One guy owns 23 of the 85 1971 hemi chargers/superbees!

[RT DAVE]

The current Mopar Action has a good article about Tim Wellborn's collection of 23 hemi chargers/bees.  When one guy owns more than 25% of the total production, I guess I can forget ever owning one.  It's cool that he restores and drives them, but it says he's putting them all in a foundation (museum) when he dies, so I guess no one will be able to enjoy driving them after he passes on.   Oh well, I can't afford one anyhow.  Rant over...   

[Nupe]

I think there was an article on him in Hemmings Muscle Machines a couple months ago.  The 3rd gens are cool, but why own so many of the same car?  And how could one person enjoy so many cars?  I'm sure the tax breaks for the rich help pay for that collection.  I won't go on that rant.... just be a good peasant. 

[RECHRGD]

Anythings possible, befriend him and maybe he'll adopt you.

[Silver R/T]

i hate people like that, greedy f99ks

[1970 FE5 RR]

If I had that much money I would buy them too. I love 71s
My  

[cudaken]

 Sometimes you have to wonder what you did wrong in life don't you Or more importanly what the heck he did right?


Lets hope he dosent start liking 318 Charger. There be none left.

                             Cuda Ken

[1970 FE5 RR]

Lets hope he dosent start liking 318 Charger. There be none left.

                                           Cuda Ken

[RT DAVE]

I can't really say what I would do if I had that kind of money.   I would like to think I wouldn't horde things like that, but who knows.    I guess that guy is the only known person who has a hemi 500, hemi daytona & a hemi superbird.    I think he has a hemicuda also.   Must be rough

[Charger_Fan]

i hate people like that, greedy f99ks

You can't tell me that if you had unlimited funds at your disposal, you wouldn't have a killer collection of your own...even if that collection did consist of WRX's & Evo cars.


I can honestly say that if I ever get to the point where I can do that (yeah right), I'd sure have some cool stuff!

[472 R/T SE]

Trust me, if I win the lottey, guys will be crying over all the '70 Charger's I'm buying up.  OOpps wake up Mike.

[NHCharger]

If I had that much money I would buy them too. I love 71s
My 

Same here. If I had won the powerball lottery the other day I'd be buying up all the 71 & 72 Chargers and parts I could find. Who knows, I might have been able to surpass Twilts collection of parts

[andy74]

i saw that guy in hemmings,nice stuff. i have to admit,if the lotto ever came my way,i would do the same thing,every 3rd gen i could find would be mine!but i would drive em all,and share with my buddies-and i would get one general lee,and beat the shit out of it,just on principal

[6pkrunner]

He's the true definition of a collector. Collect every one made. Once he finishes the 1971 Charger/Bee he'll start on the 1970s. Once he hits 1966 and has all them, then he can start back up with 1967 Coronets, then all Dodge derivitives. Next up are the Plymouths. Take a while to get them all, but a passion is a passion.

[Chris G.]

Not too shabby. The other HEMI's are undergoing restoration.

[ScottW]

Yeah - that's a lot of 71's, and he wants more! I suppose if you were going to have 23 of them might as well make 'em Hemi's. That was a good article - except the part about him placing them all in a foundation.

[RD]

if i was a millionaire, i would not be like tim wellborn.  just not me.

[twilt]

if i was a millionaire, i would not be like tim wellborn.  just not me.

I would be worse. instead of hording rare hemi`s,  i`d fill a pasture up with a couple hundred 71 and 72 parts cars  (that would be heaven on earth) The only "rare" car that i would go for is one of the  72 Rallye 440-6 cars.

[71RTN96]

Years ago in one of the Mopar Rags there was an article about a Purple 71 R/T Hemi Car. The woman (model?) in the article was a Black Woman. Is this car still around? Wellborn's Collection? He's doesn't own the Blue one that was in Vegas @ MATS. I guess you can't have them all. His collection sure is nice.It would be cool to them all in the same place at the same time.    matt

[HeavyFuel]

There is a gentleman about 100 clicks from my place that has around 25 Hemi cars, among his other cars.  They are lots of different models, including 'cuda's and 'birds.  Actually, I don't think that any of his birds are Hemi cars, they are JUST six pack cars.  He has two hemi 'cudas that have sequential VINs.  How sick is that?  And the stuff isn't rough, either.  Some are very nice survivors, some are freshened up, super nice cars.  He has race Hemi engines in his shop left over from when he used to be a racer.  I could go one and on, but you get the idea.  And the thing is, he didn't resto most of his cars, he bought them before they needed restoring and they were cheap....i.e, the 70's.

It's all in the timing, and knowing what to scarf up when you have the chance.  This guy had the jinge and the opportunity when it counted.

[mustanghater]

never seen so many in one picture

[RT DAVE]

I just bought the current muscle car review and see that this same guy also bought the Panther Pink 70 that was at the Nat's in 04.  If I remember right, the owner was asking $115K for that.  Funny thing in the article is that it states they bought the car partly because the price was "reasonable".  I guess that's a relative term.   

[NicksGarage]

He tried to buy my Charger even though it doesn't have a hemi but I'm not selling. The panther pink '70 he has is very nice. I wouldn't mind checking out his collection some day.

If I had the money I don't think I'd buy a bunch of the same model but I would have a lot more cars and a garage to put them in.

Nick.

[chargervert]

I have 11 Mopars,and I'm poor!!!! Imagine how many I would have if I had money!!!!! I think they are in good hands! The only problem with having all of those together is if there is a fire or some natural disaster,that they could all be lost together!Other than that,I say more power to him!

[694spdRT]

He wanted to buy my dad's Butterscotch '71 440 Six pack at the 2004 Nats.  With a guy like that you better be prepared to sell if you give him a price.

He talked to us several times during the weekend and seemed like a normal car guy. Like a lot of us his dad got him started in cars and, because of a successful business, his finances now let him get the cars he wants.

I took this picture of Tim and I think this is his dad's old '71 Hemi Charger.

[RT DAVE]

The mopar action article stated that he is interested in having one of every color made in 1971.  My guess is that he is going to have to start "settling" for lesser models like sixpacks and 440 mags in order to attain his goals. 

[69_500]

Tim's collection of cars is remarkable. I don't know if it is possible for him to get a HEMI Charger in every color that was available. But I think that if he really wants that I think he has the resources and time to find out. He is a very nice man, and definately loves the cars for what they are not just for a collection but rather because he loves cars. He doesn't look at them as an investment, but as cars he loves.

[Charger_Fan]

He doesn't look at them as an investment, but as cars he loves.

IMO, that's the best kind of collector. The guys that hoard them just for their resale value & don't appreciate them, suck.

[ScottW]

He doesn't look at them as an investment, but as cars he loves.

IMO, that's the best kind of collector. The guys that hoard them just for their resale value & don't appreciate them, suck.

[mikesbbody]

I dont know why some would view what tim is doing as a negative think I think its awesome Im a big fan of 3rd gen chargers and if i had his money i would do the same. I have no problem about the cars going into a foundation iether. Keep collecting tim! I think your collection rocks!

[tan top]

He doesn't look at them as an investment, but as cars he loves.

IMO, that's the best kind of collector. The guys that hoard them just for their resale value & don't appreciate them, suck.

I dont know why some would view what tim is doing as a negative think I think its awesome Im a big fan of 3rd gen chargers and if i had his money i would do the same. I have no problem about the cars going into a foundation iether. Keep collecting tim! I think your collection rocks!

   good luck to you jim , if i had that kind of money there is three  possibly four  mopars  i would buy .

[Nacho-RT74]

but why own so many of the same car?  And how could one person enjoy so many cars?

tell to Travis

[6pkrunner]

but why own so many of the same car?  And how could one person enjoy so many cars?

There is a vast difference between a hobbiest, enthusiast and a collector. Some collect one of each example, others collect as many of the one and only interest to them. Tim has a thing for these. But a collector does by bizarre definition, collect. The enjoyment is in the hunt, restore and augmentation of that set. Once one is folded into the set it is part of the body. A great deal of reluctance is gone through to part with one to gain on another front.

[Dave22443]

See, I think you guys got it all wrong.  Yeah, if you had that kind of money, why wouldn't you want to collect'em all?   But see, I don't think that way.

If I had money like that, and really had the passion for old Mopars this guy claims to have, I wouldn't waist my time collecting all the ones I could find.  Nope!  What I would do is invest that money in developing high quality reproduction parts for everyone else!  You know, the one's nobody else will make!

Sure, I'd have one or two nice examples of my own, but the real joy in owning a classic mopar is getting out there and showing it off.  So why steal their dreams when you can help them restore it?

[694spdRT]

See, I think you guys got it all wrong.  Yeah, if you had that kind of money, why wouldn't you want to collect'em all?   But see, I don't think that way.

If I had money like that, and really had the passion for old Mopars this guy claims to have, I wouldn't waist my time collecting all the ones I could find.  Nope!  What I would do is invest that money in developing high quality reproduction parts for everyone else!  You know, the one's nobody else will make!

Sure, I'd have one or two nice examples of my own, but the real joy in owning a classic mopar is getting out there and showing it off.  So why steal their dreams when you can help them restore it?

If someone has that desire to try and start such a business I wish them all the luck in the world as it would be nice to have more restoration products available. In reality though I can think of a couple reasons why not too. Personally, I wouldn't want to risk making my favorite hobby just another daily grind. The other big one is starting a manufacturing company, producing marketable products, and promoting them for sale is no small task. Anyone that has ever owned a business, large or small, will know the pressures,time dedication, and employees it takes. In talking with Tim at the Nats in 2004 he owns or owned(not sure what has transpired in the last 2 years) a successfull business and almost died from a heart attack a few years ago. My take from the conversation was at this point in his life he wants to pursue his passion for Mopars and enjoy life with a little less stress.


   

[grouseman]

I'm sure the tax breaks for the rich help pay for that collection.  I won't go on that rant.... just be a good peasant. 

You're right, don't go on that rant.  What are you, a communist?  A guy works hard to earn his money, why shouldn't he be able to keep it?  He's already carrying a far greater tax burden than most of us will ever HOPE to carry.  Taxes hit the rich disproportionately, so when they get removed, they get the burden removed disproportionately as well. 

grouseman

[69_500]

I can tell you this Tim is a great. Not sure on his health lately, but I know that he does love these cars. If i had his money then I'd be doing the same thing, only with C500's and Daytona's.

[Ghoste]

I agree.  I have far less problem with Tim wanting to own all the 71 Hemi Chargers than I do with some of the boomerbuyers at Barrett-Jackson.  Tim has been an enthusiast all of his life and would be involved in some way regardless of financial picture.  He is one of us. 
A lot of the guys paying stupid money at auction only admired the cars from afar when they were young and now they will pay whatever it takes to get one.  Those are the guys that make me feel like the hobby is being stolen from under me.

[71 Bee Man]

The current Mopar Action has a good article about Tim Wellborn's collection of 23 hemi chargers/bees.  When one guy owns more than 25% of the total production, I guess I can forget ever owning one.  It's cool that he restores and drives them, but it says he's putting them all in a foundation (museum) when he dies, so I guess no one will be able to enjoy driving them after he passes on.   Oh well, I can't afford one anyhow.  Rant over...   

Hi Guys,

we don't get Mopar Action here in Australia. Which edition is it in to be precise ? I wouldn't mind getting a copy. Does it have a few pictures of his cars and a decent write- up on them ?

Peter
Sydney, Australia

[Ghoste]

If my memory hasn't failed me, there was an article in Mopar Muscle as well right around the same time.  One or both of them had a picture of his cars on the cover so if you check both of their websites and they show the covers of back issues, it should help.

Like here;

http://www.moparaction.com/Next/history.html