Mom and Dad have been gone a while, but I cherish this conversation. In 1970, Mom and Dad purchased a 1970 Challenger R/T, B5 Blue with a White vinyl top. Dad never told this story without including "... drove it off the showroom floor."
I had heard that story many times, but in his later years he asked, Do you know why we chose the Challenger? He said they considered a 1969 Mustang Boss 302, and a 1970 Camero. They looked that the Mustang first, Mom said, No I don't like it. Then the Camero, No, I don't like this either. Then she sat in the Challenger and said, This is the one I want. It was going to be her daily driver, and I would be allowed to purchase it when I turned 16.
Dad started working the deal, and ... they drove it off the showroom floor. When they got home, Dad asked how she came to this decision. For those of you who remember the 70's, this need no explanation. For others, many women wore wigs, and some of them were quite tall. Mom told Dad, the Challenger was the only one I could sit in and my wig would not hit the roof.
I paid $1,000 for that car in the late 80's. Growing up in a suburb of Tulsa with 1 high school and a population 15,000 the Challenger, my afro and I had quite a reputation. The town has grown, the curl has left and my hair turned gray, but I still have the Challenger. I drove it for 1 year in high school, and Dad asked me to park it and get something else. He said, Son, if you keep driving that car it will kill you. It will be like driving nails in your own coffin. And he was right. So both of us survived. And like many, I wish I would have taken better care of both of us.
With 74,000 miles and a one owner car, same family, it will stay in the family. My adult daughter is an engineer for the most advanced fighter jet in the world, and she is anxious to claim the Challenger. I can tell now that we will have alot of questions. While I have been turning wrenches for decades, this 70's technology is new to me. We are looking for your help as bring this family member back to life.
Thanks,
Mike
I had heard that story many times, but in his later years he asked, Do you know why we chose the Challenger? He said they considered a 1969 Mustang Boss 302, and a 1970 Camero. They looked that the Mustang first, Mom said, No I don't like it. Then the Camero, No, I don't like this either. Then she sat in the Challenger and said, This is the one I want. It was going to be her daily driver, and I would be allowed to purchase it when I turned 16.
Dad started working the deal, and ... they drove it off the showroom floor. When they got home, Dad asked how she came to this decision. For those of you who remember the 70's, this need no explanation. For others, many women wore wigs, and some of them were quite tall. Mom told Dad, the Challenger was the only one I could sit in and my wig would not hit the roof.
I paid $1,000 for that car in the late 80's. Growing up in a suburb of Tulsa with 1 high school and a population 15,000 the Challenger, my afro and I had quite a reputation. The town has grown, the curl has left and my hair turned gray, but I still have the Challenger. I drove it for 1 year in high school, and Dad asked me to park it and get something else. He said, Son, if you keep driving that car it will kill you. It will be like driving nails in your own coffin. And he was right. So both of us survived. And like many, I wish I would have taken better care of both of us.
With 74,000 miles and a one owner car, same family, it will stay in the family. My adult daughter is an engineer for the most advanced fighter jet in the world, and she is anxious to claim the Challenger. I can tell now that we will have alot of questions. While I have been turning wrenches for decades, this 70's technology is new to me. We are looking for your help as bring this family member back to life.
Thanks,
Mike
Last edited:
