I first saw this car when I was 14 or 15 years old. Now 55 years young. Lol. It made a lasting impression on me. And there was always a rumor about this car.
Now I have own other Mopar’s and still have a few. Love this hobby and the people in it!
The car has long local history in my area. I have kept tabs on it since that young age.
Tim bought the car new at a local dealership. (Still in business just under a different name.) Tim was 17 his mom had to sign most all of the paperwork.
Tim was good friends with local short track racer Larry Detjens.
Hence the day two stripes (literally the car was left at his body shop less than two days after Tim acquired his TX9 Challenger) Larry painted on the White/Blue stripes on Tim’s car to mimic the stripes on Larry’s race car, at this time was a Dodge Challenger. Larry pasted away in 1981 in a race accident.
Tim told me that his car was Larry’s toy and most all modifications were done by Larry at his Body/race shop.
Racing seats and Blue and White shag carpeting interior was done by Tim’s mother.
The rumor is true, as the story goes: A local salvage yard had acquired a 1970 T/A that was smoked by a train! The salvage yard called Larry to see if he wanted to buy the drivetrain from the wrecked T/A. Larry passed on the deal, although told Tim, he should go buy it for his 74 Challenger and Larry would do the swap for him.
Well Tim went and picked up the drivetrain that next day!
And it was installed! A little while later the 6-pak was removed and the engine sent out to the shop who did Larry’s race motors. (Place is still in business to this day) To become more than a stock 340!
Tim sold the car in about 1982. To a guy named Gary. I remember seeing it now and then during the time Gary owned it. Not much had changed on the car at that time.
Gary then sold the car in 1986 to a gentleman name, Mike. Mike kept the car for almost 40 years, with limited use. The car was repainted in 2010 while Mike owned it. And it looks amazing! During this repaint the stripes Larry Detjens painted on Tim’s car had been removed. Mike then sold it to a Friend of mine. He had big plans. Those plans did not come to be… so I got the call to bring the car back to an operational status. I knew so much about this car that, I was not interested in working on for him. So a deal was struck and I bought the car in July! That’s a long wait! Heck I’ve had two of my other Dodge’s for 23 years and another one for 17 years!
So the car’s body has only 19,000 miles on it. It runs and drives and is quite wicked with a built 727 and 4:30 gears!
It needs to be freshened up and detailed. (All this time not being used… well you know.) Leaks are the issues at hand.
So my question to you all…. Should I have the stripes put back on the car?
If I would do this.. I would have them done in vinyl material.
Thoughts?
PLY478
Now I have own other Mopar’s and still have a few. Love this hobby and the people in it!
The car has long local history in my area. I have kept tabs on it since that young age.
Tim bought the car new at a local dealership. (Still in business just under a different name.) Tim was 17 his mom had to sign most all of the paperwork.
Tim was good friends with local short track racer Larry Detjens.
Hence the day two stripes (literally the car was left at his body shop less than two days after Tim acquired his TX9 Challenger) Larry painted on the White/Blue stripes on Tim’s car to mimic the stripes on Larry’s race car, at this time was a Dodge Challenger. Larry pasted away in 1981 in a race accident.
Tim told me that his car was Larry’s toy and most all modifications were done by Larry at his Body/race shop.
Racing seats and Blue and White shag carpeting interior was done by Tim’s mother.
The rumor is true, as the story goes: A local salvage yard had acquired a 1970 T/A that was smoked by a train! The salvage yard called Larry to see if he wanted to buy the drivetrain from the wrecked T/A. Larry passed on the deal, although told Tim, he should go buy it for his 74 Challenger and Larry would do the swap for him.
Well Tim went and picked up the drivetrain that next day!
And it was installed! A little while later the 6-pak was removed and the engine sent out to the shop who did Larry’s race motors. (Place is still in business to this day) To become more than a stock 340!
Tim sold the car in about 1982. To a guy named Gary. I remember seeing it now and then during the time Gary owned it. Not much had changed on the car at that time.
Gary then sold the car in 1986 to a gentleman name, Mike. Mike kept the car for almost 40 years, with limited use. The car was repainted in 2010 while Mike owned it. And it looks amazing! During this repaint the stripes Larry Detjens painted on Tim’s car had been removed. Mike then sold it to a Friend of mine. He had big plans. Those plans did not come to be… so I got the call to bring the car back to an operational status. I knew so much about this car that, I was not interested in working on for him. So a deal was struck and I bought the car in July! That’s a long wait! Heck I’ve had two of my other Dodge’s for 23 years and another one for 17 years!
So the car’s body has only 19,000 miles on it. It runs and drives and is quite wicked with a built 727 and 4:30 gears!
It needs to be freshened up and detailed. (All this time not being used… well you know.) Leaks are the issues at hand.
So my question to you all…. Should I have the stripes put back on the car?
If I would do this.. I would have them done in vinyl material.
Thoughts?
PLY478
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