I’d like to see some rare beaters that are driven.

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Canucklehead

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I see a lot of posts of cars that are waiting in line for years to get restored. There seems to be less of these cars driven every year, too. I bought my 69 GTS factory 440 M-code out of the basement of a repair shop, it hadn’t been running in at least 10-15 years, we hooked up a jerry can to the fuel pump and drove it up onto the trailer. A new carburetor, tank and fuel pump, some brake and suspension work, some used wiring harnesses that I had laying around, resealed the engine and rebuilt the transmission, bought some tires from a buddy, and started driving it. Why not?

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Canucklehead said:
I see a lot of posts of cars that are waiting in line for years to get restored. There seems to be less of these cars driven every year, too. I bought my 69 GTS factory 440 M-code out of the basement of a repair shop, it hadn’t been running in at least 10-15 years, we hooked up a jerry can to the fuel pump and drove it up onto the trailer. A new carburetor, tank and fuel pump, some brake and suspension work, some used wiring harnesses that I had laying around, resealed the engine and rebuilt the transmission, bought some tires from a buddy, and started driving it. Why not?

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Hell yeah! That thing is a big bowl of badassary!
 
Canucklehead said:
I see a lot of posts of cars that are waiting in line for years to get restored. There seems to be less of these cars driven every year, too. I bought my 69 GTS factory 440 M-code out of the basement of a repair shop, it hadn’t been running in at least 10-15 years, we hooked up a jerry can to the fuel pump and drove it up onto the trailer. A new carburetor, tank and fuel pump, some brake and suspension work, some used wiring harnesses that I had laying around, resealed the engine and rebuilt the transmission, bought some tires from a buddy, and started driving it. Why not?

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Compared to mine that is clean! My dart sport is more of a Joe Dirt beater!! But I love my abody!!
 
yeah, we run the wheels off of 'em....
'77 shorty... for example, would be one we run... among the others.
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Both down for repairs right now….

Edit… long delay, sorry. I really had a bit to say. I got pulled away.

A Magnum is a 2 year run name plate. It was supposed to be called a Charger but the crusty old Chrysler executives were scared to call it one due to the radical body style change moving so far away from the “Cordoba” based Charger that sold like rotting flesh at a vegan fest. The styling department pressed on and won with 1 concession, change the name from Charger to something else. And these the “Magnum” name plate for a car line was born. This one is the last year the B body was made, 1979. 1978 was the last year of the Cordoba style Charger with a few scant thousand sold vs the 50 thousand or so Magnums sold.

These are not “Valuable” or sought after much at all but a 2 year run name plate makes it a rare car with only around 110K units sold.
(Give or take)

While a ‘1971 Duster is not a rare car, how many are left running around as a daily able driver & that do run around often? Considering these cars used to be plentiful like locusts during a plague….. LOL!!!

Thanks to the FABO members for helping me decide this natural 2 tone car painted in Bahama yellow (Butterscotch for Dodge, if I got that right) and the stain black roof and door tops.

Im working it towards a drag car slowly.

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I also have a 69 Dart GT convertible and a 72 Valiant 318 3-speed stick but they are not rare. I did just pick up an oddball Dart though, 69 Swinger factory 318 4-speed in R4 red. Rough and repainted blue but I’m so tempted to get it running and driving.

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I’ve posted this car before. The only reason I’m posting it now is because I completely agree with the sentiment of why not drive a car that’s waiting to be restored if you can. When I get really discouraged about working on my ‘65 Dart GoGo coupe I hop in the convertible and go for a ride. It’s funny, I find my self driving it for local errands more and more. It’s amazing how many people wave, smile, or yell something like “I love your car!” If I drive it to the local Walmart, someone always seems to stop and talk to me about it. Once, I found a woman just standing by it smiling, and she told me her first car was just like it. Even if they aren’t concours winners, even if they aren’t done, get ‘em out there and enjoy them, and let people see them. It does everyone good.

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I agree. My first Charger got more attention when it was ratty.
THIS car.....

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Is my second Charger. It looks more run down than my first one. I anticipate about the same reaction when I get it registered and out on the road.
 
Funny part about being ratty. Most folks look at it and it floods their brains with memories. They don’t see rust or mis matched colors only their memories of a younger and better day. Now with most cars looking like an aerodynamic pregnant roller skate, these older cars stand out like a crown jewel.
 
This sucker ain't rare, but how many do you even see anywhere much less going down the road!?
The story: I bought a complete non runner 77 Volare wagon for $500 for the perfect grill, and swapped the grill out to my 76Vlare RR. OK so no one except in Oh, Pa, Ct, Wi. etc wanted the wagon for the $500 and no one would spring for the trucking. I make an even up trade for a more door 318 poly 64 Belvedere. Ran great , needed brakes, and it had a new installed AMD floor pan. Needed windshield and back glass that got broke on the rough ride home from La. I could not make myself part it! and why! Strait, little rust, now it is running/driving with new glass, brakes and I did all the body/paint.
I call it the poor man's cool ride!!! Makes me SMILE!!!!
Still needs new upholstry. No it will not get carpet or headliner. For what!!! I just hose it out!

Oh yea see the 62 Dart(B body) in the background? It is justy riolling right now but paint done, just trying to decide if going back to the slant or 318.

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Nothing makes me happier than seeing people out driving and enjoying their cars, that's the whole purpose! My 75 Dart Sport will never be either rare or valuable, and I have every intention of driving it regularly, once it is running decent and is roadworthy. I plan to use as a daily driver for at least as long as my Bronco will be down while I do the engine in it, so it will have to be reliable enough to get me to work and back. When I had my 70 Dart I drove it every single chance I got, including to work, grocery store, Home depot, etc. My biggest pet peeve is people who don't drive their cars because they don't want to get it dirty, it's a car, use it dang it!
 
I just got my 440 installed and running
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for this non-rare, but beater barracuda running a few weeks ago. I'm trying to have it roadworthy by the end of the year.
 
I also have a 69 Dart GT convertible and a 72 Valiant 318 3-speed stick but they are not rare.
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Any photos of the '72? Sounds rare to me!

I have a 1970 Valiant 318 3-speed stick car, owned over a decade now I have still not seen another one.
 
Alaskan_TA said:
Any photos of the '72? Sounds rare to me!

I have a 1970 Valiant 318 3-speed stick car, owned over a decade now I have still not seen another one.
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I went to school with someone who owned a 70 Valiant with a 318 3 speed stick in the late 70's, almost bought it from him, was in really nice shape until he rear ended another car.
 
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