Hi guys!
New to this board so i thought that i will introduce myself.
I am a Swede living and working in Thailand since 17 years back. Had lived here a couple of years and the urge for something american came over me. Started the hunt but didn't really find anything. I then realized that there is an import ban on second hand cars (that due to Japanese car manufacturers factories and showrooms all over the country). Guess that is what happens when you mix politics and business...
I didn't give up and during the years i found 2 non-Mopars (a -63 Lincoln and a -67 GTO). Cool cars that i still own.
Some years ago i got word of a -72 Challenger Rallye for sale. Went to see the car, it was beaten up but most of the parts was there. Non matching small block and auto trans. For some mysterious reason there was also a complete -70 grille included. Today this car is restored (and cloned into a -70 RT), has a 440 stroker with 727 trans. My pride and joy...
But my Mopar search did not end here. For several years, there has been a rumor about a Cuda circling around. Sometimes the year of the car was a -67, a -74 or a -70 depending of who had the latest news. Nobody had really seen the car but we all were sure that it existed. Last year a friend of mine called and said that he had actually bought the car. He is more a Harley guy so he sold it to me as he knew that i would do something about it. His asking price was ridiculously low so I just bought the car over the phone.
Next day I went to pick up the car. It was a -70 Gran Coupe, no engine and trans, no grille and some moldings lacking. Interior was complete included the roof console.
The car is currently at the body shop for rust repairs and paint. Will be back home early next month.
The small block and trans from my Challenger will go into this one so its going to be a cruiser. Nice complement to my Challenger.
There are some pro's and con's playing around with old iron in this country. All labor intensive works are pretty cheap. Like paint, body works, interiors, chrome etc. But the parts needs to be ordered from the US and the shipping cost and import tax is severe to say the least...
But anyway, we have sunshine every day, 95 octane gas is available and “The Man” is forgiving about loud exhaust systems....
Two pics attached. The Cuda pic is from last year. You know the feeling when you load something newly bought with the intention of giving it a new life...
