I lost another Mopar buddy -- car pics added

[bull]

My Mopar buddy Todd died at the age of 44 on Superbowl Sunday '07 and now my other Mopar buddy died on Sept. 20 at the age of 54 after a long fight with cancer. Mike Swickard was a dyed-in-the-wool Mopar fanatic who had a long-standing love for the 33-34 Plymouth sedans, several of which he restored (some original and some customized). He also was an avid collector of E-body muscle and owned several Cudas and Challengers over the years but I could never get him interested in B-body Mopars.

He did a couple of serious custom jobs over the years. One he did was either a 33 or 34 Plymouth on a Viper suspension with a blown 426 Hemi drivetrain. The Viper suspension components came courtesy of Kelsey Grammer who in September of 1996 crashed his Dodge Viper near his Agoura Hills, California home. Another notable customization (IMO) was his 1940 (?) Plymouth convertible (pictured below) in which he installed a 5.7L Hemi that did not rely on a computer to function. Mike had replaced the intake manifold with a modified/normally-aspirated 392 Hemi intake manifold and operated the distributor by belt drive.

Mike did all his own engine work, body/paint work, trim work and interior work. Although I'm sure he didn't do everything I can't readily think of anything Mike farmed out for any of his numerous projects. When he was in his teens and twenties Mike lived with our family off and on in Eastern Oregon and he briefly ran a logging company with my late father whom he really looked up to. He was an amazing guy who helped way more than he ever needed help. He will be sorely missed.

[General_01]

Sorry for your loss. Sounds like he left his mark in the hobby. I like the car. Sounds like a guy who knew his stuff. RIP Mike.

[Silver R/T]

Sorry for your loss man

[RD]

RIP mike... sorry for your loss bull...

[BigBlockSam]

rip Mike . i'm 50 and in the last 3 yrs i've lost a bunch of good friends . i'm sorry for your loss .

[bull]

rip Mike . i'm 50 and in the last 3 yrs i've lost a bunch of good friends . i'm sorry for your loss .

Me too. Not a bunch but a number of close ones. It really makes you feel old when so many people near you in years start falling, like when old people talk about all the friends and family they've outlived. I know it's not about me but it's still pretty depressing.

[skip68]

Very sorry to hear of your loss Bull! He was WAY too young! RIP Mike!
Mr.&Mrs.Skip68

[The70RT]

Sorry for your loss.  God Bless.

[TruckDriver]

I'm sorry Curtis. Hang in there buddy

[WingCharger]

Sorry to hear that man.

[71ChallengeHer]

Sorry for your loss , Bull.

[nh_mopar_fan]

Sorry for your loss.

[bull]

Thanks. The memorial service is on Saturday. I'm wishing my Charger was done now because his widow is encouraging his friends to bring their cars to the service.

[mikepmcs]

My sympathy goes out to his family.
Sorry for the loss of your good friend Curtis.
v/r
Mike

[chargerboy69]

Sorry for your loss Curtis.

[hemi68charger]

Sorry for your loss Bull... Good friends are the pearls of life and when one's gone, one can always remember it's luster.......... 

[TUFCAT]

Dude, I'm sorry. 

[Charger_Fan]

Sorry to hear this sad news, Bull. It sounds like he was a hell of a guy for sure.

[bull]

The memorial service was yesterday and the classic car turnout was pretty good for a cloudy/rainy day. The first three cars are what's left of Mike's personal collection, stuff he restored/customized himself and didn't sell before passing on. The others are cars that other people brought.

The green '40 Plymouth has got a 5.7 liter Hemi that has been converted to run without a computer. I tried to get a picture of the belt-driven distributor but couldn't get the shot. The black '33 sedan is what Mike called the "Hyper" (a Viper play on words) that has a Viper suspension and a blown 426 Hemi.

[bull]

  Don't you love the Dodge pickup? I do.

[Lowprofile]

Wow!  Sorry fro your loss bro. Seems like we loose so many good people so young, yet sooooooo many jerks/assholes/scumbags live a long, fruitful life.

Your bro was quite the engineer/mechanic/carbuilder. I really like the many "different" cars he chose to build. 

[resq302]

Bull,

Sorry to hear about your loss.  He is not truely gone until you stop remembering him.  Memories last a lifetime.

[hutch]

that is just damn Sad.  Sorry to hear that, its so sad to hear someone going so young like that and with friends and family it just makes it harder on my poor old heart.    God be with them.