time and the guy's where not impressed. Now I knew Rich was looking to sale his Cuda and she was sweet. I asked Rich if I could tell them about my 69 Charger (#2 of 3) that had no engine in it, he said ok. I told the guy's about it and they wanted a look at her.
Well they meet me at my shop. The Charger had just had the engine bay painted and most of the car was painted as well, had one quater to finshe then she was painted. The money guy like the car and gave me $5000 there on the spot. 69 383 auto with air and not much rust repair. Should have kept.
Well Rich had told me he would let me have the Cuda for $5000 (that was a steal I had $10,000 in cash waved at me about 3 week's after I bought her but was not for sell) if I promised him one thing. He knew I was not a car of the month guy after owing the Runner for 16 year's. When it was time to sell it I would give him the first crack at it, deal and she was mine.
I want a driver so he pulled the 12 point cage out of her and the nasty 383 that was runing 11.8's and built me a fresh 383 for her and redid the inside's for me. Still would run 14.8 at a trap speed of 98 mph, to bad she would not hook up at the track. With good small slick's she would have been hitting 13.35 but she was the fastest car in the bleach box.
Second e-body was what I thought was a 1973 Challanger, I was wrong. Saw the car sitting in the back yard for some time, oh 2 year's or so. No hood, engine, seat's was in brown rattle can primer and all 4 tire's where flat and looked like s--t. One day I saw a 4-sell written on the glass so I stopped by. The guy said it was his son's car but had passed away in a car wreck about 10 year's ago. He was going to fix it up but never did. He did not have a title but that was no big deal to me, I just do the ALB title thing.
I bought the car for $500 but he did not know where the part's had gone but it was not a big deal to me as I knew where to get what I needed. Now I am not a # guy's so pleases under stand I had no clue as to what it was. The engine bay had so much crude bulit up from sitting I did not even look at the fender's tag.
I knew the car had been piced toghter at one point, rear end had 73-74 tail light's and front had 70 front fender's no big deal. I got the car home where Jim and I started stripping the car to be redone. I was under the car pulling the Hum 727 small block 727 when Jim said Hey Ken when did they stop using Panther Pink? I saided 71 why? Jim asked what year is this car? I said 73 why? Well Jim asked why is it panther pink under the carpet then? Hum, went to look and it was Hum. The tail lights where 73-74? Popped the trunk and yep she had been hit hard at one time. The rear 1/4 had been cut 18" forward and a new rear end had been section in, must have been a high hit from a 4X4 as the trunk floor had no majoir wrinkles in it and frame rail's looked untouched.
I knew there was two date plate's but never washed the stuff off of then, I did then. Jim was gabbing the decodeing book when I cleand the s--t off. The second one sayed TRAM's AM.
Egine code was J, yes the big J. I had bought a 1970 Challanger T/A remain's for $500.00. I was told I had over payed, right.
I hate to say it but I sold it, I did not have the money to do the car right. 340 T/A engine that need a rebulid was $3500 and the manafolid's where going for $1500-$2000 a pair. Not to think about the other part's that where need like 6-pack. Sold the car for $6500 and the guy spent $30,000 to make her right. I see the car now and then at show's. I was looking at her at a show wishing I had the fund's to keep her. A guy walked over to me and asked me if it was my car, I said not anymore I sold her and just walked a way shaking my head.
I have had two other e-body's but that's part two.
Cuda Ken
