1970 dick landy charger. Value?

[6pkrunner]

It's really great to see pictures surfacing of the old girl. Most of Landy's cars are photo'ed to the max, but for this camera-shy girl. Hats off to those supplying the images!

[sites]

Great photos for sure! Cool how history repeats itself a bit with the photo of the two ladies and the photo of your two daughters. 

Barry

not that it matters, but they're actually my sons' girlfriends.

[Steve P.]

It's been a BUNCH of years since I raced there, but, that sure looks like SUFFOLK RACEWAY..... Those monster spaces between the slabs of concrete sure do look like the old runway.... They didn't have a tower back then. Just a starting shack..

[Blusmbl]

WOW.  Any idea when those pictures that Todd sent you were taken?

That's amazing, seeing those.  It looks like they peeled off the Dick Landy & Bob Lambeck vinyl and sold it as-is.  It's even more amazing knowing it's been through several different owners, and nobody touched the paint!

[Charger_Fan]

It's even more amazing knowing it's been through several different owners, and nobody touched the paint!

That's for sure!
Leaving the original paint is practically unheard of for a race car.

[Ghoste]

Wandering off track a bit now, but I wonder if any of the Coronet's that Mike Landy drove through 68 and 69 have been accounted for?  For that matter, what of Dick's 67 Coronet, or the Hemi Dart or the Challenger, or the...?

[BORDERBUM]

Great story. If it were me I would probably be inclined to sit on the car for another 5-10 years, doing nothing major to it in the meantime. Get all the documentation together now, keep the buzz going and then haul it to Barrett-Jackson when you most feel like adding about $300k or more to your bank account. Are you close to retirement age? If so I think this car will definitely put you over the top in that dept. If/when you sell it you could buy a nicely restored 440 R/T Charger for about 1/8 the money and let someone else deal with the headaches because unless you've restored cars before, restoring one this historically important is going to be a very expensive and painstaking hassle. At least 30 different people are going to be pissed off with the results, even if it looks perfect to everyone else. And even if you just dropped the engine in and fixed the body damage you would probably be somewhat tepid about driving it I would think. I would be. One spark from the notoriously dangerous, 36-year-old wiring harness could end in a smoldering pile of goo. And in all honesty I don't really know if you'd be adding all that much value (if any) to the car if you spent $50k and five years restoring it. In many ways this car is more valuable as-is than restored. But that's just me. I'm not a huge Landy fan but I am a huge Charger fan and in my mind a car with this much importance to so many people makes it more trouble than I'd be interested in tackling.

By the way, who says procrastination doesn't pay, right? You inadvertintly sat on a special Charger for 30 years and increased its value by what, 400 times what you paid? How much did you pay for it anyway? That is one hell of an investment if you ask me.  Had you jumped right on the project and painted it red or purple you probably wouldn't be having this conversation now. Doing nothing for the past 30 years is the best thing you could have done. Like I said, it's just my opinion but I'd sit on it for a while longer, sell it at B-J and then buy a perfect '68 R/T 4 speed Charger, put the other $250-$300k in the bank and go on about my business.

I agree with everything that you said, everything.....restoring it like what it was will make people never happy and it is probably worth as much now if not more(in somes eyes) than if you spent 50K to restore it. 

I agree with all of those that said this is the best discovery ever and is the best 70 ever!!!

I have enjoyed this thread more than probably any I have ever read, keep up with the info and pics, this has been a awesome read of nine pages!!! Remy

[sites]

I don't want to jump the gun, but I'm just too excited to keep it to myself. Randy Bolig says an article is on the way and dodgecharger.com is given recognition. Troy, I hope you're ready

[blackcharger]

let us know what issue. Now I need to find a place that sells MM.

[Lostsheep]

I would have to agree, this is one of the coolest stories and finds.....ever. Congrats!!!

[Mikesmopars01]

That is a great find on the pictures.  I find myself running in the door to see if there is any new news on this car.

[69_500]

I talked to Dick Landy up in Minnesota over the weekend about this car. He didn't come accross as too excited about it. I had also questioned him about doing a video interview, and he said "Drag racers race for 2 reasons, fame and money. I have enough fame, now I just want money. Might as well cash in on  the fame I have."
I would have loved to interview him and just hear some stories, and talk more about the 70 car, but he wasn't interested unless there was a $ involved. I talked about a % but wasn't interested.

[bull]

I talked to Dick Landy up in Minnesota over the weekend about this car. He didn't come accross as too excited about it. I had also questioned him about doing a video interview, and he said "Drag racers race for 2 reasons, fame and money. I have enough fame, now I just want money. Might as well cash in on  the fame I have."
I would have loved to interview him and just hear some stories, and talk more about the 70 car, but he wasn't interested unless there was a $ involved. I talked about a % but wasn't interested.

Really? That's the only two reasons people drag race? That sounds pretty foolish to me. Sorry if that offends anyone but I find it hard to believe those are the only two reasons people drag race. I know some of them are adrenaline junkies who do it for the thrill. I know some of them enjoy the challenge of beating personal speed records through improved driving and mechanical skills. Apparently Landy did it for the money and fame and my opinion of him is getting worse and worse the more I learn about him.

[firefighter3931]

I talked to Dick Landy up in Minnesota over the weekend about this car and he said "Drag racers race for 2 reasons, fame and money. I have enough fame, now I just want money. Might as well cash in on  the fame I have."

That seems sad to me. I guess 'ole DICK is getting a little crusty in his golden years....and greedy too, so much for the luv of the sport.

This guy isn't even in the same league as Mr. 4 speed who recently passed away.   Ronnie was a class act both on the track and off ; Landy sure could have learned a thing or two from him.  

Ron


Ps. Sites ; That is fantastic news on the MM article.  

[mikepmcs]

I talked to Dick Landy up in Minnesota over the weekend about this car. He didn't come accross as too excited about it. I had also questioned him about doing a video interview, and he said "Drag racers race for 2 reasons, fame and money. I have enough fame, now I just want money. Might as well cash in on  the fame I have."
I would have loved to interview him and just hear some stories, and talk more about the 70 car, but he wasn't interested unless there was a $ involved. I talked about a % but wasn't interested.

Sounds like you have your interview quote right there.  print it and let it backfire on him.  I used to drag an old z-1(Kawi bike) back in the day and never won a damn thing and didn't care about money or fame.  I just like to ride fast.  I really hope I'm wrong about this guy but the more I read stuff like this post the more I have no use for him.  Just think if he would use the Carnegie method here and decided to go the other way with this, he would of become even more famous and more wealthy. "Dick Landy rises from the depths of drag racing history, authenticates rare car.  News at 11."  You know what I mean.  I think he might be hurting himself a little playing the I don't care role, and on this site all the info that's getting to these 2500 + members 
v/r
Mike

[Blown70]

WHATTA DICK.  You have got to be kidding me.  I have lost all the respect I have ever had or DICK Landy.

I still like the car, but what a F-ing POS person.  How about do it for the LOVE of the sport DICK.  really.


Tom

[Steve P.]

I can't imagine trying to fill Dick Landy's shoes, but, I would hope that if I were ever given the chance to help out the guy that bought my first 65' Coronet 500, I would do so proudly.. Who knows what's going on with Dick, but, maybe he will come around and help out. What can it hurt??

[6pkrunner]

Wow - I had heard Dick was getting cranky in his old age, but that is friggin' incredible. Maybe Crankheiners is setting in. And Ron you are correct in that Ronnie was lightyears ahead of this aged Dick. Ronnie always had time for his fans and never ever came across as being in it for money or fame. Shame that Dick is going to destroy his reputation in the last few years on the planet. Guess Wikipedia will have to make a new entry "Gibsoned" such as "He Gibsoned his career."

[hemi68charger]

I talked to Dick Landy up in Minnesota over the weekend about this car. He didn't come accross as too excited about it. I had also questioned him about doing a video interview, and he said "Drag racers race for 2 reasons, fame and money. I have enough fame, now I just want money. Might as well cash in on  the fame I have."
I would have loved to interview him and just hear some stories, and talk more about the 70 car, but he wasn't interested unless there was a $ involved. I talked about a % but wasn't interested.

Man,,,,,,, That's sad.......... BUT, he didn't say "HOW" much money......... Offer him dinner for himself and his wife, if he's married...........

Oh well........ Sites you can still relish in the moment that this car IS YOURS now and the history can never be taken away......... Let the magazine articles begin............

Good luck with your toy.......
Troy

[Charger_Fan]

Geez, that's really sad to hear.
Some people just get cranky in their twilight years...although, there's days I could sure see myself as being cranky when I'm that age!

[Ghoste]

Maybe he's bitter at the way he was kind of squeezed out of the sport in many ways only to see guys like Force and make a lot more money and fame than he ever had?

[bull]

Maybe he's bitter at the way he was kind of squeezed out of the sport in many ways only to see guys like Force and make a lot more money and fame than he ever had?

If so it's still pretty telling of his character. If he was there for the fun and thrill of it instead of worrying about image, politics and money he wouldn't be pissed off right now.

[Shakey]

Maybe he's bitter at the way he was kind of squeezed out of the sport in many ways only to see guys like Force and make a lot more money and fame than he ever had?

How was he squeezed out of the sport?

[69_500]

Wow I wasn't expecting that kind of a reaction to my post. I was just typing what he had said to me.

I took it more of him wanting to cash in somewhat on his years of hard work. I took it like he is looking at modern sports stars who are making millions off of appearances, and mechandise, and then when you look back the people who did the same thing 30 years ago were scraping by to make ends meet. So when you look at somethings that way they are due somethings. Like back pay of sorts.

I'll give him this too it was 99+ that day in Minn, and the heat index was 108+ or something like that. So I'm sure that didn't help matters any either.

[6pkrunner]

Wow I wasn't expecting that kind of a reaction to my post. I was just typing what he had said to me.

I took it more of him wanting to cash in somewhat on his years of hard work. I took it like he is looking at modern sports stars who are making millions off of appearances, and mechandise, and then when you look back the people who did the same thing 30 years ago were scraping by to make ends meet. So when you look at somethings that way they are due somethings. Like back pay of sorts.

I'll give him this too it was 99+ that day in Minn, and the heat index was 108+ or something like that. So I'm sure that didn't help matters any either.

Still to expect or demand to be compensated at a level for something of note that took place 30 plus to 40 plus years ago is no way to win over new fans or keep the ones who were with you since 1965 or so. Ronnie Sox went to his grave and was never like that. Sure they made him sign things and sell stuff, but that was more forced on him by his handlers.
Dick Landy was just as much a hero to me as Sox and Martin in the mid-late sixties. Today my Charger has Cragar S/S on it in reminder and homage to Dick and his second generation Chargers. I think I'll take them off now.

Dick was squeezed out as the hemi powered cars were constantly handicapped by weight penalities as the years went by. NHRA were forever adding to the minimum weight of the hemi cars to slow them down so the Bowties could compete. I think it was at an event in 1976 or so when it was announced that the hemicars were penalized another 150 pounds or so. Dick packed up and went home.