Mecum Auction Hemi Fest

[njsteve]

Now the description is rather scary on this car:

http://www.mecumauction.com/auctions...D=CH1007-60144

I remember doing some of the tech articles on this car back in 1993 or so when Greg and Tom had the car, when we all worked at Dobbs Publishing Group. They found it near the office in Lakeland, Florida. It was in rusty primer with 340 painted-on billboards on the quarters and a 340/automatic under the hood. It did have the holes for the window louvers still and some decal remains from billboards in the door jams. It was a real BS23R1 1971 Hemicuda originally but everything including the shaker hood, hemi K frame, fender tags, broadcast sheets, Dana rear, etc., was gone. The only thing from its past heritage that remained was the VIN tag on the dash.

So I am wondering how it is now a "3 fender tag car loaded with factory options" and a "real deal with matching body numbers"???

I remember doing the photography and the article on the rusty rear window deck replacement. I will try to dig the article up in the basement later.

Beautiful restoration from the photos but the description seems rather inaccurate. Anyone know who owns this car at the present time?

[bashton]

I remember that article and thinking, Geez, what a heap of a project.

Just goes to show...you just never know.

I will be there to see it cross the auction block. Will let you know how it goes!

BA

[njsteve]

I found it! June/July 1991 issue of Mopar Muscle. I guess the car had more equipment on it than I remembered This is the shot as they originally found it. The louvers were still there along with the rear wing! But the trunk and the intermediate panel between the trunklid and the rear window were rusted.



And to think they bought it for around $5,000 back in 1990 and I think they sold the project for about $10,000 in 1992, after it sat in my yard for about a year overtaken by kudzu vines.

[quick-bowtie]

Its actually my old car.. I know of a few ZL1 that were found in the same shape with most of the parts missing and restored back to original. I dont think anyone is trying to rep it as a numbers car at least I hope not! Although alot of original pieces were missing.. It was restored with correct parts and done very nicely I might add. The car was pretty clean with the trunk (just the center section) and the upper valance being replaced, probably do to the vinyl top holding water, The car has super nice floors and frame rails its all body color underneath so its not hiding anything. The car does have its original body numbers (Vin, radiator support and cowl).. As for the fender tags, Galen made them and put what options he could find or tell the car came with with visual inspections and talking to previous owners (was restored and that way when I bought it). Galen inspected the car when it was found and also did a visual inspection and full report for me when I had it, Although its not a NUMBERS CAR it is a REAL 71' HEMI 4 speed car and pretty darn rare. And being its not a numbers car you can actually drive it and hammer on it alittle. =)

The car had a folder with every title copy from previous owners including the the first title when new and a copy of the original bill of origin, Magazine articles, Pretty bullet proof docs as to being a real Hemi car.

I wouldnt mind having the car back actually.. it was a pretty decent car if you can get over the fact it not a numbers car.. but the price will definatey reflect that..

[quick-bowtie]

Just stating what I know about it and what Galen has said and reported on.. Im sure njsteve knows more than I especially if he had to look at it in his yard for a year! What I would have given to be able to buy the car for 5k or 10k back then.. Crazy how those cars went up and up and up.. in 91' I was only in 9th or 10th grade I couldnt imagine asking the bank for 10k for a primered up project car! who knew...

[king_midas]

Yeah Quick, I hear you... You're just a few years younger than me, and I still remember the '69 RS-Z that I passed on that was sitting in a guy's driveway in a friend's neighborhood. Must have been 1988 or 89; I can't quite remember. It coulda been mine, hauled away, for $2K w/o engine/transmission, or $4,500 with the #s match rebuilt 302 and M-22 that he was running around in a '67 Corvette at the time.

It was super rare, 10-10 black, houndstooth, wood dash, wood wheel, no spoilers or cowl hood. Rusted very badly, but not by today's standards, and would be a dream come true for someone today to find something like that.

I tried to figure out how to buy it for the entire winter, but couldn't find the money. He eventually did sell it, and I think I actually cried.

Aaah, those were the days....