Mopars can be cool!

[njsteve]

My second 71 Cuda ragtop: one of five 4-speed, 440+6 ragtops produced. Full option car with two data tags and all original drivetrain. It was in Miami when I found it. Here's a before shot of it in the prior owner's successful camouflage attempt with 70 tail lights and a gigantic chewed-up, stainless steel dog dish with a broken dog chain wrapped around the leaf spring. (He didn't actually have a dog, but this sure kept away the nosey sightseers) [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]



And after I finished it:



My third Cuda, the only yellow 1971 Hemicuda ragtop produced. In as-found condition in Wisconsin back in 1986:



And after I finished it and was beating the crap out of it at the Supercar Showdown in '86.



My fourth Cuda, a 19,000 mile, survivor 71 440+6 automatic ragtop (1 of 12 produced). Auto on the column, 4.10 Dana. Quickest car I ever had. The original engine had never been apart. I just washed it, put some tires on it and and drove it for fun. Sold it to Steve Juliano in 1988 and it is now in his museum out in California.

[njsteve]

I bought this old race car in the late 1980's because it came with an NOS 1970 Hemi engine as part of the deal. Had all sorts of weird parts with it, like a 69 grill and a Diamond Engineering magnesium cross ram. Kept the engine and sold the race car.

Of course it turned out to be Dick Landy's 1968 LO23 Hemi Dart four speed car that he campaigned as a 69. (of course I didnt know it was Dick Landy's til a decade after I sold it! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img]



Check out the original warranty Certicard for a car that was sold without a warranty!

[SS427]

Phenomenal cars Steve!!!!

[njsteve]

Thank you!

I guess I got into these cars at the right time, back when they were reasonably cheap. (or maybe that was the wrong time, since I could have retired on what they were worth just a few years ago if I had kept a couple of them) [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

Here's one that might be worth something in another decade or two: The old Project Pit Viper, the first (and only, I think) Viper project car used by a magazine, complete with unofficial/disavowed backdoor support from the guys at Team Viper.

Here it is at Sebring. I actually held a lap record in the ASP class for a year, back in the day (til they became obsolete when SCCA allowed the Viper Coupes in with their better aerodynamics and 50 more horsepower).



Most of you know this car as the mysterious covered workbench in my garage over the past 7 years of the Trans Am saga.




Here's the full story if you want more of the not-so-secret background:

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...381#Post145381

[XXXGoldL34M20]

Hey Steve,
you have had some great Mopars in your time.
Question?
What would you say ran better over all,a 440 6 pack or Hemi?
Be Honest.
Here is another photo of my Challenger.
My Challenger has never left Texas until i bought it and brought it over to Canada.
Best car i have ever owned,
It was built in the LA plant and comes with a rare Broadcast sheet that were very tough to come by as the plants policy was to toss them in the trash.
Car still has original vinyl roof with one re paint/original body panels and floors never being off the car.
Car also has fantastic documents like,Dealer photos,Owner history with titles from day 1, photos of car with original paint, VHS tape of car after first paint job and tons more.
It is a 1970 R/T S.E. 440 4 Speed.
I would like to do a story on it like Steve did on his Charger one day on this forum soon.

[njsteve]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: XXXBlackLs6M22</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hey Steve,
you have had some great Mopars in your time.
Question?
What would you say ran better over all,a 440 6 pack or Hemi?
Be Honest.
</div></div>
As for E-bodies: that untouched, survivor 440+6/auto/4.10 ragtop was the quickest, stock condition car of anything I had over the years. It was scary fast.

The 71 Hemicuda ragtop was probably the slowest at 14.05. It just had no soul, that's why I sold it. Too slow and you could just tell it didn't want to go fast.


I have to recuse the 70 Hemi Charger from consideration since it has been Day 2 since Day 1. She ran a 12.77 @ 111 mph on street tires but remember, that's a car with headers. The original owner had it running 11.70's with a tunnel ram and slicks. Now that is definitely a car with it's own angry personality.

[old5.0]

Several years ago, a buddy from Chicago had a Norm's 68 Hemi Charger. We never lined up, but just from riding in and driving both cars, my 70 440-6 Road Runner would have eaten the Hemi alive. Mine was a 3.54 geared 4-speed, and his was a 3.23 auto, so maybe not a fair comparison, but, it was what it was. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img]

[mockingbird812]

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/[/img]

[mockingbird812]

<span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #CC33CC"><span style="font-size: 17pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">When I think of memorable Mopars, Bruce Hershberger's former ride (and immaculate talents as an <span style="text-decoration: underline">uber</span>-restorer [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif[/img] ) comes to mind. This Challenger was optioned just perfectly and is just stunning in person....</span></span></span></span>

It is just mind boggling that you could stroll into a dealership and buy a car like this!!!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/shocked.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[XXXGoldL34M20]

here is another fine Pinky.
it must of been great to order this one as well.