Remember when they were just cars?

BeepBeepRR · Jul 31, 2021

Was checking my local craigslist for Plymouth as usual. I find an ad for a guy looking for project cars. In his pictures I found one that showed the mood of the 60's and 70's reminds you of what a great time that was. Care free and careless. I saved a couple of the pictures which I will post here but the first picture is what the posting title is about. Parking a superbird in a lake and jumping off the spoiler... But then again back then it was just a car.

Here are the other 2 that were in his ad. First one I want to call the flock.

THis one speaks for itself..

Darter6 · Jul 31, 2021

I grew up,lived and worked in a steel mill town during the 60's-70's. The air pollution fall out would eat cars alive.
The local Dodge dealer where I worked was just across the street from the mill.The used lot was next to the mill fence.
The red crap in the air would cover the cars,etch into the paint and glass.340 Darts, Dusters, Super Bees, Chargers,Road Runners.Would sit there,rust and rot. We had them all. When deemed un-saleable the mill payed the dealer for them and hauled them away for scrap.
But back then they were just $500 used cars. I did buy a 69 Charger R/T in 1976 for $250. Kept the engine, tranny and rear. Bought a 63 Plymouth for $15 and built my first drag car. Thanks for the memories.

barbee6043 · Jul 31, 2021

They are still just car..some cost more than others!

69 Sleeper Bee · Jul 31, 2021

I ran my framing construction business out of my 1966 Barracuda back in the early 80's
It was called "Barracuda Construction"
I could haul studs in it with the back seat and trunk panel down.

WileERobby · Jul 31, 2021

Oh, yeah... the time when we "fixed" the cars, instead of "restore" them. Although I did get started buy/fix/sell a car to make a few bucks in the 70's.

wahya · Jul 31, 2021

Just planes. Reminded me of one of my favorite old movies.

YY1 · Jul 31, 2021

Factory HP cars have never been "just cars" to me.

68BabyBlue · Jul 31, 2021

Darter6 said:
I grew up,lived and worked in a steel mill town during the 60's-70's. The air pollution fall out would eat cars alive.
The local Dodge dealer where I worked was just across the street from the mill.The used lot was next to the mill fence.
The red crap in the air would cover the cars,etch into the paint and glass.340 Darts, Dusters, Super Bees, Chargers,Road Runners.Would sit there,rust and rot. We had them all. When deemed un-saleable the mill payed the dealer for them and hauled them away for scrap.
But back then they were just $500 used cars. I did buy a 69 Charger R/T in 1976 for $250. Kept the engine, tranny and rear. Bought a 63 Plymouth for $15 and built my first drag car. Thanks for the memories.

I remember the cars covered with furnace dust well from my early days hauling in and out of Pennsylvania steel mills. Little did I know that decades later, the nickel rich stuff would be like black gold going into the dry bulk tanker I run today. I was an odd one in the '70s, my Mopars were always more than cheap used cars to me, even the slant 6 Valiant I drove as a daily. I didn't buy my first GTX until I found a completely stock, adult owned and meticulously maintained example, owned two more like it before the prices went crazy. I tried to pass each one on in better condition than when I bought it, and drove the local dealer nuts trying to order OEM parts. If I'd had the same vision in some other areas of life, I wouldn't be working today.

Runcharger · Jul 31, 2021

I bought a few that had winter tires on them. Even when I bought my first GTX in 1976 though I knew it was special and made a trip to the dealer every two weeks to order parts for it to improve it.

Hey-O · Jul 31, 2021

69 Sleeper Bee said:
I ran my framing construction business out of my 1966 Barracuda back in the early 80's
It was called "Barracuda Construction"
I could haul studs in it with the back seat and trunk panel down.

When I first apprenticed as a carpenter, I used my 67 dart. Trunk was full of dirt and tools. They mean so much to us now because you can't go out now and just pick them up all over the place anymore. Time waits for no one!

Hey-O · Jul 31, 2021

68BabyBlue said:
If I'd had the same vision in some other areas of life, I wouldn't be working today.

Don't go there! Life isn't like a car with reverse in it, keep moving forward. You're fine.

Potts · Jul 31, 2021

Darts were affordable, basic cars back when my Grandfather bought his. "Compact" was the phrase the salesman used.
So I learned and enjoyed repairing (and driving) that 4 door Gold, /6.
Now, I cherish my Dart, it's more than a car to me.

Darter6 · Jul 31, 2021

Runcharger said:
winter tires on them.

I know this isn't a Mopar but,, This was brought into my buddy's shop a few years back for a total restoration.
Original owner drove it as his daily driver. Kept it for over 40 years. Maybe he knew back when that it was going to be worth GOLD someday..
They towed it in and it had 4 re-cap winter tires on it. I thought I had a before photo but only found the after.

Cranky · Jul 31, 2021

69 Sleeper Bee said:
I ran my framing construction business out of my 1966 Barracuda back in the early 80's
It was called "Barracuda Construction"
I could haul studs in it with the back seat and trunk panel down.

I did the same with my 66 Belvedere modoor. Trunk full of tools, nails etc. Decided to install a pair of air shocks on it because I didn't like the butt sagging 2 to 3" from the front. My present 66 Belvedere 2dr sedan was used as a truck at times too and with the back seat out, the rear seat cross brace removed and bucket seats, I could put 10 footers and longer in it lol. That was in the late 80's early 90's. Some of the things we used our cars for is kinda crazy lol. Stuck a complete 383 into the trunk of a 67 Dart in the mid 70's and hauled it across Houston to deliver it. The guy I took it to was expecting it to be in a pickup but I didn't have one at the time that I wanted to drive that far. Air shocks on that one too and had 90 psi in them for that ride.

Ron H · Jul 31, 2021

Darter6 said:
I know this isn't a Mopar but,, This was brought into my buddy's shop a few years back for a total restoration.
Original owner drove it as his daily driver. Kept it for over 40 years. Maybe he knew back when that it was going to be worth GOLD someday..
They towed it in and it had 4 re-cap winter tires on it. I thought I had a before photo but only found the after.
View attachment 1146106

That is one of my fav cars...had a chance to buy one I test drove eons ago - triple black 4spd vert for $2,200. Well 2 grand was a lot of cash then...regrets nonetheless.

Ron H · Jul 31, 2021

That photo of people jumping off the SB...even then...hard to view. With my 67 GTO and 70 Cuda...even back in the day...NO way anyone would stand on my rides...they must be stoned + drunk...geezuz.

snakeyes · Jul 31, 2021

wahya said:
Just planes. Reminded me of one of my favorite old movies.

yes that was a very good movie Dana Andrews

#41 · Jul 31, 2021

That's a neat photo of the Bird, if it really is one. In any case, when the water is only a foot deep, do you really need extra height to jump into it?!

I drove a Charger daily until the 90's. Those days are gone but I still drive them often.

joe smith · Jul 31, 2021

Darter6 said:
But back then they were just $500 used cars. I did buy a 69 Charger R/T in 1976 for $250. Kept the engine, tranny and rear. Bought a 63 Plymouth for $15 and built my first drag car. Thanks for the memories.

I remember the mid 70's well.. After the gas shortage of 74 and gas doubling in price NOBODY wanted these cars... A miracle today any exist... It was some bad times ...

joe smith · Jul 31, 2021

wahya said:
Just planes. Reminded me of one of my favorite old movies.

I read an article years ago about the surplus engines from WWII.. Merlins, Radials, Packards... It said the Japanese bought up most of them at scrap prices and melted em down..

Remember when they were just cars?

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