Pettybird's Pettybird

[pettybird]

Many of you know that some little piece of shit decided that, after breaking into the house and ransacking the place in 04/07, it would be a swell idea to knock five windows out of our real live 999 Corporation Blue Superbird.  They used a 2x4 and got the windshield, the three driver side windows and the backlight.  All of the glass was in very good condition and all was original.  It took me almost two years' worth of watching it sit to finally get around to putting it back together, and better than before.  State Farm wrote a check to cover the glass and seals, and I bought the rest.  A HUGE thanks is due to my friend Ralph Farinacci for doing the headliner, vinyl top and seat cover installation for free.  He used to own an upholstery shop and does absolutely top shelf work for a number of people in our area, and I got him a job at Best of Show the week I was laid off.  Reproduction windows were sourced through PS Auto Glass in Wisconsin, the top, headliner and seat covers are from Legendary, the dash pad and gauge bezels are from BE/A, carpet from ACC, armrest bases and door handles from Van's Auto, the gauge faces are from PCG, the tach and clock kits are from Real Time Engineering and the sill plates from a swap meet--I don't remember who but they're the same ones everyone sells.  My friend Steve Kay helped me out by welding the small pinholes around the rear window shut.  We took the car to the Chrysler Classic at Norwalk earlier this fall, which is the first show the car had been to in more than two years.  Hell--it ran pretty well with gas in the tank from 10/06!

I guess I can't call this a "before" picture as the car lived for 37 years before this happened, but...





And now feeling much better:










MUCH better top:




If you're looking at the dents in the nose, you might say we've been ignoring them for a while.  Mom says the car was sold by the owner (young kid's) boss after having the car repainted and promptly running the car into a chain link fence.  This pic is from 5/76:




It looked all right at Les Bowman's place that summer, though:





We absolutely love this car.  I put it away for the season today, and went for two rides in it...just because.  We never found who did the damage, and it's in another unmarked, locked garage.  It still sucks, but I'm happy the car's back in the fold. 

[tan top]

yep remember that thread about the glass getting taken out 
     looking  great now   

[twinscrew698]

Looking good Doug! Glad to see that back in that driveway!!
Brings back some good memories when your mom and dad was getting ready for there trips out and about!!
Always had to jump off my couch when they started them up or when their friends came over!! i know i had my Road Runners but those cars was something else back then!

[tan top]

good back in the day picture !!! 

[hemi68charger]

Doug, glad to see she's back in the swing of things again...........   

Troy

[nascarxx29]

Looking good .I did remember that post .Nice to see there was a good outcome after being vandalized

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,26231.20.html

[Aero426]

Looking good!

[Ghoste]

It looks great and who knows, maybe some kind of Christine like "Carma" (sic) will happen to the useless turd who smashed the windows.

[PocketThunder]

Are you waiting to have a foot print gas pedal installed?   

[4cruzin]

WOW sad story!  Sounds like punk kids . . . but the car looks great once again!   

[oldcarnut]

That's real nice.  The dash look great 

[moparstuart]

 

[pettybird]

Are you waiting to have a foot print gas pedal installed?  

...in my hemi, so I stole this pile.

I lost the stupid thing (a new repop) and just recently found it again, about a month after I felt like climbing underneath and installing it lol

[pettybird]

Looking good Doug! Glad to see that back in that driveway!!
Brings back some good memories when your mom and dad was getting ready for there trips out and about!!
Always had to jump off my couch when they started them up or when their friends came over!! i know i had my Road Runners but those cars was something else back then!

holy crap!  we have NO pictures of it sitting there--that's one for the archives.  Have you stopped by lately?  the place looks completely different now.

[pettybird]

Looking good .I did remember that post .Nice to see there was a good outcome after being vandalized

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,26231.20.html

funny you post that as our B5 car went through the same ordeal in 1974, and that started the chain of events which led to us getting the car. 

[70Sbird]

Wow,
Looks Great Doug, how much of a bear was it to find the rear glass?
Now that the Petty car is ready for winter, get back to work on Marty so I know what parts to start collecting!

Scott

[69bronzeT5]

Glad to see everything turned out well! Stupid people these days

[billssuperbird]

 

[Dave Kanofsky]

Lookin' Good Doug!

I miss having a Petty Blue 4 speed 'Bird sometimes.

[twinscrew698]

Yeah Doug i have drove by at times but usually in something that cant park on the street or in the driveway to look around!
Next time around in one of the Cars we will stop and see if anyones home and look around and chat!
I used to kid your Dad when he was going up to Michigan that i would help him drive one up there if he needed it!!
But he always had enough help!!
Bet that Pistol grip feels real good when your behind the wheel don't ya?
Cant beat a mopar with a Pistol Grip!! its well..... you know!!!
Later ...tell Family we said hi!!

[WINGR]

Hey Doug, glad to see Pettybird back on track. She's looking awesome, can't wait to see her in person sometime soon.



WINGR/Steve

[Mopar John]

Doug,
I am really excited to see pictures of the Petty blue bird outside in the driveway!! I hate what happened to it not that long ago. When I used to come over and this goes all the way back to 1977 the Petty blue car was always on the far side of the garage dusty and partially buried. I am glad that the nose only needs minor repair because the original stuff is getting hard to find. That car is the crown jewel of your collection with only 50 built and fewer left and a 4 speed to boot. Was great to see you and mom at Talladega!!
Mopar John