Here is the real story behind my car. Sorry if it is a bit long.
I originally bought this car in June 1987 from Ross Carlson. It had a hard life of huge burnouts and having a dumb teenager driving it for two summers. I did countless repairs and upgrades to the engine in those two years. Then, in 1989, I enlisted in the delayed entry program with the U.S. Navy. My parents told me I could not store the car, so in August 1989, I sold the car to a gentleman who said he would use the engine in a street rod. I thought the fate of my Dart was sealed.
In 1996, I found the car for sale. Paul Slater had it up in Afton! So, my friend Ryan and I went to go see it. It was pretty much in the same shape as I remembered it. I wanted to buy it then, but I was newly married and had just built a new house, so the funds were just not there.
Then in 2004, I get a call from an old classmate. My old Dart is for sale in St. Paul Park! I had to wait until the weekend to go see it, but by then, the owner had changed his mind, and it was not for sale. The owner was no less then Ross Carlson! Yes, the same owner I originally bought it from. I got his number and asked if he ever sold it, to please give me first dibs. So, every April, for 3 years, I called Ross asking if he was ready to sell. The answer was always no.
In April 2008, I get a call. It’s Ross Carlson and he is ready to sell. I purchased the car back for $1200 and brought her home where she will stay for the rest of my life, and hopefully my daughter’s too. Of course, it was not running, and all the years of storage had taken its toll. I was already deep into my other project car, so I pushed it to the side thinking I will get to it eventually. In July 2016, I noticed the build-up of dirt under the car, so I pulled it out just to clean up the storage area when I saw how bad the rust has gotten. I knew then I had to at least start on it.
Ross Carlson’s brother bought this car new in 1970 from Towns Edge Dodge which was later to become Trail Dodge of Inver Grove Heights, MN. Ross had a dream to restore this car, but it just didn’t happen for him. He sold it to me in 2008 with my promise it will be restored. Ross died July 26 2016. R.I.P. Ross…
My car will be at Mopars In The Park June 2-4 Farmington, MN Stop by and say hi.
