Horrible Destiny for a 1961 Plymouth Belvedere???(pics)

I just got off the phone with my friend at noon, and he'll be quiting work early to go over to the owners shop to talk to him about it at 2. I'll call him around 4ish.

I told him that I posted this question on the HAMB. I told him that there was 1000 hits on the thread and close to 60 poeople have responded that have said keep it, save it, love it!

He was impressed with the number of people that were interested in the car, so thanks to everyone.

I also told him that the backend was week and hed be draggin big *** after 2-3 hits. He hadnt heard that before. I mentioned the weak ****** mounts and tierods, he had heard about those.

I also told him that if all goes ****ty and the guys says he wants it derbyed, then i wanted the lights, dash and anything else salvagable.

He said the owner wanted the taillights. I said what the *&#$ for! he doesnt even want the car! He said he wanted them for the swap meet. This owner is a real winner....

 

About the "derby debate" thats been a topic on this thread:

I like it, but theres things I dont like about it. I think Im going to agree with everyone, on both sides here on their opinions. There is quite alot of planning that goes into a derby car. Im not sure if I'd call it engineering, but more like watch, learn, apply.

My friends put a tire inside a tire, weld oversized washers over the valve stems, add two-stroke oil to the gas, create crazy coolant ideas and so on.

There is a thought process. then theres guys that derby all year, thats their job. Enter 10-15 cars in one derby in hopes to win the purse.

And you have the guys that just want to derby for the fun of it. There is something that seems fun to hit someone as hard as you can and not get in trouble.

My point is, theres guys that take it serious, and guys that dont. I wouldnt call it a sport, its more like a side show act or a hobby. After all they're usually held after a race or at a fair.

The only part about it that I dont agree with and dont enjoy are the unique, rare, straight cars.

Even if it was a POS from the 80's, but its perfectly straight, I still feel kinda bad about it. I'm not one to enjoy senseless destruction of something that was still good.

Like when youre at a car show and they blow up a motor. They sell raffle tickets and everyones watching and when it blows everyone laughs and someone wins a prize. Since when was this a part of hotrodding?? It makes me sick, there was someone that could of used that block.

Why not have the same people get together and build a rod together and sell it??

Its easier to destroy than to create.

 

[ QUOTE ]
Those of you who think any "solid" car is worth saving are saying destruction derby, and probably figure 8 racing should be outlawed.
Right?
Otherwise, who gets to draw the line as to what is crushable and what isn't.
No one would have said a thing abut this car being in destruction derby in 1973. it was just another sedan, like the one's you are suggesting trading for it.

I've always hated destruction derby, but I know I'm not going to get to Judge it illegal so I don't loose sleep over it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think the KLUNKER law says anything older than 1980 is crushable. Where's that leave us.

As I said, I'm not a big 4 door fan. I don't want to own one myself, I don't care if you do. Where do you draw the line, we don't want BIG Brother to crush 'em, but its cool for our neighbor to do it, right?

As far as figure 8 racing is concerned, the object was not to crash. Basically if I recall both cars were out of the race when they met in the middle.

By the way do they still do that? Figure 8 racing that is.

 

[ QUOTE ]
Have it your way, but how many times in NASCAR does a little guy get his only car taken out by some Bigdog jack*** who just gets another car out for a different track the next week anyhow? In This sport the guy who puts $7-8-900 and many hours into building a car can run it repeatedly AND bring home the dough. But there's guys with $50 (including entry!) in it hellbent to destroy him and that offers an equalization in that the many little guys Can and sometimes Do take out the Bigdogs! Who cares what it is your derbying, there's enough 2-drs for everybody in America!!! And if 4drs are your thing, hey have Fun too!~ I'd LOVE to see some Mercedes and Escalades get whacked Too! That sounds like FUN! Buncha sissy's around here, probly never smashed up their HotWheels or old ****py models or even had the SST "derby cars" as kids either!

[/ QUOTE ]

nascar and dirbies share only 2 things in common...both are MULLET events... and both are BORING to watch.

 

I havent heard from my friend, so I called his older brother who derbyies with him. He said that his brother did infact talk with the owner yesterday.

Now... I am getting this info third hand from his older brother, but according to him, this is how it is:

The owner said he doesnt care how much he gets offered, he wants it to be derbyed. (wasnt he trying to sell it before my friend got it???)

He also said he wants a bunch of **** off of it so he can sell it at the swap meet. And, that anything he doesnt take off of it, to leave on, and destroy with the car.

I asked, is it just emotional or sentimentail connection hes trying to destroy. He said he guesses so if he doesnt want anyone else to have it.

I said, then what... does he burn his moms house down and kill her ****in dog too??

What a F'n dip****!! I cant stand this guy now, the original owner. I use to go over there, but not anymore. I know its just steel, but its the principle of the whole thing. Not letting anyone else roll it just cause hes too stupid to take the blinders off and see other peoples suggestions.

Im more pissed off than I thought I would be

Hes a big muscle bound guy with no neck and obviously no brains. Has tons of money, owns two auto repair shops and drives a hummer. why not give it to someone or sell it, its still out of his sight??????

I cant stand stubborn people that wont ****in listen.

Its his way or no way, right? ignorant ***holes

<--- thats steam comin off my head, not question marks

 

Whether I'm for derbyin that thing or not, That guy's a ****!!! I can almost hear him "You can have it, but you can't do a Damn thing with it but destroy it and you can't have Anything that I could make a buck offa and if I forget something you can't take it off either. MINE MINE ALL MINE MINEMINEMINE!!!!!!" What a ****in ****wad!!!! They oughta be sure to get the ***le and just sell it to you to SPITE his Napoleonic ***! Then you could let it sit in your back yard and rot a slow and painful death while he couldn't do Anything about it's continued existance!

 

yea man it really fries me. I know one thing though, I've been on my buddies case about saving this car so much lately, that if or when he really does derby it, hes probably gonna hit like a *****.

What would be cool is paint it up all derby style with stupid flames and lettering and ****, and show it to the original owner guy, and say were gonna go derby now. Then go drop it off at my house and repaint it whatever real quick.

Tell dumb*** that it was thrashed so bad that he just hauled it straight to the junkyard, or left it there or who knows, maybe find one thats already been trashed and paint flames on it.

I just know my friends concious(sp) is going 1000 mph trying to decide if he should or shouldnt derby it.

 

Conscience.

If it is still destined to be smooshed up and banged around, then see if you can salvage any body/trim parts or anything else that the original owner doesn't want. Good trim pieces for that type car is nearly impossible to locate anymore, and is worth $.

Need I mention how absolutely RARE nice outer headlight bezels are for those now, or any pieces of trim that stick out where they can be dented easily? Even slightly dinged stuff is worth saving, guys who restore these cars spend a couple hundred bucks per piece getting the trim pieces restored.

The guy that stores my project '40 for me will buy that stuff off you...

Save what you can. If it gets smashed, then there was nothing you could do about it.

 

Hi Guys- I'm a newbie & I live in Connecticut. It took me 15 years to locate, and finally purchase a halfway decent 1961 Plymouth 4 door sedan. You're all correct- 4 doors- not very collectible, but every part bolted to it IS. No wonder the guy wants to Swap Meet that stuff....he'll make a mint off anyone restoring a 2 door or a 'vert.....it's too bad, the guys are right-a few hits and it'll be over. I have 2 complete 4 door sedans FOR PARTS CARS ALONE, just because the panels & trim pieces are impossible to find, especially in New England where everything rusted away. I hope you can salvage it somehow. Has anyone suggested putting it on ebay and selling it to someone who cares?????? Good Luck in trying to save it! Keep us posted! Ray (Ozzie)

 

"Keep us posted"???? On a thread from almost two years ago? Hell of an intro, Ray....



Mutt

 

had me reading the whole thing, 'til i saw germ in there, then i looked at the date! 2 freakin' years old!

 

By chance does that have the seats that swing out towards the door, and either the square or oval steering wheel? You can't find stuff like that anymore! I hate to mention a magazine, but look at OSR #11 (Sept 05). They have a 61 Fury (2 door) in that issue. I about ****ped my pants when I saw it! It really looks good! Get it from him!

You want all the Portland area HAMBer's to go picket his house??

 

yea,

I was equally surprised to see my post on the front page.

To be honest, I havent talked to that guy for the last two years, and its directly because of this topic.

Im better friends with his older brother tho, so maybe Ill ask him if his brother ever did derby it.

I told them both that if they ever were to derby it, to never tell me about it, whether they won or not, and that I wouldnt number or letter or flame anything of their cars again.

It kinda pissed em off, since I had done it for them for many years for free. But I felt strong about my choice and stuck to it.

Funny, I hadnt really thought about all this till just now. Life moves on I guess

 

Hey,

Wow, all this from a two year old post......

I've owned my '61 Plymouth Fury for about seven years. 'fun ta look at
and drive, it ain't like ya can loose it in a parking lot. With the 230 HP
318 poly/Torqueflight she's a cruizer. With the unitbody construction on
this big of a platform/target, only a complete ****ing idiot would derby a
vehicle like this, even if Mopar had built a million of 'um.

 

Wow, I had a whole reply on here too.

Personally, I would have gone after it and saved it. The damn headlight rings are worth a fortune, the taillights are great customizing pieces (easy bolt on stuff), and thats if the car can't be saved to begin with they have their own unique crowd of guys into them.

Oh well -

 

Holy back from the dead post Batman.

 

Definately save the car if you can. Similar note, I went and bought a 57 Plym 4 dr (as advertised in paper, turned out to be a 60 4 dr)...nonetheless, ratrodded it to blow it out and sold it to a local before Lead East (where I was planning on selling it) The 60 Plym 4 dr was shaved, nosed, decked, lowered with lakes on wwws, leopard and mex blanket interior done in OMNI high build 2k prime with red scallops...(bear in mind it was a $200 junkyard car I got) Long and short of it, it was probably the most sought after car I have ever done...cars later and everyone wants to know the whereabouts of that "crazy lookin' ChryslerDodgePlymouth whatever it is thingee" in my myspace profile. LOL Who knew that it would be my most famous ride. Anyway, I would say save it, I have a 73 Lincoln 4 dr Conti that I would love to see the derby fate if he absolutely must lol....Those plyms can really be something!

 

Hey, I think I remember that Plymouth! Slant 6, flamethrowers, got ink in a couple of magazines? I thought that car was fun & cool.

 

i know this is old but did the car ever get turned into a derby car i want to know i hope it hasn't and it somehow got misplaced or stolen.

 

Why???

 

geez i have a 62 dodge dart 2 dr looks just like it i 'll let go for $2500

 

There ain't NOTHIN that looks like a '61 Plymouth.

 

oh yea pretty close

 

If All Else Fails ...... You Need To Run The Dis ***embly Of That Car & Get Every Inch Of Good Chrome Off Before The Demo.

All The Lights, Latches, Interior Parts, Grill, Windshield Everything They Dont Need.

I Have A '61 Dodge ... And These Cars Are Hard To Get Trim Parts For & You Could Stand To Make Some Good $$

But Hell, Get The Whole Car, Clean It Up & Export It... The Guy Will Never See It Again

 

Once again, Im surprised to see this old post up, but as far as updates go...

Those guys and myself arent made from the same cloth when it comes to cars. They just see them as objects to have a chance to win some money in at any cost. And the cheaper the donor car, the better. I swear, if they were given a 55 chevy 2dr for free, but were told they had to derby it, they would.

Anyways, ever since then, Ive never really talked with the guy and the subject never comes up through his brother.

Shortly after that I had noticed a really clean station wagon in their back yard. It was nothing special, like a 70's chevy/ford/etc or something. BUT, it was straight as hell, clean, great paint, great interior, and it ran smooth. I made the mistake of saying, "Damn, thats a pretty clean wagon."

The guy said, "What the hell? Are you gonna cry now if I derby that car TOO?"

I didnt say another word. The guy is just like that.

To me, I have a real hard hang up with distroying something that works perfectly fine, especially automotive.

To me, theres some family thats hurtin', and having to take the ****in bus to buy groceries. They could of used that car. Sell it for 200. What the hell??

That, and motor blow up events. I cant watch those. Ive been poor enough times to know that someone could really use that motor. Maybe NEEDS it to get to work. Instead, people place bets on when itll pop. Makes no sense to me.

I guess after all these years this is still a touchy subject for me. I dont know if it was ever derbied. If it was, I like to think it got tapped once and was out of the contest and he sold it after. Course I like to think it was sold as-is and in complete, untouched condition too.

 

it will prolly live thru the demo just fine get it after

 

"PASTED AWAY"??? From licking too many stamps, or what? -Betruger-

 

Any idea how that old mopar fared in the Demo Derby? I know it is a big impressive looking car...but those late 50'/early 60's mopars really seem to fold up too quickly in the Demo Derbies. The mid to late 60's models are much stronger...with none even close to the strength of the 64-66 Imperials.

 

what you're dealing with here is a couple of retards. i don't use that word lightly as i've got a son with c.p.

these people don't appreciate parts,cars or the work it takes to bring a car back from the dead. they'll spend 1000.00 to win 350.00 and a month's worth of time.

i know a guy [ actually more than one] who'd kill for a nice running 70-77 wagon. 'specially a nice clamshell with woodgrain.\ chevy or pontiac.

i tried to buy a super solid pontiac last yr from one of these freaks. rust free car that's hard to find parts for, offered good money for it too. i got the nopw i'm gonna derby it. i call a couple guys i know who deal in parts and had themprint up price sheets on what the fool tore up. they both turned out to be well over 1500.00 in parts. i then went to said fool's house and had a talk with him about how stupid he was to have deried that car. he was in shock when i left, after sputtering about no one fixes those things a couple times. i also dropped copies off with his wife and told her what kind of money he threw away with his hobby.

today i saw a 71 cutl*** with a straight rust free front clip on it lettered up, a 69 mark series lincoln with rust freedoors and front clip, minor rust[ and i mean minor] on the 1/4's heading for the local one.

the dumb***es are now on the hunt for later model crown vics and continentals.

can you tell i'm not a fan of derbies? i sponsor a guy locally for the adverti*****t but make damned sure what he tears up is already hurt before he gets it.

saved a 65 wildcat from it last year, i just need to get it cleaned up and some pics taken so we can send to a good home or someone whos restoring one that'll appreciate it.

i can't say it enough, imo, that mindset is retarded. someone, somewhere wants that car.



stupid people shouldn't be allowed to breed.

 

I know a guy on another forum that derbys for fun. The cars he gets for dirt cheap that are in great shape is unreal!
We'll spend months looking for a car, he goes out for a day and comes back with something that makes your eyes pop. Of course when challenged about smashing up a good car he comes up with what is really the best counter argument; You didn't buy it before I did. What can you do? He's right about that. But then, I always gotta wonder is how is it he finds great sheet metal for hundreds and "we" can't?

Alex.