daytona mystery--help needed

[pettybird]

A friend of mine has car XX29L9B381547.  It's F5/white, console auto, 3.55 gear.  The previous owner bought the car from a dirt race track where it was used as a pace car, sometime between 1976 and 1979.  When he bought the car, it was painted brown, with the story that it hid the dirt.  I'm assuming it had the speedway name on the side.  This car sold to NY in the late 80's, and is currently blue with a pale blue tail, 70's chic style.

The previous owner's name was Dembe Behner, and he was from the Cleveland area.  Where he raced at, how far he got from home, etc. is a mystery, as well.  When he died, the wife sold everything car related (including the car) and apparently sold/threw out most of his racing history and pictures.  I don't know if he was in late models, sprints, etc. 

I need:  order/build date info
selling dealer
anyone who may have heard of this car


I'm hoping that when its selling dealer is posted, the region to search will be narrowed considerably...

[xs29j8Bullitt]

XX29L9B381547 was sold new at Daytona Dodge in Daytona, Florida!  Neat, Huh?

Build Date was May 15th... SO Number 515BX926642 / 66-58606  shipped on 8/26/69  (# 183 on shipping list)

XS

[71ChallengeHer]

If it was raced on Dirt Tracks it would have been in the late model class.

[69bronzeT5]

If it was raced on Dirt Tracks it would have been in the late model class.

Man...whoever raced it on dirt tracks must of not of known what its worth

[hemi68charger]

XX29L9B381547 was sold new at Daytona Dodge in Daytona, Florida!  Neat, Huh?

Build Date was May 15th... SO Number 515BX926642 / 66-58606  shipped on 8/26/69  (# 183 on shipping list)

XS

Man, a man with a plethora of quick Daytona insight...

[nascarxx29]

Are you sure thats the correct vin .Wasnt there a  B5 blue daytona from NY of Dr Stuart Springer daytona reported in 1990 XX29L9B381547 reported stolen .I got to find that newsletter and check my memory on that

[69bronzeT5]

Are you sure thats the correct vin .Wasnt there a  B5 blue daytona from NY of Dr Stuart Springer daytona reported in 1990 XX29L9B381547 reported stolen .I got to find that newsletter and check my memory on that

[pettybird]

Yes, and that's the car.  I called my friend to verify, and he knows of that.  I should have more details later...


daytonadodge.com...they're still in business!


Well...who knows about short tracks in Florida?  It wasn't raced--it was a pace car.

[nascarxx29]

I knew that vin reminded me


  Re: How many '69 500s were actually built???
« Reply #114 on: January 08, 2006, 08:50:23 PM »     

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Ive walked up to countless cars over the years at various shows like mopar nats for every year.And the numbers are out in the open to record.And in the early days of the number of clubs I was in They published owners vins state and the plate in early wingcar club newsletters.And at a show if a dash was covered.The hood was up to see the numbers on the fender tag.Or record down the plates.And nowadays you can go on to barett jackson and check past auctions and the vins are there as well I didnt start this trend .Also I have the superbird #1920 list and #501 shipment lists all with vins.And all through out the internet I see these vins fender tags out there.It sad about that 68 Hemi car lost it was moparts user limellite aeros car.There is still to this day a stolen never found XX29L9B381547 B5 blue daytona of DR Stuart Springer.That was in a locked garage stolen in 89-90.There was even a story in MCG where some guys were chased down in a reported stolen white 69 charger.That was recovered and the center of ignition switch was ripped out.On a car that doesnt have a locking steering column.Numbers out there our not .This stuff sorry to say will still continue to take place.Its the bad end of the hobby.And current rising

[pettybird]

friend called back--

When the car was in Ohio, my friend (Joe) had befriended the owner, Dembe Behner.  (I had the spelling wrong.)  As Joe had worked on the car, been around to hear his stories and look through Dembe's history while he was too sick to do so himself, he grew attached to the car.  Dembe promised Joe the car for a "nominal fee" after he was gone, but that number was never discussed.  Well, he passes, and Joe gets a call from the widow.  Any deal he had with her husband died with him, sorry, but she was through putting up with his racing and cars, and was going to use the money as she saw fit for her retirement.  He was free to submit sealed a bid, as that was how everything was to be sold.  The Daytona, along with a limelight 6pk 4 automatic Superbird, disappeared to New York, possibly through Steve Klein.  THAT story resonates with me as he was apparently on the way to my house to buy my dad's cars right after his passing (same time frame) and was diverted to these two...  I'd love to know if this story is true.

The car, probably brokered, went away.  This is where this car was stolen.  The story Joe has (according to the guy that sold the car to him) is that the good doctor was in the car too deep (somewhere in the mid 30's) and couldn't get out.  He insured the car full value, and then it was stolen, purportedly on purpose.  The doctor collected on the car, and it reappeared.  The insurance company in the meantime set the car in a storage lot for a considerable period of time.  The guy who bought the car, Sal, saw the car in the storage lot, and arranged to buy the car from the auction for (my friend thinks he remembers) around $8,000.  He had it for a couple years, and listed the car in Hemmings for $20,000.


A friend of Joe's brought the ad to his attention, and he recognized it by the custom paint listed in the ad.  Joe called on the car, and heard a song and dance story about how he had the car sold to a dealer, with a deposit, but if he bought the car with cash, he would sell it, as he wanted it to go to a good home, blah blah blah.  Well, he couldn't get the money, and reluctantly let it slide. 


Approximately four years later, he thought about the car again, and went through a pile of scrap papers in his attic, finding the number.  He called the guy, intending to find out who bought it and to see if that next owner would sell it.  Sal stated he still had the car, and he would honor the ad's price, despite the passing of time.  Joe asked about the car's condition, and was assured that not only did it run, it was as fast as he remembered, and that he would have no problem driving it home to Cleveland.  My friend flew out the next day, and the car wouldn't start.  Sal repeatedly expressed bewilderment at this, and kept saying that he had it out the previous week.  Joe eventually got the car to fire, but so weakly that he was able to stall the motor by blowing (as in huff and puff) in the carburetor while leaning over the engine.  Joe told Sal that he thought the timing chain had jumped, as he'd replaced everything else that COULD go wrong on a car that "ran last week."  Sal said that he could have the car for $16,000 (two thousand off of the previously agreed price, provided Joe would take the car absolutely as is, with a nonrefundable deposit due immediately.  Joe thought it over, and bought the car.  While waiting for a tow truck driver friend from Cleveland to rescue him with a flatbed, Joe tinkered with the car more out of boredom than anything else.  He ended up talking to a woman who lived above the garage in an efficiency apartment Sal rented out, and she laughed at the notion that the car ran recently.  She told Joe that all he could and would do was go out into the garage, get aggravated by the car, and throw wrenches and swear a lot, and that the car had not run in several years.  Joe confronted Sal, who told him that he had made a deal, and was free to leave without his deposit.  Joe took the car home, replaced the jumped-two-teeth timing chain, and it runs as advertised. 

The car isn't driven much here (Joe's collection lives a witness-protection-program lifestyle) but it's around, almost certainly permanently in his care.  He made a deal with me this summer that I could drive it if i would help work on it, and I couldn't jump quickly enough at that offer.  We drove the cars to a couple local shows this summer, where it was exercised "appropriately."  The car's still quick.  I have a couple pictures of his car alongside his 'bird, our cars and others at a local show, and his best man drove it in his wedding a couple years back.


The previous history's a blank, though--any help?

[nascarxx29]

I got to dig into my stuff and see what I can find interesting story .I just recall that alert going out to the wingcar community 89-90.And wondered what happened as the story was the doctor had a few cars .And had a private mechanic come to the garage whenever to to routine maintence.The mechanic locked the cars keys in a tool box.And locked garage up behind him.I originally  suspected car was lost by owner for divorce or some ? reasons.After 17 years its back. That should be a intersting newsletter story.I recall some of those people you mentioned.I remember Steve Klein had 2 daytonas back in the day a red on red one.And a Y4 gold one painted white.And now he has hemi cuda convertible

[nascarxx29]

Still looking found info on 381546 Gary Lazar -Pete V. Jim Radke 381548.Still searching for background on 381547

[nascarxx29]

Ran across this while searching so far.That is what I had .I recalled reading before relating it to theXX29L9B381547 post came out

[pettybird]

wow that's wild...

[69_500]

Wasn't there an article in MCG about 2 years ago about that same blue Daytona?

[nascarxx29]

Not sure .I would have to dig out the MCGS do you recall what issue where it was mentioned

[69_500]

I don't recall, but it was on the cover of the magazine as well. Not the featured car on the cover, but one of the multiple cars on the cover.

[moparstuart]

neat story

[nascarxx29]

Any updates on this car or its story

[nascarxx29]

Any updates on this former Stolen daytona.

[daytonalo]

Dave unlock me 

[nascarxx29]

Any new updates on this former Stolen daytona.

[Mikesmoparperformance]

I have a couple pictures of his car alongside his 'bird

WOW Awesome story but I see it is from 2007 4 years a go and still no picture to be found?  of the car   or news of the car? Why is that ? The daytona mystery isn't solved yet so why stop posting then ? I hoop there are some more info about this car very interesting!

[pettybird]

sadly, 2007 was probably the last time the car was outside...

[Mikesmoparperformance]

Awesome Daytona! uniek Rear wing! the strip is uniek whats up with that?