To the ones who may be vintage too!!!

[devilgear]

To the people who have been around longer than our cars, what was it like to buy these cars new? What was it like to go into a dealership and see a bunch of new 1970 Charger's with maybe some 69's still unsold? Describe the experience. Did you pay with cash or finance? Did you order one or buy one there? What other cars did you see. Did they come down on the price much? Did you go for the HEMI or did ou only have a 383 in the budget? I was not born yet or only 1 or 2 when these all were new so I did not have these experiences yet, but I am interested in the stories, so let us know.....

[RECHRGD]

OK, I'll bite.  In December of 1968 I was 20 years old and living in Southern California (La Canada).  I remember seeing an ad in the LA Times for the new Charger and thought that it was the best looking car that I had ever seen.  Within a couple of weeks I was sitting in a Dodge dealership in Pasadena California on Colorado Blvd. negotiating a deal on a new R/T.  I special ordered a yellow one with black top and black BB stripes.  The HEMI was around $700.00 more than the base 440 and rumor had it that the 440 was just as quick in a stop light to stop light duel.  Also the HEMI only came with a one year / 12,000 warranty as opposed to the 440's 5/50,000.  That is why so few HEMI's were sold.  $700.00 was a ton of money in those days.  So for around $3,450.00 I had my new Charger ordered.  It was to have the magnum wheels, red line tires, H.D. 11" power Drum brakes, Automatic tranmission (they were supposed to be faster than the 4 speeds) with the column shifter and buddy seat (I wanting nothing between myself and my date for the evening), Power steering with wood grain steering wheel and a 3.23 suregrip rear end.  I traded in a 1966 Suzuki X6 Hustler motorcycle that they gave me a few hundred dollars for.  I had about a month to wait for the car and needed some transportation in the meantime, so I bought a 1946 Plymouth Deluxe for $50.00 to get me around in the interim.  I remember that I had a job interview to go to and the Charger was late in arriving.  I wanted to make a good impression and didn't want to show up in the old clunker of a car.  The dealership loaned me a new white Coronet R/T that had just been used in the Rose Parade.  In fact, it still had the roses painted on the doors.  I didn't get the job.  I think they thought I was one of those flower children with those damn roses on the doors.  When the Charger arrived it had a ding in the front just above the bumper on the passenger side that I had them repair before taking delivery.  As I recall my payments were around $100.00 a month on a 3 year loan.  That car made many great memories for me.  My love life improved significantly and I rarely lost a street battle.  I did beat it up pretty good and after a couple of years traded it in on a new VW. I know, I know!!! In 1997 I found my present Charger in a barn in Idaho.  Funny to think that the paint job on the present one cost more than my original car back in 1968.   Bob

[tan top]

 good story  Bob  thanks for sharing

[skip68]

What a cool story.    If only we could go back in time.

[dukeboy_318]

dang why couldnt i been alive then thanks for sharing

[bull]

I did beat it up pretty good and after a couple of years traded it in on a new VW. I know, I know!!!    Bob

You did what?!