Post by Admin on Nov 2, 2021 17:02:09 GMT
BREAKING NEWS
Mystery 73 Charger Found
The mystery Dodge Charger has been located on Vancouver Island. It was called the mystery Charger as it had never been seen by any Mopars Unlimited members, although it was on the cover of the Sept 2003 Mopar Express newsletter.
A bit of the cars history is as follows:
Car was built at the Lynch Road Detroit assembly plant on June 29 1973. It went through gate A for assembly at 6:31pm, then it was sent through gate B for further assembly at 11:59pm. Possibly the end of shift is why the turn signals had 1 amber bulb and 1 had a clear bulb.
Car was purchased from the old Columbia Dodge New Westminster on Saturday Jan 19, 1974. The service manager had driven it for just over 2500 miles before it was offered for sale on the used car lot.
I test drove the car and wanted to make a deal, and a fair trade-in price for my 68 Charger was offered. Chrysler Canada also reinstated the full warranty on the car. As it was late in the day and my bank was closed, I only had a $5.00 bill in my wallet. The dealership wrote me a receipt for my $5.00 down payment (which I still have).
I picked up my new car the following Monday. The gold paint colour and black vinyl top looked great, and the 400ci engine really moved that 3500lb car.
The car was going through electronic regulators quite often as well as killing the battery. It was discovered that the wrong alternator was put on at the assembly plant. At idle, maybe 5volts output, at 30 mph the output was close to 12 volts. The car could stall if the fan, wipers and headlights were on and you stopped at a red light. A new pulley fixed that problem.
The Charger was decorated for a June wedding. During the reception, the car was broke into and filled with cardboard. Some joke. That happened twice, and resulted in a small separation of the headliner.
A few years later, the top of the drivers fender developed a rust spot and needed repair. A friend that worked for a body/paint shop took the car to work and cut out and patched the rust. While there I had them repaint the car to dark chestnut metallic.
The car was driven daily around Coquitlam, Burnaby and Mission. Road trips to Edmonton and Calgary, also to Spokane for the Worlds Fair. Approximately 50 trips from lower mainland to 25 miles east of 100 Mile House were made(15 of that on gravel roads).
The Carter Thermoquad carb developed a hesitation, so I did a rebuild one morning. After getting off work around midnight, I decided to see if that rebuild fixed the problem. Heading home it took off like a scared rabbit. As I passed an empty lot, I glanced over to see 2 RCMP cruisers. At exactly the same time, a yellow hotrod passed the open lot on the other road. One car pulled out following him, the other pulled out after me. But by this time I was quite a ways down the road. The road had lots of rolling hills, and each time I came to the top, I could see the red & blue lights in my mirror getting closer. I turned at the next street and pulled over to the curb, grabbing insurance papers and license. I had guessed that a big ticket was coming. The RCMP took the corner at a high rate of speed and pulled in behind me. I was asked if I knew the speed limit, which I said was 30mph at that time. The officer said he heard me coming long before he saw me, and asked me how fast was I going? I explained it was a stupid thing to do, but was testing the rebuilt carb. No traffic at that time of day, but was too busy watching the road ahead to look down at the speedometer. He then said, when you passed me, you had to be doing at least 45mph. (Im thinking if you added another 60plus, you might be close) He asked if I was going to my home, which I replied yes. He said keep it out of the ditch between there and home. No ticket.
The Charger always ran best above 60mph. I left Lake Louise Alberta just before noon one day, and was in Kamloops for dinner at Mr. Mikes, pulled into my driveway in Coquitlam before 9pm
I had always dreamed to restore the car at some later date, so over the years bought numerous NOS (new old stock),parts that I may need. I found a Charger listed in the old buy&sell that was being parted out after 9 years in storage, and purchased the whole interior. Upper and lower door panels, rear panels, kick panels, front and rear window trim and console (all in black). I wanted a spare radio, and was sold the complete dash with dash pad. All this for $35.00
When it was time to start the restoration, I purchased new quarters, rear cross member, and trunk floor extensions. Stripped the car and hauled on a trailer to Chilliwack. Following body work and paint by Gary Keay, I hauled it back to the island. I had the engine remanufactured at Pacific Reman (the old Chrysler engine facility) for a great price of $2300. I had Ray Myles do the transmission overhaul complete with a new converter.
It took a long time putting it back together, finally made it to a car show in September. A few small details to tidy up over the winter as I wait for ICBC to approve my collectors plate/insurance.
Mystery 73 Charger Found
The mystery Dodge Charger has been located on Vancouver Island. It was called the mystery Charger as it had never been seen by any Mopars Unlimited members, although it was on the cover of the Sept 2003 Mopar Express newsletter.
A bit of the cars history is as follows:
Car was built at the Lynch Road Detroit assembly plant on June 29 1973. It went through gate A for assembly at 6:31pm, then it was sent through gate B for further assembly at 11:59pm. Possibly the end of shift is why the turn signals had 1 amber bulb and 1 had a clear bulb.
Car was purchased from the old Columbia Dodge New Westminster on Saturday Jan 19, 1974. The service manager had driven it for just over 2500 miles before it was offered for sale on the used car lot.
I test drove the car and wanted to make a deal, and a fair trade-in price for my 68 Charger was offered. Chrysler Canada also reinstated the full warranty on the car. As it was late in the day and my bank was closed, I only had a $5.00 bill in my wallet. The dealership wrote me a receipt for my $5.00 down payment (which I still have).
I picked up my new car the following Monday. The gold paint colour and black vinyl top looked great, and the 400ci engine really moved that 3500lb car.
The car was going through electronic regulators quite often as well as killing the battery. It was discovered that the wrong alternator was put on at the assembly plant. At idle, maybe 5volts output, at 30 mph the output was close to 12 volts. The car could stall if the fan, wipers and headlights were on and you stopped at a red light. A new pulley fixed that problem.
The Charger was decorated for a June wedding. During the reception, the car was broke into and filled with cardboard. Some joke. That happened twice, and resulted in a small separation of the headliner.
A few years later, the top of the drivers fender developed a rust spot and needed repair. A friend that worked for a body/paint shop took the car to work and cut out and patched the rust. While there I had them repaint the car to dark chestnut metallic.
The car was driven daily around Coquitlam, Burnaby and Mission. Road trips to Edmonton and Calgary, also to Spokane for the Worlds Fair. Approximately 50 trips from lower mainland to 25 miles east of 100 Mile House were made(15 of that on gravel roads).
The Carter Thermoquad carb developed a hesitation, so I did a rebuild one morning. After getting off work around midnight, I decided to see if that rebuild fixed the problem. Heading home it took off like a scared rabbit. As I passed an empty lot, I glanced over to see 2 RCMP cruisers. At exactly the same time, a yellow hotrod passed the open lot on the other road. One car pulled out following him, the other pulled out after me. But by this time I was quite a ways down the road. The road had lots of rolling hills, and each time I came to the top, I could see the red & blue lights in my mirror getting closer. I turned at the next street and pulled over to the curb, grabbing insurance papers and license. I had guessed that a big ticket was coming. The RCMP took the corner at a high rate of speed and pulled in behind me. I was asked if I knew the speed limit, which I said was 30mph at that time. The officer said he heard me coming long before he saw me, and asked me how fast was I going? I explained it was a stupid thing to do, but was testing the rebuilt carb. No traffic at that time of day, but was too busy watching the road ahead to look down at the speedometer. He then said, when you passed me, you had to be doing at least 45mph. (Im thinking if you added another 60plus, you might be close) He asked if I was going to my home, which I replied yes. He said keep it out of the ditch between there and home. No ticket.
The Charger always ran best above 60mph. I left Lake Louise Alberta just before noon one day, and was in Kamloops for dinner at Mr. Mikes, pulled into my driveway in Coquitlam before 9pm
I had always dreamed to restore the car at some later date, so over the years bought numerous NOS (new old stock),parts that I may need. I found a Charger listed in the old buy&sell that was being parted out after 9 years in storage, and purchased the whole interior. Upper and lower door panels, rear panels, kick panels, front and rear window trim and console (all in black). I wanted a spare radio, and was sold the complete dash with dash pad. All this for $35.00
When it was time to start the restoration, I purchased new quarters, rear cross member, and trunk floor extensions. Stripped the car and hauled on a trailer to Chilliwack. Following body work and paint by Gary Keay, I hauled it back to the island. I had the engine remanufactured at Pacific Reman (the old Chrysler engine facility) for a great price of $2300. I had Ray Myles do the transmission overhaul complete with a new converter.
It took a long time putting it back together, finally made it to a car show in September. A few small details to tidy up over the winter as I wait for ICBC to approve my collectors plate/insurance.
Attachments:
