Doppelganger
1994-2020
This is a car that belongs to Max (@mvh), I’ve known this car longer than Max. In 1994 I went to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance with another friend, like all the other cheapskates we parked out on the road, I find a spot and just across the street was this copper Barracuda. First thing I noticed was the Commando badges, something I did not know about at the time that you could have a Commando 273 and not a Formula-S. I took some pictures and headed into the show, car was gone when we got back.
Move along five or so years and I have joined an online forum with focus on the 67-69 Barracudas, The 67-69 Barracuda Owners Group on Yahoo affectionately known as the Bog. Not too long after joining a member posts a picture of his car and there was something familiar about it, it wasn’t just the copper paint. I dug through my pictures and find the ones from Pebble Beach and sure enough the plate matches.
Eventually I met Max and saw the car again at the 2002 Fall Fling Mopar show in Van Nuys, we would meet up at subsequent shows after that. It was at this show that the people of Johnny Lighting diecast cars approached Max about using his car in a new series of cars, pictures were taken and ultimately the model was produced.
In 2008 I was finally able to finish the Barracuda and was planning and taking it to its first show, the only issue was the engine took a dive after a couple weeks on the road. I hatched a plan and swapped the engine out of the 67 Valiant that I had. The day before the show Max shows up to help button it up before hitting the road immediately after. Even though the color on Max’s car was a little different the cars got a lot of attention on the highway, heard the twin comment more once.
After I painted the Barracuda I mentioned to Max about the idea of repainting his car a more correct copper like mine. He was quick to point out the rust in the rear quarters might be more than a quick repaint, that idea ended there.
Over the years we’d meet up at the Spring and Fall Fling along with another show in Fremont/Cupertino. The last time the two cars were together was probably 8-9 years go. A combination of things came into play on both sides. For me it was the used engine I had in my car was worn out and had no power keeping it local, for Max it was the accident seven years ago that put the car in a shop collecting dust almost the entire time.
In 2012 Max’s Barracuda was involved in an accident damaging the right rear, Max took the car to a shop and it was decided to take care of the rust and some previous damage up front as well. The shop made quick work of it replacing the full trunk floor rear valance and on full quarter. They got maybe 90% of the work on the rear and maybe 90% of the work on the front done and just stopped working on it. Max was under the impression that medical issues and having to move the shop (twice) kept him from working on the car, that was not the case but we’ll leave it there.
In 2010 I took on the CHP restoration and in 2012 I took on help to do the body work and paint. Sometime after that when the delays on Max’s car started I mentioned having my guy finish it up. Last year Max mentioned taking me up on the offer so I checked and he said after the first of the so here we are...
Alan
1994-2020
This is a car that belongs to Max (@mvh), I’ve known this car longer than Max. In 1994 I went to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance with another friend, like all the other cheapskates we parked out on the road, I find a spot and just across the street was this copper Barracuda. First thing I noticed was the Commando badges, something I did not know about at the time that you could have a Commando 273 and not a Formula-S. I took some pictures and headed into the show, car was gone when we got back.
Move along five or so years and I have joined an online forum with focus on the 67-69 Barracudas, The 67-69 Barracuda Owners Group on Yahoo affectionately known as the Bog. Not too long after joining a member posts a picture of his car and there was something familiar about it, it wasn’t just the copper paint. I dug through my pictures and find the ones from Pebble Beach and sure enough the plate matches.
Eventually I met Max and saw the car again at the 2002 Fall Fling Mopar show in Van Nuys, we would meet up at subsequent shows after that. It was at this show that the people of Johnny Lighting diecast cars approached Max about using his car in a new series of cars, pictures were taken and ultimately the model was produced.
In 2008 I was finally able to finish the Barracuda and was planning and taking it to its first show, the only issue was the engine took a dive after a couple weeks on the road. I hatched a plan and swapped the engine out of the 67 Valiant that I had. The day before the show Max shows up to help button it up before hitting the road immediately after. Even though the color on Max’s car was a little different the cars got a lot of attention on the highway, heard the twin comment more once.
After I painted the Barracuda I mentioned to Max about the idea of repainting his car a more correct copper like mine. He was quick to point out the rust in the rear quarters might be more than a quick repaint, that idea ended there.
Over the years we’d meet up at the Spring and Fall Fling along with another show in Fremont/Cupertino. The last time the two cars were together was probably 8-9 years go. A combination of things came into play on both sides. For me it was the used engine I had in my car was worn out and had no power keeping it local, for Max it was the accident seven years ago that put the car in a shop collecting dust almost the entire time.
In 2012 Max’s Barracuda was involved in an accident damaging the right rear, Max took the car to a shop and it was decided to take care of the rust and some previous damage up front as well. The shop made quick work of it replacing the full trunk floor rear valance and on full quarter. They got maybe 90% of the work on the rear and maybe 90% of the work on the front done and just stopped working on it. Max was under the impression that medical issues and having to move the shop (twice) kept him from working on the car, that was not the case but we’ll leave it there.
In 2010 I took on the CHP restoration and in 2012 I took on help to do the body work and paint. Sometime after that when the delays on Max’s car started I mentioned having my guy finish it up. Last year Max mentioned taking me up on the offer so I checked and he said after the first of the so here we are...
Alan
