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Three Coronets Get The Royal Treatment from the Cork Sniffers

rmchrgr

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Had some friends from the big city come up to my neck of the woods yesterday to attend a Caffeine and Carburetors cruise in. We arrived a little late to a totally packed show but the masses were parted in front of us and we were escorted down the red carpet to prime real estate parking just off the main hub of the event. 95% of the cars in attendance were high-dollar foreign jobs but they know when three Mopar Kings are on the scene to step aside and show respect.

All three cars performed pretty well though mine did get hot at one point after idling through the second show for 15 minutes. I definitely need to get a shroud. The high-strung mill in the black car consumes a LOT of VP 103 so it's a task to keep it full and happy. This was the furthest the turquoise Bee has been from it's bunker and it never skipped a beat. The owner is not an internet guy but we hope more people get the chance to see it - stunning does not begin to describe this car.

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Here's a link to the rest of the show. It's actually kind of crazy that all these insanely expensive cars are gathered in one small area, it's like a free Pebble Beach or Barret Jackson for the blue blazer set. Top Gear could do a whole series of shows on this deal. We actually went to another local show right afterwards that was probably more our scene but frankly it was not as spectacular. There's a few pictures from that show in the folder as well.

My oldest son made a big lunch for everyone at my house afterwards and all went home full and smiling. Great day all around and we had a blast getting the cars stretched out. 'Til the next one.
 
Had some friends from the big city come up to my neck of the woods yesterday to attend a Caffeine and Carburetors cruise in. We arrived a little late to a totally packed show but the masses were parted in front of us and we were escorted down the red carpet to prime real estate parking just off the main hub of the event. 95% of the cars in attendance were high-dollar foreign jobs but they know when three Mopar Kings are on the scene to step aside and show respect.

All three cars performed pretty well though mine did get hot at one point after idling through the second show for 15 minutes. I definitely need to get a shroud. The high-strung mill in the black car consumes a LOT of VP 103 so it's a task to keep it full and happy. This was the furthest the turquoise Bee has been from it's bunker and it never skipped a beat. The owner is not an internet guy but we hope more people get the chance to see it - stunning does not begin to describe this car.

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View attachment 1468354

Here's a link to the rest of the show. It's actually kind of crazy that all these insanely expensive cars are gathered in one small area, it's like a free Pebble Beach or Barret Jackson for the blue blazer set. Top Gear could do a whole series of shows on this deal. We actually went to another local show right afterwards that was probably more our scene but frankly it was not as spectacular. There's a few pictures from that show in the folder as well.

My oldest son made a big lunch for everyone at my house afterwards and all went home full and smiling. Great day all around and we had a blast getting the cars stretched out. 'Til the next one.
That "Turquoise Waters" car needed bouncers just to keep the caffeine crowd from overwhelmingly spilling their coffee over it in complete awe. Like Rmchgr said, 6 figure cars were swayed away in place of having us escorted down the isle like prize fighters.
The black car and Rmchgr's cars were stand in bouncers flanking this Hemi heavyweight masterpiece.

Glad we had a moment in our collective crazed schedules to at least get out and stretch.
Just wish a good stretch was closer or one of the haunts from yesteryear.
The lunch was last minute five star good. You heard it here first, this young kid is gonna have the restaurant to be at.
 
"Cork-sniffers" and "Arts and Croissants" crowds - I love that!

There are basically four C&C event Saturdays in the OKC area. The first Saturday is in Edmond - full of the artsy-fartsy LamboLotusFerrari nose-in-the air, mani-pedi asswagons, smattered with the "tuner crowd" and the metric Challenger/Mustang/Camaro groups. When they moved venues about 18 months ago, the elitist snobbishness got to unbearable levels, Screw that! The second Saturday is in a large grocery store parking lot South of OKC, which has far more of the cars we like, with a dose of hot-rods to make it fun. The third Saturday is near Tinker AFB, which has a cadre of musclecar folks, the Chevy SSR mafia, the Corvette bunch, the diehard Studebaker group, and far more hot-rods than most. Last is the third Saturday evening in Yukon, which has (to me) the best overall selection of vehicles, with the emphasis on hot rods and muscle, along with a few Kustoms that show up.
 
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You know, I have to give the people at this show credit - they are super into their cars like we are, they're just into different things. Yes, the value of many of them is staggering but most of the people we chatted with were super down to earth. None of us felt out of our element really and it was an honor to represent the American Muscle contingent amongst a sea of foreign cars. I have no doubt that the appearance of our rides raised a few eyebrows but in a good way. There were a couple other examples of Detroit iron on hand but three mean Mopars in a row must have been a sight.
 
One more story about the cork sniffer idea in reverse. It was later in the AM and the show was winding down. We're all sitting on a wall behind our cars and a guy comes up to me and asks me what year the blue car is (mine). Figuring he genuinely didn't know, I told him it's a '68. To my surprise, he said he had one too, same blue color. I said huh, really? Why did you ask what year it was then? No response, just a blank stare. Then I asked why he didn't bring it - more silence. I asked if he had a picture. "Uhhh, yeah, I think so hold on..." You think so? He goes through his phone and it takes him a bit but finally shows me an obviously older photo of him standing next to his pride and joy. It is a '68 Coronet alright with "R/T" badges done up in ultra-slick Viper blue with white bumble bee stripes and 17-18" chrome mag wheels on it. Could be a real R/T, who knows but at that point, I didn't care to pursue the conversation any further. He proudly says he got it from RK Motors. Ohhh boy, so you overpaid for a lipsticked pig? Guy couldn't even tell what motor or trans was in it. GTFO.

Even if it's not my type of car, music, art, food whatever, I'd rather talk to people who know and are passionate about what they love instead of an oblivious status-seeker who knows nothing about what he has other than where he bought it from.
 
One more story about the cork sniffer idea in reverse. It was later in the AM and the show was winding down. We're all sitting on a wall behind our cars and a guy comes up to me and asks me what year the blue car is (mine). Figuring he genuinely didn't know, I told him it's a '68. To my surprise, he said he had one too, same blue color. I said huh, really? Why did you ask what year it was then? No response, just a blank stare. Then I asked why he didn't bring it - more silence. I asked if he had a picture. "Uhhh, yeah, I think so hold on..." You think so? He goes through his phone and it takes him a bit but finally shows me an obviously older photo of him standing next to his pride and joy. It is a '68 Coronet alright with "R/T" badges done up in ultra-slick Viper blue with white bumble bee stripes and 17-18" chrome mag wheels on it. Could be a real R/T, who knows but at that point, I didn't care to pursue the conversation any further. He proudly says he got it from RK Motors. Ohhh boy, so you overpaid for a lipsticked pig? Guy couldn't even tell what motor or trans was in it. GTFO.

Even if it's not my type of car, music, art, food whatever, I'd rather talk to people who know and are passionate about what they love instead of an oblivious status-seeker who knows nothing about what he has other than where he bought it from.
True that Rmchrgr.
A few imposters/speculators who have lost their way and trying to masquerade with no knowledge is a turn off. Expected at all shows these days.
I've had really interesting conversations with passionate Porsche R type race cars owners then any of those clowns that wave hot air balloons.
 
One more story about the cork sniffer idea in reverse. It was later in the AM and the show was winding down. We're all sitting on a wall behind our cars and a guy comes up to me and asks me what year the blue car is (mine). Figuring he genuinely didn't know, I told him it's a '68. To my surprise, he said he had one too, same blue color. I said huh, really? Why did you ask what year it was then? No response, just a blank stare. Then I asked why he didn't bring it - more silence. I asked if he had a picture. "Uhhh, yeah, I think so hold on..." You think so? He goes through his phone and it takes him a bit but finally shows me an obviously older photo of him standing next to his pride and joy. It is a '68 Coronet alright with "R/T" badges done up in ultra-slick Viper blue with white bumble bee stripes and 17-18" chrome mag wheels on it. Could be a real R/T, who knows but at that point, I didn't care to pursue the conversation any further. He proudly says he got it from RK Motors. Ohhh boy, so you overpaid for a lipsticked pig? Guy couldn't even tell what motor or trans was in it. GTFO.

Even if it's not my type of car, music, art, food whatever, I'd rather talk to people who know and are passionate about what they love instead of an oblivious status-seeker who knows nothing about what he has other than where he bought it from.
That right there is one of the many reasons I stop doing car shows about 25 years ago. I now prefer to just take a few out for a cruise and like the new hit song that's been out for awhile says, "we just smile and wave... just smile and wave" !
 
"Cork Sniffers"
that's too funny

I have (use to) lived among many of them, many were car or truck guys too
country clubs have all types

albeit none of my wino' buddies were real car show types,
they just like driving & owning & talking about them

my regular foursome at Rancho Murieta CC gated golf community
comprised of;
Mike a continuation CSX4000 65 Cobra 427 side-oiler owner, or his 69 Shelby GT350
Gary a 40 Willys Blown BBC owner pro-nostalgia
Robert a 42 Willys flat-fender Jeep, military style
me with my many different racecars, Camaros Trans Ams & MoPars street/strip cars
from 1997-2007
I really miss that group

when I belonged to Blackhawk, Danville Ca. gated golf community
I got the membership 'gifted to me' as a bonus, I saved them almost 1 million
for a build coming in way under budget for/by the owner's group
of 1st American Group
(I couldn't have afforded it otherwise, it was like $35k, + monthly
food & beverages min. $200 + greens/cart fees/CC dues like $500 a month
)
almost all the dealership owners in the 'large group I serviced'
that lived in NorCal Danville or the East Bay area
all were wine snobs (cork sniffers) & real car guys
the regulars were
Steve a 930 Turbo Porsche (don't remember the year),
he also had a pristine real 68 Z28 dz302 100pt perfect car
Brad a 71 T/A Ram Air III 4 speed beautiful white/blue stripe car, he called it his golf cart
only time it left the garage is to put his clubs in back & drive to the course
Jeff 65 GTO 389 tri-power in that Orcid shade, he drove the piss out of it
me with my
either my lowered 92 Cheyenne extra cab, my 99 Durango Shelby SP360
or my earlier 98 or 99 Dakota R/T clubcabs &/or my fast Silver 68 RR mid 8's streetcar
I sold my membership there after 1999, when the dealership group went public
no longer were going to pay my dues/fees, as a bonus

Oakhurst CC, Clayton Ca (just outskirts of Concord)
one of my race partners Jim with his
67 Camaro iron 468 LS7 MkIV N2O Outlaw Dorrslammer 7 second car
Super Chevy Sunday world's fastest 'street tire car' (like 1990-91ish)
Bob a 71 Demon that had a stroked 440 with a long ram, pro-street car
10, second car or his 69 Power Wagon 440 4 speed lifted & big swampers
Tony with his 70 454 Monte Carlo or his 78 (?) C-10 custom truck beautiful candy gold paint
or his 68 L78 tripower 435hp Vett, Daytona yellow, 100pt concourse car
he owned a body shop too
me of course
with my 49 Ford Pro-Gas 8.50 class, with a detuned 526 8:71 Blown Enderle Inj
Milodon Mastadon/sometimes street car
prior to 1997, the CC sold & went semiprivate, open to the public
& I sold my membership, moved east to RMCC

I'm am not a wine drinker, I think it tastes like rotten grapes...
Now give me a lil' Welches 100% grape juice with ice & 1/2 full of Stoli's Vodka & I'm good
I normally just drank beers, maybe a Makers Mark or Nobb Creek whiskey

:rofl:
 
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Cars and Coffee-type events for me these days. They're free, and I can stay five hours or five minutes, then go for a ride around the lake or get a slice of pizza.
 
Exactly! A car that awesome deserves it!

Yeah, the battery is pretty glaring. I'll be honest and admit I didn't notice myself until I posted the picture of the engine bay this AM. Easy enough to change to a resto battery or even a cover. In lieu of that, like FMJ said, at least he should take the Exide stickers off. That's what I did with the NAPA brand battery in my car.

We all bust The Palm Reader's (the Super Bee owner) chops on some of his 'choices'. He's one of those guys that causes more aggravation when he's not around than when he's right next to you. First of all, in the two years since it's been done, he's essentially been hiding the car from sight. Despite our endless invitations to cruise ins and shows plus all the gentle encouragement, hounding, begging, pleading and yelling we could muster, he just wouldn't take it out. We get it, it's absolutely pristine and it took a long time to complete but frankly, it needs to be driven. He's had it out around the block a bunch and on some shorter rides of say 30 miles or less but it's never been on a real long jaunt until yesterday. Hopefully this trip broke his cherry so to speak and he feels more comfortable taking it out on a more regular basis now. It felt like yesterday was a huge achievement not just for him but for those of us that have been trying to get him to take the car out for so long. He still managed to torture us with a bunch of back and forth baloney and excuses right up to the last minute again but in the end he made it out and back with zero problems.

I gave him crap all day about running cheap 235 & 215/70-15 Chinese radials on it. I hate to say it but to me, the thing looks like its rolling on imitation Oreos that belong on a 2002 Nissan Sentra. It's just a total head scratcher. Those sizes and sidewalls just don't fill out the huge wheel wells enough. If you're going to run little tires, you're better off with the OG 7.75-14 bias redlines, at least they look the part. I have 275 & 225/60-15s on mine and despite being radials, they mostly look right and it drives nice. No clue what the thought process there is.

This Palm Reader character and I also have a long, ongoing debate about whether to paint the wheels body color or not. I say yes, he says no. I found the less-than-perfect '68-only hubcaps for him cheap and he did a nice job massaging the dents out of them so they deserve to be shown off a little more, right? And unless I'm wrong, at least for 1968, if a car came with poverty/dog dish caps the wheels were painted body color. If it had full wheel covers the wheels were black because, well, they were covered! Chrysler was cheap and extra paint was extra money so if the wheels were covered, why bother?

It's all good though because we love the guy and it's truly an amazing car. Whether or not he decides to change those few things it's still one of the nicest examples you'll ever see anywhere.
 
Yeah, the battery is pretty glaring. I'll be honest and admit I didn't notice myself until I posted the picture of the engine bay this AM. Easy enough to change to a resto battery or even a cover. In lieu of that, like FMJ said, at least he should take the Exide stickers off. That's what I did with the NAPA brand battery in my car.

We all bust The Palm Reader's (the Super Bee owner) chops on some of his 'choices'. He's one of those guys that causes more aggravation when he's not around than when he's right next to you. First of all, in the two years since it's been done, he's essentially been hiding the car from sight. Despite our endless invitations to cruise ins and shows plus all the gentle encouragement, hounding, begging, pleading and yelling we could muster, he just wouldn't take it out. We get it, it's absolutely pristine and it took a long time to complete but frankly, it needs to be driven. He's had it out around the block a bunch and on some shorter rides of say 30 miles or less but it's never been on a real long jaunt until yesterday. Hopefully this trip broke his cherry so to speak and he feels more comfortable taking it out on a more regular basis now. It felt like yesterday was a huge achievement not just for him but for those of us that have been trying to get him to take the car out for so long. He still managed to torture us with a bunch of back and forth baloney and excuses right up to the last minute again but in the end he made it out and back with zero problems.

I gave him crap all day about running cheap 235 & 215/70-15 Chinese radials on it. I hate to say it but to me, the thing looks like its rolling on imitation Oreos that belong on a 2002 Nissan Sentra. It's just a total head scratcher. Those sizes and sidewalls just don't fill out the huge wheel wells enough. If you're going to run little tires, you're better off with the OG 7.75-14 bias redlines, at least they look the part. I have 275 & 225/60-15s on mine and despite being radials, they mostly look right and it drives nice. No clue what the thought process there is.

This Palm Reader character and I also have a long, ongoing debate about whether to paint the wheels body color or not. I say yes, he says no. I found the less-than-perfect '68-only hubcaps for him cheap and he did a nice job massaging the dents out of them so they deserve to be shown off a little more, right? And unless I'm wrong, at least for 1968, if a car came with poverty/dog dish caps the wheels were painted body color. If it had full wheel covers the wheels were black because, well, they were covered! Chrysler was cheap and extra paint was extra money so if the wheels were covered, why bother?

It's all good though because we love the guy and it's truly an amazing car. Whether or not he decides to change those few things it's still one of the nicest examples you'll ever see anywhere.
Sheeeeeeeit. He called me today asking when is the next meet and I mentioned a few that happen during the week, but he likes the weekends. I don't blame him since he works hard during the week, but still. Some of the best meets around here close to home are during the week just like the street racing used to be. If I were free from work, I'd go out on a Tuesday night if it was a good hangout.
That car is now baptized with "Official Street Car" credentials. The motor is a little orange monster that could and would with a lead foot behind it. I think he got over the stomach butterflies of the "What if's" way away from home. Good friends will never let you stay stuck and lost at sea.
Glad you poked him to bring it out Rmchrgr. Both your cars looked the part and then some.

PS: To each his own, but if that car were part of me, I would have the widest OG redlines that I could fit under those wheel arches. If it were on fight club duty, Cheaters all the way and yes, BLACK RIMS! Sorry Rmchrgr. LOL.
 
That Turquoise Hemi Coronet is badass, even with that battery...
Or them Poverty caps :poke:, not a fan of them...
Even if it came with them...

99% of those got taken off Day 2, stored in the corner for decades

still a cool car,
I'd have some period-correct Polished Halibrands on it
 
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Sheeeeeeeit. He called me today asking when is the next meet and I mentioned a few that happen during the week, but he likes the weekends. I don't blame him since he works hard during the week, but still. Some of the best meets around here close to home are during the week just like the street racing used to be. If I were free from work, I'd go out on a Tuesday night if it was a good hangout.
That car is now baptized with "Official Street Car" credentials. The motor is a little orange monster that could and would with a lead foot behind it. I think he got over the stomach butterflies of the "What if's" way away from home. Good friends will never let you stay stuck and lost at sea.
Glad you poked him to bring it out Rmchrgr. Both your cars looked the part and then some.

PS: To each his own, but if that car were part of me, I would have the widest OG redlines that I could fit under those wheel arches. If it were on fight club duty, Cheaters all the way and yes, BLACK RIMS! Sorry Rmchrgr. LOL.
Yeah, we're not going to be able to keep up with him now, he's gonna be driving that thing everywhere. Probably no chance of him bringing it to Carlisle this year so I'll start working on him now for next year's meet.

In regards to the wheels - if the car was black then black wheels all the way! Happy to sit in the lawn chairs and argue about it all day at the next meet.
 
Yeah, we're not going to be able to keep up with him now, he's gonna be driving that thing everywhere. Probably no chance of him bringing it to Carlisle this year so I'll start working on him now for next year's meet.

In regards to the wheels - if the car was black then black wheels all the way! Happy to sit in the lawn chairs and argue about it all day at the next meet.
We're on. Love a good long argument about steel wheels and body color. LOL.
Don't mention tires. Redlines, Uniroyals, Goodyear Poly glas, Firestones, that will be a revisited Jerry Springer episode.
 
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