Chargers at Spring Fling 2009

[Kevin68N71]

Just got back, and took some photos of some nice Chargers at Spring Fling. (I am also posting some non-Chargers in the other section).  Overall, most looked like the real thing, but I only talked with two owners, so I can't vouch for authenticity of everything there.  The guy I talked to was a friend of the guy that owned one of the more interesting cars there, a silver 1st Generation 426 Hemi with Hurst 4-speed.  He said it was the real deal, and I just missed Jay Leno checking it out.  That same guy did mention that there were some clones there, which always, for some reason, irritates me.  But that's just me.  Here's the silver one.  I was surprised that the engine bay is not all that long on these, and it reminds me of the way a new Challenger engine bay looks, in a way, stuffed with engine.  I am too used to working on my '71 Bee, and  you know those bodies have a mile of space between the grille and the engine, these don't.

[Kevin68N71]

Here was a nice bronze automatic car.

[Kevin68N71]

Nice in blue....

[Kevin68N71]

One of two at event. The other was a light yellow one and I missed getting its picture.

[472 R/T SE]

That same guy did mention that there were some clones there, which always, for some reason, irritates me. 

Wow, you and the owner of that hemi '70 Charger would get along just fine.


Don't know about you, but there's no way I could afford the real McCoy.  And if I could I'd be scared to death of driving it.

Thanks for the pix.

[Kevin68N71]

Yeah, I just wrote about that in the other post.  I hate clones. Do you think the 70 is obviously a clone?

I didn't do the fender tag/vin number fooling around thing.  But it might be real.  There was a Hemi Super Bird there, all original, and a 440 Super Bird, and two Daytonas which were all real.  So there was some expensive stuff.  I do know that some of the Hemis are trailered in.

An absolutely amazing 1960 Dodge Polara Convertible, which I had been waiting to see all my life--NEVER have seen one--was driven in, as were a 300F and several other real classic high dollar cars.

[69bronzeT5]

Where does the Spring Fling take place?

[Kevin68N71]

Where does the Spring Fling take place?

It's at Woodley Park in Van Nuys, CA:

http://www.cpwclub.com/springfling.html

The show resumes tomorrow.  Get there before 1:00pm if you can, as the cars have to stay until at least 1, and some of them do start to drift away right at that time.  It's pretty big, plus alot of vendors.

[69bronzeT5]

I was just wondering because I've seen that bronze Hemi '70 and that blue '70 at a show here (BC, Canada) 2 summers ago.

[472 R/T SE]

No the '70 is an R code Hemi car.  My buddy owned it several years ago.

I say something cause he throws an absolute hissy fit whenever I put my "clone" in his class.

[FlatbackFanatic]

Nice pics!! I just love that 1st gen. Thanks for sharing

[Rolling_Thunder]

you missed the B5/white topped 1968 !!!

[mauve66]

i'll just post a few not here

[mauve66]

some more

[tan top]

good lot of photos Guys , thanks for sharing 

[RAC95054]

It's at Woodley Park in Van Nuys, CA:

http://www.cpwclub.com/springfling.html

The show resumes tomorrow.  Get there before 1:00pm if you can, as the cars have to stay until at least 1, and some of them do start to drift away right at that time.  It's pretty big, plus alot of vendors.

How was the show this year?  Good turn out?  Good parts to be had?  I had planned on going (driving down from San Jose), but too many things came up that I had to stay home over the weekend.  How does Spring Fling compare with Fall Fling, as far as turnout/car goes?

[Back N Black]

Yeah, I just wrote about that in the other post.  I hate clones. Do you think the 70 is obviously a clone?

I didn't do the fender tag/vin number fooling around thing.  But it might be real.  There was a Hemi Super Bird there, all original, and a 440 Super Bird, and two Daytonas which were all real.  So there was some expensive stuff.  I do know that some of the Hemis are trailered in.

An absolutely amazing 1960 Dodge Polara Convertible, which I had been waiting to see all my life--NEVER have seen one--was driven in, as were a 300F and several other real classic high dollar cars.

How can you hate clone, when you can't tell them from a real one? you got to search for numbers to tell the difference. It look the same, drives the same, goes just as fast, at a fraction of the cost.

[mauve66]

It's at Woodley Park in Van Nuys, CA:

http://www.cpwclub.com/springfling.html

The show resumes tomorrow.  Get there before 1:00pm if you can, as the cars have to stay until at least 1, and some of them do start to drift away right at that time.  It's pretty big, plus alot of vendors.

How was the show this year?  Good turn out?  Good parts to be had?  I had planned on going (driving down from San Jose), but too many things came up that I had to stay home over the weekend.  How does Spring Fling compare with Fall Fling, as far as turnout/car goes?

this year was the first time i couldn't cover my expenses by selling in the swap meet, as far as show car turn out i always think SF is better than FF due to the 2 day show and the weather, plus the SF has the Racetrack day on thur/fri before and they do the 2 cruises to arrive at Spring fling so it seems like there is more going on to me

[Silver R/T]

nice cars

[Kevin68N71]

Yeah, I just wrote about that in the other post.  I hate clones. Do you think the 70 is obviously a clone?

I didn't do the fender tag/vin number fooling around thing.  But it might be real.  There was a Hemi Super Bird there, all original, and a 440 Super Bird, and two Daytonas which were all real.  So there was some expensive stuff.  I do know that some of the Hemis are trailered in.

An absolutely amazing 1960 Dodge Polara Convertible, which I had been waiting to see all my life--NEVER have seen one--was driven in, as were a 300F and several other real classic high dollar cars.

How can you hate clone, when you can't tell them from a real one? you got to search for numbers to tell the difference. It look the same, drives the same, goes just as fast, at a fraction of the cost.

I'll tell you exactly why.  The proliferation of clones has partially taken away that excitement of seeing a rare car, e.g. "Hey, I just saw an AC Cobra!" No, you probably saw one of a million knock offs.  That was the first example I remember getting popular.  Then it was cloning Shelby Cobras.  A work friend of mine did that, and didn't tell me until I knew him a while--all the rides I was in, thinking this was a Shelby, and making mental notes of everything was a falsehood.  It was a tarted up 67 Mustang.  Now when you see big billboard hemi decals on a 71 Cuda, you can get no longer get as excited that you are seeing one of a handful of something, but possibly a Barracuda that someone fooled you into thinking was something else.  So when you see some rare, great creation out there, it is diminished because, as time goes on, you are simply being more and more fooled at what you are looking at. 

The factory only made a certain amount, and when you fake additional ones, you dilute the effect.  Again, you can do with your car whatever you want.  But if I see a hemi clone next to a 318 restored stock, the 318 car is the one I will pore over, because it's the real, factory thing.  Not that I can't appreciate a hot rod that someone made, but that is really all it is.

[Kevin68N71]

It's at Woodley Park in Van Nuys, CA:

http://www.cpwclub.com/springfling.html

The show resumes tomorrow.  Get there before 1:00pm if you can, as the cars have to stay until at least 1, and some of them do start to drift away right at that time.  It's pretty big, plus alot of vendors.

How was the show this year?  Good turn out?  Good parts to be had?  I had planned on going (driving down from San Jose), but too many things came up that I had to stay home over the weekend.  How does Spring Fling compare with Fall Fling, as far as turnout/car goes?

I have had a horrible flu for the past week, but I promised to take my son and I missed both last year.  So, hour drive each way.  The weather was stunning.  It was a pretty good turnout, but I have never been to a bad one.  Only a few AMCs though (OK, sorry I also own an AMX). The sad thing is we were there about an hour and a half, and out of nowhere I lost all my energy.  Fever came back and I had to leave, fortunately we had seen most of the cars.  When I posted the pics, I felt awful and being online was about the only thing I could handle, believe it or not.  And to think I had tossed around the idea of driving my Super Bee there with no A/C.  I would have died.  STILL feel crummy, but wanted to share the pics!

The fall and spring versions seem to be about the same to me, but I don't go to the events that the other gent wrote about, so I can't speak to that.

[CaptMarvel]

My favorite was the superclean lt green 68 Charger R/T. It is identically optioned to mine (except color)....cant wait til mine looks that good..

[RAC95054]

How was the show this year?  Good turn out?  Good parts to be had?  I had planned on going (driving down from San Jose), but too many things came up that I had to stay home over the weekend.  How does Spring Fling compare with Fall Fling, as far as turnout/car goes?

this year was the first time i couldn't cover my expenses by selling in the swap meet, as far as show car turn out i always think SF is better than FF due to the 2 day show and the weather, plus the SF has the Racetrack day on thur/fri before and they do the 2 cruises to arrive at Spring fling so it seems like there is more going on to me

Thanks, Robert.  I wish I could have gone.  I could have maybe helped with your expenses if you had some '69 parts I needed.     Were sales/vendors down in general?  Was it just a lack of good parts, lack of buyers, or both?   I'll have to make sure I get there next year and do my part to keep the hobby going!  -Russ 

[CHRGR SE]

Mind if I hijack a bit? Spring Fling 04/25/09... 

[mauve66]

Thanks, Robert.  I wish I could have gone.  I could have maybe helped with your expenses if you had some '69 parts I needed.     Were sales/vendors down in general?  Was it just a lack of good parts, lack of buyers, or both?   I'll have to make sure I get there next year and do my part to keep the hobby going!  -Russ 

no 69 parts here, there were lots of people and even some that were carrying what they bought , i guess i just didn't have anything good to sell

i still think spring fling is the best especially if you can participate in the road course and other cruises before hand, that would mean a whole week for most people though