Another Mopar Off My Bucket List - Barracuda Fastback
I realize that this thread has gotten way off track by covering the work of other projects while the 'Cuda waits for me to get back to it.
I went back to the first post I had on this thread and looked at the photos of the Barracuda when I'd purchased it. The car looked pretty clean but not quite finished. I had never intended to dump as much time and money into it as what I did. It was supposed to be my daily driver with all of it's flaws. (except that ugly steering wheel cover) As I recall I paid $7000 for it.
I've always had a hard time leaving well enough alone. Gradually I fixed the flaws and scrounged up pieces that had been missing. But I'd managed to keep from spending much. I had dreamt of the day when I had finished all of my other cars and could get wild with the fastback. - But it was unlikely I was ever going to get to it.
After it got wrecked I was in full panic mode. It really had been my daily driver and I wanted to get it back on the road asap. Unable to find decent affordable front fenders made me decide on fiberglass. Things snowballed from there. I couldn't see painting the front clip and ignoring the flaws I could see in the rear quarters. - And of course I found out how bad those quarters were when I stripped off the paint. The car had crossed a line. Instead of being a 'some day' restoration it became project #1.
At this point I would say that I don't really have any regrets with the car. I had bought it to drive 'right away'. - And I thought the price was reasonable at the time. Circumstances changed after the crash. It was no longer drivable. Had I had a crystal ball and been able to see into the future I would have bought a basket case instead. After all, I did end up changing engine, transmission, rear end, quarter panels, suspension, brakes, tires, wheels, gas tank, fuel & brake lines, etc, etc... I'd probably have $5000 less in it now. Oh well, it's all about the journey I guess.
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I realize that this thread has gotten way off track by covering the work of other projects while the 'Cuda waits for me to get back to it.
I went back to the first post I had on this thread and looked at the photos of the Barracuda when I'd purchased it. The car looked pretty clean but not quite finished. I had never intended to dump as much time and money into it as what I did. It was supposed to be my daily driver with all of it's flaws. (except that ugly steering wheel cover) As I recall I paid $7000 for it.
I've always had a hard time leaving well enough alone. Gradually I fixed the flaws and scrounged up pieces that had been missing. But I'd managed to keep from spending much. I had dreamt of the day when I had finished all of my other cars and could get wild with the fastback. - But it was unlikely I was ever going to get to it.
After it got wrecked I was in full panic mode. It really had been my daily driver and I wanted to get it back on the road asap. Unable to find decent affordable front fenders made me decide on fiberglass. Things snowballed from there. I couldn't see painting the front clip and ignoring the flaws I could see in the rear quarters. - And of course I found out how bad those quarters were when I stripped off the paint. The car had crossed a line. Instead of being a 'some day' restoration it became project #1.
At this point I would say that I don't really have any regrets with the car. I had bought it to drive 'right away'. - And I thought the price was reasonable at the time. Circumstances changed after the crash. It was no longer drivable. Had I had a crystal ball and been able to see into the future I would have bought a basket case instead. After all, I did end up changing engine, transmission, rear end, quarter panels, suspension, brakes, tires, wheels, gas tank, fuel & brake lines, etc, etc... I'd probably have $5000 less in it now. Oh well, it's all about the journey I guess.
View attachment q.jpg
View attachment qq.jpg