Was talking with my son in IA tonight...

[BoughtItNew]

...and he introed me to the board.  Looking forward to sharing info with you all!

I bought my 74 new and picked it up September 10, 1974.  It has undergone a few changes since same son and his little brother grew up in the back seat until they got too big for a two door pony.  Had sense enough to put it away until the opportunity came to whip it back into shape.  Original 318 car, now mild 360, turns twelves and runs on E85 exclusively!  Has also won twice in NMCA/NSCA Nostalgia Muscle Car along with a pair of R/U showings too.

One of my favorite things is to go disturb the peace in the industrial park on the weekends with my grandkids in the passenger seat!

[71340RT]

Welcome to the site and always great to hear about a person that has kept there Challenger since they bought it new. Post some pictures and give us some more information color, transmission and any other information you want to include.

[6packCuda]

Welcome aboard. Wow, another E85 guy. Is it really worth it? I know E85 is a lot cheaper, but don't you also have to burn a lot more to make the same power?

['Cuda Hunter]

Welcome to this great site. 
  E85 is worth it in my opinion just for the smell difference.  Smells sweet!

  Post some pics, we are all wondering what the car looks like.  Original owners are definitely few and far between.

[asm74]

 

[BoughtItNew]

Good Grief, where to start!

Historic:


Used Up and Ready to Become the Class Project:


Done!


First Race:
(Lost 1st Round...)


Road Racing:



And where we were most successful...
Drag Racing with NMCA/NSCA





Just finished the local Turning Back Time weekend in Sycamore where we were chosen to lead the 25 mile cruise through the local nursing homes and a VA convention at the DeKalb Airport.  Yes, some rubber was burned...






As for the E85 deal, I did quite a bit of research prior and wrote about it in Drag News Magazine's January and March 05 issues.  Conversion was quite simple really, perhaps when it's not so late I'll start another post.

No, it's not using up all our food.
No, it doesn't eat all your rubber, that's Methanol.
Yes, it takes a bit more to make power.  My mileage dropped 10%.  So did my elapsed times...
It LOVES compression, something I'm currently lacking due to originally designing the engine for unleaded Premium.
It is practically impossible to detonate.
It promotes better ring seal to boot!  (That's in the article)

To be continued...

And, yes, there's that sweet, sweet smell!

[flmopars]

welcome to the site. Hope you enjoy it. There are many nice people on here that are knowledgeable and willing to help so feel free to ask.

Thanks, Amanda

[4Cruizn]

WOW car loks great!!  Welcome to the site!!         

['Cuda Hunter]

Cool pics, thanks for sharing.

  So, I have to ask, what year was the first picture taken?  
  I love the older pictures, Do you have any of the car back closer to when you first purchased it?

[BoughtItNew]

1976 I think.  Possibly 75.  That's my 56 Chevy truck behind it and I remember buying it in 75.  Didn't keep it...  Didn't have a very good camera at the time so photos are scarce.  Love the digital age.

These photos are from early spring 76.  Note the IL BiCentenial license plate.
Shows graphically what a small deer can do when you hit it at 65 per.
That's how we got the Power Bulge hood.  Cost an extra $40 added to the
Body Shop Bill.

['Cuda Hunter]

Thanks for the pics.  1976 !!  That's the year I was born. 
  That deer must have been quite dead after the collision. 
  I am curious what the cost of that work was back then. 

[BoughtItNew]

I still remember.  $647 + the extra for the hood upgrade.  Unbelievable, eh?

 

BTW, a couple months later our number 1 (of 2) son was born.   He was "riding with his mom" when we crashed.  (I've kept her around, too, or should I say she's kept me)  He's (IAfarmer) the one who told the story of the chocolate donuts on the trip to Colorado which was actually to see my brother stationed in Warner Robbins GA.  No matter, he was too young to remember it at the time.  I just thanked God yet again for Fingerhut Seat Covers!  (White interior, chocolate donuts, you do the math!)

We did take a trip with him (and his brother "riding with mom") in the 78 pickup in the class photo above.  That's probably the trip he remembers.

['Cuda Hunter]

Wow!!  Nowadays you would pay that much for just the hood.  Incredible. 

[hooD]

   Welcome to the site Mike.  Great photos of your Cuda.  I like the color of your car now versus it's original color.  Good thing your son told you about this place.  Is he a member here?

[BoughtItNew]

Yup.  IAfarmer

He was a big help with the ethanol stuff, too.