My Dad's 67 Satellite- A bittersweet day

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67Dart440GT

67Dart440GT

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I knew this day was coming for a long time now. My Dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease a few years ago and it is now starting to have some effects on him. My Mom and Dad have their house sold now and are getting ready to start moving into their condo they bought. My Dad just couldn't keep up with the yard work anymore even though I volunteered to take care of it for them.

This car is the main reason I got into Mopars. My Dad sold his 69 Charger R/T 440 during the gas crunch of the 70's. When I was a young man in high school my Dad started looking for a new Mopar to replace his Charger. We went on some great adventures together looking at a lot of different cars. I remember we met a one armed man who was selling an orange Roadrunner... and lots of other funny stories.

My Dad ended up finding this car in the Milwaukee Wisconsin area in 1996 or so. The car was built buy a Chrysler mechanic. It has a 440 with two four barrel carbs, a 727 auto and 8-3/4 with 3.91 gears. It has some 12 inch glass packs on it and it's way too loud but my Dad is pretty deaf so he probably never noticed haha.

The car hasn't been moved for about 2 years now. The last few weekends I have been clearing some space in my shop, and helping my Dad get it ready to drive again.

My Dad said he was giving me the car, he no longer feels safe driving it and doesn't want to sell it. I don't like receiving anything from people that I didn't work for, pay for, or earn but he said I had to take it. It is a happy feeling knowing I can take care of it for him, but really sad knowing why it's here. Time went too fast.

I have a few things I'm going to do to the car for Dad but otherwise I'm leaving it the way he left it.

Last night it was idling in his garage and he looked so down... he said "I wish I could just do one more burnout"

This morning we fired it up, and drove it about 10 miles to my house. I have a blacktop parking lot in front of my shop and I told Dad to light em up when we pulled in. He didn't disappoint :)

Here it is. I hope you guys enjoy the story and pictures.

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Such a great story. So glad your dad got to have his wish come true with that one last burnout. I'm sure it brought back a lot of memories for him. He's trusting you to take good care of his baby and I know you'll do him proud. Sweet looking car. Best wishes to all in your family.
 
Do a lot of car shows with him while he can. I have my dad's 67 dart convert. I only wish we could have gone to car shows together, but sadly he passed before that could happen.
 
Thanks for sharing! Pretty cool story! Glad he got that burnout. I'm sure there is one more in there somewhere lol.
I ended up with Dads 67 in a similar way. Estate made me buy it as his will was way outdated.
Enjoy the moments you share together. :thumbsup:
 
Sad and nice at the same time! Pick him up on sunny days and let him light them up until he can't. Wish I could still do that with my old man, gone since '86. Hopefully my Son will do the same for me when the time comes and he takes 3rd generation ownership of my Bee...
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That's one of the nicest first Gen Satellites I've seen. Hiding some extra muscle under the hood to boot.

Parkinson is one of those unfair diseases to inflict on anyone.
 
I’m knid of tearing up hearing this, and smiling at the same time. Sad because your Dad is fighting Parkinson’s, and happy because he is fighting. He’s doing your Mom and his family a great service by taking care of things while he still can, and moving his prize possessions into safe and sound places. That shows true character and the mark of a great man, husband, and father. I agree with the above, share the car with him whenever you can, and visit your folks often. Hug them whenever you see them, and tell them often how much you love them.
 
I love that car. We need burnout pics and video. lol
 
Take that car and be proud the he wanted you to have it and not some stranger. My dad got me into mopars, unknowingly, I was just raised in mopars. He's gone now , so spend as much time with him as you can. Best of luck .
 
Great story but, incredibly sad. We are all aging. It makes us all look at mortality. I would feel the same way about him giving the car to you. The silver lining is it will be with someone who will honor and preserve it. Enjoy your time with your father.
 
RustyRatRod said:
I love that car. We need burnout pics and video. lol
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Unfortunately I think it really needs a set of tires.... they are like 30 years old and when we drove it you could tell it had some flat spots on it. I'll get a set soon so we can provide some smoke videos.
 
Enjoy the time you have with him and the car. I lost both of my parents in 2022. Just sold their house and closed on it last Friday. My dad is the reason I got into cars and I have a couple items now I’ll probably never sell. One is a 1955 John Deere 40C crawler tractor. Currently fixing a bunch of things on it and a 1971 VW Beetle that he has had forever. I hope to get them both moving on their own again soon.
 
great car, even greater story.

he wanted you to have it, so the best thing you can do is keep it running and keep driving it for him.

like everybody else said: he gets a free pass for burnouts. hit as many shows and cruises as you can together. no time like the present and all that.

i got into cars because of my dad too, and one of my favorite memories is him riding shotgun and cackling wildly as we were tearing up highway 1 at double the speed limit, bangshifting and divebombing every corner in my old dart.
 
67Dart440GT said:
I knew this day was coming for a long time now. My Dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease a few years ago and it is now starting to have some effects on him. My Mom and Dad have their house sold now and are getting ready to start moving into their condo they bought. My Dad just couldn't keep up with the yard work anymore even though I volunteered to take care of it for them.

This car is the main reason I got into Mopars. My Dad sold his 69 Charger R/T 440 during the gas crunch of the 70's. When I was a young man in high school my Dad started looking for a new Mopar to replace his Charger. We went on some great adventures together looking at a lot of different cars. I remember we met a one armed man who was selling an orange Roadrunner... and lots of other funny stories.

My Dad ended up finding this car in the Milwaukee Wisconsin area in 1996 or so. The car was built buy a Chrysler mechanic. It has a 440 with two four barrel carbs, a 727 auto and 8-3/4 with 3.91 gears. It has some 12 inch glass packs on it and it's way too loud but my Dad is pretty deaf so he probably never noticed haha.

The car hasn't been moved for about 2 years now. The last few weekends I have been clearing some space in my shop, and helping my Dad get it ready to drive again.

My Dad said he was giving me the car, he no longer feels safe driving it and doesn't want to sell it. I don't like receiving anything from people that I didn't work for, pay for, or earn but he said I had to take it. It is a happy feeling knowing I can take care of it for him, but really sad knowing why it's here. Time went too fast.

I have a few things I'm going to do to the car for Dad but otherwise I'm leaving it the way he left it.

Last night it was idling in his garage and he looked so down... he said "I wish I could just do one more burnout"

This morning we fired it up, and drove it about 10 miles to my house. I have a blacktop parking lot in front of my shop and I told Dad to light em up when we pulled in. He didn't disappoint :)

Here it is. I hope you guys enjoy the story and pictures.

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Click to expand...
Power steering, power brakes, and originally air conditioned. What a great car. Your father can take pride in knowing how well received his car was here with his fellow Mopar people. Thanks for sharing the story and pictures.
 
My step father had Parkinsons. I remember. Watched it through the good and the bad. We were not always on the best of terms, sometimes me, sometimes him. I will say this, include him whenever you can, not just the car, but everything. In the end, all that we have are our memories. Keep an eye on yourself too.
It's the little things, no matter how simple.
 
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