For too many years, I’ve watched the Mopar hobby as an eager, yet car-less, observer. I’ve charted the styling changes in my head, duly noting the ones I’d like, but can’t seem to find anything I can afford. And it’s not like I’m out there looking for Hemi Road Runners or wing cars. I figure, let the big dogs deal in big-block B- and E-bodies, I’ll scrounge at the fringes, looking for lesser A-bodies, early (pre-’68) or late (post-’72) B-bodies, maybe even the occasional C-body.
What I keep running into is the hoarding mentality. I see it in every corner of the Mopar hobby. Take this unassuming A-body (a ’68 Dodge Dart) I ran into at a recent swap meet. It’s a plain-Jane granny car—not even mint. This two-door post car had a slant six, and zero options. There were dents on every side and every corner, and the asking price was $6,500—and the seller had marked it down from—gasp!—$8,500.
Most of you Chevy guys know you can buy a mint Nova—even a V8 car—for this kind of cash. Fresh notchback Mustangs can be had for even less. For whatever reason, Mopar collectors look at a car, and see gold bullion. Let me tell you brother, no Dart in this condition is worth this kind of cash! I guess I’ll just keep on looking like I have been for the last five years…