Advice on how to track down my deceased friends old charger?

[HAZZARDJOHN]

Here is the deal,

I am desperately trying to track down my Buddy's 74 Charger that he had before he passed away. It was his Baby. It was a California car that we drove back to MN in 01 and then in 03 a drunk driver hit the passenger side front after almost killing my friend Art who was driving his car in front of Jake (Art broke his hip and both legs)

The car looked bad, but when we took the fender, hood, bumper and what not off, it was not too bad. The wheels were in there factory position and all it would take is a new core support and a good pull to be back to normal. Well even though Jake loved this car, he had huge medical bills from the accident and used the $8000 the insurance gave him to pay them. He did eventually receive a settlement from the Drunk, but he used that as a down payment on  a house.

The car sat for a couple more years and he eventually traded it to someone he worked with for a winch for his four wheeler and a motor cycle (ticked me off cause I would have paid him for this car). 

Well now that he is gone I can think of nothing better to do than to try and get his car back. Now it will be a side project for me, but I can think of no better tribute than rebuilding his car the way he wanted it.

Here is what I did so far:

I know he traded it to a former co worker (Rumor has it, that it was his boss)

I called his former employer and told them my story, they put transferred me to his supervisors voicemail. I left a message.

I called the Union (He was a union sheet metal worker) and tried to get some way to contact his fellow employees (no luck, but was worth a try)

I had my Dad run the plates, but since it hasn't been registered since '03 it is still in Jakes name. It also has a salvage certificate as a proof of ownership so that the car can not be titles until it is put together and inspected.

I am running out of Ideas but I really want to get this car back. I really don't care what it costs.

Here is the car in question:




After the accident and tear down:







^ Him showing how Strong he is to walk away from the accident, Who knew five years later it would be the opposite story.

I seriously wish he never got into bikes. If he didn't this car would still be in his garage and he would be here with me, probably working on the car.

Thanks and have a great day

~HJ

[69bronzeT5]

I dont have any advice so I wish you the best of luck in the search.

[Drache]

Is it just me or were those pictures posted before? I remember seeing those pictures posted on this site....

[General_01]

Sounds like you have every possible avenue covered. Hopefully the supervisor at his place of employment will get back to you, because it seems that is the only way to find the car. Good luck with the search. I hope you can find it and make it into the tribute you would like to make to your friend. Let me know if I can help. I live in Blaine, MN.

[HAZZARDJOHN]

Is it just me or were those pictures posted before? I remember seeing those pictures posted on this site....

I posted a thread probably a year or two ago when I was trying to buy the car from him since I was upset that it was sitting for so long. He told me he loved that car and didn't want to sell it. I respected his wishes and then about 6 months ago he called me and told me that he traded it for a Motorcycle and a winch. He was very impulsive guy and didn't even think to consult with me first. Unfortunately he was killed on a motorcycle and in the last year has made a complete switch from a car guy to a motorcycle guy. I have a feeling if This car would have been fixed he would still be alive today.

~HJ

[Drache]

Is it just me or were those pictures posted before? I remember seeing those pictures posted on this site....

I posted a thread probably a year or two ago when I was trying to buy the car from him since I was upset that it was sitting for so long. He told me he loved that car and didn't want to sell it. I respected his wishes and then about 6 months ago he called me and told me that he traded it for a Motorcycle and a winch. He was very impulsive guy and didn't even think to consult with me first. Unfortunately he was killed on a motorcycle and in the last year has made a complete switch from a car guy to a motorcycle guy. I have a feeling if This car would have been fixed he would still be alive today.

~HJ

That's right, I remember the thread now. I certainly hope you find the car. The only way I can think of requires the VIN....

[PocketThunder]

There is a 73 or 74 sitting in a farm near my hometown about an hour from here if you need parts after you find it. 

Paul
in Minnetonka

[HAZZARDJOHN]

Sounds like you have every possible avenue covered. Hopefully the supervisor at his place of employment will get back to you, because it seems that is the only way to find the car. Good luck with the search. I hope you can find it and make it into the tribute you would like to make to your friend. Let me know if I can help. I live in Blaine, MN.

Thanks! BTW, He loved your '71 and his plans for this car was to make it a '74 super bee tribute. I showed him a pic of your car a while back and he was in love with it.

If I get the car back, my plans are to follow his plans as close as I can. They are pretty simple, Bulge hood, hideaway headlights, Older style tailights, buckets and a floor shifter. Also better rims, he really want 17" torque trusts (not necessarily my cup-o-soup, but he was pretty insistent on them)  I Really don't want to build the car I wanted but more the car he wanted.

~HJ

[HAZZARDJOHN]

There is a 73 or 74 sitting in a farm near my hometown about an hour from here if you need parts after you find it. 

Paul
in Minnetonka

Thanks I appreciate it!

~HJ

[General_01]

I saw this car at the TDC meet in Jefferson City, MO in 2006. This guy did a Super Bee tribute with his also. Unfortunately, this is the only pic I have of the car. I liked it.

That put a smile on my face when you said he loved my car. Thanks.

[HAZZARDJOHN]

That is too cool!

Something I just thought about, he already put the super bee logo on the door. I completely forgot about it til right now.

~HJ

[HAZZARDJOHN]

Is it just me or were those pictures posted before? I remember seeing those pictures posted on this site....

That's right, I remember the thread now. I certainly hope you find the car. The only way I can think of requires the VIN....

My Dad (a Cop) has the VIN from the registration. I just didn't think it would do any good since it is still in jakes name since it hasn't been registered since '03

~HJ

[Drache]

My Dad (a Cop) has the VIN from the registration. I just didn't think it would do any good since it is still in jakes name since it hasn't been registered since '03

~HJ

Yeah I hadnt of thought about that....

[KMPX2]

Best thing you could do is go talk to his old boss in person.

[69*F5*SE]

Good luck in your search.

[HAZZARDJOHN]

Success! I found the Charger. I talked with the guy today and he is willing to sell it, only problem is he wants Waaaayyy too much money for it. I really don't think he is ripping me off so much as Jake took this guy for a fortune. Jake traded this Charger for a motorcycle and a 97 Buick Lesabre as well as a four wheeler winch. I just remembered the motorcycle and winch. I will probably end up paying what he wants, but it will take me a while to feel good about it. The guy was a friend of Jakes and even quizzed me before he would even talk to me about the car. We talked for a bit so I really don't think he is trying to take advantage fo the situation, more just trying to get his money back. The only thing he has done to it is remove the seats and carpet.

~HJ

[moparsons]

Congrats!!!       Can't wait to see it fixed up! 

[moparstuart]

  glad you found it , Hope you get it back to do a tribute 

[1969chargerrtse]

That sucks about the bike accident.  I sold mine to help fund the work on my engine compartment.  Was it his fault or did someone not see him on the bike?  Glad to hear you located it.

[HAZZARDJOHN]

That sucks about the bike accident.  I sold mine to help fund the work on my engine compartment.  Was it his fault or did someone not see him on the bike?  Glad to hear you located it.

It was his fault. Two Words... Crotch Rocket 

~HJ

[Bandit72]

That sucks about the bike accident.  I sold mine to help fund the work on my engine compartment.  Was it his fault or did someone not see him on the bike?  Glad to hear you located it.

It was his fault. Two Words... Crotch Rocket 

~HJ

i hate them things...

[Nacho-RT74]

wooops, what a sad story!!! sorry!!

but first you know to need that is a 73 not a 74

GREAT YOU FOUND it!!!

will be a nice memorabilia to your friend

[tan top]

 good find HJ  .....   i remember seeing   that picture  of it after it wrecked on the old site   .. so what you going to do  rebuild it exactly as it was     

[HAZZARDJOHN]

wooops, what a sad story!!! sorry!!

but first you know to need that is a 73 not a 74

GREAT YOU FOUND it!!!

will be a nice memorabilia to your friend

How is it a '73? It is title and insured as a '74. as well as it was titled in Cali as a '74? This would be news to me. I was with when he bought it.  I am not doubting ya, as I am a first and second gen charger man, but if the paper work is wrong it would be nice to know.

~HJ

[PocketThunder]

Hey good news John! 

Post up the first few digits of the vin number for the correct year.

[HAZZARDJOHN]

My plans are as follows. First of I am going to do a complete tear down to a roller (already half way there), then I am goint to put it on a frame rack and straighten her out. It has a 360 in it and that will be a nice starting motor, just a rebuild and a mild cam, something streetable.  Then I want to paint it B-5 Blue, Why? Because me and Jake love that color. Jake wanted to paint it that color, but never thought he'd have the money to do it. Then a bulge hood, Hideaway headlights, older style taillights, and 17" torque thrust II's (Jake was pretty insistent on these wheels) Then Bucket seats and new carpet with a B & M floor shifter (Jake bought this and I have had it in my garage for years).

Like I said the goal is to complete Jake's dream not mine.

~HJ

[Nacho-RT74]

wooops, what a sad story!!! sorry!!

but first you know to need that is a 73 not a 74

GREAT YOU FOUND it!!!

will be a nice memorabilia to your friend

How is it a '73? It is title and insured as a '74. as well as it was titled in Cali as a '74? This would be news to me. I was with when he bought it.  I am not doubting ya, as I am a first and second gen charger man, but if the paper work is wrong it would be nice to know.

~HJ

74s have complete and integrated fully retracted 3 points and one terminal seatbelt system bolted and hanging from "B pillar" area, plus I can't see a reset button for the interlock at a side of the ECU module. Check for hump on trunk floor area where spare tire is. . 74 are with humped trunk floor. some other diff too, but those are the main and easy to check ones.

on 74s the lower quarter panel ( interior ) has a cut out and extra panel to hide the shoulder belt retractor. 3 spokes wheel is fully padded in the middle. The pad is the horn switch.

[Nacho-RT74]

and well of course being 74 the VIN should state the number 4 on 6th digit ... 3 for 73

I'm just talking about I can see on pics, not saying IS one of another by fact

[HAZZARDJOHN]

wooops, what a sad story!!! sorry!!

but first you know to need that is a 73 not a 74

GREAT YOU FOUND it!!!

will be a nice memorabilia to your friend

How is it a '73? It is title and insured as a '74. as well as it was titled in Cali as a '74? This would be news to me. I was with when he bought it.  I am not doubting ya, as I am a first and second gen charger man, but if the paper work is wrong it would be nice to know.

~HJ

74s have complete and integrated fully retracted 3 points and one terminal seatbelt system bolted and hanging from "B pillar" area, plus I can't see a reset button for the interlock at a side of the ECU module. Check for hump on trunk floor area where spare tire is. . 74 are with humped trunk floor. some other diff too, but those are the main and easy to check ones.

on 74s the lower quarter panel ( interior ) has a cut out and extra panel to hide the shoulder belt retractor. 3 spokes wheel is fully padded in the middle. The pad is the horn switch.

It does have the under hood reset switch for the seat belts, and it had a Weight sensor in the passenger seat. I know he was complaining about how it wouldn't start one day and it turned out it was because his college books were on the passenger seat. I disabled it.  I know it was there even though I don't see it in the pics.

[HAZZARDJOHN]

I have the VIN written down at home, I'll have to look.

[General_01]

That's great that you found it. Good luck with the transformation into a B5 Bee.

[Nacho-RT74]

It does have the under hood reset switch for the seat belts, and it had a Weight sensor in the passenger seat. I know he was complaining about how it wouldn't start one day and it turned out it was because his college books were on the passenger seat. I disabled it.  I know it was there even though I don't see it in the pics.

Yes thats the weird part, I can't see either the reset button on engine bay ... and 72/73 did it have the seat sensors too just on passenger side to make work the warning buzzer and signal.

maybe all that stuff was removed with seatbelts too

[HAZZARDJOHN]

You know I might be thinking of his black one. His first car was a black '74 that was so rusted out it wasn't funny. I just have vivid memories of hitting that reset button. Why would his car be titled as a '74 I wonder. I can't find my post it with the vin on it so I'll have to wait til I get the car.

~HJ