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Honestly, I don't think it's a lack of knowing 'MoPars', but a lack in
'knowing' Forward Look cars.
Case in point (and my second post to the mailing list in a single month!!
This is some kinda record!! Told ya I was back! LOL!!) was the Houston (Texas)
MoPar Show and Shine in 2003. This was the second year of ownership for me for
my recently sold `61 DeSoto. I knew when I purchased the car (2002), and even
before the date of the show for the following year was finalized (Chevy guys are
always whining that we (MoPar guys) get the weekends without rain, like we can
control it or something.... ok, well, maybe we do, but they don't need to know
that! LOL!), that I would be taking my car to the next years show.
So, that bright and shining morning in October of 2003, I traveled to a
good friends house who has a HUGE covered carport, and borrowed the shade for a
quick wash and detail. The gate at the track has always opened at 8am for the
show, but there is ALWAYS a good hour or better wait to get in. Since
I didn't want to sit in stop-n-go traffic, I figured it best to be fashionably
late, and would detail the car the morning of the event, ensuring a clean car
that day, with little to no rub down or extra cleaning once I got there. Trust
me, one of the best decisions I made. That had to be the most relaxing way to
clean the car. Plus, it was early so it was still cool outside, even with a
bright sun in a cloudless sky.
After an hour of cleaning, chatting, admiring, more chatting, and then a
quick final wipe down of everything, I loaded up and headed for the show. All
the way there it was 'thumbs-up', honks from drivers with huge smiles and the
occasional 'biker-type-guy' giving me the traditional under the handle salute
(ever noticed that fins almost ALWAYS gets a wave from just about everybody?
Man, what a rush........). So with my ego beaming, the low compression 361
rumbling wonderfully, and with all the windows down creating a cool breeze
circling around the spacious cabin of this fabulous machine from the past, I
found myself in full nirvana.
I finally reach the gates to the track, and with my perfect timing (late),
had managed to get there just as the last race car from what was obviously a
VERY long line was passing through with his track permit and pit-pass in hand. I
casually cruised up to the ticket booth, while heads of event staff and ticket
takers/givers started popping out from every window. Arm hooked out the window
with my admittance fee in hand, I lowered my shades, looked up at the older
gentleman wearing a MoPar Performance jacket and wearing a Plymouth/DeSoto (red
and yellow) service hat standing in the booth. He too was grinning ear to ear,
but totally stumped me with his first words. At first, I though it was a joke,
but became painfully clear that this 'self proclaimed MoPar aficionado' knew
NOTHING about the Forward Look, especially DeSoto's.
What did he say? "Son, that is one beautiful car, but the GM show is 2
weeks away. This is a MoPar only show." I just stared at him blankly waiting for
the punch line. As the tension started to mount, I finally broke the silence
with, "Uh, it's a DeSoto?", to which he replied with "DeSoto huh? Sure looks
like a 60 Buick to me? You sure it's a DeSoto? I mean, I've been around MoPars
for over 40 years now, and would think I know a DeSoto when I see one, and this
don't look like any DeSoto I've ever seen...."
I told him to walk to the front of the car and read the grill. Yes, I also
resisted the urge to run him over at this point, however it would have made for
a GREAT scene at the show! Instead of Christine getting her 'just-due' on
some car jealous schmuck, a 'self appointed MoPar guru' would get
DeSoto stamped in his forehead, and his last thought would have been, "Gee, the
'dang' kid was right! It IS a DeSoto!".... splat.......
But, since it did not turn out that way, he only replied with, "Well, it
still looks like a Buick, but if your wanna go in, suit yourself. Just be ready
when I tell ya 'I told ya so!', okay kid?" (I'm 33 by the way. And even though I
am in a tattered body of an 89 year old man (don't ask.... LOL), anyone that
calls me a kid makes me feel like at least a twenty dollars).
The weekend was made for me though when at the awards ceremony, myself and
the only other DeSoto (1952 model, and a DAILY DRIVER!!! And still a BEAUTIFUL
car! And if you ever think he's bluffing about the 'daily driver' part, just
take a swing past his place of business ANY day, and the car is there. Gone for
lunch, back in the afternoon, and then gone again in the evening. Like I said, a
REAL daily driver) were awarded 1st and 2nd place, and although it would have
been grand had this guy been the one handing out the trophies, he was
sitting close enough to the row of seats I was heading back to. So after
accepting my 2nd place award I headed back to my seat, but made sure to swing
wide enough to lean over and whisper, ever so coyly with a rather steep hint of
satisfaction, "I told YOU so... heh heh heh.... kiddo..."
Oh what a day, and thanks for letting me share yet another great memory
from the past (not that yesterdays was a 'great' memory, but a it WAS memorable
for sure!"
Take care all,
Clay Wood
1957 DeSoto Firedome 4dr HT- sold and on her way to a new home
in Sweden
1958 Plymouth Belvedere 4dr HT - still in SLOOOOOOOW progress,
and don't plan on EVER sellin' this one!
1961 DeSoto 4dr HT - With new owner and receiving completion
finally. Also, still loved just as much (new pictures of her coming
soon!!)
http://www.mocarz.com
psst.... I like the 4dr HT's, can't ya
tell? ;-) Anyone out there finds another `57 DeSoto 4dr HT with a free spinning,
or better yet, RUNNING engine, but in need of restoration, I would definitely be
interested!
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, February 04, 2005 10:25
AM
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] RED PLYMOUTH
FURY
The
old man I bought my car ('60 DeSoto) from knew nothing about it. He had
it for several years and drove it around, so I would have thought he would
have known a thing or two about it. He advertised it in the local
newspaper as a "1960 Dodge Desoda" When I went to look at it, he
proceeded to tell me that it was the last year of the Desoda models. He
knew nothing about DeSotos.....or mopars in general.
It
may be that some of these "know it alls" that find us at car shows have talked
to know-nothing owners of 'forwardlook cars' and assume we are just as
stupid. Everyone thinks my car has a hemi and they knew
someone that had one EXACTLY like it. It took me a few months to realize
this was impossible, as rare as 1960 DeSotos were, even when new. With
only 26K produced, that's just not likely (that comes to 520 per state!...if
divided evenly).
The
odd-factor is one thing that sets our cars apart from the slew of fords and
chevys.....and I gotta think that is one of the fun parts of owning one of
these forwardlook cars.
Robert, '60 Adventurer
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