Its easy to forget how nice these old cars cruise.

[Rusty knuckles]

Had my 3yo yesterday and he requested we take the "purpoo" car to town. The "purpoo" car is my 71 charger 318 car. It's bone stock, not a modification to it. I don't drive it too often as I have other more fun cars to choose from so. It has 169,000 on it and to my knowledge has never been rebuilt, just tuned up and necessary components replaced.

As we're cruising I thought to myself, gosh this car cruises nicer than some of my modern stuff. The suspension is soft and comfortable, the steering is easy, its pretty quiet aside from wind noise from worn out window seals. If I changed out the bench seat for something with a bit more support it'd be like driving a la-z-boy. Even the AC works pretty well.

I just thought it was easy to forget that in the pursuit of throaty exhaust, lopey cams, and better performance, that once upon a time these things could be considered pretty luxury.

 

[PlymCrazy]

We wanna see purpoo too

 

[Rusty knuckles]

It's plymouth prowler purple. I did the bodywork and painted it about 20 years ago in high school.

 

[PlymCrazy]

 

[Dennis H]

Agreed. My old Dog is the same. Like an old friend.

 

[Budnicks]

mine too, just don't drive it much of late
dog/Baron loves rides

I just put it up on jack stands doing some brakes stuff, new hoses at a min.
probably a new MC, debating on doing another Disc. brake conversion too
(not sure, I do have all the parts on the shelf)
if I ever get too it again
(my dad & his Dr's appt's keep me pretty busy of late, 3-4 a month
& running around getting his meds, seems constantly)
maybe a few other changes
new FBO ignition, new billet Firecore dist. & coil, wires plugs,
maybe a new oil pan too (on the shelf too)
But it really needs headers again
the ported HiPo iron manifolds are chocking it off bad...
I was going to build my own headers upswept like the S/S manifolds,

probably going to buy some
TTI-383178-ch, 1-7/8" ceramic coated, like $1200
only ones that will fit with the Unisteer bolt-in, Rack & Pinion I have
but, I'll never get to starting & actually finishing the dang headers NOW
anytime soon, anyway...
So I'll probably bight the bullet, spend the $$...
I have all kinds of parts I could install, suspension QA1 stuff
just went a different direction with the car...
Now just an org. 383/392cid low compression with a bunch HiPo stuff bolted on...
Still the 6bbl & full Hydr. roller, all kinds of alum parts & heads...
Took off the other engine, sold the zero deck short-block 479cid/383 6bbl
590hp/600ft#s at the wheels
sold to a friend in need, I don't have a track within 150 miles to 200 miles now
since Sacramento closed...
Now more of a driver, or will be, to be able to handle well, it's a drag car/street beast
searching out a corner, here in the mountains/sticks

was going to use these, to start with, swept up cut off & turn back down by the firewall
like an old S/S 63-64 MW

quality but heavy 4-2-1 scavenger collectors, into 3" Flow master American Muscle car full system, out the back

relocated the battery a long time ago, recently well a year ago, bought a new Yellow top battery D/C
my org. 25 y/o truck battery just wasn't keeping up anymore

tight fit
ceramic coating flaking off the HiPos now too

Enjoy

 

[gtx6970]

One of , if not the best driving / cruising old car Ive ever owned . All stock, but all new front suspension

Deep down I REALLY wish I had kept this car

 

[WileE]

Of my cars, I enjoy driving the "older" ones better. It seems we have something in common. Maybe it has to do with "old" ??

 

[71RRHI]

Alot of guys get these old cars and think they need to be changed to rack and pion and coil overs to drive good. But all the ever need is a rebuilt front and rear suspension. And they drive nice. Upgrade a few things ( sway bars, shocks, bushings) and they handle even better.

 

[68_661charger]

Agreed. I had one of mine out the other weekend after a 4 year hiatus for rust repair and laziness. Almost forgot how well they drove.

 

[Charlie Brown]

Alot of guys get these old cars and think they need to be changed to rack and pion and coil overs to drive good. But all the ever need is a rebuilt front and rear suspension. And they drive nice. Upgrade a few things ( sway bars, shocks, bushings) and they handle even better.

I agree. Bought this 1962 300 17 years ago and have put 30k miles on her since. Bone stock and un-

restored. A real pleasure to drive.

 

[68BabyBlue]

My wife was never a fan of my GTXs, but she loved riding in my 1960 Chrysler 300F. Said it surpassed any modern day car I owned, before or after, for comfort and style. I loved that she dressed like Mad Men's Joan Holloway when we took it out on a Saturday night date, consistent with the car's era when new.

 

[cosgig]

We wanna see purpoo too

Now I want a ride in Purpoo!

 

[Ron H]

Agree, there’s something special driving an old car in good condition or restored. What a world of difference on the ’63 after refurbishing the suspension, adding a sway bar (an option mine didn’t have) FFII steering, HD leafs, wide radials and realignment for the radials. Tight steering, no slop zone or wandering. Never thought the ’63 would drive like it does. First new ride I bought, ’73 Challenger, didn’t seem as tight as the ’63 is now. I’d bet it drives better than when it came off the assembly line…well the tires alone back then didn’t help. Remember driving many rides way back then that got a loose steering feel after 40-50-thousand miles.

 

[Triplegreen500]

My Charger rides and drives great.

Unrestored, but I did rebuild the front end and installed upsized torsion bars a couple years ago. Rides great and handles decent for a fat pig on skinny tires lol.

I do have a leaky steering box, might put a FF box on it, haven't decided yet....and one day I really should upgrade the 4 wheel non-power drums....but overall it rides and drives as good as any modern car. It's no "performance handling package"...but it does just fine in traffic and on mountain roads!

 

[Rebelrouser]

While I love driving my old cars, nothing beats the ride and handling of my common 2010 V-6 dodge challenger which gets 29MPG on the highway. Four-wheel independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes, plus a lot better road feel power steering. tried to make it look like a TA challenger. I had one of those years ago and had to sell it, now they are way to expensive for me to buy one. And the V-6 is pretty close to the same HP as a 340 from back in the day.

 

[Rusty knuckles]

While I love driving my old cars, nothing beats the ride and handling of my common 2010 V-6 dodge challenger which gets 29MPG on the highway. Four-wheel independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes, plus a lot better road feel power steering. tried to make it look like a TA challenger. I had one of those years ago and had to sell it, now they are way to expensive for me to buy one. And the V-6 is pretty close to the same HP as a 340 from back in the day.

View attachment 1881530

Funny you mention the modern challenger. While I don't have a v6 i do have a hellcat one and its ride is much harsher compared to both of my chargers. It's also slower around an autocross than my 69 charger and it understeers terribly where the charger is far better balanced.

 

[Triplegreen500]

it understeers terribly

...that's what your right foot is for....

 

[cosgig]

I personally like the feel of older cars and how they drive. They feel the road, and the mechanized mayhem they provide cannot be had elsewhere. Big, long pistol grip shifters rowing through straight cut gears is a feeling like no other, a feeling which I enjoy immensely. New cars are just for transportation, old cars are for enjoyment.

 

[Cranky]

I agree. Bought this 1962 300 17 years ago and have put 30k miles on her since. Bone stock and un-View attachment 1881197restored. A real pleasure to drive.

...that's what your right foot is for....

Had a 71 340 Cuda that came with the T/A fast ratio steering and front and rear bars. With good tires and wheels, it was pretty dang good. Even my 66 /6 Belvedere got 'way bater' with better shocks, wheels and tires plus being lowered a bit along with better alignment specs. Wish I hadn't sold the Cuda and wish I hadn't blew the Belvedere apart in 98!

Along the way, I found out that the loud pedal was a cure all with some cars that suffered from under steer lol