The Escalantes '70 Challenger R/T "EL HEMI" - Page 5

el hemi · #41 01-22-2010, 11:16 PM

Another story associated with the return of El Hemi has to do with the EDA (estimated date of arrival) of the vessel transporting the car to the port in Jacksonville. I had to follow this closely because I coordinated all the logistics of flying down to Jacksonville and renting a UHAUL truck and trailer to make the trip north to Indiana. Car arrived to port almost a month later. Not usual given the fact the voyage is no more than a week..if that. According to our freight forwarder, the captain of the vessel had a heart attack and died. They had to make a stop on one of the caribbean islands.

Picture below is the UHAUL truck somewhere in Tennessee. I drove straight from Jacksonville to Indianapolis. I was running on adrenaline!!

Smokey · #42 01-23-2010, 02:14 AM

Thats classic!!! A hemi behind a Uhaul.

el hemi · #43 01-23-2010, 03:27 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Thats classic!!! A hemi behind a Uhaul.

[/ QUOTE ]
Smokey...you are right. Should have imported the stationwagon below to pull the car. Matching colors too

.

**SS427** · #44 01-25-2010, 08:36 PM

The stories just don't get much better than this one and with a nice ending. I am sorry your father will never get to see the finished car but am happy to hear it will be staying with the family. Awesome car and story and once again, thank you for sharing! You are a true car and family guy!

**mockingbird812** · #45 01-25-2010, 08:48 PM

Boy Juan, if that isn't a Chevrolet magazine ad with all of the young baseball player around the wagon, I don't know what is!!! Great story. Love the pix.

Thanks!

**Xplantdad** · #46 01-25-2010, 08:51 PM

LOL...I din't realize that it was a family picture...I thought it was a Chevy ad

How cool!

el hemi · #47 01-26-2010, 07:50 AM

[ QUOTE ]
LOL...I din't realize that it was a family picture...I thought it was a Chevy ad

How cool!

[/ QUOTE ]
It is an ad for what was then a new 1978 Monte Carlo stationwagon. I happen to be in the picture

. Check the "old street pictures" thread on the Lounge section and you'll see where I am standing. My remark about importing the stationwagon to tow El Hemi was a "come back" to a comment one of our colleague member made earlier in the thread.

Changing gears...now that we are in the middle of winter How about the picture below? myself - December 1969. First snow fall for the Escalantes. Dad had not had the car for more than a couple of weeks. Picture was in Ann Arbor, Michigan where dad was attending University of Michigan.

**Mr70** · #48 01-26-2010, 06:06 PM

Great pic!

**PeteLeathersac** · #49 01-26-2010, 08:28 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Great pic!

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto...and needs a set of those cool 1/2 tread snow-tires like you have Rick!.

~ Pete

gb70 · #50 01-28-2010, 07:30 AM

Your story really reached out to me on so many levels. I have always been a BIG "E Body" Mopar guy. Have had my share of them. Bought my first 1970 Cuda from the original owner back in 1979 at 16. Lost my dad to pancreatic cancer in 1988, he was just 56 years old. Gald to see EL HEMI in the family and so well taken care.