Our Chargers, what do they mean to us?!

[Lowprofile]

My Charger and I rescued each other......Let me 'splain!

Back around 93' , I was in the depths of depression over the suicide of my Uncle & the impending death of my marrage. I was sitting in a hotel room up in Lake Tahoe. I decided to get out of the room for some fresh air, go for a walk. I stopped by the gift shop to get a cold GatorAde. As I was paying for my g-ade, I noticed the cover of one of those national car sales rags......on the lower left hand side was a photo ad for a 1970 Dodge Charger R/T. As I read the add, I started to get that feeling in my gut. You know.....at first a little excitement, than a little desire, and then a kick in the ass of reality.  The car was in Omaha, I lived in Vegas, and I worked all the time on tour.......How was I gonna make this work.  "Ah forget it"  I told myself. I put the paper down and went for my walk.
Needless to say, you all know what was cooking my brain for those two hours. When I returned to the hotel, I purchased the paper, went to my room & called the owner to see if he still had the car.
We talked for about 1/2 hour. The car had been his for about 10 years. he parked it 2 years earlier. The motor & tranny were not in the car anymore.......his 69 roadrunner needed a transplant, and the R/T got parked. I Paid $1200 for that car. When I finally picked it up 2 months later, It was buried under a mountain of body shop junk and old fenders & bumpers & hoods behind his shop. I took me most of that afternoon to dig it out! 3 Flat tires, rusted quarters & floors, and faded B5 Blue paint never looked so good.......It truly was love a first site!

My soon to be x wife called me a "stupid asshole" when I got it home to Vegas. I loved it more because she hated it! So there the car sat for about 7 years. At our divorce hearing, she tried to tell the judge the car was worth lots of money & that it should be sold. I presented a bunch of pics...the judge just laughed...The only thing I left court with was My Truck [big rig], my tools, my clothes & my Charger. The car went into storage for a few years while I tried to pick up the pieces of my life. Through it all, the thought of blasting down the ave in my Charger kept the flame alive .   

Fast forward to today......
My new wife loves my Charger! We look forward to working on our cars in the near future [she's a ford girl]. My Charger waits patiently for me to start working on her. She's a little older, a little more rusty, and a lot more dusty! Just knowing I own the car has helped me thru some rough times. I can't wait to drive her....... I've owned other Muscle Cars, and a few other Chargers, but this one means more to me than any of the others..  just my

[TheGhost]

Well, she's not a Charger, and, I haven't had her for more than 3 months, yet, but, she does mean alot to me.

To me, she is a promise.  A memory of someone I cared about, a rolling memorial.  When I drive her, I remember of times driving around with the REAL Jess....  That's stuff I don't want to forget.

[Brock Samson]

 and how many times was that?..

[TheGhost]

and how many times was that?..

Quite a few, actually.  Just none in that car.

[moparguy01]

and how many times was that?..

Quite a few, actually.  Just none in that car.

I would comment, but out of respect for Troy I wont. Just know there are quite a few of us regulars who know the whole deal, so it gets reaaaaaaaaly old.

[Brock Samson]

two "l"s one "a".. 

[SeattleCharger]

I love my car more than anyone else does.   I know that much, and I don't care what any non-car person thinks who can't appreciate that.   I love that I love my car.     I haven't had this '68 440 that long, and the engine hasn't even been in her since I got it, but it will be, and I will drive her, and I will fix her up, and there are ups and downs of enthusiasm, but when I buy a part, or do a little work on her, the feeling is so awesome.   Just going in the driveway and looking at her, everyday, I enjoy.   I remember the night before I went to pick it up, I felt like when I was a little kid the night before Christmas, I was surprised by that feeling, couldn't hardly sleep, jumped out of bed in the morning, and the thrill since then, around short times of being a little overwhelmed, have been priceless.   We are all lucky.

                                  

[69_500]

Well I haven't had my 500 for that long, but I had a few Charger before this one, and they were all building up to the one I now have. Well sort of. After my dad sold off all of his cars, Daytona's, 500's, Cuda', Superbirds, GTX's, HEMI cars, and such I said right then and there that one day I would buy back one of those cars for me and my dad to enjoy once again.

Well for 8 years I tracked and tracked and tracked trying to buy one of my dads old cars. I had only ran accross 3 of them, and there was no way I could afford the HEMI 500, that I had found, or the Daytona. So that left the other 500. I tried for years to get the owner to sell me the car. He finally said yes, but then backed out. So 2 days later I found the 500 I have now. It is 3 serial numbers away from my dad's old 500. So it is close, but not the same. My son loves the car. He throws a fit if I get it out of the garage and don't take him for a ride. I will hang on to this car for a long time. The only way I'd get rid of it is for one of my dad's old cars.

[Spartan]

Good stuff guys!  Thanks for participating.

[70charginglizard]

It's been over 5 years now and the passion still exist stronger than ever. I wouldn't say I'm obsessed with it but damn near close to that sometimes.
I just wish I made more money so I could do more things that I'd like to do but I guess that's what makes it a hobbie is always having something that needs to be done.
One thing I have discovered since I've owned it is that there is a very fine line between the car, the kid, the job, the house and the girlfriend that you really have to watch yourself on but for the most part. I'm very happy with the way things are going with the lizard and continue to go with it.