firemanandy807
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- Aug 19, 2013
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- Location
- Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
My 71 GTX Story!
Sorry in advance guys, it’s a little long, but I feel youwill appreciate it. I’m gonna type this out as if I was talking to you inperson, this story still gives me goosebumps and its about one of my dreams coming true. Before I start I would like to say that My parents taught me a good work ethic. And did not buy this car for me or help me out financially with anything I own. Im just a simple farm grown hard working kid who landed agreat job thanks to someone above looking out for me.
Everything goes back to when I was a little kid coming homefrom a birthday party. My buddies daddrove us home in his 1971 Dodge charger (blown hemi). Being a kid seeing part of that engine sticking outta the hood riding shot gun, life was amazing atthat point, Anyhow, we kept telling him to “lightem up” lol we drove for 4 minsand gave up on thinking he would. He kept saying car wasn’t warm enough yet,well finally it was warm enough, and my goodness, it was like you just pissedit off, but what a beautiful sound it was. After that I was hooked. My love re-ignited when I met a girl whos momdrove a 67 camaro. And this is how I met my good buddy Rob.
Sorry that was a bit wordy, I was just a bit bored in theevening typing this. Anyhow, I’m a
Canadian boy who lives really close to theU.S.A
border just south of Thunder Bay, On, Can. I was looking for a muscle car for probably 5 years (im 25 now). I was wanting and dreaming of a Mopar, but was happy with any late 60s to early 70’s muscle. I found a really nice looking (pictures) 72 Satellite. It was an older couple who had the Satellite foryears, the pictures were pretty tough to see, the lighting in the garage was crap. I did notice it had a sunroof though. So I asked them if it was a factory sunroof, or if someone installed it. I was told it was a factory sunroof, I did a little bit of research at the time and I believe I found that there were some made, at least then I thought they did, and that infact it might be a little bit more desirable satellite. I wastold It had a strong 383. All clean factory interior and no rust. Anyhow I was super excited, I grabbed my buddies dads trailer, (charger buddy’s dad), my good friend Rob, and we Drove the 4 hours to Superior Wisconsin almost died in the process with black ice on the road. Got to the house where the car resided, met the nice older couple.(cool morning with no heat in the garage) I was told that they couldn’t get the car started. I was like great… now I have no clue on motor, tranny, rear end, or anything. The car looked pretty nice from a distance, then I got a bit closer, the *** end of the car was way to high, the rims were shot, opened the hood and the firewall was rusting, there was some sort of **** “updated wiring” (I wrench on helicopters for a living and know whatgood and **** wiring is, but also grew up a farmer so I’m not conceited) Thecar looked like it was built by Joe Dirt Himself. So being stubborn, we then asked to try and get the car going, they gave us their blessing, but they didn’t have a tool in the garage, luckily I brought my own. So we pulled a spark plug,and found no spark, pulled the distributor. Found nothing wrong. All this time the couple were just gawking at us. After a few minutes my buddy and I gave up, I saw the interior and the 1990 grand caravan seats covered in bear fur in the front, the spray painted back seat,the hack job sunroof. It was all a turn off. Rob said lets get outta here andgrab a coffee. So we went to the closest mcdonalds to have some breakfast andcoffee. (a substitute for the famous Canadian Tim Hortons) Now rob is a bit older than I, has a 9.0s dragcar, build his wifes beautiful 67 Canary yellow Camaro. Build his previous gorgeous 78 camaro he knows cars. Anyhow we just sit down with our food and I looked over at him and said, Rob I am not going home with that car, he breathed a huge sigh of relief and said, that is the bestthing I ever heard you say kid. Now, I’m a super social guy, was friends witheveryone, talk to anyone. I asked 2 random people in Mcdicks if they knew ofany muscle cars for sale saying I came down here with cash and a trailer, and don’twanna leave emtpy handed. The one young guy said, I’m not sure, but let me call my friend. So he called his buddy,buddy called his dad, and said, im not sure, but I have an appreciation forguys who like old vehicles. Have him follow you to the barn. So this older gentleman meets us at this old barn, we open the door, and there shining was a 72 sublime challenger. Now being 23 :blob1:at the time I asked how much for that one. Hesaid don’t even look at it son its not for sale. I replied well let me know, I will see what the bank can do. He repeated its not for sale. Anyhow to the front right of that car was asuper cool 60 impala in beautiful condition, not what I was interested in, but a super cool car. Then there was a 70 Satellite convertible. Also a cool car,but also not what I was looking for. Then to the left of that was My dream come true… the 71 GTX. Rob and I looked it over and felt pretty comfortable with it, it was dusty but in remarkably good shape. I asked the guy how much he wanted for the car, and I don’t want to publicize the price, but I was told the same price as was being asked for the satellite. I could not believe it. I wanted to give the guy the cash right away, but he was in rough health at the time and couldn't load it right away. He gave me his number, his son’s number (my age) and said be in touch with him and we will do the deal thefollowing month. So we did just that. I went back Easter weekend (my weekendhome from apprenticeship school) drove another 4+ hours on top of the 8 hours I just drove home from school and picked up My dream car. This time Rob insisted me ontaking an open trailer. On the way home, I don’t know if my eyes were more on the road, or in the rear view mirror! On the way home my trucks lift pump packed it in, had robs wife drive me my buddy’s after market fuel pump that he had to remove off his truck cause it was the onlyone like the one I had (stupid aftermarket) to me. I got covered in rain and diesel on the side of the highway, Pulled up to the boarder stinking like fuel.It was a long but amazing day. :headbang:
Since then the car sat until January 2013 when I scraped andheat gunned the factory undercoating off the underside. I pulled the motor,tranny and everything else underneath. Then I pulled the hood, front bumper,fenders, etc. Finally now this month I got my hands on a rotisserie and give the car what she deserves, a good underside cleaning. I will hopefully have thetime and ambition to post the process, so please keep me motivated to post and to keep working on the car. Thanks for reading guys, Hope you liked it. Ps. I’m glad you survived the length of it. J :hello2:
These pics are from when I picked it up, to the progress it is at now. more posts will follow, just wondering where people would like me to post them as it progresses. on this forum?
The car 71 GTX built in St luis. 440. non numbers match. now bored out and built beautifully for when the car is ready. 727 with slap stick. white interior with black carpet. all to be gone through in due time.
Sorry in advance guys, it’s a little long, but I feel youwill appreciate it. I’m gonna type this out as if I was talking to you inperson, this story still gives me goosebumps and its about one of my dreams coming true. Before I start I would like to say that My parents taught me a good work ethic. And did not buy this car for me or help me out financially with anything I own. Im just a simple farm grown hard working kid who landed agreat job thanks to someone above looking out for me.
Everything goes back to when I was a little kid coming homefrom a birthday party. My buddies daddrove us home in his 1971 Dodge charger (blown hemi). Being a kid seeing part of that engine sticking outta the hood riding shot gun, life was amazing atthat point, Anyhow, we kept telling him to “lightem up” lol we drove for 4 minsand gave up on thinking he would. He kept saying car wasn’t warm enough yet,well finally it was warm enough, and my goodness, it was like you just pissedit off, but what a beautiful sound it was. After that I was hooked. My love re-ignited when I met a girl whos momdrove a 67 camaro. And this is how I met my good buddy Rob.
Sorry that was a bit wordy, I was just a bit bored in theevening typing this. Anyhow, I’m a
Since then the car sat until January 2013 when I scraped andheat gunned the factory undercoating off the underside. I pulled the motor,tranny and everything else underneath. Then I pulled the hood, front bumper,fenders, etc. Finally now this month I got my hands on a rotisserie and give the car what she deserves, a good underside cleaning. I will hopefully have thetime and ambition to post the process, so please keep me motivated to post and to keep working on the car. Thanks for reading guys, Hope you liked it. Ps. I’m glad you survived the length of it. J :hello2:
These pics are from when I picked it up, to the progress it is at now. more posts will follow, just wondering where people would like me to post them as it progresses. on this forum?
The car 71 GTX built in St luis. 440. non numbers match. now bored out and built beautifully for when the car is ready. 727 with slap stick. white interior with black carpet. all to be gone through in due time.
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