I'll play. Back in '89 I was stationed at NAS Miramar in San Diego. One of the other single guys always hosted the Superbowl party at his place. This was my first year there, so I go to his place. As I'm pulling in My eyes are instantly caught by this '70 Challenger at the house across the street.
I'm drooling. I go knock on the door and this huge guy answers the door. Something like 6'6". I'm thinking "holy sh!t". Anyway, after talking to him briefly I learn Yes it is his car and NO he is not interested in selling. Door closes. Well alright then. I go back to my friend Lou's house and watch the Bowl. Since Lou's house was a lot closer to the beach and the scenery that goes with the beach, us single guys were there often. I always eyeballed that Challenger. I didn't know much about it other than it was a B5 R/T 440 4 speed, or so I thought. For a year and a half I eyeballed that car. I don't think it ever moved. I finally screwed up the courage to go back over there again. The guy wasn't very friendly the first time so I'm thinking how I'm going to be Mr. friendly to not piss the big guy off. I speak to the guy and ask if he remembers me. He says yeah, you're the only jarhead to ask about the car. I didn't want to tell him I was in the Navy not the Marines. Maybe he was an ex-marine and I could use that to my advantage. He tells me still not for sale, door closes. This guy is Mr. personality thru and thru. I decided I wasn't going to push it any further by talking to him again. About three months later Lou tells me there is a for sale sign in it. I flipped. I went to the bank and pulled out everything I had. Went to that guys house and knocked again. His wife answered and said she didn't know how much he wanted. I told her that was fine and asked if anyone else had made any offers. She didn't know. Not thinking clearly, I told her I had $3000 cash to give to her as a deposit until I could talk to her husband. After I went to Lou's I started thinking how stupid it was. First giving her $3000, maybe he only wanted $2500. He sure wants $3000 now.
And second, I didn't have anything proving that I had just given her my $3000.
After about an hour I chickened out and went back to their house to get my money back. He was home now and still just as friendly.
He tells me that the car is already sold and gives me my money back. I wasn't bummed about missing the sale at all, I was just relieved to get my money back. She starts yelling at this guy, "Ronnies not going to buy that car!, He can't even pay child support!
. I was nervous. I kept expecting him to knock her into the neighbors house. She goes on about how I had cash and
. I started to walk away and now she's yelling at me!
"Hey aren't you still buying the car?!
. I said that I thought that they should work it out. I go to Lou's house and pop a beer and I'm thinking WOW what an experience. Half way thru my beer the door bell rings and it is this guy's wife. She has the title and keys and a bill of sale. She tells me that the price is $4500 and that I would still owe them $1500. this was written on the bill of sale. I'm shocked and thinking this woman is
But again not thinking clearly, I signed the bill of sale, gave her the $3000 and she gives me the signed title, keys and says get it out of the driveway.
Suddenly I get scared again. I go over expecting this big guy to waylay my a$$ and the car won't start, dead battery.
I ask Lou if I can put it in his garage until I can get it running. He agrees and we push it into his garage. The next day I go get a loan for the remaining $1500 and after work I head over to pay them off. The guy answers the door,
smiles and takes the money and thanks me. I was just blank.
Of course after looking over the title and the car I discovered that it wasn't an R/T or a 440, it was an A66 car with a non numbers 340. At first I was a little irritated at myself for not keeping my head screwed on straight, but after I got the car running and started driving it, that non numbers 340 with the sixpack, 4 speed and 4.10 Dana was sure a lot of fun.
