The image you see above is literally the last vision I'll ever have of my 1970 Plymouth GTX. It was being driven away from my house by Dave K. after he bought the GTX and drove me home from the Mopar Spring Fling car show. I shot the photo as he was turning the corner on my street. I looked down to confirm the image in my Nikon's LCD screen (took a second in the bright sun), then I looked up, but both the GTX and Dave were gone.
And when I say gone I'm not joking. Dave is an Aussie from Brisbane, and he's taking my -- sorry, his GTX back to his homeland. This is Dave's third trip to the U.S. in as many years, and every time he buys between three and five vehicles and transports them down under to be resold. Except he told me the GTX wasn't going anywhere once he gets it home. "Of the 13 cars I've purchased on these trips I've only kept one for myself. This will be number two, and likely replace number one. I love the color, and the Air Grabber hood."
Regardless, the stories we've all heard of guys selling the car from their youth, only to track it down years (or decades) later, won't be happening to me -- unless I'm willing to track across several oceans and the equator.
Ironically the GTX's odometer turned over 34,000 miles the day before I sold it, and as I was driving it home for the first time, after buying it in September of 1986, it turned over 84,000 miles. That means I put almost exactly 50,000 miles on the car in just under 24 years.
Why would I let it go, and do I have any regrets?
If you've been following this blog you know I already touched on this subject last fall. The short answer is that I simply lost my connection with the car. From August of 2005 until July of 2009 I probably only spent about two months around the car. Most of that time it was either at a body shop getting screwed up, at another body shop getting fixed after being screwed up, or in my Dad's garage in Denver. I saw it a few weeks in between each of those transitions but otherwise it was outta sight, outta mind.
I took it to my 20-year high school reunion in July of 2008, where it got quite the reaction from folks who couldn't believe I still had it. Then I towed it back to Los Angeles in July of 2009, after which it spent most of its time in the Edmunds parking structure (when I wasn't working on its latest mechanical glitch).
Ironically, it was as well sorted just before I sold it as it has ever been. All of the annoying issues that had gone on for years (leaking valve cover gasket, leaking speedometer drive, sagging seat springs and more) were finally addrssed and it had been surprisingly quirk free in recent weeks. Of course the tachometer stopped working the day before the show, and I think either the battery or starter (or both) was starting to go...again.
Either way, she's out of my life now. Dave seemed thrilled to have the GTX, and was initially going to leave the car at my house until today for a transport truck to pick up. But by the time he'd driven me home in it he was hooked. "I'll take it back to my hotel in Anaheim myself. Screw the insurance concerns. This thing drives great!"
Yes it does Dave. And it was a memorable 24 years. I'll console myself with the Ford GT, the Dodge Challenger R/T SE and too many motorcycles. Enjoy the GTX, and do a burnout along the Australian coast for me.
Does the tire smoke curl backwards down there?
By chuckg
on April 20, 2010
05:42 AM
The bad news is that the GTX is gone. I knew you had it for sale, but I never thought you had the guts to give it up. Sad day indeed.
The good news is that you now have down payment money for a 2010 Plum Crazy Dodge Challenger SRT8! Just in time for Spring, like I predicted.
When are you driving it home?
By ne1butu2
on April 20, 2010
06:41 AM
Beautiful car. It's going to make the new owner very happy!
By blueguydotcom
on April 20, 2010
07:20 AM
Cool story. Hope the new guy digs it.
My father fears the day he dies his classic car collection will hit eBay. He's right...
By levyrob
on April 20, 2010
04:27 PM
You made the right call, especially if the emotional attachment is gone -- then it becomes a bit of a burden. Now someone else will enjoy it.
You job is to get a 1/18 GMP Plymouth GTX for your desk. That way you can look up and think "I had a real one of these". And the 1/18 pretty version is pretty darn cool.
I bought a 1/18 Miata after my 1:1 found a new home. Little cars can soothe the soul. And they're much less expensive than the real thing!
By dougtheeng
on April 21, 2010
10:45 AM
Great story, I hope you don't miss it with time. Sometimes you work yourself up to let something go, only to really miss it later.
By estreka
on April 21, 2010
01:15 PM
I dread the day I lose that connection with my car. You're right in giving it up, though.
By steve_
on April 21, 2010
11:51 PM
Last week I got rid of a canoe I purchased new in '82 that I paddled all over Alaska and beyond. The last five years it just hung from the garage rafters collecting dust. The new owner was jazzed.
~ Things have no meaning when they are not being used, so the time has come to pass them on into better hands ~
By 6pakdave
on April 29, 2010
11:02 PM
hey Karl,
I finally found your blog !. The car drove great to Anaheim and received plenty of attention amongst the boring everyday cars on the 405. She will be loaded and shipped to OZ prob by early next week.It will look great parked next to my 70 Challenger T/A here in OZ. I'll be keeping in touch and will pass on a pix or 2 when it arrives down under. My personalised licence plates arrived yesterday. 70GTX . She'll get just as much lovin mate as she received in your hands for over 25yrs. Now all I have to do is wait for 4-6weeks until I see it again! Hey its just a 13hr flight if you ever get the urge for a drive you know........
cheers mate Dave
By editor_karl
on May 1, 2010
12:18 AM
Hey Dave! Glad you found me and left a note regarding my (former) girl. Sounds like she's treatin' you right. Please send a photo when you get her down under, as I would love to see that Burnt Orange paint reflecting Aussie sun.
I hope you have as much fun with the GTX in the next 24 years as I had in the past 24. BTW, I got the other car I told you I was chasing, though I'm taking the easy way out and shipping it to California. More details (and photos) on that in this Tuesday's post.
Cheers!
By 6pakdave
on June 28, 2010
04:00 AM
hey Karl, The GTX arrived safe n sound on the 6/21. I drove it the 80miles home where its garaged and waiting its 1st wash in the Southern hemisphere lol cheers Dave
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