Trying to get in touch with Nascarxx29 about tracking down a missing superbird

[MadMikeyL]

Nascarxx29, if you are reading this, I tried sending you a PM, but it looks like your mailbox is full.

I found your name through posting on some other forums as well as some google searching, and I was hoping maybe we could pool our resources to try to track down a hemi 4-speed superbird.  I had sent you a private message earlier today on another forum, but have since gotten some more information, so here is the story.  Back in the late 70s, my grandfather owned 2 Plymouth Superbirds, one was a white 440/automatic, and the other was a tor-red 426hemi 4-speed with black bucket seats.  He sold both cars before I was born, but through stories told by him and my uncle over the years, the hemi bird was always a legend in the family.  About 10 years ago, my grandfather passed away.  A few weeks back, my aunt was going through papers in my grandmother's house, and she found a folder with a bunch of superbird literature and paperwork in it, so since I am the one of the family that is carrying on the gearhead torch, she passed the folder to me.  There's a lot of stuff in there that is cool to read, like old for sale and want ads, but then I came across the build sheet for a hemi superbird, protected in a plastic comic book type cover!  On the back of the folder there is also an imprint of the inner fender stamp showing the same VIN, and a few outdated names, addresses, and phone numbers.  The VIN number of the car is RM23R0A174616.  One of the names on the back is Eric Price, which it looks like that is as far as you were able to track the car.  I spoke with my uncle today to try to find out what he remembered of when the car was bought and sold, and who might have it now.  What I was able to find out is that my grandfather, John Macron, bought the car from Eric Price, and I was also able to find out that he sold it in March of 1981 (my uncle remembered that the car was sold on the same day that Reagan was shot) to a guy who he said was either from north Jersey, or possibly PA, but he could not remember the guy's name.  I would really love to track down this car, see the car my grandfather once owned, possibly go for a ride in it, and get this build sheet into the hands of the current owner.  From what I have found, you have a knack for tracking down old winged cars, so I would appreciate any info or advice you might have to offer.  Please feel free to call me or send me an email, and maybe we can track down a missing superbird.  Thanks.

Mike
scnjpunk@juno.com
732-7five7-1fivenine0

[nascarxx29]

I was up in Chester NJ awhile back buying parts.And this guy Fred knew Eric but didnt know where he or car was.I found newsletter stories about that car .But never found any trace of it


On another note I did see a V2 Orange superbird Hemi that got changed to B5 Guys name was Mr Jacobs I think from Hillside NJ http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/2005/04/01/hmn_feature2.html
  Morristown Mendham NJ.Guys name was Eric Price  I found a old neighbor of his.But never found him or any parts of RM23ROA174616 And never found that FK5 Hemi superbird




Superbird vandalized.......

« Reply #20 on: March 21, 2007, 07:50:54 PM »

QuoteModify


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There was another superbird a 426 one that suffered a similar fate in NJ.The car had all glass smashed and car was tipped over.I heard of this and other occurances with Erics car from his friend .This RM23ROA174616 car is still hasnt surfaced.Maybe it was totalled by the insurance company back in the day

[MadMikeyL]

Do you know when that ad was from?  Or do you have any knowledge of when Eric Price owned the car?  My uncle, who has a very good memory, told me that my grandfather bought the car from Eric Price in the late 70s, and that he sold it in 1981.  The phone number that I have on the back of this folder for Eric Price is the same one as in that ad.  If my uncle is correct, that would mean the trail no longer goes cold with Eric Price.  Also, on the back of this folder beneath Eric Price's phone number is a name of Ed Machies (or something like that, hard to read the handwriting) with an outdated phone number, and the address it lists for him is Little Mill Rd. in Freehold, NJ (no such road exists now, don't know if it got renamed or paved over or what) and underneath Ed's phone number is says "hemi owner", so I don't know if that might be the person who bought the car, or just some guy who owned another hemi car.  There is also written in pencil the name Scott Beskin, with a phone number, which when I google search it comes up with a law firm Beskin and Pesciotta.  I'll probably call them during the week and see if there is a Scott Beskin there, and if he might know anything about the car.

[Aero426]

Ed Machos is the right spelling. 

[nascarxx29]

I knew Ed Machos he had 68 Charger and a white superbird vin RM23UOA175680.I got old contact info posted below.He used to live in Freehold

.I looked at this superbird in south jersey in or before 1992 when the owner gave me a wanted parts list for it A original.Alpine white RM23UOA175680.Lastime I saw it it looked like this at the back of a body shop he had it at.That body shop is no longer there.From then till know.This car has yet to surface.Wonder what became of and him and his cars .
[img]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e67/75414/Superbird.jpg

[MadMikeyL]

Was Ed Machos' white superbird a 440/automatic?  If so, that might be the other superbird that my grandfather owned. I don't have any documentation on that car though, so I can't check the VIN on it.

So I guess we don't know if Eric Price owned the hemi bird in the 70s or the 80s?

[nascarxx29]

Eds superbird was a white automatic .I looked at the car when it was in my area.At one time it had to been broadsided on the drivers side and had old school repairs done by brazing.I can recall a orig V2 Hemi Superbird changed to B5.It was from Chester NJ.
I never found any additional info on Eric or the car.Remains a NJ mystery.I go threw my newsletter and hemmings collections trying to find it


Couldnt find my pictures but this is the Hemi bird that was V2 and changed to B5 It had 80-85 Blue NJ license plate 601PLF
http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/2005/04/01/hmn_feature2.html

[C5X DAYTONA]

The info on 174616 I have is from Les Bowman.    The owner of the birds address was  North Road 90-A Chester NJ.  No name given.   Eric Price knew of the car and gave Les the info.   Eric's address was on Blue Mill Rd. Morristown NJ.

[nascarxx29]

Matchs the for sale address    The owner of the birds address was  North Road 90-A Chester NJ

[C5X DAYTONA]

My notes show that Eric knew of the car but didn't own it.     Funny,  My note from Les is that Eric lived on Blue Mill and the Superbird's owner lived on North Road..    That's all I got on it.

[C5X DAYTONA]

Do you know when that ad was from?  Or do you have any knowledge of when Eric Price owned the car?  My uncle, who has a very good memory, told me that my grandfather bought the car from Eric Price in the late 70s, and that he sold it in 1981.  The phone number that I have on the back of this folder for Eric Price is the same one as in that ad.  If my uncle is correct, that would mean the trail no longer goes cold with Eric Price.  Also, on the back of this folder beneath Eric Price's phone number is a name of Ed Machies (or something like that, hard to read the handwriting) with an outdated phone number, and the address it lists for him is Little Mill Rd. in Freehold, NJ (no such road exists now, don't know if it got renamed or paved over or what) and underneath Ed's phone number is says "hemi owner", so I don't know if that might be the person who bought the car, or just some guy who owned another hemi car.  There is also written in pencil the name Scott Beskin, with a phone number, which when I google search it comes up with a law firm Beskin and Pesciotta.  I'll probably call them during the week and see if there is a Scott Beskin there, and if he might know anything about the car.

I have Blue Mill Rd.  Your wrote Little Mill Rd for Eric.  Try that. 
 

[nascarxx29]

Ok Thanks C5X .Mikey anything in the folder you want to share with the masses are great archives .The Eric Price car is a cold case but I never stop looking.I got 2 additional emails being mailbox hasnt been checked .Wingcars69@Netzero.com and Wingcars6970@AOL.COM

[MadMikeyL]

The "Little Mill Rd." was the address I had for Ed Machos, not Eric Price.  The only address I have for Eric Price is one in Kalamazoo Michigan, so I don't know if he moved, or if that is a different person entirely, or what.

It would be nice if someone knew when Eric Price owned the car.  Since that is the last anyone knew of the car, if I can confirm that he owned the car prior to my grandfather, then that would mean that the car most likely is still in existence.  My uncle told me that my grandfather bought the car from Eric Price, and he remembers him paying $10500 for the car, and selling it in 1981 for $12500.  I guess that is my next piece of information to try to track down.  Tomorrow I'm going to see if any of the other phone numbers are still good in the other ads on the page where Eric is selling the car.  Maybe I can get in touch with someone who remembers when they posted the ad, and maybe I can get some approximate dates to see who was the last known owner.

As for sharing the stuff in the folder, when I get a chance, I will be happy to scan everything and email it all to you.

Thanks.

Mike

[nascarxx29]

Sounds all good and worth a try.My girlfriend does family genelogy history .She found me a Eric Price age 55 in Budd Lake NJ.Hopefully you leads will pan out

Going by the Regan clue you provided Im searching from that date The Reagan assassination attempt occurred on March 30, 1981,

[nascarxx29]

Mike Im going thru my stuff looking for this 87 vintage magazine.The car featured was a Hemi from Hillside NJ Blue yellow 80- NJ license plate 601 PLF orig V2 changed to B5
  Mikey I did find your earlier other post http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?t=40431

[nascarxx29]

[IMG]http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae240/Wingcars69/101_4484.jpg[/im

I saw this also in Chester, NJ. Half a hemi Superbird in Flemington, NJ. Clean 63 Nova on the side of River Rd in New Brunswick near the Rutgers Stadium, a '68 400 Firebird 4sp in Hackettstown, NJ. 3 66 Mustang fastbacks, all V-8 cars, in Pottstown, PA. 2 '57 Chevy 2drs and a 55 2dr and a couple early Chargers in Wyomissing, PA outside Danville. I could go on and on and on. Damn....now I'm bummed. I can't afford any of them right now.

[nascarxx29]

Ed might be in Lakewood NJ tried a call but wasnt in

[nascarxx29]

Mikey if this is our Eric W Price
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/MIKALAMA/2005-11/1131595296


Mr. Eric W. PRICE - Of Kalamazoo, died Friday, September 13, 1996. Eric was born on November 22, 1957 in Charleston, West Virginia He graduated from Morristown High School in New Jersey, attended Western Michigan University, and was the founder and owner of E. W. Price and Associates. He was a Certified Commercial Investment Manager, Real Estate Broker, past director Michigan C.C.I.M., Chapter, instructor of Graduate Realtors Institute, past editor of C.C.I.M. News, past chairman of Educational Awards Committee, Registered Securities Dealer and an independent travel agent. Eric was a beloved son and friend. {Surviving are his father, Dr. Alson K. PRICE of Hopatcong, NJ;}} {and mother, Mrs. John A. BUTLER of Ormond, FL.} In accordance with his wishes cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation. A Memorial service will be held 10:00 o'clock Saturday at the Langeland Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick, A Trust 100 Chapel, Memorials may be directed to the Humane Soc!
iety of Kalamazoo County. source: undated Kalamazoo Gazette (submitted by a volunteer, no family connection)


Alson Price, 74 years old, Cove Rd, Hopatcong, NJ, US, 864-322-9...
.

spokeo.com

Alson Price, 74 years old, {{{{{1 Box 90, Chester, NJ,}}}}}}}}}}US, 864-322-9...

[MadMikeyL]

That could be him.  I also found the Eric Price you mentioned in Budd Lake, NJ.  Looks like 4 Woodland Ave., 973-691-9405.  I called and the voicemail does say "You've reached Eric and someone Price", and I left a message, but have not heard back yet.  I will try again this evening.  I'll also see what I can find about Alson Price.  My uncle said he remembered something about the buyer did something with chemicals in North Jersey, and it looks like Alson Price has some patents having to do with chemical processes.  You don't have the last 3 digits of that phone number, do you?  What's weird is that is a South Carolina number.  Hmm...the mystery continues.

[nascarxx29]

Im certain the Eric W Price was the one from NJ and no longer with us sorry to say.As Alson address is the same a superbird ad

Father has patents   http://www.patentbuddy.com/Inventor/Price-Alson-K/10484364

You could also try Ed Machos number in Lakewood NJ

[MadMikeyL]

I will try Ed Machos later today.  I doubt he has the hemi bird, but he may know what happened to the 440 one.  I also found out my aunt has a bunch of old tax records, so I'm going to have her look through and see if we can find an old bank record that might show who may have bought the car. 

[nascarxx29]

Ed should have the white 440 bird

Im still looking for the Hillside NJ Hemi Superbird that did some local shows in NJ and in a magazine 1987.I talked to him back then and some of the details of the missing Hemi Superbird fit

[MadMikeyL]

Cool!  I left a message for Ed Machos, and my aunt will be checking through my grandparents' old tax records to see if there are any records that old.  If there are, then maybe I can find a name of who bought the car, and maybe we can go from there.

Thanks for all your help.

[nascarxx29]

Got a call from Ed today. 1992 we last heard from each other he didnt remember the Hemi bird .But you can give him a call.

[nascarxx29]

Mikey I found that magazine again online and orderded it.Waiting for it anyday .Did you ever scan all those documents

[MadMikeyL]

No, I haven't had a chance to scan everything yet. I'll try to get that done one day this week.

I did have about a half-hour conversation with Ed Machos the other day, and his superbird is definitely the first one my grandfather owned, so that was pretty exciting. He said the engine and trans are out of the car right now, so I offered to help with the install if needed. It would be awesome to have a chance to work on my grandfather's old superbird.

Unfortunately I have kind of hit a dead end on the hemi car. Everyone in my family remembers that he bought the car from Eric Price, but nobody remembers who it was sold to. My uncle remembers that the buyer was either in Northwest NJ, or possibly PA. The old tax and bank records had nothing either. The only other thing I can try is checking with DMV, but I doubt they will release any info. We'll see.

[nascarxx29]

I waiting for my magazine .To see what details are there.

And send the vin in to some known area mopar restorers I know .To see if the car had been in there shop

[nascarxx29]

NJ DMV historical Is not much help on older cars .You can try them or call to see whats available you need to submit the complete vin RM23ROA174616 and NJ tag number 601 -PLF blue plates.Im certain that plate is the one on the repainted color changed Hemi Superbird I saw and owner was from N Jersey
Glad we got to talk to Ed and confirm one white Superbird found and it was the one.Maybe MCG will run a story you got the paperwork and looking for the Hemi Superbird

[nascarxx29]

Got the magazine today guy with repainted B5 Hemi 4 speed Superbird in 87 article. And has same car and same owner. I seen before with the V2 the original color on the fender tag.Car was from NJ Gilbert Jacobs.Also mentioned he joined the superbird club there maybe a lead there

[nascarxx29]

Mikey did a quick search heres a Gilbert Jacobs president of a company as magazine mentioned and its in NJ This should be the car you looking for.87 article says he bought it five years ago.So 1981 -1982 is right on.And father and Son has superbirds the sons car is a 440
http://www.manta.com/g/mmb5ph2/gilbert-jacobs

[Smhemi]

I remember talking to the owner that B5 hemi superbird back in the day.If I remember correctly he lived in Lake Hopatcong and the car was restored at Hibernia Auto Restorations

[nascarxx29]

Wonder how many Hemi Superbirds Hibernia ever repainted cant be many .This place Ive heard of for years for doing foriegn and exotics http://www.hiberniaautorestorers.com/

Another intersting thing in the article it stated mr Jacobs is a big Hemi fan started with a 53  model .And has gone directly to Highland Park MI to personally pick up his Hemi cars until you couldnt get Hemis anymore

[Aero426]

Mikey, check your PM's.   I have sent you the contact info for Mr. Jacobs that I had on file.

[nascarxx29]

      Aero 426 Mikeys additional contact info  Hopefully Mikey has more than enough on this longtime NJ mystery superbird to conclude that as Eric Price is no longer with us RM23ROA174616 .His car is alive and well and urban legends had it down as 426 FK5 burnt orange .As car was in primer or faded orange on the accounts I heard before seeing it for the firstime in B5 with a V2 paint code.And he gets to see it again and reunite buildsheet pictures etc with current owner.When I seen the car way back when I didnt have a camera or misplaced pictures I had .But I remembered NJ Plates and owners last name .
Mike
scnjpunk@juno.com
732-7five7-1fivenine0   We also got a current ph# number and address for a 84 y/o Gilbert Jacobs in NJ.Which by no doubt will be the one your looking to talk to

[MadMikeyL]

Thank you very much!  I will get in touch with him, and I definitely couldn't have done this without all the help here.

Nascarxx29, it's been a bit crazy these past few weeks cause I was in the middle of moving, so I still haven't had a chance to scan the paperwork, but I will definitely email you a copy of everything when I do.  I'll also post pictures when I see the car!

Thanks again!

Mike

[MadMikeyL]

Well I spoke to Gilbert Jacobs today!  I called yesterday and left a message with a receptionist at his office, and this afternoon I got a call back from him.  He still has the car, and said he just had another complete ground-up restoration done on the car, and it is now back to the original Tor-Red paint.  Given that he just had this done, he was very excited to get the build sheet for the car, and said he would be happy to show me the car.  I spoke with my uncle, he is going to speak to his cousin and his uncle (my grandfather's brother), and within the next couple weeks, we will be making a trip up there to see the car, take some good pictures, and get this build sheet into the owner's hands.

Thanks to everyone for the help and info tracking down the car!  I'm very excited to see it.

[nascarxx29]

He put it to back V2 how about that.After all those years .Case closed on RM23ROA174616 back to V2 and getting the cars buildsheet reunited doesnt get any better.Except for pictures and a story. Its been quite a while but you can see the older recorded info can know be updated

[MadMikeyL]

Well on Sunday I took a drive up and met Gil Jacobs and saw the hemi bird!  My uncle went with me, and he said Gil looks almost exactly the same as he did 30 years ago when he bought the car.  As for the car, it was absolutely perfect!  We went into the garage, and I helped Gil remove the cover from the car.  All the paint was perfect, the interior was immaculate, right down to the pistol grip shifter!  The engine bay was spotless as well, with the big hemi air cleaner painted just as perfectly as the rest of the car.  After about 20 minutes or so, Gil's son Randy showed up, he added a little fuel to the carbs, and Gil got in the car and fired it up!  After hearing it run, the 4 of us were talking about the car, the history of the car, and just cars in general.  I found out a little more info about that vandalism claim back when Eric had the car.  Apparently Eric and his neighbor had some kind of an argument, and then the neighbor's son went at the car with an axe and managed to put 4 cuts in the nosecone before someone was able to stop him.  At the time, the nosecone was replaced, but Eric kept the original one, which went with the car, and now Gil has the original nosecone, still with the 4 axe marks in it, that he said he has kept just as a spare in case anything were to happen to the one on the car.  Gil told us about having hemi cars going back to 1953.  He said that right before he bought this car, he decided he wanted another car with a hemi, and he asked Randy to look for something for him, and Randy was the one who found my grandfather selling this car.  Looking around Gil's garage, he also had a Chrysler 300 SRT8, a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 5.7 Hemi, and a 96 Dodge Viper GTS with only 1600 miles on it.  After a while talking, we went back inside, and went through the paperwork that I had.  I gave Gil everything that was specific to that car including 2 build sheets, a sales tax receipt from when my grandfather bought the car, the ad from when Eric was selling the car, and a printed manual that has diagrams and part numbers for everything specific to the superbird.  Before giving everything to him, I scanned everything to a pdf file, except for the build sheets.  Gil made copies of those for me at the house, and I also took a picture of them before leaving.  After about 2 hours of talking and story-telling, my uncle and I had to be on our way, so Gil walked us out to the front, thanked us, and before leaving I got his Randy's email address, and he said he will email me pictures of the car during the restoration process.  Overall, it was a fun meeting, and it was exciting to see the car in such good shape, and that made me feel even better about getting the build sheets back with the car.  Anyway, without further ado, here are the pics and a video of the car being started.



]

[moparstuart]

wow      the ultimate

[nascarxx29]

Im happy for you Mike and that research paid off.So that you were able to restablish contact with the past owned cars from your family.And that Mr Jacobs got his buildsheet reunited and that we know have the history on this particular N.J. Hemi Superbird after quite sometime

[held1823]

beautiful car, and the perfect ending to your quest.

hopefully the owner will join us here, and share his experiences with the car.

[WINGIN IT]

Console 4 speed Hemi Superbird, dont get much better than that! 
Well maybe if it was B5 w/ white interior 

[Aero426]

A very unselfish thing to give up the build sheets.   Some people would not have done that.   Glad you were able to close the loop. 

[MadMikeyL]

No white interior, but he had previously had it painted B5.  He said he went back to the original color because he shows the car, and he got knocked down a few times for it not being the original color.

As for the build sheets, as far as I'm concerned they are part of the car.  It would be different if it was a common car, but when its a 1 of 48 car, it never crossed my mind to not give them to the current owner.  He did give me some money for them, not that I was asking for it.  I'm happy just having seen the car and met the owner, and being part of tracking down a missing superbird.

[johntpr]

what is the rectangular plate above where the heater hoses come through firewall ?

[nascarxx29]

I saw that to dont know if its a engraved plaque .Or reassigned replacement vin?

[MadMikeyL]

It was put there by Hybernia Auto Restorations, and says something to the effect of "This vehicle was restored by Hybernia Auto Restoration", or something like that.  It is just double-sided tape holding it onto the firewall.  That actually became the subject of a little argument while we were there because Gil's son wanted to remove it, and started gently pulling at it to see how it was attached, and Gil started yelling at him to leave it because what if it pulls the paint off with it.

[WINGIN IT]

I was wondering that as well.
And if he pulls it off and the paint comes off, just stick it back on !

[SouthernChargers]

Hey guy can yall look in those records and see if it says anything about any surperbirds in north carolina. it could be anything, like a sale record or anything, please let me know and if there is could you send me pictures of them, Thanks,
                                                                                                                      Cole

[nascarxx29]

Need some info as this to even get started       http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?40431-Trying-to-track-down-my-grandfather-s-old-hemi-superbird

[Aero426]

There are way too many green Superbirds built to narrow it down without more information.    A VIN from old paperwork is the best way to start.   

[SouthernChargers]

Thats the thing, i have no paper work for it just a story, about how many green ones were there made?

[Aero426]

Probably close to 200 green ones.

[nascarxx29]

If your car from NC John Mcbride Rich Garland Kenny Brackett might be up on NC wingcars

[SouthernChargers]

Would they have any records or documentation, or leads on them.

[TRAVELER]

hi mike  this is randy jacobs, did u just visit the bird in hopatcong and drop off paperwork for it, my dad was so happy to get that !!    thanks randy....

[nascarxx29]

Glad it all worked out