Oh, baby baby baby. Come to Mama. Between this and the 2005 Mustang, I think Dodge has officially redeemed itself.

Now, if we could just get Ford to continue making the T-bird, we'd be in business.

I've been saying this for years. since the late 80's at least, when everything produced in detroit looked like a k car.

not kits, but modern cars that looked like, oh say, a 68 firebird or camaro. or a shelby cobra mustang. or pick your favorite 60's era car. give em some soul, something detroit lost a long time ago.

It's nice. But I'm sure Dodge will do something stupid like make it a front wheel drive or only offer a 6 cylinder/automatic.

I thought you New Yorkers didn't know how to drive and were afraid of cars?

Thanks to A-Man. And note: nothing gay about this tip at all.

Then why does it look like a big Miata -- the Gay Man's Car?

I dunno if this is a good thing or not. The "retro" look of the new Dodge Charger, for example, looks like complete ass. The new Mustangs are very nice, though. And even the Plymouth GTO re-do had okay lines.

Also, I wonder how good an idea it is to go back to gas-guzzling pony cars in an age of $3 per gallon gas.

Ah, the Dodge Challenger concept car. It's not yet approved for production, but the response to it pretty much ensures that it will get built. It's on the same chassis as the new Charger so it's RWD and it packs the 425HP version of the new Hemi.

Best of all, it just looks BBBAAAAAADDDDD.

Monty:

Plymouth GTO?????

It'd be nice if they really did look like the dinosaur muscle cars, but they'll probably all end up looking like the plasticized Hot Wheels the new Mustang looks like. Fortunately, there are still enough of the real things running around the kids can see what a lousy rip-off the new Mustang is. I'm just supposing GM & Chrysler will go the same rout.

Too bad. They were good cars back then, for what they were produced for.

Captain Neal:

I meant, of course, a Pontiac GTO.

Chrome.
They all need more chrome.

Used to drive a '73 Plymouth Cuda. 340 / 4 Barrel. Still my favorite car.

Bought it new for $3556. Those were the days. Ahhhhhhh...

And cover the lights on the ones that need the lights covered! Gimme a new Charger, no a real Charger I said, and give me a broad, blacked-out front line.

And may I please have an engine I can work on? Please?

[No Sir, but we do offer XM satellite radio! and some replacement plastic goo, so you can repair your doors when they break--all for $40 grand!]

Not the seventies, anything but the seventies! They upholstered the roof! The rooooof!!

Whenever I see Ace write "Thank to the A-Man", I read "A-Man" as "Ass Man". Because that's the way Allah would have liked it.

Yeah its like when FORD decided to restyle their TUNDERBIRD to look like it did back in 1956 and GM has restyled their CHEVEY PICK-UPS to look like they did back in the late 40s and early 50s we had a 47 chevey pick-up

What red-blooded American man doesn't dig that car?

Looks f'n bad-ass to me.

It's a Torana! Bwahahahahahahaha!

the GMC PAD diesel-electric:

Which end is the front?

It reminds me of a '68 Camaro. Nothing wrong with that!

My first car was a 1974 Chevy Monte Carlo. Dad bought it; he paid $325.00 (1985).

Just thought I would share that with everyone.

Er ... I have to admit it. If I could buy that GMC tomorrow, I would. I'd paint it like the Mystery Machine, hang a mailbox on the side and have done. But it's missing something ... spikes! That thing needs spikes somewhere.

It needs a turret.

Merry Christmas! Shitter's full!

If it weren't for the Hemi, I would't get too excited.

You see those hood scoops? They ain't hood scoops-- more fake plastic, like the side vents on the last-model Mustang.

I will give Dodge credit-- they at least seem to remember how to make cars. Ford can at least make trucks. As for GM. . . just let them die already.

Bah. More playing on the nostalgia of people far, far older than the people who spend money on cars. I expect it to die just like the "retro" Thunderbird and the "retro" SSR (a $47K truck that can't carry anything and is slower than an SVT?? WTF is that shit, Detroit?!?).

Cheers,
Dave at Garfield Ridge

I drive a Saturn. It's a real "babe magnet".

Dave,

I think they're trying to appeal to us Boomers who *do* have the money. Well, not quite enough for the T-Bird but you know what I mean.

My first car was a 1966 Chevelle SS 396 (bought it in 1971). Yellow and a convertible. That was a sweet machine. Faster then Road Runners (except the one with the hemi) but slower then a GTO. In other words, fast enough to get me 3 speeding tickets the first week I had it! Good times!

Hmm, I figured you for a Chevy Cavalier or Lumina or Olds Cutlass, Sandy.

In my wild youth, I drove a Chevy Impala. But it was definitely not a "babe magnet". It was a "cop magnet".

There is nothing sexier than a 240 series Volvo.

Volvo: It's Boxy!

Yeah, I went through a used volvo phase for a while, too. I love volvos. The electrical systems suck, though.

I bought my '69 Buick Riviera with a 430 from a nice old lady in a trailer park, who, during our test drive, remarked: "Well, it's a little car, but, if you drive to Tahoe, you'll still arrive refreshed." Looking down the vast expanse of hood, trying to point the car to steer, I thought she was crazy-- I drove up in a 1970 Bug. $1500 bucks later and it was mine (1982); God, how I miss that car/turretless-tank.

They make the SSR about a mile from where I live. Closing the plant this year 'cause they aren't selling.

My '73 Cuda also had fake hood scoops. But it was faaaaaassssssst. 150 MPH top end and 0-60 in about 5 sec, stock. And you could actually see the engine.

First car was a 1970 Chevelle SS, 350 4 barrell. Candy apple red.

God what a sweet machine!

My first car was an '86 Chevy Nova.

You know, the ones that looked small and cheap, because they were, small and cheap. I've moved up big in the world and now drive a once wrecked Olds Alero.

I keep threatening to put hubcap spinners on it, cause that's how I roll.

In all seriousness, when I figured out that what I was paying on my 2003 Nissan 350Z was enough, if invested, to let me retire 10 years earlier. Well, I am lazy....

First car was a 1970 Chevelle SS, 350 4 barrell. Candy apple red.

That was a sweet car. My buddy had the one with the 454 (I think it was a '70 but may have been a '71). You'd needed a G-Suit for that one :)

My first car was a grey Chevy Cavalier II. Everybody told me it looked like a cop car. I thought they were all nuts, cuz cops drove Lincoln Towncars. Turns out they went from the Cavalier to Towncars a year before we moved there.

I owned an Olds Toronado for a time (1970 vintage with the fixed headlights instead of the popups). I got it fourth-hand, and it ran pretty well for the first couple years I owned it. But it was the first front-wheel drive 8-cylinder car I'd ever driven, and it was one crazy-assed mother on snow-slick roads. I finally got rid of it and bought a secondhand Subaru Brat. The only thing it had going for it (besides lots of rust) was 4-wheel drive and a good heater. But luckily, those were the two things I needed most. I drove the wheels off that damned Subaru -- it had over 200K miles on it when I traded it in.

"First car was a 1970 Chevelle SS, 350 4 barrell. Candy apple red."

I had a buddy that had a '72, I think. Don't know the engine displacement but the head said Offenhauser on it.
We blew it up doing 135 on the interstate. But we beat the Firebird we were racing.

My first car? A Chevy Cavalier wagon. Babe magnet.

I loved the car because it kept me alive in an accident. I slid sideways on the interstate on a snowy day and a car hit the driver's side door at 40 mph - dented it, but the car's frame kept it from buckling in too much.

Of course, I couldn't afford another car right away, so my dad and I used a jack to bend the frame back into place and hang a new door onto the car. Of course, the door was blue and the car was beige, which just made it cool.

Fell off once, though.

Man, I loved that car.

holy shit... a 454 in that frame?

the 350 was lightning enough.

So now? I drive a Saturn.

Yeah, baby...

And you could actually see the engine.

Of course you could, A-10, it was, after all, a Chrysler product and the hood probably flew off while driving it. And how about that Mopar motor, you know, the motor that keeps on running for ten minutes after you trun off the ignition.

Hey Monty, yep those Subarus never die. They run like shit right out of the showroom and leak a quart of oil a week, but they never die. Instead, they kill their owners with nickel and dime repairs.

My first car was a Comet that I bought for $100 even from a used car lot.

It looked pretty bad and was definitely not a babe magnet, so I decided to paint it Emerald Green with about 10 cans of spray paint I bought at the nearest auto supply store.

Unfortunately, it was early evening by the time I was done with all the masking and taping. So, I was painting this car by the light of a single streetlight at night. Nevermind, I was young and stupid, and carried on.

When I had used up all the spray paint, that Comet looked pretty hot to me under the streetlight. Like, I might actually be able to get a date with this car.

The next morning, I had to confront the aweful reality. That Comet looked like someone had tried to give it a camo paint job, only using Emerald Green paint. And I didn't have a choice, I had to drive it to school.

I swear, it's amazing to me that I ever got laid and had kids.

Bart,

I never had many mechanical problems with that old Subaru (but boy, that damned flathead 4-banger was noisy). But you ain't kidding about the oil: it burned about a quart a week, and if I left it parked in one place for more than a couple of days at a stretch, there would be a nice new oilstain underneath. I took to carrying a case of oil in back, just so I could top it off whenever I needed to.

And I don't think I ever saw a pre-1990 Subaru that wasn't completely rusted out. My Brat was -- at last -- mostly the frame and lots of rusty lace held together by the paint.

First car: 78 Volkswagon Rabbit. That thing had three different color fenders by the time I was through with it. What a sex mobile.

First car in 1984 was a '67 Pontiac LeMans with a 326. Red with white hardtop. That really was a chick magnet. I sold it just before I started dating my wife. Her first question when I picked her up was "Where's that cool red car you usually drive?"

I'd kill to get that car back.

I'll tell you something else about that night. Mrs. Michael helped me paint the Comet. We were dating at the time.

We've been married now for 33 years.

Bart,

Actually had a car once that the hood flew up when I hit a pot-hole in suburban Detroit (we have lovely roads here in MI. They don't even have to use test tracks. Just drive on the city streets to test the shocks and struts). Yes, it was a Chrysler product. That was the last Chrysler I bought.

We've been married now for 33 years.

What a coincidence. I've been alive for 33 years.

...Dad?

You married your high school sweetheart, Michael? Wow, that's sweet.

(She's not your cousin, is she?)

Michael:

That story about the emerald-green paintjob made me laugh, and it reminded me of something similar that happened my last year in high school. I had a buddy (Jared) that drove a rodded-out 1957 Checker (yeah, the taxi). The paintjob it had was sort of a dull black. It was a really cool ride, but the paint had started to oxidize and Jared had been saving money to get it professionally re-done.

One night, we were partaking of the Evil Weed (i.e., we were all very very high). We got off on this "Purple People Eater" tangent -- it was a funnycar that had been running down at Bandemere Speedway in Denver, and we all thought it had a cool paintjob (metalflake purple). So we think: why not paint Jared's Checker purple? Only this is like 11PM at night, and the only paint we could find was this lilac-colored stuff his mom had used the year before. Paint is paint, we figure; and it's purple. The upshot is that you've got five giggling, baked-to-the-gills guys working in the dark with two cans of lilac housepaint, slopping it onto a Checker cab. And Jared is right there, saying how it's gonna look so cool.

It did not look cool. At all.

nice cars

First car was a Dodge Omni.

But I got my picture taken with Carroll Shelby once....so that must mean...er..nothing.

Carry on.

...Dad?

Could be, Slub. See, back in the '70s, if you were dirt poor, you could pass off a botched Emerald Green paint job on a Comet as "psychedelich"

Actually, Slub, I meant psychedelic with no "h", but I hit the Post button prematureley.

So, was your Mom a hippie?

Actually, at the time I was born my parents were pretty poor. I think my Dad's favorite car color was Bondo.

Nope, mom wasn't a hippie. At the time, she was kind of a nerd. My parents met at the library where she worked.

But I got my picture taken with Carroll Shelby once....so that must mean...er..nothing.

That's pretty cool in my book.

I'd give my left nut to re-live those crazy teenage years. Times were good. Reagan was president. Russia was the enemy. Michael Jackson was black...and a man.
The Celtics were the champions with Bird, McHale, and speaking of pot, Robert (the Chief) Parrish.

Paint is paint, we figure; and it's purple. The upshot is that you've got five giggling, baked-to-the-gills guys working in the dark with two cans of lilac housepaint, slopping it onto a Checker cab.

OK, I just want to point out that even when I was a teenager, and stoned, I was not dumb enough to slap house paint on a car.

Nope, mom wasn't a hippie. At the time, she was kind of a nerd. My parents met at the library where she worked.

Sorry, but I don't think you're going to have a valid claim against my estate.

Oooooo, I would love a pink retro T-Bird! I don't know if I'd love it enough to become someone's "Jewish gag-slut" though. ;)

P.S. Michael's an old fart.

The 2nd car I owned was a '65 Chevy Malibu. Wouldn't do but 110 but it could get there in about two suburban yards. I've tickets to prove it. Also got excessive noise tickets for the dual " Cherry Bombs" it had. $25 was alot of scratch back then.

Dad knew this guy who bought junk cars and fixed them up to re-sell for profit. He was weird. Middle-aged, shaved head with an earring. Very strange in those days. His name was Dick.

Dick would paint the cars with house paint and apply the paint with a broom. But first his "body repair" was strips of masking tape across the indented area. Then the paint would hide everything.

My father would be amused by this guy named Dick, (please, save the jokes), and would drag me along to visit him.

Michael:

OK, I just want to point out that even when I was a teenager, and stoned, I was not dumb enough to slap house paint on a car.

We were very very high. And it was some premium quality stuff -- home-grown and lovingly tended, as the old saying goes. One of my friends ran a nice little side-business until the state cops intervened. (He got off with probation, oddly enough; the standard sentence was ten years in the State pen. God knows how he pulled that one off. He's a lawyer now. Go figure.)

And that bus thing reminds me of the RV in that 1970's Saturday morning "Ark II" show.

Link

"That's pretty cool in my book."

Thanks DBS. (I immediately sent the photos off to my car-lovin' brother to impress him.)

P.S. Michael's an old fart.\

Sue, I'm 53 and I can fuck your brains out.

But don't ask me to paint your car.

My father would be amused by this guy named Dick, (please, save the jokes), and would drag me along to visit him.

You really resented him for that, didn't you, Bart?

...yeah, Michael is one of our clients...

All I've got is a picture of me and John De Lorean doing some blow off the ass of a $1000 hooker. Not even close to being as cool as a picture with Shelby.

Sue, I'm 53 and I can f*** your brains out.

Someone beat you to it, Michael. By the way, are you getting younger? I thought you said you were 54 a while back.

Well, Sandy, it bothered me that my father associated with the dregs of society. I guess you could say I was a snobby kid. From early on, true story, I knew my politics and my folk's politics were different. I was pissed and embarrassed that my parents voted for Carter in 1976. I was seven at the time.

He's a lawyer now. Go figure.

So am I. It's kinda weird. The lawyers I know very well all have a rather dubious history.

I don't see that in other professions I know well. Software engineers, financial analysts, strategic planners, human resources specialists, accountants, investement bankers, and so forth. They all seem like pretty normal people.

It's the lawyers who are predictably kinda funky. What's up with that?

You were like a little Stewie Griffin.

It's the lawyers who are predictably kinda funky. What's up with that?

Well, we forgot to tell you about some alleged side effects...

I thought you said you were 54 a while back.

I don't actually pay attention anymore.

*counting on fingers*

OK, I was born in 1952, so I'll be 54 on February 22nd of this year.

Sorry if I exaggerated my age on some thread.

BTW, Bart, glad you showed up at Sparkle's site like you promised.

Michael, people should stop being mean to you tonight. After all, you are a Steelers fan. So whoever is making those crude and uncalled for Viagra jokes should just stop.

Thanks for reminding me.

I remember your age because at first glance I thought it was: I'm 54..., which interpreted as 5' 4" tall. I washoping to make a short joke in the future with that tid-bit but I read it again and realized you were revealing your age not your height.

Oookay. I'll stop it.

Lipstick:
So whoever is making those crude and uncalled for Viagra jokes should just stop.

Lipstick:
Oookay. I'll stop it.

This is why I don't read this site while sober. It would make no sense to me whatsoever.

which interpreted as 5' 4" tall

I think I've said this before. I'm 6'4", about 205 lbs, (on a good day).

Lipstick, thank you.

A big improvement over Mopar's recent slab sided 4-door batmobiles. But seriously, what is it with these freaking 28" rims and rubberband tires? Kee-rist, I've seen Conestoga wagons with better wheel proportions.

If Chrysler really wanted to invoke the 70s, they should've jacked up the ass end of that thing with spring shackles, slapped on some raised white M/T 60Ms on Keystone Klassics, and plastered the quarter windows with Hooker Header decals and "Ass, Gas, Grass- Nobody Rides Free."

Ahhh, good night ya big lug.

And all you lugs of various sizes too.

Good night, Grace, and God bless you.

The Comet didn't last long, BTW. I was too cheap and too stupid to winterize the cooling system, so the first really hard freeze in Michigan cracked the block. The Comet was history, and my $100 investment in this machine was down the drain.

The future Mrs. Michael was not impressed.

I learned a key lesson. Maintenance is important.

Hey ! I thought I was the only person to see Damnation Alley!!!!!!!!!!

A-10
My first was a '68 'Cuda fastback. It had what seemed like 20 feet of glass for the rear window. What a sweet car! I remember going to the drive-in and backing into the space, we would then lay in the back and watch the movie. I really feel bad for todays kids, they have to pretend that their Hondas are muscle cars. When I see them on the roads I just think that they have no idea what a real muscle car is all about.

"Gag-slut" and "fuck [my] brains out." You're just a born romantic, huh Michael? Chris Klein should look you up for lessons in sweet-talk. :)

Slublog-- you owned a Cavalier wagon? Wow, we're like two peas in a pod.

That car got me laid more than any other car. . . laid up in the shop, that is.

You could put Chris Klein behind the wheel of that car and it *still* wouldn't be a babe magnet.

Cheers,
Dave at Garfield Ridge

My first car was a Volvo 262 or, as my friends called it, the box a car came in.

Why is it car post always prompt wistfully nostalgic comments about the cars people used to have?

"Man, when I'm driving to the store in my wife's Canyonero Oprah Edition and see all these stupid 'Fast and Furious' Hondas, it makes me wish I still had my first car. It was the '70 police special SS892 Guzzler Magnum Sock-It-To-Me. Even though it was bone stock, it would run low 3s. Mid 2s if I uncorked the headers. In fact I used to street race Don Garlits for pink slips all the time. And win."

So why the hell did you ever sell it? Seems like some folks need to grow a pair and let the wife know who wears the automotive pants in the family. I laugh at the pimple-faced ricers as much as the next guy, but at least they have their nostalgia cars now.

Slublog-- you owned a Cavalier wagon? Wow, we're like two peas in a pod.

Uh, oh.

That car got me laid more than any other car. . . laid up in the shop, that is.

Yup. That car was a real piece of work. In addition to my blue door, I also had plastic for a back windshield. I parked the car on the street one day and some jackass busted the back window. So I duct-taped some plastic up to keep the cold out.

Eventually, I got pulled over by the police and told that if I was caught again on the road with my very un-safe car, I would be cited.

So I was forced to buy a used Saab from my aunt. Now that car actually mildly impressed the women in my life - it had a sunroof. Of course, in Maine you can only use those about two weeks out of the year...

Looks like the ultimate in motorhomes and the classic 60s or 70s made car whats a way to go

"Gag-slut" and "fuck [my] brains out." You're just a born romantic, huh Michael?

Sue, you're just a woman who brings out the best in me.

Someone in our community owns a classic 1956 T-Bird they drive it during parades and certian events