This week's blog comes from a good friend of mine, named Bill. Bill's turning 60 this spring and has owned classic cars since he was 18!
Bill spent most of his teen years in Royal Oak, Michigan and told me about one of his first (of many) classic cars, a burnt orange 1971 Plymouth Barracuda! Actually, at the time he purchased it, it wasn't a classic yet! He bought it used in 1976 from a nearby neighbor.
The coolest details new to the '71' model was the six segment grille with louvers on the front fenders. The grille color was also new, a pearlescent silver. Many collectors of the older Barracudas (the first being built in 1964), didn't like the new grille color, but Bill did.
The not so cool detail about Bill's car was that it was only a 6 cylinder and that the interior seats were covered in black molded plastic with wood trim! "Burned your butt in the summertime!", Bill laughed.
In 1970/71, a six-cylinder base model with radio, power steering, and automatic would cost you around $3,100. Bill bought his used Cuda for $1,500.
One of Bill's favorite stories about cruising around town in his orange Cuda took place one Saturday night when he was driving through Royal Oak with his younger brother, Bob. On their way to grab dinner at Pasquales (a great Italian restaurant on Woodward, north of 13 mile), some strange car started following them. Being that Bill and Bob were a bit stoned at the time, they became paranoid that something bad was going to happen to them and started to speed up. The car sped up too and stayed with them for several miles. Finally, Bill pulled over and ran up to the driver's window, pounding his fist on the window. The mystery driver rolled down his window. Bill confronted the driver, "What the hell's your problem? Leave us alone!" Turns out, the driver wasn't a creeper at all, he wanted to buy Bill's Cuda from him on the spot, until he found out it was only a 6 cylinder and quickly rescinded his offer and pulled away!
Bill kept his car for two years. He sold it right before he joined the Army,where he was eventually stationed in Germany for a three year tour.
Today, he still enjoys seeing the old classic cars go by. He never misses attending the Detroit Auto Show or the Dream Cruise. When I asked him if he'd be purchasing any more classic cars, he smiled and said, "Maybe I'll pick one up for my birthday present this year, hmmmm."
Happy 60th, my friend.
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