My Dad's 67 Satellite- A bittersweet day
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.
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.
