Well, I'm moving from Alberta to Ontario, so my fellow german car buddies and I got together for a farewell drive into the rocky mountains. I took the dodge just to be contrary. It was sort of a "run what you want" day, so there were some non BMWs there for a change. what fun. Anyway. The trip was great, the 49 handles like an oxcart and scared me through every single turn, but once I got use to it, it wasn't bad. One of my friends looked at the car and said: "Hey, I know your car, it's john's from down the street" Well, there is registration from 1984 in the car with this guy's name on it, I was going to drive it over there in the chance that he's still around. This wasn't the guy I got the car from, but the oldest known owner. Sure enough, The main PO Of my car lives down the street from my buddy. I drove up and his wife comes running out the house "THE CAR'S BACK, THE CAR's back" Long story short, he got the car in 1979, sold it in 2006, i bought it from the guy he sold it to in 2012. Its got a bitching trailer hitch that he put on, and we spent about 3 hours talking etc. He daily drove this car during the summer, just like me, with utter faith it will go anywhere. He towed trailers and crossed the rocky mountains out to vancouver and back "It's slow, but it'll always get there" he said. He takes me to the back yard and goes "Oh, I've got some stuff for you" 2 spare rims, a head, a cam, a crank, a transmission, and a complete flathead if I want it. A sun Visor and fender skirts. He's still digging in the basement for the other stuff. He pointed at the fuel filler and said "I have the stainless trim peice for that" and he goes on and on. I'm laughing. The crowning bit on the cake? A cool magazine which features him and the car in 1984. I know more about the car's history than I ever expected. Things like where the decals on the rear window and dash came from, how fresh the drivetrain is, (20k on that flathead), where the car's been and came from. This kind of stuff almost never happens. Also, a 49 dodge/plymouth special deluxe will hold 3 bails of hay, you take the rear seat out, and put 2 in the back, one in the trunk. Hah. The stories... Its this kinda stuff that makes having these old cars worth it. He's pleased the car is in my hands, and was even doubly pleased when I turned the radio on. It didn't work, I rebuilt it and he was just tickled. Enjoy the pics. I am not driving the car across canada due to time and such. i'm shipping it, but already planning some route 66 trips in the USA. I move on the 25th, so the timing for all this was just perfect.
I'll mention that the car was painted metallic blue in 1975, He returned it to the original colour soon after that pic was taken. On the way home I topped out at a gps speed of 78 mph. Won't drive her that hard again, she's more comfortable going about 60-65.
Ahh, yess........Canadian Dodge is same as a US 49 Plymouth (with some trim differences.) Looks nice. Finding the previous owner was a real deal.
Yea, that' right. I've got the 25 inch block. Its a D32C equivalent to the P18 (I think, I need to go look in my service manual). Thanks for the comments guys. It was a blast.
Cool story. What part of Ontario are you moving to? I'm about an hour east of Toronto. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
St. Marys, (stratford area). I went to high school in guelph, grew up in a little town called Erin. Send me a private message, and i'll get your email or something. Lets get in touch, you have a '50 special deluxe?
Very cool story! I work in Mississauga and live in Toronto, but I'm from Cambridge.. Not far from where you're moving.. Lots of good people and cars here for sure.
That's really good to know. I'll be starting from square one, getting to know the car scene, the people, what good shops/stores/services there are etc.
Good looking Dodge. After looking at the 1st pic with all the BMWs, I have to say that I like the old metal better, but then again, having a 50 Dodge may influence that a little.
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