Hope For A Basket Case, Myself Included

I'm breaking format protocol for this weekend to take a trip down amnesia lane. Don't worry - there is a point to all this. I can remember a time about 30 years ago, when I did not embrace modern technology. Fuel injection was out - an engine had to have a carburetor, especially if it was on a pre-1975 automobile. Turbos were for diesel engines and imported 4-bangers. Original style suspension & brakes were cool. This was a muscle car, for crying out loud. It was old school or nothing. And while I embraced all brands of muscle cars, I only owned Mopars. In other words, my mindset was fairly limited. Fast forward to today - I dig fuel injection & turbos - even in old iron going back to the 1930's. My vehicle horizon has expanded a great deal where I've owned multiple years, makes and models, including trucks. I am grateful for a broader scope in regards to high performance. I still don't do imports, however.

I was thumbing through my latest issue of Muscle Car Review which featured several vehicles, as well as a cover car, the likes of which I thought would never make it into magazine print. What I mean by a "feature" vehicle, are the the two or three automobiles that make up the bread and butter of that particular issue, not just a short passing glance in a regular monthly column. The main theme of this months issue was "Only Original Once". While the 1965 Impala SS on page 38 was still in stunning condition, thanks to its 11,000 original miles, it was the other two vehicles, a 69 Roadrunner and a 68 Z-28, that I gravitated towards. Why? Because they were driven. They were worn. They were not pristine. At best, many would consider them "drivers". Some people would even think of them as vehicles in need of a serious restoration.

In the past, when the restoration craze seemed to hits us, these vehicles wouldn't even be considered. And it's not just the latest "barn find" mindset that's en vogue at the present moment, because the vehicles highlighted in the magazine were far from that. I believe it's about expanding our horizons. I can remember when tribute cars (back in the late 80's they were called fakes), 4-door sedans, and wagons were thought of as unworthy magazine material unless they were uber-rare. Most sedans or wagons were parts cars at best, and only if they were rust free. Even the rare muscle car that was once considered an absolute basket case and was almost always parted out, is now given serious consideration for restoring.

Along with expanding our horizons, I also believe this new mindset is about preserving the history of high performance and automotive in general. Sure, there were Dodge and Plymouth 4-door sedans that were ordered with the 426 Hemi, and the occasional 1969 Chevy Kingswood wagon with the 427 V-8. But all the other plain Jane small block Fairlanes, Tempests, and Dusters - these cars are disappearing at too fast a rate every year. The same is true with Fox-body Mustangs as well as third-generation Camaros and Firebirds. Likewise for any Detroit iron that's street rod (or even rat rod) material from the 50's on down. We can keep the faith all we want, but we also have to keep this stuff around.

The after-market parts industries have made incredible strides in the past 30+ years. There was a time when there was almost no after-market support for muscle cars. I can remember seeing a rusted, stripped out, hunk of uni-body that used to be a complete 1970 AAR Cuda in a salvage yard. That's unthinkable today.

I can also remember turning down an offer to purchase a 1968 Superbee decades ago that had it's original 383 engine on the ground next to it under a tarp, but everything else was there. It was even a somewhat rare Ivy Green Metallic with gold bumblebee stripes. Asking price? $300 dollars. Why did I turn it down? Because I thought it needed too much body and interior work and I didn't want to deal with a non-running car with four flat tires. Back in 1985, there were no companies that offered replacement quarter panels or bench seat material. Suspension and brake parts might be found at the local auto parts store because they fit a bunch of different B-bodies that still weren't that old. About two weeks later, I purchased a 1967 Coronet 4-door in decent shape with almost zero rust, (the interior needed a little work) with a sweet running 383 and automatic. I even drove it the 90 miles back home. The price on that one? $650 dollars.

Today, you can almost restore a Camaro or Mustang around a rust free door hinge. That's really nothing new. But do you realize there are companies that sell complete reproduction bodies for tri-five Chevys and Fords, first and second generation Camaro / Firebird, Mustang, and Chevelle.  More on on the way, including trucks! And the parts galore now available is not limited to just the uber-popular models either - there are more body panels, frame patch parts, interior pieces, and trim items than ever before. Did you know you can purchase a 6-speed manual transmission kit for a 1959 Edsel? Or how about a serpentine belt kit for a 421 Pontiac? Or go full tilt on an entirely new frame, chassis, suspension, and steering kit, that can even come fully assembled, for several classic style vehicles that will out-corner a stock modern Corvette. We live in wonderful times to be in the old car hobby.

Evolve, broaden and diversify, people. It's how we will survive.
Until next time, peace out.
Dave