Just How Good is Your Car? Really?

[nqkjw]

I see a lot of cars whose owners think they are better than they really are.
I've also seen a few whose owner's don't realize how good there car is.
Having a few personal doubts I decided to show my challenger a bit to see how it stacked up against what else is out there.
I decided I should get it out and about and show it off a bit more rather than hide it away in the shed.

Soooo....

On the Mopar Muscle weekend at warwick on 4th/5th May I trailed it (yes,it's a trailer queen) down for a 2500 mile round trip and took the "Top US Mopar" award.



On the weekend of 18th/19th May I took it 3hrs north to Kurrimine car show and took "Car of the Show"



And just this Weekend past at Townsville's "Mopar Then and Now" show it took "Best old School Mopar"


So I'm happy that mine IS pretty good.
There's nothing outstanding about the car.
Just a near perfect fit,detail and finish anywhere you look.
To say I'm proud of it is an understatement since I've never been known to build anything to this level before and seriously never knew I was capable of it.
At 54yo I've built many cars but always been known for cars that go well,sound mechanically,innovative engineering but appearance has always of secondary importance.

Anyone else have any similar experiences?

[torredcuda]

So you did all or most of the work yourself?

[nqkjw]

Paint'n'panel was done at a shop.
Trans was overhauled at a shop.
I had an upholsterer come to my place to fit the hood lining.
Windscreen bokes also came over to fit the front and rear screens.
The front and rear bars were rechromed at a chromeworks.
Can't think of anything else I didn't do myself.

EDIT : an engineering shop fitted oversize rivets to the hood hinges.

[torredcuda]

  to doing a lot of the work yourself.

[blown motor]

That's a sweet looking car. Congratulations.

[anlauto]

Long as you're happy...that's all the matters

[Rich G]

Very nice car but don't you think it would be a lot more fun if you actually drove the car. I have a 51 Dodge pickup I built and drive to a lot of shows and cruises. Even drove it 500mi. to Cananda's Mopar fest. Sure I get pissed every time I see another tiny nick on it but it sure beats just looking at it. Even so Mopar picked it for the Top Eliminator last year and I got to go to SEMA with it. I'm currently building a 71 Barracuda and look forward to the day I can drive this to all the shows. Good luck with your car and have fun, that's what it all about!

[John A]

The Challenger looks great. What type of mirrors are on your car? John.

[nqkjw]

Rich G - I'm in the fortunate position that I have other cars I can drive.
My 69notch barracuda is a street'n'stripper which gets treated hard,but get's trailered any distance since it's not that pleasant to spend extended lengths of time in.Don't get me wrong.I love driving it and it's a lot of fun but the novelty wears off after an hour or two and something more comfortable looks more attractive.
That's where my towcar fits in.It's a 2000 clubcab 4x4 Ram powered by an injected,blown and intercooled 360magnum.
I've recently finished a ground up resto on a 72 Dart Swinger which I built as a daily driver.It's nice,but not on the same level as the challenger.The motoer and box have to come out unfortuneately but that's another story.
My next project is a 60 Imperial hardtop which I'm building as a long distance highway cruiser.It'll be 413 longhorn crossram powered.
Also have a 67 Valiant ute (think el camino)which is average original condition.
Therefore I don't need to drive the challenger all the time.
To be honest I'm kinda over the constant cleaning/polishing/detail,etc already.It's just not my scene.I'll still baby and care for the challenger as best I can but at this stage I feel like I NEVER want a car this perfect again.

John A-the mirrors came from US ebay advertised as an alternative to originals.From memory they came off some sort of 74 Buick.They are a bolt in replacement and with a bit of careful spreading and recrimping I made the original Chrysler toggle fit the driver's side remote cables.Good spotting!!! :thumbsup:Very few people notice they aren't original.

[dutch]

To be honest I'm kinda over the constant cleaning/polishing/detail,etc already.It's just not my scene.I'll still baby and care for the challenger as best I can but at this stage I feel like I NEVER want a car this perfect again

I hear ya.... personally I have a hard time enjoying a perfect car ( as far as there is such a thing)  but I have trouble enjoying a non perfect car too 
I think the most fun car I ever had was my beat up `78 AD100 Ramcharger, but dents, oil leaks and smelly carpet gets old quick....

[aris_unlimited]

I personally enjoy my 74 satellite and it's good enough for me. I can drive it every day, it turns heads and I still get to tool around on it and upgrade it. Got sick of taking it to shows, because while it was as nice as most things there and nicer than some, the ones that get all the recognition are the guys that have put $100k into their cars and trailer them there. Cars that drive maybe 100 miles a year. Not worth competing with in my opinion lol.